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RE: Diebold Global Election Management System (GEMS) Backdoor Acc ount Allows Authenticated Users to Modify Votes
From: Jeremy Epstein <jeremy.epstein () webmethods com>
Date: Mon, 27 Sep 2004 14:41:28 -0400
That's a very interesting viewpoint, but one that's directly at odds with the trend in America today (and probably other countries too). In the US, corporations build nearly all the military equipment, do a lot of the military work, transport the mail (most US mail goes on jets run by private companies), run some of the jails, provide social services, deliver nearly all the healthcare (e.g., for Medicare and Medicaid), etc. In short, the US government can't run today without substantial work by private industry. Thus, Greg Woods' statement that we need to be "very clear in stating that free enterprise (and capitalism) has no place whatsoever at any time in the creation, formation, and instatement of a government for the people" is a lovely thought, and totally out of touch with reality. Not saying he's wrong in his desire; just that it's a much bigger issue than voting machines. Arguing that the government shouldn't be relying on private corporations to provide voting machines misses the point. The government ISN'T going to build its own voting machines; it's going to rely on the private sector, using laws and regulations to keep risk at an acceptable level. Besides, given what most of us know about government efficiency, would you WANT the government to be designing and building voting machines? Be careful of what you wish for, as you may get it! --Jeremy P.S. Worth noting that Mr. Woods lives in Canada, as judging by his domain and phone number. The relationship of government and private industry may be different in Canada from the US; I have no idea and wouldn't hazard a guess.
-----Original Message----- From: Greg A. Woods [mailto:woods () weird com] Sent: Monday, September 27, 2004 2:26 PM To: Jeremy Epstein Cc: BUGTRAQ: Full Disclosure Security Mailing List Subject: RE: Diebold Global Election Management System (GEMS) Backdoor Account Allows Authenticated Users to Modify Votes [ On Thursday, September 23, 2004 at 06:21:03 (-0400), Jeremy Epstein wrote: ]Subject: RE: Diebold Global Election Management System(GEMS) Backdoor Account Allows Authenticated Users to Modify VotesAnd I'd strongly discourage folks from calling for opensource, as itplays directly into the hands of folks like Diebold, who claim that the people (like me) who want Voter Verified Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs) are really trying to kill free enterprise. [Yes,I know allthe examples of businesses based on open source, but that'snot whatthis is about.]Well, that's pretty stupid. The answer is not to try to show that open source can be used in captialistic ventures, but rather to be very clear in stating that free enterprise (and capitalism) has no place whatsoever at any time in the creation, formation, and instatement of a government for the people. Indeed those involved in creating a government for the people need to be very wary of even the support of corporate entities since such support can invoke almost infinitely more power than any one governed individual can ever hold over his or her government or a government representative. Just as the Church(es) has(have) no place in the halls of government, neither do corporations. Corporations, despite being legally individuals, don't even need one vote as no matter what governments might do to regulate them they still have far more power than any human individual. -- Greg A. Woods +1 416 218-0098 VE3TCP RoboHack <woods () robohack ca> Planix, Inc. <woods () planix com> Secrets of the Weird <woods () weird com>
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- RE: Diebold Global Election Management System (GEMS) Backdoor Acc ount Allows Authenticated Users to Modify Votes Jeremy Epstein (Sep 28)