This morning’s Coeur d’Alene Press printed a letter to the editor by Eden Irgens.

Her letter is useful to show how disinformation (also called black propaganda) works.  Disinformation has likely been employed by various governments for as long as governments have known deception is a useful way to influence people.  The key to the success of a disinformation operation is that almost all of the information must be correct and reasonably easily verifiable so that it can withstand casual scrutiny.   The hope, of course, is that the kernel of deception will be missed and then accepted as factual as readily as the accurate information.  (more…)

This morning’s Coeur d’Alene Press correctly reported that “… the McEuen Field website that showed the original, high-end $39.2 million estimate for the downtown park conceptual plan” had been taken down.

However, that webpage is on the Coeur d’Alene City website under the home page button “City Info,” Reports & Studies link.  It’s just much more difficult for those pesky fact-checkers to find.

In the news article Parks Director/Chief Lawn Mower Doug Eastwood commented,  ” ‘It’s ancient information,’ Eastwood said of the $39 million figure. ‘When concepts change we don’t keep outdated information.’ ”

Since the City is, in fact, keeping the information,  has the concept not changed or is the information still not outdated?

One of our readers contacted us and suggested we “allow readers to request daily topic for discussion  inserts.  You could then choose the good, the bad, and an ugly for direct discussion, or in other words, let OpenCDA be open so we can see where it leads.”

It’s a good idea.  We want to put up local topics for discussion that readers want to discuss.

If you have an idea for a topic, send it to us via email (Do not attach it as a comment to another post!).  We’ll look at it and decide if it should be posted as submitted, revised, or not posted at all.  But we’re going to shift the burden back on the person who originally submitted it.  If you suggested it, you should be the person to lead off the discussion.

We’ll try it and see if it works.  Thanks to the person who suggested it.

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In its online article today headlined Republican group announces endorsements, the Coeur d’Alene Press quoted Brad Corkill, representing the North Idaho Political Action Committee, as saying, ” “Last but not least, Mr. [John] Green has served as legal counsel for Phil Hart, which calls into question how he would interpret and enforce the law as sheriff.”

When did John Green, candidate for Kootenai County sheriff, represent Phil Hart as Hart’s legal counsel?  Corkill’s statement implies that Green is an attorney, however the Idaho State Bar shows no attorney listing for John Green.