alternatehistory.com
Sanders Administration- Spring 2018
Spring 2018
"And further suspicious behavior courtesy of the Russians..."
"Looks like we know why the youth remain loyal to Myspace over Facebook..."
"Good job Ireland!"
The Americans' reputation began increasing abroad thanks to the reforms being put in by the Sanders' Administration and it began leading to people becoming more willing to live up to the reputations Americans had for themselves in being the best by actually trying to make it happen. At the same time, this contrasted with the decline of the Russian Federation. Its sphere of influence have shrunk considerably and its reputation continues to decline as a result of the growing actions of the Putin administration. The latest in what is seen to be a long line of suspicious behaviors. Early in March, Sergei Skripal, a former Russian military officer and double agent for the UK's intelligence services, and his daughter, Yulia Skripal, were poisoned in the city of Salisbury, England. According to UK sources and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), it was with a Novichok nerve agent. After three weeks in a critical condition, Yulia regained consciousness and was able to speak; she was discharged from hospital over in April. Sergei was also in a critical condition until he regained consciousness one month after the attack; he was discharged mid-May. Unsurprisingly, the entire debacle was a storm of controversy and accusations at Russia, who tried to blame the British. While the investigation was ongoing for the year, the British and several other nations refused to have Russians involved in the examination of materials. This along with Russia's comments showcased a deep divide growing more between Russia and the rest of the world.
Forensics tent covers the bench where Sergei and Yulia Skripal fell unconscious
Of course, suspicious activity was not limited only to Russia. Over in the United States, a controversy was breaking out involving social media giant Facebook and British political data firm Cambridge Analytica. What would be the Facebook-Cambridge Analytica data breach was a data leak in early 2018 whereby millions of Facebook users' personal data was harvested without consent by Cambridge Analytica, predominantly to be used for political advertising. It is the largest known leak in Facebook history. The data was collected through an app created in 2013 by Dr. Aleksandr Kogan (Dr. Aleksandr Spectre, at the time), a Cambridge academic, and consisted of a series of questions to build psychological profiles on users. The app not only harvested the personal data of the users that completed the questions, but also of the users’ Facebook friends.Cambridge Analytica sought to sell the data of American voters to political campaigns and would be linked to several prominent politicians on both political parties, notably establishment Republicans and some Democrats. The data breach was disclosed in 2018 by Christopher Wylie, a former Cambridge Analytica employee, in interviews with The Guardian and The New York Times. In response, Facebook apologized for their role in the data harvesting and their CEO Mark Zuckerberg testified in front of Congress. The Sanders Administraton used it to call on tighter controls for internet privacy along with the dangers of malicious influence within elections. Unsurprisingly, Facebook would end up losing a chunk of users. Facebook had taken the top spot from Myspace around 2014 involving social media usage though many noted the trend would likely be reversed as newer users would reinforce their loyalty to Myspace or sign up. Other websites would benefit, most notably Google Plus, which would be seen as the alternative. As the politicians and other interested parties were outed, it served to further enflame people to go to the polls, especially with a later decision coming into the transition into the summer.
User utilizing the Cambridge Analytica and Facebook product.
Despite this, there was some encouraging news going on. Over in Ireland, the 36th Amendment would be added to the Constitution, one that would legalize abortion in the nation. More specifcially, the Thirty-sixth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland (previously bill no. 29 of 2018) is an amendment to the constitution of Ireland which permits the Oireachtas to legislate for abortion. The constitution had previously prohibited abortion unless there was a serious risk to the life of the mother. The proposal was often described as the Repeal of the Eighth Amendment, referring to the 1983 constitutional amendment which guarantees the unborn the right to life, making abortion illegal unless the pregnancy is life-threatening. The 2018 bill replaces Article 40.3.3° of the Constitution, which was added in 1983 and amended in 1992. Being introduced by the Sinn Féin-run government, it would be voted upon and being signed in, with an impressive ~70% of yes for the amendment beig added. Unsurprisingly, many governments such as the Labour government of Corbyn and the Sanders Administration applauded this decision in moving forward while conservative and reactionary groups bemoaned the loss of morality. It did seem to further symbolize the leftward shift that was going on in the world. It would be signed into action later in the year. It would also be seen as a sign of growing secularism within the world given the reputation of Ireland as a Catholic stronghold was maintained.
