Rage against the machine
Instead of defending our insecure system of voting ("Progressives Take on Election Fraud," 7/20/2012), Reid Magney, the spokesman for the Government Accountability Board (GAB), should have mentioned that:
-All of the machines are built for, sold, maintained and programmed by organizations that have had ties to individuals with right-wing and radical religious beliefs.
-A conspiracy to commit election fraud would only have to involve a few people in one of these groups. Note that some clerks do configure their machines for each election, but they cannot read or affect the underlying programming.
-The pre-election tests only show that the machines are capable of producing the correct results on a small number of ballots prior to election day. A real test would be counting the votes on election day, a test that the GAB has told election officials they cannot do.
Citizens can join Wisconsin Counts! on Facebook for more information.
Jim Mueller, Cross Plains
The horror
A new library director who will cheer for the Cornhuskers and counts an Ayn Rand book as his favorite ("Embracing Change Is Key for New Library Director," 7/20/2012)? What have we done?!
Terry Cremin
Pee-yoo!
As I recall, Mayor Dave Cieslewicz opposed an advisory board in order to raise bus fares. Now Citizen Dave suggests raising parking fees for Overture events from $5 to a more "reasonable" $15 ("Dane County Should Kick in for Overture," 7/27/2012). That ought to settle the argument that Overture is primarily a plaything of the privileged. Pee-yoo - something's rotten in Dane.
Terry Farley
Maybe not so smart
In determining that smart meters are "safe," the Water Utility and the city relied heavily on information provided by the smart meter vendor and associated industry groups ("Critics Question Safety of Wireless Water Meters," 7/27/2012). Here is some of the information they ignored.
First, smart meters are already causing health problems. In California, thousands of residents have suffered effects such as nausea and heart palpitations. Fifty-six local governments have now outlawed smart meters.
Second, the public health department assumes smart meters are safe because "cell phones are safe." However, most of the studies showing that cell phones are safe were funded by the cell phone industry. Most studies carried out by independent researchers show that radio frequency radiation, the kind emitted by cell phones and smart meters, has serious health effects. These effects include DNA breaks, which can lead to cancer.
You can protect yourself and your family by opting out of the smart meter installation. Just call the Water Utility at 608-264-5323. (And hope they don't install a "repeater" outside your house.)
Pacia J. Harper
