The Election Crisis

Machine counts will always carry an inherent error, and in most cases this error is acceptable. If a machine count has an error of approximately 2 percent and county election result in a 60 - 40 split, the error is not enough to sway the election in anyway. But if an election is 49.5 to a 50.5, it is likely that the error in machine counts could turn an election in that county.

When the error ballots are manually counted, statistically it will result in more votes for the local dominant party. Counties that were dominantly Republican will in turn give more Republican votes, as have the predominantly Democratic counties which have been manually recounted. The only way to have a fair recount is to recount the whole state, so that error accumulates over each individual county.

The fairest option is a full state manual recount. Next in preference is no recount at all. Least fair is doing partial recounts in selected counties.

Arturo Iglesias

The Florida vote has appeared terribly confusing for many, perhaps most, Americans because the vital issue of voter fraud has become muddled with interpretation of voter law. Politeness be damned; the real issue is widespread criminal behavior. In light of the national moral indignation shown to President Clinton for being seduced by an intern, where is the same moral outrage at the obvious voter fraud in Florida?

When three Dade County officials stopped the recount on a Wednesday, and they had to do was get more help to meet the Friday deadline. That the Palm Beach recount was not accepted because they were two hours late (largely caused by some officials challenging so many votes that weren't even questionable) indicates that the voter fraud is more widespread than Dade County. That Katherine Harris, Florida's secretary of state (who campaigned for Bush), declared Bush the winner in Florida before the court battles were resolved reveals a pattern of voter fraud that could qualify under the Ricoh law. No doubt all this is but the tip of the iceberg.

Glenn Goytil

It is time for the antagonistic fury of the partisans and pundits to subside and let the rule of law prevail in this election. Although Bush supporters claim to have the law on their side, facts reveal otherwise. Manual recount and judicial review are a normal part of a close election. The Bush campaign's tactic of torpedoing manual recounts and undermining faith in the judicial system is reprehensible, and voters nationwide will never accept an election decided by the overtly partisan Florida legislature or the U.S. Congress.

Throughout his campaign George W. Bush repeated the theme, "I Trust the People!" If this is true, why is he so afraid of finding out the true tally in Florida? Could it possibly be because he KNOWS that Vice President Gore won Florida just like the exit polls predicted (before his brother fixed things for him)? He is finally showing us his true uncompassionate self. I fully support Vice President Gore's right to contest the election in Florida and to demand a total and fair recount. Until that time, I will not consider Mr. Bush the legitimate President of the United States.

Patricia A. Jennings (Napa)

I hope Al Gore keeps fighting these election results. Bush is not the "sharpest tool in the shed" and one man does not actually run the country, but he represents this country. I realize Ronald Reagan was president, but I believe even during his "Alzheimer years" he was more on the ball then George W. Some find that appealing because he seems like a "normal guy." For president I want a lot more.

"berrypreyor"

An Open Letter to Democrats: You probably never thought you would live to see middle America and mainstream Republicans galvanized to resist your ongoing takeover of America. But like other power-hungry groups in history, you didn't know when to hold back. And finally we have begun to resist.

Most of us have never attended a political demonstration. Most of us are not particularly political, preferring work, family, sports, and communal associations to political activism. But now we are angry. By golly, even Bob Dole is angry. Republicans are actually organizing demonstrations. Call it the Chad Revolt.

We have watched in silence as organization after organization has been taken over by liberal and Democratic activists -- from the American Bar Association, to the League of Women Voters, to the American Library Association. We have watched in silence as you've taken over children's courts and the ranks of social workers. Many of these people believe that children are better off with no parents than with parents of a different race. They believe that children should almost always be given back to blood-related parents, even those who horribly abuse them. We have watched in silence as trial lawyers take over more and more of American life, leaving citizens prey to lawsuits they cannot defend themselves against.

Given all this silence in the face of your attempt to control America, it is no wonder you thought you could litigate your way to the presidency. And maybe you could. But lo and behold the rest of us are beginning to fight. Yes, that large block of America between New York and California that in your hearts you believe to be racist, bigoted, anti-Semitic, homophobic and misogynist, is fighting back. Thankfully for America, you made a big mistake.

Lee Helle

I just found out about the Monitor and it's great. Thanks for all your hard work. Great job!!!!! I've already told a bunch of people about it and will continue to do so.

"Redwood Rainsongs"

This country is going to be at a standstill until the next election in 2004.

"Fjewers"

George Bush, The Fortunate Son

Great article about Bush corruption. I wish more people would see it.The Bushes have stunk up Florida so bad it may never recover.

