In the first half, author Bev Harris discussed the election process and why ballots can sometimes be marred by both non-working voting machines and broken electronic poll books. She offered a critique of the recently proposed "vote-by-mail" system, and suggested methods for safe and fair elections. Differentiated from absentee ballots, vote-by-mail involves sending registered voters ballots, and has been promoted as safer than going to the polls in the COVID-19 era. Yet, Harris found that certain essential protections have been removed from the vote-by-mail process in many states, such as matching a signature to one on file in order to validate. Also, with vote-by-mail, the chain of custody is lost, Harris cited.
She reported on problems with recent voting in Georgia, where the court ruled that ballots without signature matching could be validated. Georgia used inadequate voting machines, she commented, which led to long lines, and there was no paper ballot back-up system. She suspects there will be significant problems in the November 3rd election in America, and results may not be certified until days after the election, if they don't end up being litigated in court. One organization, the Coalition for Good Governance, is working to solve some of Georgia's voting problems. The concept of drive-through voting could be a viable option in some locations, Harris added, because you can have all the safeguards with ID check, and single voter/single ballot.
---------------
Anthropologist Lilith Dorsey, MA, hails from many magical traditions, including Celtic, Afro-Caribbean, and Native American spirituality. In the latter half, she delved into the Voodoo religion and rituals, as well as the key goddesses of African religious traditions. Voodoo, she explained, began as a slave religion and entails strong resources to help those going through hard times. Rather than used for nefarious purposes, the well known "voodoo dolls" have been used to effect healing or to remember a deceased loved one that the doll symbolizes, she detailed. Serving as a Voodoo Priestess, Dorsey said her function is similar to other members of the clergy. She assists those who may be sick and have relationship troubles or other issues.
Orishas, she noted, are different types of deities or forces of nature originating in African religions, and celebrating the divine feminine. For instance, there is Oshún, who represents the river and is considered the Orisha of love. Orishas act as a guiding force, and practitioners become initiated and dedicated to specific ones, Dorsey pointed out. She considers "New Orleans Voodoo" to be a unique gumbo of influences that includes Haitian, Santeria, and other African traditional religions. Dancing and singing can be forms of Voodoo practice, she said, with chanting producing a sacred vibration or sound that attracts the divine energy of the Orisha. For a caller whose wife was plagued by a demonic spirit, Dorsey recommended placing saltwater or holy water under the bed to help collect negative energy. The water should be changed each day, and a more substantial cleansing in moving water like a river was also advised.
News segment guests: Howard Bloom, Roger Stone, Dr. Peter Breggin