Hal Plotkin
@halplotkin.bsky.social
Senior Scholar, Institute for the Study of Knowledge Management in Education (ISKME), Senior Open Policy Fellow, Creative Commons USA (2014-2017), Senior Policy Advisor, U.S. Department of Education (2009-2014)
Pinned
Hal Plotkin
@halplotkin.bsky.social
· Nov 16
A Proposal to Establish the U.S. Digital Progress Administration
President-elect Joe Biden should create the digital equivalent of FDR’s WPA to rebuild public faith in our government and democracy itself.
medium.com
New here. I will always wonder what else I could have done to convince my former colleagues in the White House and the Democratic Party to listen to and act on this proposal, which could have changed everything. And which still might. #IdeasMatter #Technology4People #DigitalProgressAdministration
Time to wise up fast, folks. Provoking public disorder is not a CONSEQUENCE of Trump's lawless deeds. It's the GOAL. Trump needs just one violent street protest to "justify" the declaration of Martial Law that has almost certainly already been prepared. Don't give him that opportunity. #nonviolence
May 31, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Time to wise up fast, folks. Provoking public disorder is not a CONSEQUENCE of Trump's lawless deeds. It's the GOAL. Trump needs just one violent street protest to "justify" the declaration of Martial Law that has almost certainly already been prepared. Don't give him that opportunity. #nonviolence
Time to wise up fast, folks. Provoking public disorder is not a CONSEQUENCE of Trump's lawless deeds. It's the GOAL. Trump needs JUST ONE violent street skirmish to "justify" the declaration of Martial Law that has almost certainly already been drafted. Don't give him that opportunity. #nonviolence
The thing that really scares me is that DHS thugs are terrorizing people in broad daylight in crowded locations where they know everyone will be filming them and they’re doing it anyway. They don’t fucking care. Kind of debunks the idea that past atrocities could’ve been avoided with more media.
May 31, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Time to wise up fast, folks. Provoking public disorder is not a CONSEQUENCE of Trump's lawless deeds. It's the GOAL. Trump needs JUST ONE violent street skirmish to "justify" the declaration of Martial Law that has almost certainly already been drafted. Don't give him that opportunity. #nonviolence
I recently had lunch with a local college president. He told me his main goal is to keep his head down. "It's my responsibility to protect our students. The most important thing I can do right now is not make us a target." That's how it starts. That's also the beginning of the end. #Resist
Scientific institutions have a long history of anticipatory obedience
Societies should learn from this and speak up to support inclusion
www.chemistryworld.com
May 31, 2025 at 3:34 PM
I recently had lunch with a local college president. He told me his main goal is to keep his head down. "It's my responsibility to protect our students. The most important thing I can do right now is not make us a target." That's how it starts. That's also the beginning of the end. #Resist
Why don't we have squads of drones that can put out wildfires by carrying fire-dousing hose arrays?
May 30, 2025 at 5:30 AM
Why don't we have squads of drones that can put out wildfires by carrying fire-dousing hose arrays?
The fact that the DC Dems have been beaten into irrelevancy by someone as dumb and obviously corrupt as Trump should be a clue that it's time for them to abandon their neoliberal $ grubbing alliance with Big Tech and champion open source digital technologies. But even now, they still won't do it.
March 6, 2025 at 9:17 AM
The fact that the DC Dems have been beaten into irrelevancy by someone as dumb and obviously corrupt as Trump should be a clue that it's time for them to abandon their neoliberal $ grubbing alliance with Big Tech and champion open source digital technologies. But even now, they still won't do it.
Next up: "The Trump Slump."
February 26, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Next up: "The Trump Slump."
The U.S. Department of Education works to ensure that every student, no matter their background, has an opportunity to thrive. I’m proud to join 250+ former federal officials in thanking federal workers in the U.S. Department of Education for their service. You can read our letter here:
tinyurl.com
February 24, 2025 at 6:57 PM
The U.S. Department of Education works to ensure that every student, no matter their background, has an opportunity to thrive. I’m proud to join 250+ former federal officials in thanking federal workers in the U.S. Department of Education for their service. You can read our letter here:
Govt doesn't create fascism. Fascism gains and holds power because of oligarchic businesses led by people who know that fair rules fairly enforced will limit or end their easy profits. That's why American fascism is led by Silicon Valley CEOs and VCs, who could put even a stooge like Trump in power.
