Disenfranchised Voters . . . Or Propaganda Puppets?

Kaye Grogan

Why on earth would a voter feel intimidated or disenfranchised if they have to show an Identification card before voting? If they are who they say they are, and they are eligible to vote, they should feel good knowing this type of crackdown to avoid most voter fraud--is protecting their legal right to vote, not hindering it.

It’s unfortunate many people practice trying to beat the voting system by conjuring up ways to conduct massive voter fraud, so their favorite candidate can have a better chance of winning at all cost. This is not the American way–it’s the crook’s way. Where were these people when the importance of being honest was being instilled in others?

Voter fraud is certainly nothing new, but stopping the abuse in its tracks can go a long way in helping to clean up fraudulent behavior at the voting polls.

It seems somewhat archaic that a fail proof voting machine has evaded the modern high-tech industry. After spending millions to create the touch screen voting technique, voting problems intensified instead of lessening. When several computer scientists brought to the forefront that the Diebold Accuvote-TS voting machines made it easy to manipulate the votes by transferring votes to favorite candidates without a manipulation trail to indicate a surreptitious deed had occurred–the machines were discontinued.

Can democracy as it is right now continue to survive in America? My guess is democracy went out the window a long time ago. As technology advances, so does the capability to rig elections. Those in the know can easily rig elections by coming up with 10-20 different strategies, and make the other side look like the cheating culprits.

Once we have cast our ballots-how much trust can we put in those who count the ballots? Probably about as much trust (in some), as you can in a bank robber deciding not to rob a bank after all.

For every honest person, there is probably three or more who are dishonest--so, the odds an election can be carried out without voter fraud are pretty low.

The best way to beat voter fraud is to go back to the paper ballot method, and hire armed guards to oversee the counting of the ballots. But then again, some people can be bribed for the right price, so that method is not foolproof either.

Usually, the most vulnerable are the easiest targets for conspirators of voter fraud schemes, to be used as puppets on a string. The first step is to incite those who feel like they are being taken advantage of by opposing political parties. This coupled with being led to believe they are being suppressed when it comes to voting–thickens the overall plot.

The ones overseeing the voting fiasco in Florida, in the 2000 presidential election–had to know how the "unfairness" of grabbing a bunch of half-punched, dimpled, hanging chad ballots scrutinizing them under magnifying glasses to try and decipher the intent of voters would generate hostility and animosity toward George W. Bush if he won the election. These people are the ones who set up the (whether it was intentional or not) voting discrepancies which produced the worst conducted presidential election in modern history, especially in the state of Florida.

When all is said and done: money can buy a lot of things . . . but it can’t buy honesty. You’re either honest or dishonest.

And that’s just my opinion!

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Kaye Grogan is a freelance writer who lives in Virginia. She writes, produces, and hosts a daily commentary called “Viewpoint” on her local radio station. She has written op-eds and articles for the Daily Republican newspaper. She also writes editorials for online newspapers and local papers. Kaye has many published poems, one published book, and has been featured in a popular woman’s national magazine. She is currently working on two books for children. Her hobbies include photography and she has won photo contests all over the world.

kayeg@adelphia.net