Stamos says the US must ‘come together to protect’ democracy from misinformation

> "The internet is destroying existing power structures, and giving control to alternative media sources/platforms/whatever that people are starting to trust more than the 'mainstream' ones."

Yes. But not only sources of info but __more importantly__ ways for people to organize into groups. I'm not talking about protests and such but getting shit done. Traditionally, this was the role of gov and other power structures. Yes, there are now viable - and likely more effective - alternatives to such traditions.

To your point, this explains all the divisiveness. Things are being taken to extremes (by the DNC, Mainstream Media, GOP and their associated Big Inc partners) in order to maintain a belief that they need to exist and continue to hold so much power. The show also serves as a distraction.

Something has to give. But I feel history says it's going to get worse before it gets better.

Control and monitoring turns easily into oppression and stagnation, and there is many blooded pages in history to describe that outcome. We might say that this time it will be different, that we are just removing the bad actors and obvious bad behavior, and to put our trust in those that sit at the control. To that I quote: "Beware of he who would deny you access to information, for in his heart he deems himself your master."

On the other end we have the open town square where the loudest speakers and richest will overpower all other voices until none can hear anything and chaos pours forth.

From both we see people flee into isolated subgroups with perfect echo chamber where the oppressed be free from the loud and censors, with the eventual result of polarization where those outside turns in their eyes into less and less human. From there hate and violence ensures and we go back and ask our self, did we want the censors or loudest to rule.

Education is, by intent, the opposite of indoctrination.

Using scare quotes and imolicitly asserting that most of what goes by as education is actually indoctrination without argument as if it was an established, uncontroversial fact is not a substantive contribution to the discussion, though it is a good way of signalling a particular tribal affiliation.

> Again, education is at the core of a solution to this misinformation crisis.

What proof do you have of this assertion? There are at least two reasons to be suspicious of the argument.

1.) It's self-serving. Many people who make it are themselves highly educated. It's a short step to advocating rule by philosopher kings, which has a very checkered history. [1]

2.) It seems easy to contradict. For example, one of the most effective ways to assess any political argument is to know who is funding it. It's hard to see how anyone can make informed decisions without such information. Level of education seems to be irrelevant here.

It's also worth noting while the authors of the American Constitution were big fans of education, they put more faith in mechanisms like separation of powers and representative government to anchor the political system. In fact one of Madison's arguments in favor of education was to "multiply the educated individuals from among whom the people may elect a due portion of their public Agents of every description." [2] That's quite different from saying that everyone must have these qualities in equal measure.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philosopher_king

[2] http://press-pubs.uchicago.edu/founders/documents/v1ch18s35....

> To fight fake news, we'd have to go to the sources

True. But many people do not check sources and do not want sources. The more sources you link, the more likely your message is ignored or downvoted or considered spam. Some comment section tools even refuse posts with too many links.

The EU fights against sources.

Macron vows to tighten media control because 'fake news threatens democracy' https://www.rt.com/news/414945-macron-france-fake-news-law/

Senator Demands More censorship From Facebook & Youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=goNDSUZsQ1c&t=181

Out-of-control censorship machines removed my article warning of out-of-control censorship machines https://juliareda.eu/2018/08/censorship-machines-gonna-censo...

> Fight partisanship/polarization.

This is what every party/camp is fighting for. Maximize the own party/camp, minimize the party/camp of the others.

I agree that much could and should be done. E.g. voting with paper ballots every 4 years like centuries ago should be replaced by secure online voting that gives decision power to every citizen at any time for any political decision.

> Fight corruption.

At least in the USA, voting for Democrats or Republicans is voting for corruption. Corruption is a sign of quality for US voters. The more connected with the industry and the more money for campaigns, the better and stronger and more real and more competent the party appears to voters. Too few US people vote for the poor unknown parties with no coverage by the mainstream media that calls itself the reasonable truthful trustworthy non-fringe mainstream media.

> Stop emotionally framing things.

I doubt that this is a solution. E.g. too many US Americans do not care about their evil actions in the world. Maybe they know about them but they do not care enough. The US military is considered as a trustworthy glorious organisation instead of a tool of and for evil persons to promote death and misery worldwide.

Recent example after decades of war crimes:

- Yemen: Tackling the world’s largest humanitarian crisis https://news.un.org/en/story/2018/09/1020232

- Pompeo Backed Yemen War For Weapon Sales Profit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azx90nHiIeg

US Americans refuse to remove misery and poverty even in their own country.

UN Head: US Has 'Morally Wrong' Healthcare System Because Of Corruption https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrCu9dt9JpI

Although US Americans might care, they still behave as if they did not.

Fox Viewers Overwhelmingly Approve Med4All By 73% https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dX5GSClA8z4&t=349

CNN’s Jake Tapper Caught Lying About Med4All - Lies Again https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1jZNepTx80&t=35

> Reject online advertising.

I do not think that lack of money improves communication and reporting. Survival and work requires money. Money is received either by random advertising or by direct sponsorship by companies or by an existing paying loyal audience with a certain world view or by a revolution of the economic system that guarantees economic human rights and safety for all.

https://lustysociety.org/money.html