INDIVISIBLE Lambertville NJ / New Hope PA

Author: Indivisible Lambertville / New Hope

  • The Data Debacle: Cambridge Analytica, Facebook & You

    People from all walks of life have embraced social media, using some kind of interface for Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or Snapchat – or all of the above. Perhaps they’ve become inextricably linked to family and friends through a Facebook profile, or use it as a personal news collator. Some prefer to be more of a “lurker,” who rarely interacts but is often there watching. Social media personalities and habits are as diverse as the stars in the night sky – the minute by minute TMI poster, political activists, jokers, travelers and tourists, baby pic and pet lovers. They are you, me, our family and our friends – and we love them.

    All the likes, loves and clicks on Facebook posts in addition to what we post tell a story, a story about our loves and our fears. That information is a gold mine and that gold can be mined. Marketers and advertisers use this information to more accurately target their consumers to “BUY MORE STUFF.”

    But what happens when your social media data is mined and manipulated for more nefarious reasons?

    Cambridge Analytica. That’s what happens.

    It has come to light through Christopher Wylie, a former employee of Cambridge Analytica turned whistleblower, that the company harvested 50 million Facebook profiles under the guise of academic research.

    “We exploited Facebook to harvest millions of people’s profiles,” said Wylie. “And built models to exploit what we knew about them and target their inner demons. That was the basis the entire company was built on.” Revealed: 50 million Facebook Profiles Harvested for Cambridge Analytica in Major Data Breach.

    How did they do it? They did it through the cute little tests and surveys about one’s personality, what country should you live in, what color is your aura, what’s your favorite food, etc. All of this information was mined, manipulated and used to sway public opinion in the 2016 election.

    What’s more is that Facebook CEO, Mark Zuckerberg’s former mentor, Robert McNamee warned of far greater consequences. Per McNamee’s March 20, 2018 interview with NPR host Noel King, McNamee told Zuckerberg and Sandberg, “I’m afraid there is a systemic problem with the algorithms and the business model of Facebook that allow bad actors to cause harm to innocent users of Facebook.” He went on to cite four different examples, one of which was swaying an election and the other; advertising tools that allowed discrimination in violation of the Fair Housing Act.

    And where does Mark Zuckerberg stand on all of this? He told McNamee this, “We think these are isolated. It’s not systemic. And by the way, we’re a platform, not a media company. So we’re not responsible for what third parties do on our platform.” It’s been almost two years since Zuckerberg knew about the data breach until Cambridge Analytica was finally banned from Facebook for violating its terms of use policy. He’s been awfully mum.

    Take action:
    Read more about all the ways third parties can get information about you from Facebook here.

    For info on checking and modifying your settings for third party Apps and taking steps to control what they access, go here.

    If you really want to break up with Facebook there are alternatives. Download your data archive so that you can save your photos to Google photos. And here are other things you can use for the parts of Facebook you might miss.

