They're just another way for the bulk of Internet users (read: Rich Conservatives who can vote at home) to vote more easily, while those without must wait in line vote at library terminals and special polling stations. Hiss on the Tories (and the Republicans!) Never mind that the keys, tokens or avatars necessary for this enterprise can be sold or stolen quite easily.
One of the necessities of democracy is something called isonomy, or equal rule among all. Indeed, this is what the ancient Athenians called their democracy. When votes are alienable, the people are not equal rulers, and democracy is compromised. For a ruler to rule, one must rule personally; that's why our Betty Windsor merely reigns over here in Blighty, not rules.
Quite frankly, I think that anyone who is able to mark an X on a ballot should vote, women, children, felons, handicapped etc.; that there should be no registration, merely proof of citizenship, and having voted, to prevent fraud one should have one's hand marked with indellible ink! Why do we bother with this twaddle when we could be advancing something that will further democracy and give people a reason to vote, like getting rid of our plurality system of elections once and for all, and replace it with proportional representation. (De Swiss kind, no' de Irish or Blair version, fank yous very mooch, la.)
Slashdot Mirror
They're just another way for the bulk of Internet users (read: Rich Conservatives who can vote at home) to vote more easily, while those without must wait in line vote at library terminals and special polling stations. Hiss on the Tories (and the Republicans!) Never mind that the keys, tokens or avatars necessary for this enterprise can be sold or stolen quite easily.
One of the necessities of democracy is something called isonomy, or equal rule among all. Indeed, this is what the ancient Athenians called their democracy. When votes are alienable, the people are not equal rulers, and democracy is compromised. For a ruler to rule, one must rule personally; that's why our Betty Windsor merely reigns over here in Blighty, not rules.
Quite frankly, I think that anyone who is able to mark an X on a ballot should vote, women, children, felons, handicapped etc.; that there should be no registration, merely proof of citizenship, and having voted, to prevent fraud one should have one's hand marked with indellible ink! Why do we bother with this twaddle when we could be advancing something that will further democracy and give people a reason to vote, like getting rid of our plurality system of elections once and for all, and replace it with proportional representation. (De Swiss kind, no' de Irish or Blair version, fank yous very mooch, la.)