Free and fair elections

The last time my friend and debate partner and I talked (or maybe emailed) about the upcoming midterm elections I expressed doubts about about their security and accuracy and he didn’t seem all that concerned. If I have that wrong I’m sure he’ll tell me.

Here are a few articles that might change his mind.

All of the posts I’m linking to are by Melissa McEwan of Shakesville. She is being very clear about our need to talk about this, even if at times it feels like we can’t do anything about it.

McEwan and Sarah Kendzior traded tweets discussing a tweeted accusation from the nasty guy who said the Russians didn’t help him – they helped Democrats. The two ladies note that Russia has no reason to help the Dems (who know how to oppose Putin) and every reason to help the GOP and the nasty guy – their desires coincide.

McEwan references a couple articles by Michael Harriot at the Root. In the first he talks about the aggressive efforts to purge blacks from voter rolls. McEwan adds that voter suppression is one reason why the election won’t be fair, even if the Russians behave themselves.

In the second Harriot says there is evidence that Russian hackers did more than try to influence voters in 2016, they likely changed votes. And nobody is talking about it. Sources say that Russian agents could have. But are we to believe these operatives broke into voting systems and merely looked around?

Those bits of news prompted McEwan and a guy who uses the handle BrianWS, who used to be a guest blogger on Shakesville, to ponder a possible scary scenario. Putin’s agents allow Dems to get close to taking the House and carefully plant “evidence” that a Russian agent hacked in favor of a Dem (only need one). All hacking in favor of the GOP is, of course, carefully destroyed.

This planted evidence is pulled out at a strategic time to “prove” that the election results are illegitimate. Future elections are delayed or canceled until we find out how that traitorous Dem who colluded with a foreign power pulled it off.

McEwan says we need to be prepared. But why prepare for something we can’t prevent? McEwan answers that question in a comment to the post. Prepare psychologically. Prepare for a future with reduced rights. Women might tie their tubes to avoid unwanted children they won’t be able to abort. Consider how to live if Russia meddles with infrastructure (lots of news lately about them penetrating power companies). Consider being a safe house for targeted people – would you be able to hide increased purchasing? Overall, consider how your life might change if democracy fails.

The nasty guy issued another tweet saying there is no collusion except by “Crooked Hillary and the Democrats!” He is cranking up a strategy he used in 2016 – floating the idea that the election is rigged. He can pull out that idea if things don’t go his way. As before the claim doesn’t need to be accurate. He only needs to provide a talking point for his base and complicit media.