That's right, the power of memes is the future of politics

Ever since the election of Trump in 2016 the US media has been unable to come to terms with democracy and voting. It's because whenever something bad happens, it was Russian bots. Or banner ads paid for by the Kremlin. Or Putin's internet troll army. Here's the thing though: All countries have people working to influence the populations of other nations. It can range from an active military unit like in Israel or China's Wu mao party to lone individuals espousing their own point of view to a wider audience online like yours truly.

So the question here is how do we know - if an election was manipulated by foreign powers? Well the answer is simple, if the election is truly democratic then yes, there will be influence from all sides of the globe. Small or large countries alike, none are immune to the pressures of these behemoths whose power is magnified by the internet.

The solution we are being sold today is sinister and tired, boring even. Censorship is being promoted as the solution to undesirable ideas, an idea whose implementation has never ceased to fail. We will 'guard against' foreign interference by Russia for example, but election interference (paid lobbying) by corporations is seemingly limitless. Don't worry, tech giant companies will decide what media is appropriate for you to see or not see. Paid by our loving sponsors, of course.

It could all be a case of history repeating, but I have this sense of a forced sliding back towards a cold-war mentality. I was born shortly after the USSR stopped existing and I've never had to experience anything like the Cuban missile crisis. So why do we act like that's still a global menace? There's more important threats to deal with here in our own country that need attention. How about fixing our health care system, helping the homeless out in the cold or even tackling our pot-holed roads? It's all for naught because today's governments seem uninterested in solving problems but very adept at assigning blame.

Did Putin elect Trump? Are Russian hackers coming to an election near you? No, many rednecks elected Trump and we all know this is true. As for getting your election hacked, the best way to keep it secure is to use paper ballot boxes. Use your brain and think about who you want to vote for. Then unplug your internet and turn off your TV. God forbid, you would be manipulated by a foreign power into voting for some peacenik candidate like Bernie Sanders!

So to summarize this post: Interference in elections by corporate lobbyists and military-industrial complex - OK. Interference by naughty countries - Not OK. Frankly if the USA and Russia want to make peace, more power to them. If someone thinks the answer to foreign influence is to ban their opinions their idea is lazy. Pick up a pen and promote your own ideas instead. Join in the contest of ideas that's going on worldwide every day and night. Your opinion matters now more than ever. Otherwise you'll just be endlessly scrolling, through a field of pre-selected ideas that have been selected just for you.