Premium access channel HBO will release a documentary film entitled Hacking Democracy on November 2, five days before elections are held across the United States. The 80 minute documentary follows Seattle writer Bev Harris on a frightening investigation into the security of America’s electronic voting systems.
It will come as no surprise to readers of this site that Hacking Democracy concludes that “the top-secret computerized systems counting the votes in America’s public elections are not only fallible, but also vulnerable to undetectable hacking, from local school board contests to the presidential race.”
The concept of electronic vote tampering has largely been advanced by left-wing voices who are quick to point out that electronic voting equipment manufacturer Diebold has strong Republican supporters sitting on its board of directors. The highly partisan nature of this commentary can be off-putting, and it obscures the true issue. Insecure voting systems are not of unique concern to Democrats. Their insecurity is a flaw that could enable cheating by anyone for any purpose.
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Join the members of the Liberty Conspiracy as they discuss issues ranging from the "Incorporation Doctrine" and gun rights, to the NBA, to protests conducted at military funerals, protests that are being challenged by government, and which will be heard by the philosopher kings in the U.S. Supreme Court.
When neoconservative Ben Stein accused Congressman Ron Paul of being antisemitic for merely wanting to ask WHY Islamic terrorists want to attack the civilians living under western governments that have meddled in the Mideast, the members of the Conspiracy could not sit by silently.
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B-W
Oct 31, 2006
Who really cares?
We usually have only a choice between a couple of politicians for each office, each of whom are beholden to special interests. Anyone who has been paying attention can only conclude that the democracy which we are offered on a national level is mostly fraudulent. So, it hardly matters that there is vote tampering.
The benefits of winning a national (or even state) office are extremely great, so it pays to tamper away in the hope of winning (stealing) the prize. There is no real answer to voting – - except to really (really)focus on local candidates and local issues and let the big (and typically corrupt) elections play out as they will.
Michael Hampton
Nov 02, 2006
A lot of you are coming here after watching the show tonight. Please leave a comment and let us know what you thought.
And try to keep them somewhat civil.
J.C.A.
Nov 02, 2006
The comment from B-W frightens me tremendously. Is s/he really saying
that because there are flaws in our political system that we shouldn’t
care whether our votes are counted at all? That is the kind of apathy
that will have us all reading out of Little Red Books and placing
“radicals” who dare speak their minds in internment camps if we’re not
careful. I can’t think of anything more deadly to our free way of life
than the loss of real democratic elections.
Who cares?? I sure as hell do!
Derek
Nov 02, 2006
Shocking, well I guess to a point. It’s shocking it you realize that any program can be hacked given enough time. The amount of time may be unreasonable (as with 128 bit or greater encryption), but still possible.
The moment my jaw dropped was when I saw that the ‘official’ record of the nations votes were stored in an Access DB. Come on Diebold.
Maxxi Garrett
Nov 02, 2006
Bev Harris and her team of grass roots patriots are true American heros.
The sheer balls to take on such a sacred cow and the corporate demons that have had such an orgy these last 6 years – not only shows what “one person” or small group can do – these people have helped vindicate those of us who have been “Dixie Chicked” ; cast aside as subversives for simply telling the (awful) Truth!
Thanks to those folks for this work and to HBO for showing it – (expect a call from Karl , or Condi or Bill O’Biteme – )
Peace
Maxxi
Nashville
Tony
Nov 02, 2006
Shocked. Jaw dropping shocked. I just hope this opens the eyes of those who like to keep them nailed shut.
Just… wow.
George
Nov 02, 2006
It’s amazing that practicaly everyone in this film is a left-wing conspiracist – well, maybe not amazing – expected.
Anonymous
Nov 02, 2006
WHY HASN’T THE FEDERAL GOV’T. INVESTIGATED THE STATE OF FLORIDA FOR NOT RETAINING RETAINING THE ELECTION BALLOTS, FOR THE REQUIRED MINIMUM OF TIME?
