For Lilian and the Indigos - Above Top Secret

The problem with even the hard copy is that it isn't hard enough. Electronic processing
and storage of records (votes) are susceptible to more than just hacking, so a second form
of securing and validating vote data must be integrated. The advantage of E-Government
then is also its downfall – the fleeting, real-time processing is appropriate for our time but
we need something concrete to show that it works. The solution then is a record hall that
consists of a stretch of wall(s) of suitable ceramic material with a robotic etching device
capable of navigating its surface. The robot will physically etch votes for EVERY
registered citizen into a wall of appropriate ceramic next to their nicks. The vote cycle
requires every voter to physically validate that their etched vote corresponds to their
earlier E-vote – which is also publicly displayed. The validation of the vote will come
after the law goes into effect but any discrepancy will be obvious and easy to correct; it is
in fact this potential for discrepancy that is the ultimate check and balance to this system
of social engineering. As is the case now the voter must go somewhere in their county to
do this and there will be officials there to assure security and privacy and to witness the
validation. By cross-referencing the publicly displayed yet totally anonymous E-Vote
with the Etched Record, and having a deferred validation, the problem of security is
solved – while allowing quick legislation. The issue of validating nicks to actual people
and how that data is stored is solved at the "Vote Hall" during registration. There will be
no electronic version of this data, instead the Vote Hall will consist of ONE human
record keeper who will hand file and co-witness a paper hard copy of the registration. As
mentioned, every cycle when the voter validates the etched record, the event is witnessed
as well. To ensure that these official record keepers have no absolute power over the
privacy of these records, the Vote Hall is monitored with webcams with enough
resolution to see what's happening but not the fine print. The nagging question of any
entity between the mouse and the robot tampering with the process is more a matter of
how long a deferment is allowed for validation. If one is given a week to validate
(reasonable, if it’s within a 40 mile trip) their e-vote then the discrepancy is corrected
before the e-vote goes into effect. If given 6 months to a year,then a false vote may have
wreaked havoc before the problem is corrected. Another question arises: if one vote is
wrong, does that call for a revote? A majority of false votes would be difficult to pull off
anyway…Perhaps it would be best to only enact the vote results after all have been
validated; how long does congress take again?
TAXES
Taxes will be drastically simplified by creating a 30% flat rate with 70 percent of that
going towards GHOST VOTES – the equivalent of taxes and bribes hybridized. Here's
how it works. Of your pay, 30% goes to taxes. 30% of that goes to mandatory programs
dealing with environment, infrastructure, health and education. The other 70% of your
taxes are voluntary; they go to whatever special interest interests YOU. This money
simultaneously counts as your Ghost Vote; every $100 you give to the issue or program
of your choice counts as one vote. This ghost vote does not count in elections but the data
are used to compare the budget (needs) to the popular vote. It is therefore possible for an
unpopular program or vote issue to have a greater budget than the winning one. If there
are no issues or programs you want to monetarily support, or the money you gave can't be