John5750

I think it is fortunate for the Bush campaign that this book was destroyed. I am appalled that something like this is happening in our country today. No matter who else is right in regards to Mr. Bush, they will be made out to be a liar.

Joan Pittman

The Unexamined Man

While examining the "extraordinary act of censorship by CNN" in suppressing Larry Flynt's accusations of Bush's involvement in an abortion, Mr. Elliott missed what I believe to be the true motivation for CNN's actions. Should you choose to publish this letter, I respectfully request that you withhold my name and email address, as I am an employee of a Time Warner subsidiary and I fear retribution should my identity be known.

There is no doubt that CNN did not want to air Flynt's comments, but CNN's excuses for doing so are smoke and mirrors. CNN's censorship and subsequent removal of the interview from their archive had nothing to do with their ethical desire not to spread harmful, unsubstantiated allegations that might sabotage the election. I believe that CNN acted solely in their own corporate self interest.

CNN is owned by media monolith, Time Warner, which is currently negotiating with the Federal Trade Commission for approval of their proposed merger with America On-Line. Throughout these negotiations, the Republicans on the FTC committee have been mostly favorable towards the merger, while the Democrats on the committee have been the ones raising concerns about the implications of these two companies becoming one. Had Flynt's allegations been given a proper airing, there is a strong possibility that it would have resulted in a scandal for Bush that could have alienated many of his supporters on the religious right. Had such a scandal cost Bush the election, would the Republicans not look for retribution? All fingers would have pointed to the CNN interview and one could surmise that the once supportive Republicans on the FTC would find reason to object to the merger.

This is not the first time Time Warner has compromised their "standards" in order to calm potential political storms that could jeopardize their endeavors. In the last decade, much controversy whirled around the music industry regarding sex and violence in music lyrics. Congress was holding hearings and threatening to take action against record companies if something wasn't done. Congress (with the help of Tipper Gore) pushed to have record companies place warning labels on their music products that contained what was deemed objectionable language. The music industry howled in protest. They knew that many mass merchants (as in Wal-Mart) would refuse to sell product labeled as objectionable, which would seriously erode sales of their products.

As the battle lines were being drawn between the music industry and the government, Time Warner grew strangely quiet. This was very odd, considering that Time Warner and it's various music subsidiaries were the dominate player in music at that time, holding the largest market share in music sales world wide. Instead of fighting a labeling scheme that would surely impact their profits, they volunteered to comply with the government's wishes. Not only did Time Warner volunteer to comply with the labeling of their product, they censored one of their biggest rap artists, Ice-T, and severed their ties with one of their most notorious record company relationships, American Recordings. All of this from a company that previously touted their support of free speech and the integrity of their artist's works.

Why would Time Warner roll over so easily on something that would seem on the surface to be harmful to their bottom line? It was because Time Warner had their eye on a bigger prize, for while all of this controversy was raging around music, Time Warner was heavily involved in lobbying for changes in federal telecommunications regulations that would eventually result in the landmark Telecommunications act of 1996.

Prior to 1996, federal regulations stood in the way of Time Warners desire to build an interactive cable television empire, fueled by Time Warners fast entertainment holdings. Time Warner invested years of effort and millions of dollars to lobby for the regulatory changes that would allow them to purchase cable companies in major markets. They weren't about to allow a fight in congress over music lyrics jeopardize the big prize. The money they would make on their cable ventures would more then compensate them for the lost music sales.

Shortly after passage of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, Time Warner went on a buying spree, gobbling up cable companies that would have been prohibited to them before. Now Time Warner could deliver their massive news and entertainment content via cable to millions of televisions and broad band internet connections. Little did they know that a merger with AOL would come along, giving them the opportunity to exploit these cable networks beyond their wildest dreams.

Which brings us full circle back to why CNN felt compelled to suppress Mr. Flynt's allegations. Ethics had nothing to do with it. It was the desire of the two media giants will to obtain FTC approval of their merger that won CNN's silence. Just as Larry Flynt wonders why no one is asking the question about Bush's abortion issues, I wonder why no one is asking why CNN buried the story. Even Mr. Elliot's fine article failed to grasp the bigger picture behind CNN's deceit.

Why I Don't Like Dick Cheney

I read Larry Jordan's anti-Dick Cheney article. I am currently writing a paper on the Bob Woodward book "The Commanders" and am focusing on his callous treatment of General Woerner, who was the Southern Command's CINC until Cheney had him relieved during the Noriega crisis. I heard he had also publicly chastised an Air Force Chief of Staff. Can you shed any light on this incident?

