Re: Vote!
Re: Vote!
- Subject: Re: Vote!
- From: deivy petrescu <email@hidden>
- Date: Wed, 17 Aug 2005 19:57:51 -0400
On Aug 17, 2005, at 19:20, Martin Orpen wrote:
on 17/8/05 22:22, deivy petrescu at email@hidden wrote:
I do not really care for the counting process itself, everyone can
create one. However, I was able to create a script (application
really) that can change itself.
Perhaps more thought should be given to the counting process?
As others have mentioned, counting is something that is relatively
easy for
humans to do - you don't really need a computer to do it!
Please, do not get me started. Easy hum? I can give you some
counting exercises that should keep you busy for a long time...
But back to the subject.
We don't have fancy computer systems to count our votes in the UK.
We have
bits of paper, pencilled crosses, big tables and dedicated people
who work
very hard with little or no compensation to ensure that everything is
counted accurately and fairly. And, if we distrust the result, we
can send
in more people to recount those bits of paper.
There is one very worrying bit about what you wrote above and others
have shared the same feeling.
The fact that it is counted by hand and written in pencil does *not*,
I repeat, does *not* mean that there is no cheating going on. I know
for the fact that there might be.
The big difference between the penciled vote and the electronic vote
is that the second gives one the uneasy feeling that there might have
some "monkey business" going on, as opposed to the first method which
makes you feel secure.
You have probably seen magic, either live or on tv. Do you believe
that if one of those magicians ( known also as prestidigitator or
fast fingers) were counting votes in front of your nose, he/she could
not cheat to his/hers hart content and you would attest his/hers
honesty in the process? You would probably think you lost your wallet
on your way home too! :)
This is one example. Two people counting 35 votes can be fairly
honest, not foolproof. But counting 3500 votes is a different thing
altogether.
There is no implicit or explicit more accuracy when using pencil.
There is the very very dangerous sentiment that the process is honest
a priori.
For some reason, the US* is driven to commercialise at *every*
opportunity.
The simple process of casting and counting a vote must be turned
into some
kind of profit angle for some corporation. Nobody is happy with it
until
some kind of technology is incorporated.
I don't understand this need to use machines to achieve something
that you
are better off using ordinary people to do.
I beg to disagree, if you are elderly person, the possibility of
voting via internet makes your life simpler doesn't it?
Also, if you can come up with a better way to vote electronically
what do you think is going to happen with the penciled vote?
People can count. A single person can tie a noose - why do we need
all this
technology? Is it to negate responsibility, to turn social needs
into profit
or what?
People can not count!
Also, it is very easy to make mistakes when you are just adding, if
you are dealing with high numbers or fast changing numbers.
At least all the people I know.
Anyhow, back to scripting...
Good, may be we can come up with a foolproof way to avoid electronic
cheating.
*Just an observation - not a attempt to start a flame war.
Just other observations, no flame war intended.
:)
--
Martin Orpen
Deivy
_______________________________________________
Do not post admin requests to the list. They will be ignored.
Applescript-users mailing list (email@hidden)
Help/Unsubscribe/Update your Subscription:
This email sent to email@hidden
| References: | |
| | >Re: Vote! (From: Martin Orpen <email@hidden>) |