February 24, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Govt doesn't create fascism. Fascism gains and holds power because of oligarchic businesses led by people who know that fair rules fairly enforced will limit or end their easy profits. That's why American fascism is led by Silicon Valley CEOs and VCs, who could put even a stooge like Trump in power.
I saw fascism coming six years ago (even earlier) when I published this open letter to the Biden Harris team. We have an economy led by lionized firms that ape the biz ethics of dishonest car mechanics who cheat customers by hiding what's happening under the hood. On that foundation democracy sank.
A Proposal to Establish the U.S. Digital Progress Administration
President-elect Joe Biden should create the digital equivalent of FDR’s WPA to rebuild public faith in our government and democracy itself.
medium.com
February 24, 2025 at 1:53 PM
I saw fascism coming six years ago (even earlier) when I published this open letter to the Biden Harris team. We have an economy led by lionized firms that ape the biz ethics of dishonest car mechanics who cheat customers by hiding what's happening under the hood. On that foundation democracy sank.
Silicon Valley is known as the land of easy $. Write code & make bank like recording artists! An entire industry based on this model was lionized despite the social & economic advantages of open source software. Wall Street loved it. The goal: recurring revenue for no new work. Outcome: fascism.
"The fundamental failure of libertarian thought isn't its celebration of markets or individual liberty—it's its childlike theory of power." www.notesfromthecircus.com/p/from-madis...
From Madison's Vision to Musk's Dystopia
How Libertarian Naivety Paves the Way for Reactionary Control
www.notesfromthecircus.com
February 24, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Silicon Valley is known as the land of easy $. Write code & make bank like recording artists! An entire industry based on this model was lionized despite the social & economic advantages of open source software. Wall Street loved it. The goal: recurring revenue for no new work. Outcome: fascism.
Sociopaths now lead Silicon Valley. But how did that start? History: 1976 when a Bill Gates' open letter led the new software industry to ape the biz model of dishonest car mechanics who lie about what's under the hood. Making bank came first not honesty. Straight line to fascism's rule of thieves.
Mouthbreathing Machiavellis Dream of a Silicon Reich | Corey Pein
Meet the neo-reactionaries who influenced the rightward drift of Silicon Valley.
thebaffler.com
February 24, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Sociopaths now lead Silicon Valley. But how did that start? History: 1976 when a Bill Gates' open letter led the new software industry to ape the biz model of dishonest car mechanics who lie about what's under the hood. Making bank came first not honesty. Straight line to fascism's rule of thieves.
"Last week, Republicans celebrated the pardons of criminals who were filmed violently assaulting police officers..." Please @hakeem-jeffries.bsky.social - you MUST repeat this point EVERY SINGLE DAY. Drive it home with constant repetition ala Trump. Don't let them change the subject!!! Stay on this!
My statement on the FBI Purge that puts at risk the safety, well-being and national security of the American people.
February 21, 2025 at 8:37 PM
"Last week, Republicans celebrated the pardons of criminals who were filmed violently assaulting police officers..." Please @hakeem-jeffries.bsky.social - you MUST repeat this point EVERY SINGLE DAY. Drive it home with constant repetition ala Trump. Don't let them change the subject!!! Stay on this!
If @schumer.senate.gov and @hakeem-jeffries.bsky.social and the Democratic Party congressional leaders were smart they would focus on Trump's pardons of convicted criminals who were filmed assaulting police officers EVERY SINGLE DAY rather than helping Trump keep changing the topic.
Something refreshing to hear: in a new poll Americans oppose Trump’s pardoning of violent January 6th insurrectionists by 83-14.
Credit: Aaron Blake from WaPo
Credit: Aaron Blake from WaPo
February 20, 2025 at 6:55 PM
If @schumer.senate.gov and @hakeem-jeffries.bsky.social and the Democratic Party congressional leaders were smart they would focus on Trump's pardons of convicted criminals who were filmed assaulting police officers EVERY SINGLE DAY rather than helping Trump keep changing the topic.
