End Russian influence in the American democracy

Russia is trying to disrupt flow of information democracy depends on- echo opinion letter from Florida published in TCPalm.  

"Donald Trump has publicly made more than 8,000 false or misleading claims, according to The Washington Post," Sooo, is Donald Trump being fed propaganda by a Russian source?

Information is power in a democracy.

One of the major elements of any democracy is an “information system*.” And because ordinary citizens play a significant role in political decision-making within a democracy, information is power. Therefore, if a foreign nation wants to disrupt a democracy, it will use tools (weapons) to damage the democracy’s information system.

Historically, some of these tools have been control of the press; use of rumors, insinuation, fake news techniques; clandestine operation of radio/TV stations; manipulation of political and media figures as collaborators; infiltration of organizations. Add to this, widespread disinformation, intimidation, fear-mongering and infiltration of social media systems.

Does any of this sound pertinent to today’s events? There is overwhelming evidence that Russia is using these tools in its campaigns against the United States.

To examine just a few, look at fake news: Donald Trump has publicly made more than 8,000 false or misleading claims, according to The Washington Post. Collaborators: The list of known indictments and plea deals in Robert Mueller’s probe is more than 37! Infiltration of organizations: A Russian agent with ties to the NRA is under arrest. Radio/TV: Is our president being fed propaganda by a national news agency? The list goes on and on!

We need to proclaim a national emergency and provide funds to build a metaphorical wall around our democracy’s information systems. We need to drain D.C. of any and all individuals with secretive ties to Russia, by means of forced resignation, censorship or impeachment.

We need to end secret spending by dark money groups. We need to be ever vigilant that First Amendment rights are protected. We need to contact our elected representatives and make sure they do not have their heads buried in the sand.

Lee Klein, Vero Beach

*Information History: During the American Revolution, Thomas Paine (1737-1809) was influential- Published in 1776 to international acclaim, Common Sense was the first pamphlet to advocate American independence.