Why does the (supposedly) most advanced democracy on the planet, which can: send men to the moon, conduct global wars, etc. continue to make such a ****-up of such a simple thing as voting?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Koz,

JERRY: We never should have landed a man on the moon. It's a mistake. Now everything is compared to that one accomplishment. I can't believe they could land a man on the moon . . . and taste my coffee! I think we all would have been a lot happier if they hadn't landed a man on the moon. Then we'd go, They can't make a prescription bottle top that's easy to open? I'm not surprised they couldn't land a man on the moon. Things make perfect sense to me now. Neil Armstrong should have said, "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for every, complaining, SOB on the face of the earth. "

* * *

GEORGE: I really can't comprehend how stupid people can be sometimes. Can you comprehend it?

KRAMER: No, no I can't comprehend it!

GEORGE: I mean we can put a man on the moon but we're basically still very stupid. The guy who's car this is? He could be one of the guys who built the rocket. You see what I'm saying?

KRAMER: Yeah, he could build the rocket but he's still stupid for double-parking and blocking somebody in.

GEORGE: So you really understand my point about building a rocket and double-parking.


-Jerry Seinfeld

According to your link:

"The biggest trouble lies not so much in the technology but in poll workers’ failure to follow the procedures that would assure reliable results."

Technology seems to make a lot more progress than human factors.

Sorry you guys, it won't wash that we accept (every 4 years) that we get poor polling procedures.
And it isn't only poor technique; do you remember all the stuff in Florida about bits of chaff, "Is it or isn't it?", the reports about faulty computerised voting systems this year and the turning away of (allegedly) legitimate voters every year? The list of failures goes on and on.
I'm hardly surprised that people are calling on the UN to monitor US elections. With a 3rd world voting system it's time we considered outside help to protect our citizenry from government.

Adi, I have no problem with foreign observers in our elections. Anything to keep us (and our government) honest. Our election process isn't perfect, and certainly changes are needed. We recognize that over here - since 2000, changes have been made, and the worst problems seen in Florida in 2000, have been addressed and dealt with. Now, that doesn't make our process perfect. I would like to see more universal policies across the US for monitoring the elections (they're different in each district), and sometimes I really wonder about the efficacy of the electoral college.

Overall, however, I think that when you call ours a "third world voting system," you are overstating the problem.