"Yes" supporters at Dublin Castle after the Referendum results were declared
"And further suspicious behavior courtesy of the Russians..."
"Looks like we know why the youth remain loyal to Myspace over Facebook..."
"Good job Ireland!"
The Americans' reputation began increasing abroad thanks to the reforms being put in by the Sanders' Administration and it began leading to people becoming more willing to live up to the reputations Americans had for themselves in being the best by actually trying to make it happen. At the same time, this contrasted with the decline of the Russian Federation. Its sphere of influence have shrunk considerably and its reputation continues to decline as a result of the growing actions of the Putin administration. The latest in what is seen to be a long line of suspicious behaviors. Early in March, Sergei Skripal, a former Russian military officer and double agent for the UK's intelligence services, and his daughter, Yulia Skripal, were poisoned in the city of Salisbury, England. According to UK sources and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), it was with a Novichok nerve agent. After three weeks in a critical condition, Yulia regained consciousness and was able to speak; she was discharged from hospital over in April. Sergei was also in a critical condition until he regained consciousness one month after the attack; he was discharged mid-May. Unsurprisingly, the entire debacle was a storm of controversy and accusations at Russia, who tried to blame the British. While the investigation was ongoing for the year, the British and several other nations refused to have Russians involved in the examination of materials. This along with Russia's comments showcased a deep divide growing more between Russia and the rest of the world.
Forensics tent covers the bench where Sergei and Yulia Skripal fell unconscious
Of course, suspicious activity was not limited only to Russia. Over in the United States, a controversy was breaking out involving social media giant Facebook and British political data firm Cambridge Analytica. What would be the Facebook-Cambridge Analytica data breach was a data leak in early 2018 whereby millions of Facebook users' personal data was harvested without consent by Cambridge Analytica, predominantly to be used for political advertising. It is the largest known leak in Facebook history. The data was collected through an app created in 2013 by Dr. Aleksandr Kogan (Dr. Aleksandr Spectre, at the time), a Cambridge academic, and consisted of a series of questions to build psychological profiles on users. The app not only harvested the personal data of the users that completed the questions, but also of the users’ Facebook friends.Cambridge Analytica sought to sell the data of American voters to political campaigns and would be linked to several prominent politicians on both political parties, notably establishment Republicans and some Democrats. The data breach was disclosed in 2018 by Christopher Wylie, a former Cambridge Analytica employee, in interviews with The Guardian and The New York Times. In response, Facebook apologized for their role in the data harvesting and their CEO Mark Zuckerberg testified in front of Congress. The Sanders Administraton used it to call on tighter controls for internet privacy along with the dangers of malicious influence within elections. Unsurprisingly, Facebook would end up losing a chunk of users. Facebook had taken the top spot from Myspace around 2014 involving social media usage though many noted the trend would likely be reversed as newer users would reinforce their loyalty to Myspace or sign up. Other websites would benefit, most notably Google Plus, which would be seen as the alternative. As the politicians and other interested parties were outed, it served to further enflame people to go to the polls, especially with a later decision coming into the transition into the summer.
User utilizing the Cambridge Analytica and Facebook product.
Despite this, there was some encouraging news going on. Over in Ireland, the 36th Amendment would be added to the Constitution, one that would legalize abortion in the nation. More specifcially, the Thirty-sixth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland (previously bill no. 29 of 2018) is an amendment to the constitution of Ireland which permits the Oireachtas to legislate for abortion. The constitution had previously prohibited abortion unless there was a serious risk to the life of the mother. The proposal was often described as the Repeal of the Eighth Amendment, referring to the 1983 constitutional amendment which guarantees the unborn the right to life, making abortion illegal unless the pregnancy is life-threatening. The 2018 bill replaces Article 40.3.3° of the Constitution, which was added in 1983 and amended in 1992. Being introduced by the Sinn Féin-run government, it would be voted upon and being signed in, with an impressive ~70% of yes for the amendment beig added. Unsurprisingly, many governments such as the Labour government of Corbyn and the Sanders Administration applauded this decision in moving forward while conservative and reactionary groups bemoaned the loss of morality. It did seem to further symbolize the leftward shift that was going on in the world. It would be signed into action later in the year. It would also be seen as a sign of growing secularism within the world given the reputation of Ireland as a Catholic stronghold was maintained.
"Yes" supporters at Dublin Castle after the Referendum results were declared
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