Text 25573, 88 rader
Skriven 2015-06-15 00:52:30 av Lee Lofaso (2:203/2)
Ärende: Understanding Elections
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Hello Everybody,

In the FN_SYSOP echo, Björn Felten asked a question
that apparently none of the other sysops have been able
to answer.  I do not believe that Björn Felten meant to
limit his question to sysops only - although I could be
mistaken.

Here are his comments, in full, so that I will not
be falsely accused by anybody of taking anything out
of context -

"If only I can understand how anybody can question the
outcome of an election that took place 13 years ago.

"In every fidonet election there is always a stipulated
time to `yell fowl and fix errors'. Usually a week (as in
e.g. all the FTSC elections). Sometimes more than that --
two weeks, one month even.

"In real life elections, it's usually a month or at most
two.

"But I have never even heard of an election where you
can contest the outcome of an election after more than
13 years.

"Anybody?"

- Björn Felten, FN_SYSOP, 6/14/2015

Explaining things to a Swede is not always easy.
But I will try my best.  An American was complaining
to Björn Felten about an election held in due accordance
with Viking Law (also known as The Law of Odin).
As Björn Felten should have realized, Americans do
things The American Way.  No other Way will do.
Not even The Way.

As an example, consider the US presidential election
that took place in the year 2000 between Al Gore and
George W. Bush.  Even though Al Gore received the most
popular votes, which nobody disputes, George W. Bush
was declared the winner.

Al Gore tried to make a federal case of it, but the
US Supreme Court upheld the victory by George W. Bush
by a 5-4 vote, thus making it the closest presidential
election in US history.

Talk about winning by losing.  Four years later,
John Kerry knew better than to make the same mistake
Al Gore did.  Better to let the Wookie win.

Besides, checkers is for tramps.

Now.  Where was I?  Oh, yeah.  Björn Felten
was saying it takes something like a month, or
two at most, to protest an election.

The US Supreme Court gave Al Gore two hours
to find the valid votes he needed to win the
election he claimed was being stolen by GWB.

Al Gore's failure to do so was his own damn
fault.  And everybody knows it.  At least
those five justices of the US Supreme Court
who told him so.

How To Win An Election Without Really Trying
- by Governor George W. Bush, the Man Who Wanted To Be King

1. Get your own voters to polling booth.
2. As soon as booth opens, help voters vote.
3. As soon as voters finish voting, close polls.
4. Declare victory based on incomplete results.

* If vote is challenged by opponent, bribe five
justices of the US Supreme Court to ensure victory

If that doesn't work, move on to Plan B -

** Promise brother the sun, the moon, and the stars

--Lee

--- MesNews/1.08.05.00-gb
 * Origin: news://felten.yi.org (2:203/2)