Clean up the mess

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Clean up the mess

by Joseph Farah

Did cheating make the difference?

President Bill Clinton and the California Democratic Party conspire to mail non-citizens and non-eligible voters bogus "Voter Identification Cards" to make it easier for them to cast ballots.

Entire units of U.S. servicemen overseas are denied absentee ballots, prohibiting them from voting for a new commander-in-chief.

The votes of homeless people in Wisconsin, a pivotal swing state, are purchased for packs of cigarettes.

Eligible voters in Florida are turned away from the polls, while non-eligible voters are permitted to cast ballots.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. I didn't have a dog in the race for the presidency. So, when I raise these points about irregularities and outright fraud in Tuesday's election, it's hardly a case of sour grapes. I did not vote for George W. Bush. I did not endorse George W. Bush. In fact, I am on record as saying I could not, in good conscience support him under any circumstances -- even though I detest Vice President Al Gore and consider him to be one of the most dangerous politicians in the history of the republic.

Nevertheless, there is a growing body of evidence to suggest that this election process was corrupted from the top.

Having investigated voter fraud over the years, I can tell you that it is widespread in America. It is rampant. But, before this election, I have never really seen compelling evidence of voter fraud orchestrated from the highest levels of government and by the top officials of a major party.

That's what happened in Election 2000. And, the result was the closest race in American history.

This is an explosive recipe for the future of the country. One of the things that people around the world admire about America is our ability for peaceful and orderly transitions of power. Americans take it for granted. But it is the exception around the world, not the rule.

In 1960, many believe, the U.S. presidential election was stolen by voter fraud in Illinois' Cook County. The loser in that race chose not to contest the results. Today, pundits look back at Richard Nixon with admiration for the way he walked away quietly.

Why did Nixon go quietly into the night? Because he had learned a lesson. He would not make the same mistake twice. In 1972, he won re-election to the presidency but was later forced to resign because, among other reasons, he cheated in the campaign -- resorted to dirty tricks even though there was apparently no political necessity to do so.

I do not admire Nixon for keeping his mouth shut in 1960. Nor do I admire him for Watergate crimes. His actions in 1960 and 1972 contributed to a climate of tolerance for political corruption.

So much so that in 1996, a million voters were created by a politicized Immigration and Naturalization Service. They included criminals -- even murderers. Oh, well. Victory never comes without a price. The whole deal, we now know thanks to David Schippers' book, "Sell Out," was conceived and directed by Gore.

No matter the result of the election recount in Florida, election fraud and irregularities must be addressed -- fully and promptly -- if the American political system is to have any shred of integrity left.

It won't be easy. The corruption of the system is a bi-partisan matter in a duopolistic system. Both parties have been on the take of foreign governments in recent years -- compromising policy-making and the best interests of the country. Both parties fund their campaigns largely at the public trough thanks to the wonders of a taxpayer-subsidized system that amounts to a protection racket for Democrats, Republicans and incumbents. Both parties are guilty of trying to buy votes through government transfers of wealth.

We are in bad shape, folks. The system needs to be cleaned out, turned upside-down, shaken up, restructured.

Modest reforms won't do the job. Tolerance for evil-doing and cheating will only lead to worse abuses, as they have in the past. Please don't let me hear about "campaign finance reform." What we need are free and fair elections, again -- pure and simple.

No matter how the recount turns out, there are going to be more disenchanted, turned off, alienated voters this year than ever before. There will be a greater temptation for honest citizens to "drop out of the system" than ever before. Guess what? The most corrupt politicians welcome that kind of alienation.

It's time to stand up and be counted -- not for Al Gore or George W. Bush -- but for integrity, honesty and fairness in our political system. How do we do that? By demanding thorough investigations of all the cheating, all the fraud, all the abuse. Let the chips fall where they may. Shine some light in the dark corners of the system. Get back to basics and the Constitution. Clean up the mess.

That process needs to begin at the local, state and national levels. But it won't happen without your voice being heard loud and clear.

-- K (infosurf@yahoo.com), November 10, 2000


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