I completely agree that education is most important.
As for the "manipulation"... generally speaking, nobody ever thinks of themselves as "evil". The well-meaning but simply misinformed or misguided can be just as poor an instructor as someone with malicious intent.
My point is mainly that the president (and other decision-making positions) has to rely on advisers. If those advisers are not providing the necessary, accurate information then they have de facto power over the decision making process. Unlike the coercive strategies, this shift in power can happen without intending it.
> If those advisers are not providing the necessary, accurate information then they have de facto power over the decision making process
Yes, but as it pertains to this particular issue, assuming there's no blackmail involved, if the public is informed and there's one political candidate who is for strong encryption, and another who is for backdoors, then we will vote in the man or woman who is for strong encryption. We may have lived with mandated backdoors for 4 or 8 years, but at some point we'll work our way out of that hole, so long as we stay vigilant and root our knowledge-sharing in facts.
Generally speaking, I agree completely that people can and do leave out facts in order to get what they want. Our government isn't free from this sort of manipulation, but I think we have a darned good system set up compared to some others. Lindsey Graham's change of heart on the encryption issue is evidence of that, as is much of the good work done by our government that often goes under-appreciated by the general public. This isn't the first time our government and people have argued over the proper interpretation of laws, and it won't be the last. Let's recall the successful civil rights movements of the past, remember that other countries still do not have some rights that have existed in the US since its founding, and look forward to winning many more. Free speech, women's right to vote, equal rights for all races. Our system isn't perfect but it has led to some really good things.
As for the "manipulation"... generally speaking, nobody ever thinks of themselves as "evil". The well-meaning but simply misinformed or misguided can be just as poor an instructor as someone with malicious intent.
My point is mainly that the president (and other decision-making positions) has to rely on advisers. If those advisers are not providing the necessary, accurate information then they have de facto power over the decision making process. Unlike the coercive strategies, this shift in power can happen without intending it.