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I recently read the most remarkable and relevant interview in The New York Times with outgoing ambassador to Hungary, David Pressman. It is a clarion call and premonition for our country and deserves to be read by as many of our citizens as possible. I would like to see Sen. Susan Collins read and comment.
“Hungary is a living example of how vulnerable democratic institutions actually are and how easy it is for ill-intentioned leaders to exercise control over citizens. And that’s on steroids when they control all of the media ecosystem. And how quickly a country and a people can be chilled into silence,” Pressman said.
This was on the same day when we read how our new president was giving a seat of honor at his inauguration to the TikTok CEO, Shou Chew. The New York Times also reported that Donald Trump’s change of heart came shortly after meeting with a mega donor who owns a significant portion of the parent company of TikTok.
This was on the same day that we read how the “tech industry” is “euphoric” about Trump.
Our biggest danger is disinformation and suppression of information, which has been a hallmark of Hungary’s move to an autocratic country from a democracy. This will be fueled by the control exerted by the oligarchs in our country.
Hungary is a small country without the history and guardrails we have in the United States, but Victor Orban is heralded as a beloved prototype of Trump and many Republicans. We should beware that it would not take much for us to head down the same path of suppression and control.
I think any citizen who truly values our freedoms should read this interview and share it with others.
Philip Brooks
Bar Harbor
