Fwd: My Phone Bill and India's Elections

[Guest guest]

My Phone Bill and India's Elections

A Short Essay

 

I recently relocated and began a new life with my wife and children.

As usual we had to find a residence, jobs, phone service etc. We

opted with T-mobile as our phone service provider. Initially we were

very happy with the conveniance and simplicity of our cell phone

service.

That all changed, however, when our phone service was cut off. I

called customer service and was told that ACCORDING TO THE COMPUTER

I had gone over my usage limit. I asked the representative to tell

me which calls in particular I supposedly made or recieved that put

me over the limit. The rep then read out a series of phone numbers I

had never called and also claimed that I made a series of text

messages as well.

 

At the risk of lacking tech savviness, I admitted that I never made

text messages for the simple reason that I nor my wife know how to

make text messages. But the rep was adamant and basically said that

until I payed the $300 I supposedly owed my service would be

discontinued until further notice. I was helpless.

 

As I listened to the T-mobile rep inform me that as long as the

computer says I owe the money I must pay I had the TV news on.

Suddenly I heard that rare word in the US media...INDIA. So I

ignored the ongoing rambling of the ineffective customer service rep

and listened. ABC's Peter Jenning's announced,"India, the world's

largest democracy, begins its balloting today using electronic

computerised systems."

 

I was stunned. Here I was, my life put on hold while I tried to

convince T-mobile that despite what the computer says, I do not owe

any money for calls I never made or recieved. Just as adamantly the

T-mobile rep said that I do owe the money and that I obviously made

the calls. To add insult to injury the T-mobile rep then claimed

that I was simply trying to get out of my contract.

 

IF THESE COMPUTERS CAN NOT ACCURATELY GAUGE ONE FAMILY'S PHONE USAGE

HOW ON EARTH CAN THEY BE TRUSTED WITH THE DESTINY OF THE WORLD'S

LARGEST DEMOCRATIC NATION???!!!

 

So here we are post election. We are told that the "People" decided

to throwout India's first truly indigenous-value-based leadership

not just on the national level but on every level. Anyone

questioning the results is being labelled a racist or conspiracy

freak.

 

T-mobile still demands my hard-earned money for usage I never used

and its reps claim that I am just an irresponsible customer. I have

filed complaints with the BBB (Better Business Bureau) and the FCC.

But meanwhile I have no phone service because the COMPUTER says I do

not deserve one.

 

According to the computers, India does not want stability and its

people are blind to the great strides India has achieved under

Vajpayee's leadership.

 

The fact is only two things happened.The computers are incorrect, as

they are about my phone bill, or they were criminally manipulated by

anti-democratic forces.

 

Democracy is too personal, fragile and important to be left to

machines. California the economic powerhouse of the USA agrees and

has banned their use. India should do the same.

Vrin Parker

 

 

http://www.kron4.com/Global/story.asp?S=1830963&nav=5D7lMkhJ

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/4874091/

ACLU Wants Investigation Of E-Voting Machines

http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/2895813/detail.html

 

BBC ON THE DANGERS OF COMPUTERIZED ELECTIONS

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/3169706.stm

Risks in Computerized Elections

http://www.notablesoftware.com/Papers/RisksPGN.html

If You Want To Win An Election, Just Control The Voting Machines"

http://www.commondreams.org/views03/0131-01.htm

--- End forwarded message ---