Thread by @sunnshiiny

I must admit, I’m perplexed and disappointed in this summit. Many are gathering over the next few days to discuss democracy.

To what end? What purpose does this serve? How is this summit going to change anything regarding the attack on democracy?

state.gov/schedule-the-s…

The answer is simple. It won’t.

So why bother to gather people from across the globe representing NGOs, several foreign relations departments and some international leaders to opine on democracy?

What ultimate purpose does this serve?

Sharing ideas about democratic best practices is great. But sharing best practices of Google and Microsoft is supposed to accomplish what?

Isn’t the attack on democracy using network connections the largest problem?

Do democracies really need another summit telling the public they are responsible for filtering out garbage from reality? Not the tech companies?

And to think I had such hope for this summit. I’m disappointed and discouraged.

Ultimately, what will the summit achieve? What are the outcomes planned? To raise awareness?

I believe the globe is aware of the disinformation campaigns by hostile adversaries to democracy. And the average person won’t even be aware of the summit, never mind it’s content.

I thought the summit would be global leaders assembling to hash out a joint strategy to counter the attacks on democracy. Instead it’s a feel good session for obscure NGOs from fledgling democracies. Sharing strategies and opining on their experience.

Are we not beyond this?

I see one panel that includes Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Joly. Otherwise there is limited Canadian involvement.

American democrats need to get their heads out of the clouds. The situation we are in is not timeless.

Democracy is losing the war. Authoritarians have the upper hand with control of global media outlets and social media.

The world’s democracies don’t have time for a meaningless and fruitless get together to share ideas about how to counter disinformation.

Hasn’t this already been done? I’ve read several reports of European strategies to counter Russian disinformation. Wouldn’t enacting laws to protect journalists be better than talking about how to protect journalists?

I get that the US is desperately trying to establish itself as the global hegemon after Trump’s protectionist and nationalist nightmare.

But isn’t the Noble Lie the US has propagated in the past as the “greatest democracy ever” kind of a sham now? All know that was never true.

The US was a bully and modern imperialist nation. Are we supposed to believe reestablishment of that role is supposed to make the globe a safer and better place?

I’m not buying it. I’m pretty sure most people won’t be swallowing that absurdity.

Trump ripped the mask off of American hegemony. He revealed it was never about promoting democracy, it was always about keeping resources available for the taking at the expense of developing nations.

Once the king is revealed to have wandered about naked, putting clothes back on, even the finest clothes, will never erase the memory of the naked insanity and recklessness we were forced to witness and endure for 4 years.

Biden is attempting to recapture the leadership role the US had prior to Trump’s election. It’s great to bring people together to address global problems, but the outcome has to be more than providing acknowledgement of indeterminate representatives & democratic organizations.

The globe needs an action plan. A strategy to counter Russia, China and GOP fascists use of populism, social media and demagoguery.

The first panel is already completed. A one hour early morning session with 10 presenters. That’s about 6 minutes each to impart wisdom.

How is that session going to bring results with so many speakers and such a complex topic?

It won’t.

The presenters are excellent, but what knowledge can each impart in a 6 minute presentation that includes their introduction?

The panel is meant to spark ideas about reimagining journalism. A New Deal for Journalists.

How is that done in 6 minutes or less by each presenter?

We’re supposed to trust this panel will accomplish?… what? A cursory description of the problem & list of viable solutions?

In one hour? We can rescue democratic investigative journalism in one hour?

At this pace we should be finished dealing with the problem of growing authoritarian influence by the end of the week!

Which of course is a ridiculous expectation.

But how much further ahead will western & fledgling democracies be in the fight to survive after this summit? Or is it a convenient excuse for a New York shopping trip right before Christmas?

Please address the problems.

Summits like this don’t produce action plans.

If the US wants to inspire hope and a united effort to address the threat of authoritarianism, summits like this are not the solution. It’s not like we have decades to establish a climate action plan, global economic recovery and tackling the threat of encroaching authoritarians.

Develop the plan, execute the plan.

The globe doesn’t have time to mull over their options for a few years before forming a cogent strategy.

Yes journalism and information exchange needs to be reimagined and protected.

The far right has the American Legislative Exchange Council. One central organization developing legislation that can be easily adapted and enacted quickly in regional governments.

How about a global council of democratic legislation options?

One that any democracy can contribute how they’ve addressed attacks on their democracy. Why it worked. Where the resistance came from and how it was overcome.

We need strategy, options, best practices, more than one option to choose from and easy accessibility.

Not a summit.