Blaming It All On The Russians

IT IS HARDLY SURPRISING, the increasing awareness that not only did the Russians interfere with the 2016 election using the internet, but that they have been interfering not only with American elections, but American society in general, using less technologically advanced methods, for decades. From their point of view, it makes sense. The United States is their enemy, a capitalistic colossus ideologically and stringently opposed to socialism, a military rival, an empire in direct competition for world influence with what thy have traditionally considered their superior culture, people, and values. The fact that Russia has been invaded, conquered, and virtually destroyed several time adds an overtone of paranoia to their mindset. The fact that American society is relatively open, with a highly visible, constant dialogue of various sorts publicly promulgated through the media makes American culture vulnerable to outside influence. The fact that American society is diverse, with many different competing groups and interests, seemingly always embroiled in conflict and acrimonious disputation, highly visible, create a perfect environment for meddling. The various ways in which this interference has been applied have only recently become known, are still coming to light, and may never be fully revealed. The main emphasis has apparently been to enhance conflict between already opposing segments of society. It now seems likely that some - no one knows how much - of the printed rhetoric attributed to groups like the KKK and aimed at the black community were of Russian origin. What better way to weaken American society than to further stir up already present racial animosity? It may be that already discontent labor unions have been aided in their struggles against the corporate establishment by Russian money or other assistance. In nearly every aspect of cultural endeavor, there is, in America, some sort of conflict either manifest, or lurking just beneath the surface, since America is a land of so many divergent viewpoints and interests, and is based so greatly upon competition and individualism. There are two possible solution sto this, two possible ways in which the United States might eliminate the foreign threat to its domestic tranquility, such as it is. the first would be to close the open society, to lock down the freedom os expression all American's have been accustomed to for the country's entire history. This, however, would obviously bee to too great a sacrifice, and would in effect award the victory to the Russians. the second, and much more tempting, would be to simply blame everything that goes wrong in America, from the smallest to the largest problems, on Russian interference, an audacious presumption of Russian guilt. Can't get along with your neighbors, or a difficult family member? Blame it on the Russians! Dissatisfied with your city council's proposals? obviously, Russian interference. Bad day at the race track? Again, those dammed Russians. if we can blame Trump's election on the Russians, we can blame anything and everything on them. And why not? Fake news and conspiracy theories are all the rage these days; this approach can wrap up all our problems in attribution to s single, sinister source, those Russian rascals. its worth a try; nothing else seems to be working.