George
Nov 02, 2006
By the way, I’m gay.
George
Nov 02, 2006
Would any of these assholes be bitching if Kerry had won? I think we all know the answer to that one.
George Bush
Nov 02, 2006
I think the system works perfectly as is.
Lee Vining
Nov 02, 2006
Why are Gore and Kerry such whimps? It’s our votes that
they have allowed to be dismissed. Seeing this film was
a sad education tonight.
Maxxi Garrett
Nov 02, 2006
Hmmmmm – can it be that people really don’t know this stuff?
This is really “tip of the iceberg” type information ; excellent documentation and presentation, but – if this is shocking to you, it’s time
to “wise up”.
Rent, buy, borrow or steal the movie “Network” for starters. 1976 – Holden, Dunway, Finch – EXCELLENT source on “how the world really works”.
Sleeper flick but 4 Oscars, I believe-
Ned Beatty, ( the squealer from “Deliverence” ) steals an already excellent movie movie when he delivers the speech to Howard Beale ( Finch) in the boardroam about the “nations of today” – this should be taught in schools everywhere – it explains wh there is a disconnect between the political process and the people in a way that you’ll not see anywhere else – and it’s dead on !
Step 2- Katie Courrickkeiieourk just moved from America’s “morning ding bat” to the anchor of CBS News – digest that a little while………
Now, “Network” – GO !
Maxxi Nashville
sherr
Nov 02, 2006
saw the movie. It makes me sad. i dont even feel like going voting on tuesda tuesday. No confidence left in this country’s political/democratic system anymore.
Ohio
Nov 03, 2006
Funny how many people “felt” this stuff was/is going on and “questioned” why Gore
and Kerry didn’t push when they had the chance. Many knew this was happening
… but i have to say, it saddens me to the bone to visually
see it. I sobbed like a baby. I cry because in the big picture, we have
been used, brainwashed and lied too. For how long? We’ll never know. Our
Country is not what I thought it was, that is one thing I know for sure.
mad as hell
Nov 03, 2006
I voted early today in Tennessee. It was a touch screen machine.
I then saw this film tonight. I cannot believe what I saw!
And the revelation that Kerry KNEW there was fraud and did NOTHING worries me… particularly after his alleged “botched joke” comments earlier this week.
If I were a conspiracy nut I’d think… OMG…. I don’t even wanna say it!
In my opinion our democracy is in grave danger.
Joe Kirk
Nov 03, 2006
Political campaigns ought to be funded publicly. Slots of the public
airwaves should be drawn like lottery numbers. There are now over 60
lobbyists per representative in Congress. We put a man on the moon; a
system of casting ballots must be possible to develop that insures the
outcome reflects the voters’ intent. Privatization is a repeatedly used
or recommended remedy whether it be war, Social Security or educating
future citizens. The challenge is finding ways to incentivize for-profit
entities to behave equitably. Furthermore transparency ought to be the
guiding principle. Secrecy and democracy cannot comfortably co-exist. I
hope we can see our nation again admired and not reviled and distrusted.
Mathmn
Nov 03, 2006
Why should we care, one writer asked. My God, when I saw that demonstration in Florida, I almost choked. I don’t care who won the election. The fact remains that the machines are not secure and can be hacked by any competent computer whiz.
We therefore, can never know for sure if our votes are really counted. We have to go on faith and I have had little reason for that in the past 6 years.
pmatt007
Nov 03, 2006
I think we’ve all wondered if the elections were rigged, but seeing HBO’s Hacking Democracy was much more troubling then I expected. Why are we trusting private companies with private motives to run our election, anyway??? We’ve gone too far… we’re privatizing elections, we’re privatizing the military (Blackwater), we’re de-funding every social institution (education, social security, transportation, etc) until it runs so inefficiently that it, too, becomes a cause to privatize. Private telecommunications companies are trying to abolish net neutrality so they can decide what information we have access to, radio, television and newspapers are becoming more and more consolidated by private interests, agribusiness is becoming more and more consolidated as well. It appears that the basic needs of a healthy democratic nation are under attack; our communication and our freedom to information, our health, our food, our security and now our votes are all in the hands of private interests that do not reflect the will of the people. Two words: Clean Elections!
sid1950
Nov 03, 2006
The producers of the show have a site at www.hackingdemocracy.com, with links to HBO, other blogs and sites of interest.
