BCS, American Idol, and Connecticut Referendum: Truth in Voting

The Bowl Championship Series (BCS) is a system used by the College Bowl owners to determine which teams should play in which college bowl. Before BCS the Rose Bowl was considered at one time to be the final determination of which team is the national champion.Under old rules the sports writers, coaches , and others made this decision using real data and secretive subjectivity to categorize teams and make the matchups. BCS added a "computer algorithm" to add more logic (and mystery) to this process to legitimize the outcomes. With "sports junkie" activity now in Congress and preferences expressed by the President himself, it seems that a congesssional inquiry may reveal how much "truth" there is in all this and why a "bracketology based" extensive playoff season is needed.

While sports fans debate the merits of all this, one can only imagine how this may affect the grades of players in college who are supposed to be studying. With a prolonged season they may never go to class. It is also questionable if the existing system or any improvements would satisfy the most rabid fans, but nobody asked them. Sports elites make all the rules and apply their "black box" formula to choose the champion. No voice for fans who pay for all this and add to the enjoyment of watching the game.
American Idol is a very popular variety show and entertains millions of viewers worldwide. Ambitious, dreamy contestants come from all over and go through a series of selection filters in the audition process months before the airing of the live TV program.This practice eliminates many "artists" from the list before the shows multi night airings with procedures designed to bring the best short list to the TV program.Over a few weeks these finalists are weened weekly until the final show when the winner is selected.
The process, as depicted, allows viewers to vote with their cell phones by calling a unique number for each contestant to express their choice. The purist may question how each vote or cell call is treated when multiple calls from the same cell or phone number are made.It is also bewildering how the computer/phone handling system may track such a large volume and tabulate the results without losing a call (vote), to say nothing of suspicions regarding the audit trail of this complex. The true skeptic wonders where the fraud begins and ends. There are ways to block calls made from the same cell or phone number after the first call placing the the single allocated vote. THere are firms that can certify the accuracy and integrity of such a system to assure the most suspicious, like myself.
But , hey, this is show biz and entertainment. Not one man one vote.Not a democracy.
A Voter Referendum process for Connecticut would allow the voting public to "up or down" a proposed law or change to an existing law as is common practice in many states.Voter registration lists are used to authenticate only those allowed to vote. The process is clearly defined, accurate and can be tracked to insure integrity.One man, one vote, for all. We don't need to invent or purchase anything to make this happen.
There is no better way to get the input of all to determine the will of the people and their wishes to make Connecticut a better place to live. No elites, no filters, no questions of integrity, all data and information is transparent and is considered by all to make the decision.We don't need elites to decide what we need and dictate that through arrogant laws.
In the 2009 legislative session when a Voter Referendum bill was proposed, no public hearing was held and the bill died. This 2010 session has seen extensive discretionary debate over Sunday sales of liquor that could have been applied towards this important topic.
Hey, you could call your legislator and tell him what you want. Will he listen?

For additional comments on this topic please view my blog history;
1. April 1, 2009, Who Speaks for Connecticut?
2. March 21, 2009, Voice of Anonymity
3. March 24, 2009, Term is Up!