Non-Headline News of the Day

The headline.

“Electronic Voting Machine Woes Reported."

The first paragraph, from the linked article.

"Voters nationwide reported some 1,100 problems with electronic voting machines on Tuesday, including trouble choosing their intended candidates."

Hmm, “nationwide,” “some 1,100 problems.” Sounds serious.

Number of votes cast nationwide, approximately 113,872,408.

1,100 divided by 113,872,408 equals .00001 equals almost infinitesimal.

Lest we think there were not any problems in Florida, the linked article also informs us,

"But there were also several dozen voters in six states — particularly Democrats in Florida — who said the wrong candidates appeared on their touch-screen machine’s checkout screen, the coalition said."

Nationwide non-news.

Posted by on 11/03 at 10:41 AM

  1. Ok John, the story was weak ...

    But lets put it into context by using an analogy. Here’s the starting point:

    “.00001 equals almost infinitesimal”

    Consider your car in which Iz and the rest of your loved ones travel. If your brakes were assured of operating correctlly at the same rate, how would you utilize the vehicle ? As you do now ?

    Posted by  on  11/03  at  10:49 PM

  2. Robert, I’ll answer your questions with a story.

    I have an 82’ Jeep, which has various quirks, which are not without risk when traveling down the highway at 80 mph.  The quirks, though mostly engine and fuel system related, also affect my ability to control the vehicle when loss of propulsion occurs.

    I utilize the vehicle just as I did prior to the quirks manifesting themselves for the very first time.

    Sure, I tinker with the engine and fuel system, attempting to improve the system’s performance, and minimize or eliminate the risks, but I do not allow the potential for system failure, to deter me from its use.

    I do not think that zero defects/risks, in any endeavor, is possible.  I accept this, and live my life accordingly.

    Posted by  on  11/04  at  04:18 AM

  3. I picked brake failure because I think it would fall into the category of ‘catastrophic failure’. I believe that is also how one would categorize inputing to a computerized voting machine and having the other candidate receive the vote instead - not any other possiblity such as no vote registered or a myriad of other machine responses, but the person your voting AGAINST getting the vote.

    Posted by  on  11/05  at  10:48 PM

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