This is part of a much bigger problem where lazy politicians try to “improve” things by throwing technology at them. They don’t stop to think, is this appropriate? Does the supplier know what they are doing? Have we allowed for adequate training of the users? Is the product sufficiently reliable? If it fails do we have a secure backup?
The Diebold story has been doing the rounds in the computer security community for several years, and the attitude of Diebold has been lamentable.
Mike
Nov 03, 2006
Has “Hacking Democracy” already been sold to The Netherlands ? I would like to see it.
Yer Prez
Nov 03, 2006
Mike frum Netherlunds / – that wouldn’t be Michael Jackson’s Netherlins , now wood it? – …..Huh, ooh, NETHur lens – heh heh – sure, I know- that’s in Ur-ip, ain’t it?
Yeah, well don’t worry Mike, we’re invading Ur-ip after the erection – you probably won’t have any leck-tri-city anyway…heh, heh…
Jes kiddin Mike… too damn cold up there fer Burp and the twins, heh heh
Gotta git – havin a ro-dee-oo at Abu Gravy – or was it Git-tanto-mo…?
Yer Prez
Tim
Nov 03, 2006
Demonstration proved nothing. Assuming (pretty big assumption) that the demonstration was carried out EXACTLY as described, there is one very important fundamental flaw. THE INITIAL CARD THAT WAS PROVIDED BY THE CONSULTANT TO THE ELECTION ADMINISTRATOR WAS NOT IN THE RELEASE STATE THAT THEY ALL ARE WHEN FIRST OPENED AND USED. IT HAD BEEN TAMPTERED WITH PRIOR BY THEIR OWN ADMINISION. THEREFORE, IN ORDER FOR THE RESULTS TO BE CHANGED AS ADVERTISED, THE “HACKERS” IN A REAL ELECTION WOULD HAVE TO BE ABLE TO GET ACCESS PRIOR TO THE INITIAL DISTRIBUTION. TOO MANY DIFFERENT PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT POLITICAL PERSUASIONS COULD NOT ALLOW THAT TO OCCUR. IT IS AMAZING THAT FOR A GOVERNMENT/PARTY THAT IS RIDICULED FOR BEING TO INCOMPETENT COULD BE COMPETENT ON THIS ISSUE, ISN’T IT?
They also made a big deal about the “executable code” on the card. They made it sound so mysterious as to call it “living”. But they did not provide any more specifics. As a software developer, the details are in the specifics in this case. It looked sensationalized to me.
The point earlier was stated and should be again pointed out…. Had Kerry won and/or Gore in 2000, this would’ve not been made.
Finally, should the Dems not take control of Congress, watch out for these accusation to fly around the country. If they do take control, the silence will make you deaf.
Michael Hampton
Nov 03, 2006
I just want to note briefly that the only arrests I heard of for voter fraud after the 2004 election were of Democratic election officials.
I suspect that if the Democrats do take control of Congress, the Republicans will finally pick up this ball and start running with it.
This is why we should be clear: This is not a partisan issue.
Sten Ryason
Nov 03, 2006
To George “By the way, I’m gay”:
Having not seen the film, I cannot comment on your comment that it’s all about the left-wing conspiracists. I have read (repeatedly) in other politically neutral publications one particularly interesting point:
In most circumstances (over 90%), the errors have favored Republican candidates.
Guess that makes me a left-wing conspiracist…
Jeff Sawyer
Nov 03, 2006
This is a concern for everyone. In the show a Republican candidate found machines rigged against her. It is not just the Democrats that need to worry. For example there are some voting machines made in Argentina and they have sent up their experts to make sure the election goes well. If you remember the leader of Argentina called President Bush the devil. So will those elections go Democrat, will we hear the same outcry then?
