Barack Obama appeared to have Donald Trump in his sights when he issued a warning against the irresponsible use of social media.
In a rare interview since he left the White House in January, the former United States President seemed to be referring to his successor on a BBC radio program hosted by Prince Harry, the grandson of Britain’s head of state, Queen Elizabeth II.
Obama stressed that people in positions of power should be careful when posting online messages, warning that social media was distorting civil discourse.
His remarks appeared to be aimed at President Trump, who is a prolific Twitter user and tends to connect with his core base through social media.
“One of the dangers of the internet is that people can have entirely different realities,” Obama told listeners of BBC Radio 4’s Today program. “They can be cocooned in information that reinforces their current biases.”
He also singled out the issue of fake news and expressed concern about a future where facts are discarded. Obama felt such actions were distorting people’s understanding of complex issues and spreading misinformation.
Finding common ground, he said, could only be achieved through a diversity of views.
“The question has to do with how do we harness this technology in a way that allows a multiplicity of voices, allows a diversity of views, but doesn’t lead to a Balkanisation of society and allows ways of finding common ground,” Obama added.
Mr. T has said we may have to destroy North Korea. Our feckless Obama administration convinced the Norks and the Iranians that nukes are essential to survival.
"You Break It, You Own It" at http://www.scragged.com/articles/you-break-it-you-own-it reminds us that we promised the Ukraine we’d defend them if they gave up their Soviet-era nukes. We also promised Mr. Qaddafi we’d leave him alone if he gave up his nukes, which he did.
Mr. Obama and Hillary abandoned the Ukraine and killed Mr. Qaddafi. Given these lies by the Obama administration, how can we expect anyone to trust us enough to give up nukes short of violence? How else can they defend themselves?
The Saudis and Israelis said this would happen, but Mr. Obama didn’t listen.
The New York Times article http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/28/us/politics/libya-isis-hillary-clinton.html?r=0 documents the many problems with Mr. Obama’s approach.
If you can think of a nonviolent way to persuade them, you’ll deserve a Nobel Prize.