  • I March For Our Lives – A Young ILNH Activist’s Perspective

    I, and a handful of other students like myself were fortunate enough to attend the March for Our Lives in Washington D.C., thanks to the scholarships gifted by generous ILNH community members. I groggily got on the bus at 6:25 A.M. with recurring scenes of my time at the Women’s March and the March 14th Walk Out slipping through my consciousness. I think most people tend to feel excited on the road to these events, and although I am no exception, I can’t shake the strange way that foot-stomping anger and the elating feeling of unity seem to harmonize among almost every attendee.
    The presence of colorful, creative, and impactful signs are always a favorite element of these types of events, allowing for heartfelt expression and arguments to be made in a captureable, photogenic method. Protest signs are the perfect visual for me, and left me with a silent (though the surrounding space was anything but quiet) affirmation that I was not alone. When I’m feeling demoralized, I like to look back on my photos from events like these, and let the sentiments that fueled that day to return to me. It’s a type of nostalgia that I can feel looking at posters from Affordable Care Act walks to the Women’s March, serving as a digital representation the words and sentiments that cannot be created or easily expressed to others.
    I don’t mean to paint these marches as flawless occasions to be held on a pedestal, chocked full of wonder and love and purity. I was sunburnt, I was cramped and pressed into strangers, I met people I didn’t particularly like, my knees ached, I was uncomfortable. But these “shortcomings” are an important piece of the experience. They are almost symbolic in the way that they remind you that you’re there to fight against injustices along with people you may not particularly enjoy, which is not easy, and neither is the struggle against oppressors for any individual. If your fun outweighs the sentiment of anger and dissatisfaction with the status quo, you’re probably not angry enough.
    Unfortunately for young people, there is an underlying irritant that can be found in many areas of activism. I would like to utilize this platform that I have been given to share my experience to add a quick PSA on behalf of “the young people”: Please do not put another burden of “fault” on our shoulders. I’m sure when you were young you scoffed at the judgments and presumptions of older generations. (I know that the Beatles and their long hair weren’t satanic, I’m sorry your parents hated that “noise” too.) A woman stopped my friends and me to tell me that if everyone our age voted, Trump would have lost. I told her if less white women voted for Trump, Hillary would have won. I know that these statements are from a good place, but they are often not received well. Instead of putting all of the work on the youth’s shoulders, please make sure you’re focusing on every age group’s participation (And how they’re participating).
    Despite this, I have immense gratitude for the people of any age that choose to donate their time to good causes, whether it affects their life directly or not. Every effort made towards a progressive future is cherished by those in my generation who know that the future will eventually be on their shoulders. We know that your advocacy will ultimately benefit us and following generations, and together we will all pursue a better, and safer, future.

  • VOTING INTEGRITY: Action needed by Tuesday March 13, 2018!

    I’ve been doing this intensive activism work for almost 15 months and every day I reach into my hope- and fear-filled brain for motivation. The New York Times waits at my door to supply me with a fresh new batch of outrage, and before I’ve filled my coffee cup for the second time, my brain is clicking on what action I can take.

    But what happens when the biggest threat to our democracy, and our response to it, is not sexy enough to be in the news? That’s where we are.

    Here’s the deal. Right now there are clear indicators that the November vote is completely vulnerable to hacking by Russians and other conservative interests. New Jersey is one of the five most hackable states in the nation and our current system is such that even if we are hacked, we don’t even have a check-back mechanism to know it.

    Think about that. A simple software tweak and votes cast for your candidates could be tallied for their opponents … and there is no way to go back and audit or re-count the vote. If you think this is far-fetched, know that this happened in Cumberland County once and was only discovered by chance.

    We are going to work like crazy to elect candidates that represent our progressive values. Before that happens, we need to work like crazy to protect and secure our votes.

    There are a few remedies. One is a system called Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT). This method entails using an electronic device to cast votes and then printing a paper that the voter can view behind a glass, check for accuracy and push a button to verify that the votes on the paper are correct.

    Here’s the rub: VVPAT can be hacked and issue a document that is difficult to see because the print is very small. Most election officials like it because it does not require much more work at the polls and it’s cheaper. But as is the case with most quick, cheap fixes, it’s not sufficient.

    If we are going to fix this problem — really fix this problem — we need three things, and they will cost a lot of money: $36 million. Our current state budget is so deep in the hole that there is very little political will to allocate funds for securing the vote, a convenient reality for those who might benefit from hacking.

    Here is what the experts suggest is needed in order for New Jersey to be unhackable:
    Paper Ballots to be marked by voters.Optical scanners that will read the ballots and tally the votesBallot marking devices for voters with disabilities

    Next Tuesday, Governor Phil Murphy will deliver his budget address. Before then, we need to send him the message that securing the vote is our top priority. Please call, fax, tweet, email and push him, New Jersey Secretary of State Tahesha Way and New Jersey Treasurer Liz Muoio to allocate money in the 2018 budget. It is the ONLY way we are assured our vote will be secure in November.

