Democracy in Peril
When I moved back to New England eight years ago, the state of Rhode Island was in tough financial shape and several municipalities were being administered by officials appointed by the governor. Let’s be clear about what this meant: whole communities—and sizable ones at that—had local democracy subverted and replaced by appointed officials. I was troubled by the phenomenon. It struck me as running counter to so many of the … Read More
Can the Vote Really Be Hacked? Picks of the Week
No, the presidential election can’t be hacked | CNN US election machine technology is out of date, expert say | CNBC How Clinton, Trump Could Champion Cybersecurity | Dark Reading Although we are aware of the efforts by the Russian government to discredit American democracy and interfere with the election, the chance that a malicious actor can carry out a hack that would change the outcome of the presidential election … Read More
We Know What a Fair Election Looks Like
In a remarkable election season, with one candidate speaking frequently about voter fraud and “rigged” elections, we asked an experienced international election observer how we would know if the election was fair. Here is his response. Standing amidst the rubble of war, a woman stood against a cold and bitter wind. I asked the woman why she stood patiently waiting in a line with hundreds of her neighbors. “I have … Read More
Advice to the Class of 2020: Picks of the Week
The Future of Employment: How Susceptible Are Jobs to Computerisation | Oxford University Self-Driving Cars Endanger Millions of American Jobs (And That’s Okay) | Make Use Of This week, I delivered keynote remarks at Salve Regina University’s academic convocation. An abridged version appears below. Sister Jane, Dr. O’Reilly, members of the board of trustees, University colleagues, distinguished guests, friends and especially members of the class of 2020: thank … Read More