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.

Donald Trump makes dangerous tweet decisions - North Korea is nobody's friend

Trump makes foreign policy decisions without consulting allies
Tweet policies are dangerous. Echo opinion letter published in the TCPalm a Florida newspaper.

Donald Trump’s most recent foreign policy reversal toward North Korea continues to create confusion for both our allies and enemies. Less than 24 hours after his secretary of the treasury announced well-deserved additional economic sanctions on North Korea, Trump suddenly announced that he was rescinding these sanctions- in a tweet.

When asked why, Trump’s press secretary stated that the North Korean dictator was Trump’s friend and did not deserve these additional sanctions.

The North Korean dictator, like his late father and grandfather, is a ruthless mass murderer who is not going to denuclearize his nation just because Donald Trump likes him (and other tyrannical murdering dictators like Putin and the Saudi Crown Prince!). This is just the latest example of Trump making an abrupt foreign policy decision without consulting his advisers or our allies.

After his first meeting with the North Korean dictator, Trump shocked South Korean leaders and his own military by cancelling the annual joint military exercises with South Korea. These joint military exercises that anger the North Korean dictator have been considered critical to the defense of South Korea.

Another example of President Trump making foreign policy decisions without notifying his advisers and our allies, was his tweet that the 2,000 U.S. troops in Syria would be completely withdrawn within 30 days. That shocking tweet led to the resignation of Secretary of Defense James Mattis, who had not been consulted.

Fortunately, under pressure from members of Congress, Trump at least for now has reversed that spontaneous and dangerous decision. Trump’s military and foreign policy decisions that surprise our allies and enemies make our nation less safe. It is dangerous for our nation and the world to have a president who makes impactful decisions without careful consideration and consultation with our allies.

Ken Foster, Vero Beach