What's Tao Got to do with It?

And what, anatomically speaking, is my 'yin-yang'?

ANNAPOLIS -- An e-mail found in a collection of files stolen from Diebold Elections Systems' internal database recommends charging Maryland "out the yin-yang" if the state requires Diebold to add paper printouts to the $73 million voting system it purchased.

The e-mail from "Ken," dated Jan. 3, 2003, discusses a (Baltimore) Sun article about a University of Maryland study of the Diebold system: "There is an important point that seems to be missed by all these articles: they already bought the system. At this point they are just closing the barn door. Let's just hope that as a company we are smart enough to charge out the yin (later he clarified to have meant yin-yang) if they try to change the rules now and legislate voter receipts."

And there are more lovely emails from Diebold staff regarding bad press the company gets related to complaints about their "product".

"Linda Lamone (Maryland State Board of Elections chief), on the other hand, makes public statements airing dirty laundry and casting doubt. She's about power and control. She feels powerful when she makes negative comments. What she misses is that her negative comments reflect negatively on her. She should be proud of and support her initiative of a state wide voting change, rather than casting doubt on her own decision.

The outreach effort that was subcontracted to Chris Hood was micromanaged by the SBE. Mark Radke's and Chris Hood's professional advice about dealing with media fell on deaf ears. There's not much that we can do, other than hope that a new Republican Governor will effect change."

Hope isn't all you've got at your disposal, my dear; you work for Diebold. As soon as you get the bugs out, you'll be able to install Republican Governors wherever you like.