So Vladimir Putin meddled in U.S. politics. That is nothing new.
So did the Nazis.
Like Putin, the Nazis hoped to accomplish their aggression in Europe without the inconvenience of U.S. interference. Hacking had not yet been invented, so they developed a sophisticated political map of the U.S.
They identified states (and the District of Columbia) with large first and second generation German/Austrian populations. These states happened to lie mostly in the Midwest, including Wisconsin and Michigan. This secret map now resides in the British Library – Maps X.3817. Look at it here. https://britishheritage.com/b ritish-library/#prettyPhoto
The Nazis reasoned that populations of these states would be most vulnerable to their propaganda.
To keep the U.S. out of the war, Joseph Goebbel’s Propaganda Ministry then targeted its money and efforts on those states. They planted newspaper articles, radio broadcasts and other propaganda to persuade these voters to pressure their representatives and the central government in favor isolationism.
Initially, the campaign was quite successful in fracturing our political resolve and restraining President Roosevelt. But not for long. Fortunately for the world, Roosevelt was no apologist for Der Führer, and the U.S. came to the aid of the Allies (which, at that time, included Russia).
Unfortunately for the world, following World War II the Treaty of Yalta caged eastern Europe and half of Germany behind Stalin’s Iron Curtain. Mounting pressure, including from the West, finally raised the Curtain and brought down the Berlin Wall.
Now Putin’s aggression would again ring down the Curtain and return to Russia as much of the world as a pliant or weakened West is willing to cede.
One wonders if he might even press claims on Alaska. Indeed, at the time the U.S. purchased Alaska in 1867 for approximately 2 cents per acre, the capitol of Alaska was Novo-Arkhangelsk (Ново-Архангельск, now known as Sitka). To this day there are areas of Alaska where Russian is spoken.
As a free and open democracy, history teaches that we will be vulnerable to meddling by hostile actors. Taking a page from Herr Goebbel’s playbook, outside powers might target states that may be sympathetic to isolationism garbed as nationalism.
Also, in presidential elections one might concentrate manipulation on those states where, due to our unique electoral college, a vote in effect counts more than a similar vote in other states.
So, we must gird ourselves for intrusions by those not invited to our party.
Certainly the talent available in Silicon Valley can help deter hacking or other cyber threats to our system. Hacking, however, is only one tool in the evolution of interference.
In the end, to insure that “government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth,” attempts to manipulate or debilitate our democracy must remain unrewarded.
Otherwise distractions such as unfounded fears of “voter fraud” may occupy our attention while these uninvited guests enter our back door and manipulate our unique system of open government.
Clear eyes, robust education and eternal vigilance are the price of preserving so precious, yet so fragile a system.
Robert Peterson is a professor of law at Santa Clara University School of Law. He wrote this for The Mercury News.
