Dear Mr. President,

Before you go on, an article in the May 8 & May 22, 2021 issue of Science News ran with a cover "Awash in Deception: How science can help us avoid being duped by misinformation." In the lead article titled: "The Battle Against Fake News," Alexandra Witze presents five suggestions on how to debunk bad information. They come from the News Literacy Project (see the above link).

How to Debunk:

1. Arm yourself with media literacy skills, at sites such as the News Literacy Project (newslit.org), to better understand how to spot hoax videos and stories.

2. Don't stigmatize people for holding inaccurate beliefs. Show empathy and respect, or you're more likely to alienate your audience than successfully share accurate information.

3. Translate complicated but true ideas into simple messages that are easy to grasp. Videos, graphics and other visual aids can help.

4. When possible, once you provide a factual alternative to the misinformation, explain the underlying fallacies (such as cherry- picking information, a common tactic of climate change deniers.

5. Mobilize when you see misinformation being shared on social media as soon as possible. If you see something, say something.

"Misinformation is any information that is incorrect, whether due to error or fake news.

"Disinformation is deliberately intended to deceive."

"Propaganda is disinformation with a political agenda."

Sander van der Linden
Social Psychologist
University of Cambridge

Source: Science News/May 8, 2021 & May 22, 2021

Update: September 22, 2023: This is more important now than ever. Be vigilant and speak in your own way. Love Wins.

Update:  McQuade, Barbara, "Attack From Within," 2024.  New York Times best seller.

Dear Mr. President,

I am confused. You have made several Executive orders that have included promises that you are making to us. Sir, how do you feel you are doing? There’s seems to be a wide range of opinions on how your promises are trickling down to us down here.

Promises that you have made to the American People:

Let's start with The White House, the place you live says that you have accomplished compared to what you promised during your re-election campaign and in the first few months of you second term.  With all due respect, sir, Number 7 is a bold faced lie.

And the gospel according to your Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt says "you are having fun" while accomplishing all of your promises and more.  This is back a couple of months ago.

Here's what a few other folks think about your promises and the progress that has been made on attaining those goals.  PolitiFact, the AP, CNN, AllSides,  your old pal Rachel Maddow over at your favorite network, MSNBC.

Impacts that you have had on the American People
You said that you would bring down prices on goods and services, lower our taxes, "drain the swamp" of corruption, rid America of the scourge of law breaking and violent immigrants, bring peace to the Middle East and Ukraine, bring retribution to your political enemies, make America safer, reduce crime, and make Americans healthier  Did I miss anything? It feels like I must have missed something.  You've been very busy this year.

I admire your success on the golf course. I wish I could be as good as you are. You have truly mastered the game Mr. President. I hit a few good shots every round, but they are overshadowed by a larger number of mediocre shots and a short game that is inconsistent but, I must say, improving.

Congratulations Sir.

Get rid of the gold. It’s a bad look. It reminds your fellow Americans just how big a difference that there is between rich people like you (congratulations on accumulating all that money). You must be very proud. You are so good at making money that you have made it a religious practice among your followers.

You’ve figured out how to turn water into wine or hay into gold. The Crypto Currency thing is brilliant sir. Where there is no wealth, just say there is and “POOF,” there is money right out of thin air. How do you do that Sir? Can we be granted the ability to create something out of nothing? It is a work of pure genius.

I’d like to tell you a little about myself, but you already know all this stuff, at least Peter Thiel does over at Palantir. He knows everything about me, my family, my friends, my not so friends. The whole D.O.G.E. smoke and mirrors trick was awesome. I actually thought that you were intent to have Elon cut spending by raiding federal agencies. What you were oh so cleverly doing was gathering personal data on each of us so that you could get to know us better. I’m very flattered Sir.

I have more to say, but I know that your time is precious and valuable. Golf balls to hit, tweets to compose and send, enemies to hunt down and punish. You are a very busy man.

Mr. President, thanks yoiu for for time and have a great day,

Kindest regards,

Bruce

On the Bright Side

Meet James Talarico. Talarico announced today that he is running for the U.S. Senate from Texas. Even if you’re not into church, I suggest that you watch this 18 minute sermon that he gave at his church as a guest lay minister on the subject of White Nationalism. He has the creds to talk truth to power.