Interesting to note: Some Canadian researchers in political science downplay the impact internet trolls have on election results. Why? Is it just skepticism?
More than one article has documented digital foreign influence campaigns on Canadian political discourse.
cbc.ca/news/canada/tw…
Yet some still cling to the belief that Canada is a minor player on the world stage and hardly worth the time or effort to manipulate.
cbc.ca/news/canada/tw…
Yet some still cling to the belief that Canada is a minor player on the world stage and hardly worth the time or effort to manipulate.
What arrogance to downplay a significant threat to democracy and our elections. Journalists need to do better than offer the minimization of a threat as counterbalance. Much like climate science, foreign interference is irrefutable. Introduction of denial & doubt aren’t balance.
Here is an article that includes accidental research of the Black Lives Matter movement that was hijacked by Russian trolls, unbeknownst to the researchers.
What they found was stunning.
medium.com/s/story/the-tr…
What they found was stunning.
medium.com/s/story/the-tr…
Russian trolls were working both ends of the political spectrum against each other to maximize division between political ideologies.
We have 2 provinces threatening separation. Entrenched beliefs about climate change. It’s almost impossible to discuss rational solutions.
We have 2 provinces threatening separation. Entrenched beliefs about climate change. It’s almost impossible to discuss rational solutions.
Who would believe & amplify a narrative that minimizes the impact of digital asymmetric warfare in the midst of global chaos? Someone completely ignoring the fact Canadian governance includes control of the third largest FF deposits on the globe! Representing trillions in wealth.
But that’s one of the counterbalance opinions presented in this article.
MSM please do better. Our nation is under attack. Stop minimizing the threat.
It’s the equivalent of telling citizens to go for a walk around the block during a targeted bombing campaign.
MSM please do better. Our nation is under attack. Stop minimizing the threat.
It’s the equivalent of telling citizens to go for a walk around the block during a targeted bombing campaign.
People relax their defences and believe they are safe. Only to be caught up in the nefarious campaigns to use them in disinformation campaigns as “useful idiots” to amplify propaganda.
If influence campaigns didn’t work to shape behaviour, the advertising industry would not exist. Billions are spent to influence consumer behaviour annually. Corpoarations don’t waste $ for nothing. Political beliefs are just another commodity that can be sold or manipulated.
Over and over the message has been provided by multiple sources.
There is a global campaign, run by an organized criminal syndicate, supported by organized religious faith groups, corporate interests, & corrupt politicians to eliminate democracy. On the eve of climate disaster.
There is a global campaign, run by an organized criminal syndicate, supported by organized religious faith groups, corporate interests, & corrupt politicians to eliminate democracy. On the eve of climate disaster.
Anyone who is promoting denial or doubt about that threat is either in deep denial or actively working to assist the autocratic surge. Listen to them at your peril.
Never again is now.
There is abundant evidence.
There should be little doubt by any engaged global citizen.
Never again is now.
There is abundant evidence.
There should be little doubt by any engaged global citizen.
But that is the problem and why ads and influence campaigns work. The vast majority of citizens are not engaged, and our media is compromised and one of the tools being used to manipulate perception.
Recently I watched an old movie. “The American President.” Great movie. Incredibly prescient 1995 movie reflecting our current global situation.
If you don’t have time to watch the movie, here is a Roger Ebert review. rogerebert.com/reviews/the-am…
If you don’t have time to watch the movie, here is a Roger Ebert review. rogerebert.com/reviews/the-am…
One of the best lines in the movie is by Michael Douglas who plays the president, Andrew Shepherd. Watch the scene, it’s incredibly powerful.
The sad reality is this movie line is actually very true.
Contemporary politics clearly demonstrates it.
I live in Alberta. I’m surrounded by a sea of people supporting the UCP. I know and interact with many conservatives.
Truly they are no different than me.
Contemporary politics clearly demonstrates it.
I live in Alberta. I’m surrounded by a sea of people supporting the UCP. I know and interact with many conservatives.
Truly they are no different than me.
Our children play hockey together, we shop at the same stores, work in the same offices, bank at the same institutions. Many of them are my friends and close acquaintances. They are good citizens, pay their taxes, support their communities, support their friends & family.
Yet the rhetoric of Jason Kenney, Andrew Scheer, Jagmeet Singh, Elizabeth May and polarizing trolls have most of the nation hating them because they voted for self preservation, not ideology.
If you hate Alberta and Albertans, you’re drinking sand.
If you hate Alberta and Albertans, you’re drinking sand.
The Alberta economy is heavily dependent on FF. A rapid decrease in FF production will result in severe impacts on the economy and on most of my neighbours and friends. FF revenues have permeated Alberta economy so pervasively immediate cessation is impossible.
Yet Singh & May have intentionally shaped their narratives & led their supporters to demand immediate cessation and drastic cuts in GHG. Both populists have facilitated the belief that anything less is treason, betrayal of climate goals, & abandonment of progressive principles.
The same is happening in Conservative narratives. Kenney, Scheer, Harper, Trump, wexit, climate denial, I ❤️O&G. Anything less than prolific expansion of FF development is treason, caving to green energy industry & choosing poverty.
It’s sand. Both sides are telling voters that extremism is the only answer.
LPC are NOT the only party to vote for, nor are they entitled to a vote.
LPC represents centrist, moderate beliefs and values. That’s what is being opposed. CENTRISM. Not LPC.
LPC are NOT the only party to vote for, nor are they entitled to a vote.
LPC represents centrist, moderate beliefs and values. That’s what is being opposed. CENTRISM. Not LPC.
That’s how change is managed successfully. That’s how societies change without imploding. Moderate change. Not through extremism, which is radical change. Revolutionary change begets violence and extreme resistance, & is what both extremes of the political spectrum are demanding.
Moderation, Cooperation, & Compromise between different value systems to achieve a common goal; surviving climate change. Complex, drastic change done at a moderate pace is the only change that doesn’t involve violence, nor does it provoke resistance. It’s democratic.
We are witnessing diametrical opposition from opposite ends of the political spectrum both attack moderation.
Notice all three parties are attacking LPC beliefs & values. They are not attacking each other. They are relentlessly attacking liberalism, cooperation & compromise.
Notice all three parties are attacking LPC beliefs & values. They are not attacking each other. They are relentlessly attacking liberalism, cooperation & compromise.
The Liberals party is not the only party that represents democracy. But it is the only party using democratic principles in Canada to achieve climate action.
Autocracy vs Democracy
Please stop drinking sand.
Recognize the demagoguery and choose democracy instead.
Autocracy vs Democracy
Please stop drinking sand.
Recognize the demagoguery and choose democracy instead.
Here is a recent example of sand.
Stroking the egos and building the narrative that only NDP & GPC voters have values.
Read the comments. 🤦🏻♀️ People congratulating themselves for moral superiority. 🤢
Stroking the egos and building the narrative that only NDP & GPC voters have values.
Read the comments. 🤦🏻♀️ People congratulating themselves for moral superiority. 🤢
