F I D O N E W S -- Vol.12 No.35 (28-Aug-1995) +----------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ | A newsletter of the | ISSN 1198-4589 Published by: | | FidoNet BBS community | "FidoNews" BBS | | _ | +1-519-570-4176 | | / \ | | | /|oo \ | | | (_| /_) | | | _`@/_ \ _ | | | | | \ \\ | Editors: | | | (*) | \ )) | Donald Tees 1:221/192 | | |__U__| / \// | Sylvia 1:221/194 | | _//|| _\ / | | | (_/(_|(____/ | | | (jm) | Newspapers should have no friends. | | | -- JOSEPH PULITZER | +----------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ | Submission address: editors 1:1/23 | +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ | MORE addresses: | | | | submissions=> editor@exlibris.tdkcs.waterloo.on.ca | | Don -- don@exlibris.tdkcs.waterloo.on.ca | | Sylvia max@exlibris.tdkcs.waterloo.on.ca | +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ | For information, copyrights, article submissions, | | obtaining copies of fidonews or the internet gateway faq | | please refer to the end of this file. | +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ ======================================================================== Table of Contents ======================================================================== 1. Editorial..................................................... 1 2. Articles...................................................... 2 Why Voting Is a Farce in Fidonet............................ 2 3. Fidonews Information.......................................... 3 ======================================================================== Editorial ======================================================================== Only one article this week, not much to say. Here is the snooze. FidoNews 12-35 Page: 2 28 Aug 1995 ======================================================================== Articles ======================================================================== Why Voting Is a Farce in Fidonet Bob Germer, 1:266/21 Region 13 is having an "election" to replace our recently departed Region Coordinator. The "election" is being held by a person shown in the nodelist as the "Region 13 Election Coordinator". Why do I use quotation marks around the word "election" you may well ask. It is because this is not an election as defined in any dictionary of the English language, as defined by any decent human being truly determined to insure that everyone has a voice and a vote, as defined by the most basic human decency. The "Election Coordinator" (funny that I can't find reference to this position in Policy 4) is the hand-picked puppet of the lead- ing candidate for the R13C position. The leading candidate is widely believed to have been instrumental in forcing Mike Walsh to quit as R13C although there is only rumor to support this claim. However, the R13 "Election Coordinator" made sure that he let the nets where his puppetmaster had significant support know about the "election" well before those nets where there was likely to be opposition were notified. Then he published rules which would have the Region nominate candidates, discuss the election, and vote all in less than 30 days! He didn't care that for the first 15 days many nets hadn't yet HEARD there was to be an election. He did modify the time table to allow an additional SEVEN days! Sysops, including myself, who dared to point out that this was unfair to those nets who hadn't been connected, that people were on vacation in August, that 37 days to run a Region-wide election was too short, etc. were cut off from the echo in which the candidates were to declare their candidacy, discuss the issues, answer questions, etc. Moreover, this "Election Coordinator" when he put out the rules did not divulge HOW sysops were to cast their ballots. There has been no notice in the 'Snooze. There has been no netmail. Those nodes who are cut off by the unilateral action of the "Election Coor- dinator" have no knowledge of where or when to send ballots, who the candidates are, what their positions on issues are, etc. We have no way of knowing what must be contained in our ballot. But the hand picked dufus who the leading candidate anointed acting RC refuses to rule on the complaints lodged against this high-handed "Election Coordinator" who acts as if he is the law unto himself. If this were an "election" in a Nazi, Third World, or Communist FidoNews 12-35 Page: 3 28 Aug 1995 Dictatorship, one could expect such actions. Afterall, people like Hitler, Idi Amin, Joseph Stalin, Mao Tse Tung, Ho Chi Minh, Musolini, etc. perfected such tactics to make sure that the chosen few controlled all elections. However, this is supposed to be Fidonet in a democracy where the right to vote is a paramount right. So, as long as little dictators are allowed to hold sham "elections" and appoint non-existant titles, there can be no democracy in Fidonet. As long as people who dare to show that the King is naked are silenced without recourse, using the words Fidonet and democracy in the same sentence is obscene. If the small minded, twisted, demented *C structure wishes to keep Fidonet as an oligarchy (which any rational being reading Policy 4 must realize was the intent of the Founder and the authors of Policy 4) all well and good. But at least have the decency to admit that there is no democracy in Fidonet. Stop the lies with these false "elections", empty words about sysop rights, peans to open exchange of ideas, etc. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ======================================================================== Fidonews Information ======================================================================== ------- FIDONEWS MASTHEAD AND CONTACT INFORMATION ---------------- Editors: Donald Tees, Sylvia Maxwell Editors Emeritii: Thom Henderson, Dale Lovell, Vince Perriello, Tim Pozar Tom Jennings "FidoNews" BBS FidoNet 1:1/23 BBS +1-519-570-4176, 300/1200/2400/14400/V.32bis/HST(DS) more addresses: Don -- 1:221/192, don@exlibris.tdkcs.waterloo.on.ca Sylvia- 1:221/194, max@exlibris.tdkcs.waterloo.on.ca (Postal Service mailing address) FidoNews 128 Church St. Kitchener, Ontario Canada N2H 2S4 voice: (519) 570-3137 sylvia: (519) 579-8029 Fidonews is published weekly by and for the members of the FIDONET INTERNATIONAL AMATEUR ELECTRONIC MAIL system. It is a compilation of individual articles contributed by their authors or their authorized agents. The contribution of articles to this compilation FidoNews 12-35 Page: 4 28 Aug 1995 does not diminish the rights of the authors. Opinions expressed in these articles are those of the authors and not necessarily those of FidoNews. Authors retain copyright on individual works; otherwise FidoNews is Copyright 1995 Donald Tees. All rights reserved. Duplication and/or distribution permitted for noncommercial purposes only. For use in other circumstances, please contact the original authors, or the eds. OBTAINING COPIES: The most recent issue of FidoNews in electronic form may be obtained from the FidoNews BBS via manual download or Wazoo FileRequest, or from various sites in the FidoNet and Internet. PRINTED COPIES may be obtained by sending SASE to the above paper-mail address. INTERNET USERS: FidoNews is available via FTP from ftp.fidonet.org, in directory ~ftp/pub/fidonet/fidonews. Anyone interested in getting a copy of the INTERNET GATEWAY FAQ may freq GISFAQ.ZIP from 1:133/411.0, or send an internet message to fidofaq@gisatl.fidonet.org. No message or text or subject is necessary. The address is a keyword that will trigger the automated response. People wishing to send inquiries directly to David Deitch should now mail to fidonet@gisatl.fidonet.org rather than the previously listed address. SUBMISSIONS: You are encouraged to submit articles for publication in FidoNews. Article submission requirements are contained in the file ARTSPEC.DOC, available from the FidoNews BBS, or Wazoo filerequestable from 1:1/23 as file "ARTSPEC.DOC". Please read it. "Fido", "FidoNet" and the dog-with-diskette are U.S. registered trademarks of Tom Jennings, and are used with permission. ' ' disgreement is actually necessary, or we'd all have to get in fights or semethin to amuse ourselves,, and create the requisite chaos." -Tom Jennings -- END ---------------------------------ooh----------------------------------