It does look like our elections are up for sale. For what legitimate reason be billing a political party. That just does not look right. Maybe they do have a legitimate reason, but they are not saying, so if nothing else it looks bad and like they are taking money to fix elections.
For my 2 cents, we need to go low tech, not high tech. Unfortunately the higher technology something is, the easier it is to go wrong. India has a democracy 3 to 4 times larger than our own and they produce good election results in less than a day. For the sake of speed we use machines that can be easily and undetectably rigged to do our counting for us. We need to go back to physically counting the votes. Slower, but harder to rig the election.
T-Bone
Nov 03, 2006
Why is this being made into a partisan issue? Shouldn’t it be a concern to everyone that there are private companies using proprietary software whose code by definition is kept secretive and that there is no paper trail available to prove, disprove, or otherwise identify any irregularities? It should concern everyone!!!
Doug Brenner
Nov 03, 2006
Whoever chose MS-Windows as the platform for a voting system should be jailed. Whoever in government actually approved this mockery of a system should join them in prison.
If security had been any concern whatsoever, even MS-DOS would have been less of a horrible choice for an operating system. But for an actually good choice, operating systems like VxWorks or QNX would be worth considering. A lightweight Linux kernel might actually be ideal.
But if the folks at Diebold had half a wit, they would have avoided the requirement for any operating system whatsoever, and just written their voting machine software so that it boots directly into the application.
But even then, it should ideally all be open sourced. Having a “black box” closed-source system handle our voting is really the opposite of transparency.
Neighbour fr. Canada
Nov 03, 2006
I cant believe what I read here… You are talking about Ms Dos, Linux, Windows etc… You really don’t get it… Do you ? It’s your fake “president” that hacked the election and you look for guilt in the software. Very intellectual post …
neutralsam
Nov 04, 2006
Thats why they, the GOP, has cut funding to eveyone that has any oversite in the matters of the country. Just look now we hear of all the problems with accountability in Iraqso they close the office???
No investigation will be done. look at 911 and what it took to get less then a half assed look into what happened that day.
The Bush Junta has quietly “tooled up” to utilize the U.S. military in engaging American dissidents after the next big crisis, with a frightening and overlooked piece of legislation that was passed alongside the Military Commissions Act, which greases the skids for armed confrontation and abolishes posse comitatus.
Morales traced the ancestry of the bill back to “Operation Garden Plot” and the United States Civil Disturbance Plan 55-2, now de-classified programs dating back to the 80’s which outlined how the military would be involved in suppressing domestic civil disobedience in America. The groups listed as potential non-conformist troublemakers included tax protesters, militia groups, religious cults, and various other general anti-government dissenters.
What will you do for your and your childrens Freedom.
Look how congress investigates the IRS and its fraud on the American people, generations have been rob by these crooks and Congress knows it.
America Freedom to Fascism, by Aaron Russo on google for free.
neutralsam
Nov 04, 2006
Fear and apathy is what guided the Jews into the ovens, we didn’t speak up then and we won’t now.
Your want Proof ask the IRS to show you the Law that says you have to pay income tax, if you dare.
See what I mean?
George
Nov 04, 2006
First you liberals bitched because you couldn’t figure out a “butterfly” ballot – it was too confusing with all those names. Then the “hanging chads.” I suppose you wont be happy until Democrats win – then maybe the election was finally fair in your biased minds. How come you don’t complain about all the dead people voting in Missouri as we speak – yes, I see dead people voting. Amazingly the dead seem to be all democrats because ACORN and the AFL-CIO has submitted over 10,000 registrations for these dead folks, some of which have been in the ground since 1969. It is funny how the liberals hate the idea of showing ID at the voting polls. Disenfranchisement – are you fucking kidding me. In my state of Ohio, and I believe in most other states, IT IS THE LAW TO CARRY ID AT ALL TIMES. You can’t even get a Blockbuster card without an ID, so why should Pedro the illegal immigrant or John Doe the dead asshole be able to vote? Those are real election reforms. Instaed of blaming the GOP for stealing votes maybe you should use your “great liberal minds” – OMG I almost vomited – to design a better system. BTW – although the CEO of Diebold is a Republican donor, what the DocuMockuMentary failed to point out is that the President and several VPs of Diebold are hard-core Democrat donors – Yes I live within shouting distance of Diebold, so I know more about their politics than someone say in liberal San Francisco or God-forbid, Seattle.