Grant Porter

Julia Butterfly's "Luna" Redwood Slashed

An open letter to the perpetrator who attacked Luna: I am so sad imagining the hatred and hopelessness you must feel in your life to commit such a crime of violence against an ancient creature of this beautiful Earth. Who are you? Are you a logger out of work? Are you the child of a logger out of work? Do you blame the people who wish to preserve the last little slice of majestic Nature or the very trees themselves for your poverty of body/mind/spirit?

What you have done is in line with raping and leaving for dead your own mother/sister/daughter/wife. The grief and sickness I feel inside is almost overwhelming. Is this what you wanted me and others like me to feel? If so, why?

I'll bet you felt real powerful with your big chainsaw screaming and biting into the flesh and bone of that tree. You, who are so small could do that much damage! Wow, you probably felt like a real big guy for a while. I'm so sad that your life is so bleak and sorry and that you are so disenfranchised from the natural world that you needed to do what you did to feel powerful. Well, you showed us, didn't you? You sure showed that tree "who's boss." I hope the Earth can forgive you, because right now I certainly can't.

I feel so sorry for you.

Maddy Avena (Occidental)

Cloning Jesus

This whole article does not bring up a very important point -- Blood typing of the Shroud shows the blood to be AB blood. AB blood did not appear until after 500AD, so even if they clone the blood it will be the blood of some poor shlump from the "dark ages, "not the blood of Jesus.

Les Peterson

Fortuna Alliance

What ever happened to Augie Delgado and his company Fortuna? Do you have a copy of the Compensation plan using fibonacci concepts?

"Lrstegall"

I signed up in the early days with the $250.00 elite package. I heard about the lawsuit, and I did not request a refund. I believed in this concept, and when information came out for Fortuna II, I was excited that this concept was soon to take off. I moved and sent my new address so that I would receive updates, now here it is three-four years later and I wondered what happened. I would really like to know if Fortuna is still carrying this concept to the next level. I would like some more information that may be available.

Del Hillman (Florida)

I would like to know how can I contact this organization and have my money back.

"Gbct" (Netherlands)

Our 1996 investigative story on the Fortuna Alliance pyramid scheme still draws hundreds of readers a week, but there have been no new developments for the last two years. In 1998, the Federal Trade Commission finished distributing $5.5 million that had been collected from Delgado and other Fortuna principals. Delgado and the others were cited with contempt for not paying an additional $2+ million. More details are available at the FTC Fortuna settlement web page.

-- Editor

Next War, Prologue

Increasingly, U.S. Government employs private security forces abroad. Question: When does a private security force become a mercenary force? Question: What international laws govern U.S. paid private security forces that are engaged in the Colombian drug war? Question: Can private contractors doing business in or with a U.S. jurisdiction, be sued, when they or their contracted members commit criminal acts in a conflict zone? Example, can injured Colombian's use the racketeering Law (RICO) to sue private security corporations in the U.S. for being a Criminal Racketeering Enterprise in Colombia? In effect, acting like gangsters abroad.

Importantly: Can the U.S. Government conceal from lawsuits and prosecution paid private security force members and their activities?

Ross Regnart

Sweatshops

I recently read you article regarding sweatshops. Though interesting, I found it unhelpful in that you did not give any alternatives to businesses using sweatshop labor. Please provide this type of information. As it stands, it is nearly impossible to avoid sweatshops, therefore boycotting those businesses would not be possible (this seems to be a point backed by many other sites which advocate using voice instead of buying power to change the situation).

Jim Harper

The best resource is sweatshopwatch.org's web section for Shop with a Conscience.
-- Editor

Killer Vaccine
The Tainted History of the DPT Vaccine

I would like to aquire more info on Polio vacination and epilepsy. I recently found out that I had recieved tainted polio vaccine while living in Japan in 1962. No one has been able to give me a reasonable explaination for my epilepsy which still affects me today. My father told me last night that I had recieved the tainted vaccine and I'm very much interested in exposing this atrocity perpetuated on the masses.

John Johnston

I am interested in finding out more about the DPT lawsuits that occurred in the 1980's. Specifically, my son died within 24 hours of his first DPT injection in April 1985. He was 3 months old and the autopsy said it was SIDS. I have tried to pursue this in vain as apparently there was a 4-year window for submitting a suit that expired in 1991.

Donna Borden (Amarillo)