The fact that McConnell now opposes Trump after destroying the U.S. system of checks and balances does not matter to me at all. The only way McConnell can redeem himself is by leading the effort to impeach and convict and remove Trump from office. Otherwise, McConnell's name is dirt for the ages.
BREAKING: Senator Mitch McConnell announces that he will not seek reelection in 2026 — bringing an end to one of the single most destructive political careers in American history.
He will be remembered for his cruelty and greed and for helping pave the wave for MAGA fascism.
Good. Riddance.
He will be remembered for his cruelty and greed and for helping pave the wave for MAGA fascism.
Good. Riddance.
February 20, 2025 at 6:27 PM
The fact that McConnell now opposes Trump after destroying the U.S. system of checks and balances does not matter to me at all. The only way McConnell can redeem himself is by leading the effort to impeach and convict and remove Trump from office. Otherwise, McConnell's name is dirt for the ages.
Trump WANTS - and is obviously trying to provoke - violent street demonstrations so he can invoke MARTIAL LAW. Don't give that to him. KEEP ALL DEMONSTRATIONS NON-VIOLENT. Report and isolate those causing violence immediately - they are likely to be Trump agents (known as "agents provocateurs").
February 20, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Trump WANTS - and is obviously trying to provoke - violent street demonstrations so he can invoke MARTIAL LAW. Don't give that to him. KEEP ALL DEMONSTRATIONS NON-VIOLENT. Report and isolate those causing violence immediately - they are likely to be Trump agents (known as "agents provocateurs").
There may be a silver lining in this. This Big Lie is basically a tacit admission that much if not all of what Musk has done has not been legally authorized. The only possible defense is to claim he didn't do it, which is what folks charged with provable crimes often say. It rarely works.
Sorry but this is plainly a lie as anyone with eyes to see can tell.
www.politico.com/news/2025/02...
www.politico.com/news/2025/02...
Who’s in charge of DOGE? Not Elon Musk, White House says
A Trump administration personnel official says Musk has "no actual or formal authority to make government decisions."
www.politico.com
February 19, 2025 at 12:45 AM
There may be a silver lining in this. This Big Lie is basically a tacit admission that much if not all of what Musk has done has not been legally authorized. The only possible defense is to claim he didn't do it, which is what folks charged with provable crimes often say. It rarely works.
If our Dem Party leaders were smarter this is what they would be talking about EVERY SINGLE DAY instead of constantly helping Trump change the subject. Trump pardoned convicted criminals who were filmed assaulting police officers. Can we please put @mjfree.bsky.social in charge - like in the movies?
I'm going to post this video every day so we never forget what Trump did.
February 18, 2025 at 11:47 PM
If our Dem Party leaders were smarter this is what they would be talking about EVERY SINGLE DAY instead of constantly helping Trump change the subject. Trump pardoned convicted criminals who were filmed assaulting police officers. Can we please put @mjfree.bsky.social in charge - like in the movies?
Thank you to @sloanfoundation.bsky.social for funding this essential work. Our future depends on work such as this. Kudos!
Research software is behind many scientific breakthroughs, yet it’s at risk without proper support. IOI’s new report examines challenges in sustaining research software infrastructure that limit its impact on modern research. investinopen.org/blog/unveili...
February 18, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Thank you to @sloanfoundation.bsky.social for funding this essential work. Our future depends on work such as this. Kudos!
The appalling nature of this announcement was lost amid the recent shitstorm. In the past, when layoffs happened the bosses usually had the decency NOT to cast aspersions on those being fired. Now, Meta kicks them in their teeth as they're thrown into the street. Who'd ever work for Zuck again?
Meta is cutting 5% of its ‘lowest performers’ | CNN Business
Meta is aiming to cut about 5% of what it calls its “lowest performers” with plans to backfill those roles later this year, the company confirmed on Tuesday.
www.cnn.com
February 18, 2025 at 6:05 PM
The appalling nature of this announcement was lost amid the recent shitstorm. In the past, when layoffs happened the bosses usually had the decency NOT to cast aspersions on those being fired. Now, Meta kicks them in their teeth as they're thrown into the street. Who'd ever work for Zuck again?
