tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11176218.post3353907629161906510..comments2008-07-28T13:57:44.296-07:00Karlos Gauna Schmiederhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02603085487940726800noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11176218.post-45856195509425318192008-07-28T13:57:00.000-07:002008-07-28T13:57:00.000-07:00Michelle, <BR/><BR/>I was so happy to hear you talk about responsibility and accountability. <BR/><BR/>The blame game. <BR/><BR/>So just who's to blame? <BR/><BR/>As is the conventional wisdom and path of least resistance, the impulse is to put the burden on voters to participate in their own democracy. <BR/><BR/>There's little to no proof of any misuse of people's information from election related civic engagement - whether it's at the voting booth or when registering voters.<BR/><BR/>The mistrust of the electoral process doesn't come from some imagined rigging of the process from engaged citizens, it comes from mistrust of existing systems and power structures. <BR/><BR/>The examples cited for most voter suppression efforts, like this one, are usually DMV or Blockbuster anecdotes about how and where folks give up their information to private companies, who are usually using the data for marketing purposes. <BR/><BR/>It's simply a false analogy. <BR/><BR/>The responsibility and accountability to ensure information is accurate and to protect people's information belong to the very electoral commissions and city, state, county and other local governments that hold elections. These blockbuster/DMV arguments really send a double message and undercut the argument - one, that the information is already out there and two that you already give up the information so what's the big deal? Well, exactly. So why put the burden on citizens? <BR/><BR/>And not elected officials and government systems to not only protect people's information (which should be easy, right, because you have all the information, no?), but also to promote and empower groups to register and inspire voters to participate in the decisions that affect their lives? <BR/><BR/>If it's about training, governments should go out of their way to make sure they offer trainings to folks when and where it's convenient - otherwise it is an attack on voting, civil and human rights.karloshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02603085487940726800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11176218.post-56288416682344310202008-07-28T09:51:00.000-07:002008-07-28T09:51:00.000-07:00This reminds me of the MVD-Express type of places. The state is extending one of their usual functions to an outside organization. You can still go through the official channels, but it's not as convenient. You are giving a stranger your name, address, birthdate and Soc. Sec. number. You are trusting them to handle and turn it in properly and quickly, and not to misuse your personal information. Don't you want them to have training, responsibilty, and accountability?michelle meadersnoreply@blogger.com