Maxxi Garrett
Nov 04, 2006
http://mindprod.com/politics/iraqwarpix.html
http://lexrex.com/enlightened/articles/warisaracket.htm
Hey all,
I’m posting 2 sites for you to cut and paste in an attempt to add some context to this subject. And I want to say as little as possible; I offer this with the best of loving intentions – this information, ironically, helps me stay somewhat sane amidst the hatefulness that is so common.
The first site is EXTREMELY GRAPHIC – war photos.
The second site is extremely enlightening – especially the SOLUTION offered in Chapter 4 “Smash the Racket”.
This is the Truth and the consequence of a political system run amuck.
To add insult to injury, this is the outcome of the voter/election fraud we’re discussing.
I ask you, look at these kids – how would you explain to them WHY they are homeless, orphaned, burned malnurished and tramitized by BIG LOUD AMERICAN BOMBS that come from the sky day and night?
What could possibly justify this?
That’s what the issue is – the Diebold stuff is just a means to this end,.
Again, EXTREMELY GRAPHIC – and the first photo, BTW, is an American soldier.
Peace
Maxxi Garrett
Nashville
George
Nov 05, 2006
When crazy-ass Muslims stop strapping bombs to themselves and killing our people and innocent others, then we will stop dropping bombs on their asses. By the way, when is the last time we have dropped a bomb? – Zarquawi – thats when. Stop acting like it happens everyday. And better them than us. I hold them accountable, just as they hold us accountable, for the actions of those around them. They can inform on these assholes hiding amongst their midst. But it seems they would rather protect their fellow Musliims than protect an “infidel.” so, yeah – Screw them in their sandy asses.
Xhtml
Nov 06, 2006
To the post above
OFc ourse it happens everyday day, you just don’t hear about it.
Dont let your partisanw ays fool you. Crazy ass muslims arent killing “our” people they are killing israels. Israel is not America. They are killing us becuase we invaded THEIR country, killing THEIR children. SIr, do not try to take a moral highground. There are two sides to every coin.
George
Nov 06, 2006
I wasn’t a wiz at history, but we wern’t in Iraq when 911 happened. We are infidels – we are kafirs – we are cattle to them. Pick up a Koran and read it and then tell me it is a religion of peace.
Nov 08, 2006
A comedy of errors: Election 2006 - Homeland Stupidity
tjana stasni
Nov 09, 2006
if you don’t care enough about your civilization to care about how your leaders are elected, then why do you even support it? revolution now, and tomorrow you can get on with your life without the bullshit baggage.
George
Nov 09, 2006
OMG I believe you now. The election was rigged. The Democrats won. Foul! Foul! Foul! – Do you liberals agree? Or was the election fair (meaning your side won)? I suppose I am a lone voice crying in the wilderness. Perhaps Diebold is waiting untill 2008 to unleash the “Mother Machines.” Yes that’s it! Those sneaky SOBs. Liberal hypocrites – there’s nothing like them. Revote! Revote! Revote! Revote! Revote! Revote! Revote! – See how silly you all sound now? Probably not.
George
Nov 28, 2006
I see that no one has bothered to blog here since the Democrats won – amazing! If the republicans had kept control of congress, this message board would have about 10,000 messages on it. Freakin’ hypocrites! If the machines were rigged, they were rigged. If not, then not. Please make up your minds before 2008.