Intrepid investigative reporter..or just plain stupid?

Peter Cunningham set out to expose a flaw in Canada's electoral laws during the recent federal election. As an American studying at U of T, Cunningham is not eligible to vote, yet decided to test the waters by using a hydro bill and student ID as proof of residency in order to do just that.

He then proceeded to write an article, saying his test proved that the rules for registration "are too lax," and the potential for fraud "immense."

And now he's in trouble for -- you'd better sit down for this -- voting illegally.

Peter, Peter, Peter..Duuude! Here's a little piece of advice: Doing something illegal to expose something never, ever works. Remember Pete Townshend? Couple of years ago the ex-Who genius gets nabbed for possessing child porn, saying yes it was his, but it sickened him and he was doing some "research".

Put it another way, Peter: let's say you're pinched for shoplifting a Britney Spears CD at Wal-Mart. We all know what it's like to suddently want to steal Britney Spears products after all, and in this particular instance you can't help yourself and -- bam -- you're caught. So, according to your logic, you would tell security that you were "exposing the security flaws at Wal-Mart", and that your written report will follow.

See what I mean?

The sad thing, Peter, is that you of course are right. Canada's electoral laws are a joke. But there's no reason to get yourself in deep when everybody already knows there's a problem. That's just kind of ...dumb.

But keep digging...who knows what you'll find someday.