It was a matter of principle.

[VenusRising]

I went to the store tonight. While I was there I remembered I needed to withdraw some money from the ATM. I walked toward the ATM machine while I pulled out my card and when I got there I noticed it was new. It had pretty lights and was all shiny. Without thinking I put my card into the machine only to look up at the big silver letters that spelled out DIEBOLD. The screen then changed to a choice between start transaction or return card. I couldn't do it. I pushed return card and groaned as I snatched my card from its slimy grips. Now my card is tainted and I have to wash it, but I didn't use the Diebold machine. I drove to the convenient store just down the road and got my money and a white chocolate caramel cappuccino. It was a matter of principle.

[Hekate]

1. Isn't it amazing that the whole country's finances run on electronics now

At every step of the way we rely on their accuracy. Banks, mega-corporations, individual consumers, even international deals -- all depend on the accuracy of the computer programs that transfer money from one account to another.

Can you imagine the uproar if THOSE computers were as inaccurate as the ones Diebold has foisted off on the electorate? No newscaster or pundit worth the name would dare shrug their shoulders and talk of "glitches" as though that were some mysterious and unavoidable consequence of using computers. Every bank and corporation would be up in arms.

I share your revulsion. Oddly though, your money is probably safe with them. Only your democracy is in peril.

Hekate