Contact the French Embassy like I did -- ask them to help us!

Daniel Spillane
410 E Denny Way #229
Seattle, WA USA
[phone] [e-mail]

Chancery
US Embassy, The Nation of France
101 Reservoir Road, N.W.
Washington D.C. 20007

June 3, 2004

Chers Messieurs et Madames :

My name is Daniel Spillane, and I am a citizen living in Seattle, Washington, in the United States. I am writing to you because I am very concerned that democracy has all but disappeared in my country, and France represents a wise, honorable and old friend of the US. As you know, long ago, the nation of France gave the Statue of Liberty to the United States in recognition of the strength of US liberty and democracy—the statue stood here proudly as a symbol of unity between “sisters.” But now, I fear, the statue stands not in pride, but in shame--on a foundation that is less of a democracy every day. You see, few things are closer to the foundation of democracy than free and fair elections, conducted under the rule of law. And it is in US elections where, unfortunately, the very foundation of US democracy has fallen into decay.

I am an expert on computer systems, and have applied my experience of over 20 years towards analyzing US voting equipment. Recently, I have had the opportunity to analyze information related to several US voting machine makers, and the legal system involved in conducting US elections. These US elections are claimed to be democratic, and appear to be so—at least on the surface. But below the surface, the laws and regulations that are supposed to ensure free and fair democratic elections are not being observed. In short, the US can no longer claim it is a democracy, given that many recent elections have been conducted without the rule of law.

Unfortunately, I and other citizens--including esteemed experts from US universities such as Stanford--have discovered that in a number of US states, supposedly democratic elections have been conducted without the rule of law. A prime example of an election carried out this way is the US presidential election of 2000. While stories of punch-card voting equipment involving “hanging chads” dominated the US media, few details were offered to the American public. Recently, upon re-addressing the Bush vs. Gore case along with technical details, I determined that election law couldn’t possibly have been met, based on the circumstances and law back then. This is an awful truth to discover, and one that has not been told to US citizens, nor to the rest of the world.

Specifically, a 1989 Florida law clearly states that after 1993, all Florida voting systems used in elections had to meet standards. As it turns out, those standards clearly state voting punch-card machines used after 1993 required “features to ensure that chad is completely removed.” However, the widespread existence of hanging chads, as publicized world-wide, clearly shows that the Florida election did not meet that law--and proves the 2000 election was conducted in contempt of the law. Remarkably, in the Bush vs. Gore US Supreme Court decision, no mention is made of the applicable “chad removed” standard, nor that the law was ignored. Furthermore, the responsible election official, Katherine Harris, was never held accountable--but was instead “rewarded” with a promotion into the US House of Representatives. And the American public was blindsided on the true nature of the law—consequently, the problem of Florida 2000 was never fixed. Indeed it was never even properly identified.

But US problems with democracy aren’t limited to just one election. It has since been discovered that a number of US States have since been conducting elections outside the rule of law—just like in Florida 2000--including the State of California, and my own State of Washington. And the problem isn’t one of punch cards, but of many US election systems, including the new electronic ones. In recent cases, mysterious changes to election results remain unexplained, including those in the states of Georgia and Alabama—yet these, like 2000, appear to be the result of lawless, non-democratic circumstances. Clearly in these cases, nothing had been done to fix the problems, which led to Florida 2000 and still persist. In fact, since 2000, a US Federal Committee was appointed to fix US voting, but was delayed by President Bush--and then funding was cut.

Yet, more recently, problems with democracy in the US seem to have spread well beyond just elections. Recently, the US invaded Iraq based on contrived evidence; several members under the Bush administration have resigned. And now, the US President is part of a criminal investigation, involving retaliation against his own government agents. So I am even more worried: lawless elections, lawless wars, and lawless presidencies are signs of tyrannical regimes--not of democracies. Even the US Supreme Court and Congress have failed to protect the American people from falsehood and treachery.

With all these things happening, I am hoping the nation of France can remember why it gave the Statue of Liberty to the US; and I am hoping France can see how the statue stands here in shame. I urge France to send representatives and observers to see evidence of problems in US elections and democracy; also, I urge France to raise the problems concerning US elections and un-democratic behavior to the United Nations.

I sincerely hope that France may aid America in the return to democracy. And for my part, I can no longer accept the gift of the Statue of Liberty--I urge you to consider the return of it. The statue rightly belongs in the hands of those who provide an example of democracy for the world to see. Once again, thank you for the statue, but it is now time to call on Old Europe to help bring honor back to where the statue stands. As an American citizen whose family fought in World War I and II, I beg France, and the rest of Europe for help--please help bring democracy back to the US.

I beg you to send help.

Sincerely,



Daniel Spillane
Seattle, WA USA
June 03, 2004

[russian33]

1. I'm sorry, but I think this is silly.

Speaking as someone who lives in NYC, I view the Statue not just a symbol of unite, liberty and democracy, but also as a symbol of New York. And especially in post 9/11 world, it brings comfort to me to see the Lady Liberty whenever I drive.

Asking France to request the statue back will do nothing bue jeopardize relations with France, and give another reason to GOP morons to pain France as a weak country, and childish (granted pouring French wine down the drain and renaming French Toast to Freedom Toast is as childish as one can get).

Sorry, but I disagree with your letter.

2. That's very American of you

I do not think it would jeopardize relations with France, if they remember why they gave the statue to us. And I think they do. The analogies to French wine and Toast are inappropriate.

The Statue of Liberty is NOT a "marketing symbol" for New York, and I am sorry you seem to think that.

But the US is all about marketing...I guess you help prove certain cynical points with your comment.

What's more important--a marketing symbol, or democracy itself??? If a statue gives you comfort while democracy decays, I am sorry.

But feel free to disagree. I have already gotten a lot of positive responses to the letter.