I *really* hope some of these young scholars look at how the rise of the digital age led to a diminution of public investments in durable goods (bridges, roads, schools, parks, sewer system investments replaced by non-durable software licenses). That horse left the barn a long time ago. Devastating.
Are you a PhD student or early career PostDoc researching how citizens and parties behave in democracies, what factors weaken democracies, and what factors strengthen them? Are you currently working on one of your first academic manuscripts? We are organizing a workshop just for you! Please share!
February 18, 2025 at 5:52 PM
I *really* hope some of these young scholars look at how the rise of the digital age led to a diminution of public investments in durable goods (bridges, roads, schools, parks, sewer system investments replaced by non-durable software licenses). That horse left the barn a long time ago. Devastating.
This is what happens when your national economy is led for decades by a Big Tech sector that apes the biz ethics of dishonest car mechanics who cheat customers by hiding what's happening under the hood. The biz press mostly missed THAT story - too busy at the time seeking $ to host "conferences."
As @ezrakleinbot.bsky.social said: Mike Johnson leads an NPC — Non Player Congress
February 18, 2025 at 5:41 PM
This is what happens when your national economy is led for decades by a Big Tech sector that apes the biz ethics of dishonest car mechanics who cheat customers by hiding what's happening under the hood. The biz press mostly missed THAT story - too busy at the time seeking $ to host "conferences."
Translation: Basically an admission that much of what Musk has personally done to date has not been legally authorized. When something can't be defended legally the only other option is to deny it occurred. Pretty much every criminal defendant makes that argument at some point. We're already there.
"Elon Musk is not the leader of DOGE — the mysterious Trump administration operation overseeing an effort to break and remake the federal bureaucracy. In fact, he’s not even technically part of it at all, the White House said in court papers Monday night." #1984 www.politico.com/news/2025/02...
Who’s in charge of DOGE? Not Elon Musk, White House says
A Trump administration personnel official says Musk has "no actual or formal authority to make government decisions."
www.politico.com
February 18, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Translation: Basically an admission that much of what Musk has personally done to date has not been legally authorized. When something can't be defended legally the only other option is to deny it occurred. Pretty much every criminal defendant makes that argument at some point. We're already there.
Brilliant. How did Silicon Valley's (SV) leadership come to be dominated by obvious sociopaths? Kudos to @beccalew.bsky.social. One even deeper root: SV's embrace of the ethics of dishonest car mechanics who hide what's happening under the hood (eg Bill Gates pivotal letter to Dr. Dobbs Journal).
Best audio interview with @beccalew.bsky.social about her recent article on the misogyny at the heart of techno utopianism & cyberlibertarianism. Save it now and listen.
soundcloud.com/this-is-hell...
soundcloud.com/this-is-hell...
Becca Lewis / How Technofacism is Rooted in Silicon Valley
Disinformation and far-right digital media scholar Becca Lewis, who posted The Guardian article, “‘Headed for technofascism’: the rightwing roots of Silicon Valley.
soundcloud.com
February 18, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Brilliant. How did Silicon Valley's (SV) leadership come to be dominated by obvious sociopaths? Kudos to @beccalew.bsky.social. One even deeper root: SV's embrace of the ethics of dishonest car mechanics who hide what's happening under the hood (eg Bill Gates pivotal letter to Dr. Dobbs Journal).
We are in a global fight against fascism. Only this time the U.S. is on the wrong side. #ImpeachTrumpand Vance
Just arrived in Paris for crucial talks.
Europe’s security is at a turning point.
Yes, it is about Ukraine—but it is also about us.
We need an urgency mindset.
We need a surge in defense.
And we need both of them now.
Europe’s security is at a turning point.
Yes, it is about Ukraine—but it is also about us.
We need an urgency mindset.
We need a surge in defense.
And we need both of them now.
February 18, 2025 at 12:39 AM
We are in a global fight against fascism. Only this time the U.S. is on the wrong side. #ImpeachTrumpand Vance