    Governor Phil Murphy
    Call: (609) 292-6000
    Fax: 609-292-3454
    Email: http://nj.gov/governor/contact/
    Facebook: www.facebook.com/governorphilmurphy/
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/govmurphy
    Tweet: @GovMurphy (Tweet Script: MAKE NJ VOTES SECURE! Put $36 million in your budget for paper ballot voting with optical scanners & non-tabulating ballot-marking device for voters with disabilities.)

    Tahesha Way, NJ Secretary of State
    Fax: (609) 292-7665
    Email: Feedback@sos.nj.gov
    Tweet: @SecretaryWay ‏ (Tweet Script: HELP MAKE NJ VOTES SECURE. $36 million needed in 2018 budget for paper ballot voting with optical scanners & non-tabulating ballot-marking device for voters with disabilities.)

    Liz Muoio, New Jersey Treasurer
    Department of the Treasury P. O. Box 002 Trenton, NJ 08625-0002 609-292-6748

  • GOTV PA – Lock in the Keystone State

    While Pennsylvania is top of the national news with our battle against extreme gerrymandering by our state’s Republican legislature, our local elections are making headlines too: Read this piece from the New York Times!
    Here’s more on what’s happening in our area:
    • Elections. The Blue Wave sweeping PA rolls in a host of great candidates for us to support.
    • 178th District Special Election on May 15th. This one-seat special election now poses a major opportunity for a Democratic candidate to break into our state legislature’s male-dominated, Republican stronghold. In fact, it has been 34 years since our district elected a Democrat,
      and we have never elected a woman! That’s why ILNH member Helen Tai, an 18-year district resident and the elected Chair of the Solebury Township Supervisors, is running to represent New Hope, Northampton, Solebury, Wrightstown, and Upper Makefield. Helen is a strong advocate for common sense gun legislation! NOTE: Independents and Republicans can also vote for Helen in the Special Election. As her button says, “Give ‘Em Helen!”
    • 10th District, PA State Senate. Lower Makefield’s Steve Santarsiero is running to fill the seat suddenly vacated by retiring Chuck McIlhinney. Until January, Steve served as Chief Deputy Attorney General of Pennsylvania for Environmental Protection. He has a 100% rating by Planned Parenthood PA Advocates, a strong commitment to education and gun violence prevention, and a proven commitment to public service through his many years in our local government.
    • 8th Congressional District. Brian Fitzpatrick must be having fits as he watches the energized Democrats ready to take him on in November. This is a real opportunity for all of us to see just what Democracy looks like.
    Prepare yourself for this pivotal May 15th primary and check out:
    Steve Bacher– Plain spoken and good humored, longtime local environmentalist and progressive activist, Steve co-founded the Bucks chapter of 350.org, advocates for renewable energy, and Bucks Action Group, battling fracking and pipeline construction.
    Rachel Reddick – Bucks County native, who departed from her conservative, home schooled upbringing to join the Democratic Party, Rachel is an attorney, Navy veteran, and former advocate for victims of domestic abuse through A Woman’s Place.
    Scott Wallace – With an estimable liberal heritage going back to FDR’s Administration, the self-described “patriotic millionaire” has dedicated his life to progressive causes that span the globe. A native of Bucks, the insanity of our current political situation prompted him to take on the challenge of running for Congress, returning home with his wife, Christy, a former career diplomat.
    For more information, additional resources, and ways to get involved*:
    Bucks County Blue: Great source for info on all races and candidates in Bucks County, including upcoming events and voter registration. (Deadline April 15!!!)
    Fair Districts PA: In Pennsylvania, the main obstacle to voter equality is our extreme gerrymandering (distorting the boundaries of districts, often in peculiar ways, to weaken your opponent’s base). Fair Districts promotes legislation to place an independent citizens’ commission in charge of redistricting. NOTE: On Jan. 22, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court threw out the state Republicans’ districting map, opening up the possibility of fairer elections and generating national coverage.
    Warwick First: Site for this fledgling group in an entrenched red community. Can we flip it? Ride the Blue Wave!
    Buckingham Voices: facebook.com/buckinghamvoices “Concerned citizens, empowered and in motion.” Active team committed to educating and empowering folks in our area. buckinghamvoices@gmail.com
    Newtown Democrats: Newly energized by their victories in November, this organization is working to widen its reach.
    Solebury Democrats: Lively, up-to-date site, with excellent content.
    Indivisible: Provides a wealth of information and ready-made materials, ranging from Elections 101 to voting rights and voter suppression,voter registration, endorsement guides, and more.
    SwingLeft: Nationwide organization dedicated to flipping congressional districts like ours.
    Flippable: Mounting a Blue Wave tsunami across the states.
    Join us and Turn Pennsylvania Blue!
    *Resources and calendar of events will be updated monthly.
  • Putting an End to Pennsylvania’s Extreme Gerrymandering

