They published my LTTE in The Miami Herald (My third since December!)

[RagingInMiami]

I can really get used to this.

I wrote this LTTE in response to a front page article that came out Thursday where they are insinuating that perhaps there was "fraud" in the 2004 Venezuelan presidential election. Here is the cut and paste version. Below is the link to the letter, which is the third from the top. And below is the article to which I was responding.


Vote fraud or glitch?

Re the March 16 article Birthday coincidence or voter fraud?, on the 2004 Venezuelan election: Why is it that when the votes don't add up in other countries, the media quickly use the word ''fraud'' as a possible explanation?

When the votes don't add up in the United States, as was the case in several states, including Florida, during the 2004 presidential election, the media referred to this phenomenon as voting glitches, voting discrepancies and voting irregularities. Sometimes the media will even go as far as calling it voter disfranchisement. Call it what you want, but it's not democracy.

CARLOS MILLER, Miami


Third letter from the top
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/opinion/14127813.htm

Article on Venezuelan election

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/14109566.htm

[SammyBlue]

1. Fraud is when a leftist wins. . .irregularities are when a fascist win!

Don't you understand that concept yet?

[Mika]

2. I saw it this morning.

Good job, Carlos. :thumbsup: I just loved it.

[4morewars]

3. Good job !

:yourock:

:applause:

:toast:

[Tuesday_Morning]

4. Good work, Raging

Congrats!

[EFerrari]

5. Carlitios, THAT'S AWESOME!

It looks like you're on the ED page list.

So well done. :toast:

[Land Shark]

6. Great LTE, and the reasons why "it ain't democracy Baby" include...

1. Many areas of law are conveniently separated into two categories that contain everything: SUBSTANTIVE ASPECTS and PROCEDURAL ASPECTS. It's dramatically apparent that in elections the PROCEDURAL INTEGRITY is absolutely necessary for elections, it's the be-all and the end-all if elections are to have any moral or political legitimacy at all.

That's a bold claim, so the next paragraph tries to give a quick proof:

(This lack of legitimacy without strict procedural integrity is so because democracy doesn't even PROMISE or SUGGEST that the substantive result of who wins the election will be just. Indeed, democracy is focused on the "consent of the governed" as everyone knows, and the procedure for obtaining this consent is elections. Since our system is based on positing that the consent of the governed provides legitimacy, the duty to obey the Constitutional laws of an elected government is based on sort ofan idea of "tough luck buster, the people as a whole voted for this govt so no one can complain/refuse to obey the law...)

Some may DISAGREE about how to best implement the procedural integrity principle. BUT THAT'S THE BIG TENT OF DEMOCRACY BABY. IN A SOCIETY IF THERE ISN'T DISAGREEMENT, THAT WOUlD BE 99% OF THE NECESSARY PROOF TO SHOW THERE'S NO FREEDOM.

But no one either in theory or practice should disagree with the procedural integrity principle as the most important aspect of our entire system, or nearly so.

Except, as a practical matter and perhaps sometimes even in theory, many elections officials can be observed through their actions and some statements to be saying that procedural integrity is not that important.

If so, the rank and file of both parties, in my opinion, would and could vote the bastards out, of any party, These elections officials do not believe the people are in charge and don't respect the people, regardless of party affiliation.

The real opposition with regard to the bigtent issue of PROCEDURAL INTEGRITY in elections is not R's per se, but (1) elitist, corporate anti-democratic officials of any party which are only a faction of overall Rs, for example, and (2) ignorance and apathy, or the "I don't know and I don't care" crowd.

K&R

[nicknameless]

7. Very nice!

Another "R" for you.

:thumbsup:

[go west young man]

8. Great job man! I write letters quite often for MoveOn.org and its

always a great feeling when they are published. I had two published last month. For those that are interested sign up at MoveOn's homepage. Usually they get around 2000 letters out to editors whenever Bush is trying to bolster his minions. It's great to rain on his parade in unity with many other good souls.

[NewJeffCT]

9. Excellent letter

Short, yet you make excellent points!

[melisrob]

10. A New Political Concept

Check out what Melissa Sue Robinson has gone and done
Click Below For:
A New Political Concept for 2006


http://groups.msn.com/MelissaSueRobinson


Group Email: [e-mail]

[nicknameless]

11. Kick

This should be on Greatest.

[Kurovski]

12. Off to the greatest page with you, young man.

K&R. You give good LTTE!

[Patsy Stone]

13. Great job!

It's nice to see our local fish wrapper good for something. Coffee at La Carreta is on me! K&R

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

14. Another K&R... Great Job, Carlos!

[Olney Blue]

15. Awesome!

:yourock:

[qanda]

16. Great letter

Concise and to the point.

[Judi Lynn]

17. Excellent! In Florida, as well! Way to go, RagingInMiami. n/t

[immoderate]

18. Good work, raging!

Don't let up!

--IMM

[UrbScotty]

19. Brief and on-target - good for you (nt)

[New Earth]

20. so so good

and thank you


but please start saying 'election fraud' when referring to the machines being rigged.
the voter didn't do anything wrong and mindless people will misinterpret what you are saying when you say vote or voter fraud :( :blush:

[lanah]

21. thank you

:patriot: