Harry B. McIntosh – 12/16/08

This page was last updated on December 29, 2008.

Technology can give us direct democracy; Harry B. McIntosh; Beaver County Times; December 16, 2008.

Below is a detailed critique of the subject letter.

“Why do we put so much of our money, energy and emotions into politics, Republicans, Democrats and independents alike?

“I have drained myself lately thinking of what a mess our political system has become.

“Are we not able to speak for ourselves? Why not eliminate the people we elect to speak on our behalf and speak for ourselves for a change?”

[RWC] Our Founding Fathers knew a democracy was just an eyelash away from mob rule. That’s the primary reason our Founding Fathers formed a representative republic instead of a democracy. It’s also a reason the Founding Fathers had the senators appointed by the states (Article I, Section 3) instead of being elected. The 17^th Amendment changed that.

“Why not set a central voting Web site into place? This is 2008 after all. The days of the Pony Express are well behind us. We have the technology at our fingertips to allow each American citizen to have a voice more than just every couple of years.

“Why not make the first of every month voting day? Sign into a federal Web site using your Social Security number and birth date. Make paper ballots available at the same precincts that are currently voted at for those without Internet access or even a toll free number to dial ‘‘Press 1 for ‘Yes,’ 2 for ‘No.’’’”

[RWC] The mob rule issue aside, has Mr. McIntosh heard of voter fraud?

“Allow the issues to be voted on directly by the people. Oh, how the world would be without having to watch the news every night to see what our elected officials have been up to behind closed doors.

“No more pinning the blame on a single man or woman for a poor choice. We could only hold ourselves accountable for the ultimate outcome of our decisions. Our nation was founded on the notion that the government would be run by the people. Why are we not running it anymore?”

[RWC] Repeating from above, the U.S. was founded as a representative republic instead of a democracy for a very good reason. If we can’t do a good job of electing good officials every couple of years, how would we do a good job educating ourselves on the many issues for which we’d vote?