Attack From Within

I've been an informed, conscientious voter since I became eligible age wise. I've raised children to take this responsibility seriously. I've volunteered with campaigns. I've campaigned for myself—11 years on school board. So I've seen elections from multiple perspectives. In all those years I have never been as terrified as I am about the upcoming one. Some nights my nightmares have featured Biden winning and the red states seceding (Texas is already trying to) and civil war breaking out. Other nights they've featured a Trump win with an orgy of censorship and white supremacy.
In her Attack From Within: How Disinformation Is Sabotaging America law professor and legal analyst Barbara McQuade cogently describes the threats to our democracy stemming from the unbridled spread of misinformation. She goes deeply into topics such as:
*how fragile our democracy is and how easily it could devolve in authoritarianism;
*how disinformers gain power;
*how they use tactics to manipulate voters and win their hearts and minds;
*the facets of human nature that enable this;
*how they are aided and abetted by largely unregulated emerging technologies
*how disinformation is destroying democracy, endangering public safety and national security, and eroding the rule of law;
and *what we can do to combat it.
Honestly if you care about the future of democracy in America and don't want to live under an authoritarian government I'd urge you to read Attach From Within over the summer or at last before November.
On a purrrsonal note, Eugene and I have just returned from the cook out at the in-laws. I'm sincerely hoping that he will drive us to the fireworks in Bangor. Not going would really suck. They're the best part of the day.
A great big shout out goes out to McQuade for all the work and dedication she put into creating and marketing this very enlightening and important book.
Jules Hathaway