|
 |
Wednesday, November 8, 2006 |
A post for my friend Jim Pinto who often rants about the unreliability of electronic voting machines. Here is a logical, common-sense, IT point of view. What do you think, Jim?
A post-election rant.
So here's what I wonder:
I read recently that in the primaries, and during the absentee balloting that preceded the elections, touchscreen voting machines proved to have serious problems, frequently failing to properly record and tally votes. Over the past six years or so I've read all manner of experts weigh in on this subject, and haven't yet read one who has pointed out what I think is obvious to readers of this blog (and anyone competent to read any blog): We're talking about an awesomely simple programming task. Here's what it takes:
* A table listing the candidates, the office for which they are candidates, and their party affiliations, which can be downloaded into a server located in each polling place.
* A cheap web server in each polling place that stores the candidate table and renders it into a ballot.
* Voting machines equipped with browsers, touchscreens, and printers.
* A program that runs in the server that records the results for each voter into a votes table that can be uploaded when the polls close, and that prints out a "receipt" for each voter, to verify their vote and to be used in a manual recount should one be needed.
* A dial-up modem, attached to the web server, to provide a temporary connection to the central system before the polls open (to download the setup) and when they close (to upload the results).
* A central server to accept the votes tables, consolidate them, and run a simple SQL query that tabulates the results.
* Pollwatchers alert for voters who covertly approach the site server with their own mouse and keyboard to try to hack the system without anyone noticing.
There is, to be repetitious, nothing remotely complicated about building a voting machine system. There are those who would claim that calibrating the touchscreens and maintaining the calibration is a challenge. I certainly sympathize. As anyone knows who uses a Palm PDA knows, you have to calibrate your screen ... oh, wait. You have to calibrate a Palm PDA touchscreen exactly once, when you take it out of the box for the first time. After that, it holds its calibration approximately forever.
Conspiracy theories abound about why touchscreen voting machine systems are so unreliable, most swirling around the sordid connection between the president of Diebold's voting machine division and the Republican party. I have a different theory:
The companies that sell these puppies have persuaded the agencies that buy them that the technology involved is difficult and complex, so as to raise the price beyond the $350 per voting machine and $1,500 per site server that should be the maximum for hardware and software that is, in every respect, less complicated than the market survey systems provided commercially and inexpensively by any number of providers for use on the World Wide Web.
- Bob
[Advice Line by Bob Lewis]
10:26:44 AM 
|
|
The Dayton Daily News had a wealth of stuff today--and I usually just read the comics and local soccer scores. The business section ran an AP story about "Helicopter Parents." These are parents who are so afraid that their kids won't make it (whatever that means) that they've hovered over them their entire lives. They talk to coaches to persuade them to play their kids. Lobby teachers for better grades. Followed them to college lobbying professors for better grades and preferential treatment. Guess what? It's now going to affect all of us. They are now following their kids into the employment scene. Don't be surprised if you don't hire some kid that you get a phone call from Dad and Mom asking why.
I've seen these people on the soccer scene for years. Never understood it. I wanted my kids to be strong, independent, hard-working people who enjoyed life and made a contribution to society. Without leading them every step of the way--which, of course would have been counter-productive. It worked. They're great. It never ceases to amaze me what people can do if you just have confidence in them and encourage them to do the job. This works in companies and other organizations, too. But, if you wind up hiring one of these kids who must call home to mommy before he can make a decision, you've been warned. ;-)
7:41:27 AM
|
|
Ever heard of the concept of "hubris?" It's a word that comes up often when you study the ancient Greeks. Those wily early psychologist/philosophers told many stories of what befalls people whose pride grows too much. Some of the heroes overcame the hubris and came out of their bitter experiences better people--some didn't.
I suppose you've heard about the fall of anti-gay, evangelical Christian pastor Ted Haggard. My wife was reading an article in today's Dayton Daily News about his fall and ran across a quote from another leading evangelical pastor. The gist of the quote was that often when a man (gender specific) becomes a successful pastor, his wife "lets herself go and becomes sexually unavailable" to him. Therefore, the man is left to find other outlets for this energy. (Another man?) This type of thinking always makes me wonder why I'm an evangelical myself. Dude, I can think of two things. First, it's about cultivating relationships. Second, it's hubris. We country people had a phrase about when people got "too big for their breeches (pants)". This is a disease not just for successful pastors or Greek heroes. It can affect all of us. It's something I reflect on about me every day.
This is the same tale that I heard last night around town as people discussed Ohio politics. The Republicans had controlled the entire state government for 16 years. People seemed to think that when you're in power too long you get sloppy, lazy and even unethical. We have a governor who was convicted of accepting gifts of large magnitude. A congressman who just resigned and will be going to jail for accepting payoffs. Plus numerous other scandals. Now, the Democrats will have their chance. They'll probably be OK for four years, but after that, who knows? Many Republicans were elected (Bush among them) directly because of Bill Clinton's ethical blunders and hubris. Then we get Foley six years later. In a democracy we have to be ever vigilant regarding our leaders. Same in our own personal lives.
7:31:42 AM
|
|
Saw this in The New York Times this morning. Rockwell had announced intention to sell the units. Baldor looks like a good fit. It will expand its lines while Rockwell gets more cash. This money will probably go toward enhancing its process automation and information technology portfolios. Another acquisition possible?
Baldor Electric Buying Unit of Rockwell. The Baldor Electric Company, which makes electric motors, drives and generators, agreed yesterday to acquire the power systems business of Rockwell Automation for $1.8 billion, mostly in cash. By REUTERS. [NYT > Business]
7:06:05 AM
|
|
© Copyright 2006 Gary Mintchell.
|
|
|