    Putting an End to Pennsylvania’s Extreme Gerrymandering

    “Goofy Kicking Donald” was but one of the jokes elicited by the erratically drawn Republican map of Pennsylvania’s congressional districts. (Please see the image.) Widely considered one of the nation’s most blatant cases of gerrymandering – whereby electoral districts are distorted to unfairly favor a given political party – it helped Republicans secure 13 of the state’s 18 districts. To put this in context, our state voted Democratic in presidential elections from 1992 until the disaster of 2016.

    Now, a successful challenge led by the League of Women Voters to correct this imbalance has prompted a legal and political battle, making frequent headlines in the national news.

    Specifically, the League’s June, 2017 suit prompted the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to rule on February 7th that the Republicans’ map violated the state’s Constitution and must be redrawn. Harrisburg was given an ultimatum to either come up with a more equitable map or face a Court-ordered redesign conducted by an outside expert. Harrisburg’s lame response led the Court to adopt a new map, created by Stanford University Professor Nathaniel Persily, a top election law scholar, previously selected by courts for redistricting work in five other states, including North Carolina. (No outsider, Prof. Persily taught at U Penn Law from 2000 to 2007.)

    When it comes to the new district for Bucks County, we gained a section of Montgomery County west of Sellersville that typically votes Democratic. According to Nate Cohn’s “The Upshot” in the February 22nd edition of the New York Times, this slight change flips us from “leaned Trump” to “leaned Clinton”, based on the 2016 presidential results. Cohn concludes that Republican Brian Fitzpatrick’s prospects in the 2018 congressional election exemplify “The sort of race that could be decided by the subtle shift ordered Monday.”

    In retaliation, the Republicans in Harrisburg filed both a motion to Stay the imposition of the new map with the US Supreme Court, and a suit to overturn it on US Constitutional grounds, with the Federal District Court. The legal action now centers on the request for Stay (filed by the State Speaker of the House and President of the Senate) and the suit (with several Republican Congressmen as plaintiffs).

    Both cite the election clause in the US Constitution stating that the “Times, Places and Manner of holding elections for Senators and Representatives shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof….” and contend that the Court’s action in imposing its plan violates that Clause. The suit quotes voting specialists (including Cohn) that the new PA Court-ordered plan is partisan in its result.

    Democrats maintain that the various Republican maps violate the PA state constitution’s requirement for fair elections. Since the State’s Supreme Court gave our Republican-dominated legislature the opportunity to correct this imbalance, and it failed to do so, the Court was within its rights to call upon a widely recognized independent expert to put it right.

    In sum, we are caught in a Catch-22. If the Constitution prevails over our state’s doctrine, then the shape of our voting districts – and thus, to a great extent, the electoral outcome — will be set by a legislature seeking to secure its dominance well into perpetuity. Truly responsive government, with elected officials who care about our everyday issues, as well as combating climate change, economic inequality, and discrimination, is founded on fair and open elections.

    CALL TO ACTION: Support Fair Districts PA: Fair Districts promotes legislation to place an independent citizens’ commission in charge of redistricting.