[SIGCIS-Members] Email "inventor" claimant to run for U.S. Senate -- alternative facts about technology and democracy collide

[Thomas Haigh]

So funny fact: when I look for stories confirming this on Google news the only one that comes up so far is from Sputnik News, the Russian government’s foreign language propaganda outlet. https://sputniknews.com/us/201702251051029951-boston-enterpreneur-challenger-warren/ 

 

Doesn’t say which party nomination he’s seeking, does mention he announced it at a party “hosted by controversial figure Mike Cernovich, who organized the January "Deplora-ball" event at the National Press Club.” So if this turns into an actual campaign it will be interesting to see his political positions. On the one hand: friend of Chomsky, self-proclaimed victim of endemic racism, enemy of the military-industrial complex, anti-GMO activist, etc. On the other: vocal Trump supporter, partying with the alt-right. 

 

According to the Russians: "For me, its about defending the American dream… a real fighter and a real innovator exposing a fake fighter, which is what Elizabeth Warren is all about. I look forward to all your support because this is going to be a grassroots movement … delivering a Senate victory for a real Indian versus a fake Indian in Massachusetts," Ayyadurai said on Friday.”

 

Tom

 

 

 

 

From: Members [mailto:members-bounces at lists.sigcis.org] On Behalf Of Andrew Meade McGee
Sent: Saturday, February 25, 2017 11:17 AM
To: McMillan, William W <william.mcmillan at cuaa.edu>
Cc: members at sigcis.org hosted by controversial figure Mike Cernovich, who organized the January "Deplora-ball" event at the National Press Club
Subject: Re: [SIGCIS-Members] Email "inventor" claimant to run for U.S. Senate -- alternative facts about technology and democracy collide

 

That's very interesting, Bill. Thank you for passing this along. I will look more into Snyder. The SPARK aspect sounds fascinating, given how much governors and gubernatorial candidates over the past fifteen years have linked themselves to "high tech" innovation and job growth. That he called himself a tough nerd is fascinating. 

 

Gateway is definitely a name with "Tech" connotations for much of America -- I remember in the 90s and early 2000s when you would see cow-patterned boxes littering my small town streets on trash days. 

 

This gets at an interesting aspect of the computer industry -- when is a figure a "tech" person, and when just a "business" person? The way John Sculley from Pepsi is slotted into the Steve Jobs/Apple narrative suggests there is a difference. A figure like Ross Perot seemed to straddle the difference when he sold himself as a businessman and a technologist when running for president. 

 

Thanks,

Andrew




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Andrew Meade McGee
Corcoran Department of History
University of Virginia
PO Box 400180 - Nau Hall
Charlottesville, VA 22904

 

On Sat, Feb 25, 2017 at 11:34 AM, McMillan, William W <william.mcmillan at cuaa.edu <mailto:william.mcmillan at cuaa.edu> > wrote:

The governor of Michigan is Rick Snyder, formerly the CEO and Chairman of Gateway Inc., a maker of personal computers and other electronic products (Gateway was acquired by Acer).

The governorship is Snyder's first elective position.

He also chaired Ann Arbor SPARK, a tech-heavy economic development organization

Though Snyder refers to himself as "one tough nerd," I think it's fair to say that he's not a technical person (other than in law and accounting).  He's more a business leader and investment expert, so maybe not the kind of example you're looking for, Andrew.

- Bill

________________________________
From: Members [members-bounces at lists.sigcis.org <mailto:members-bounces at lists.sigcis.org> ] on behalf of Andrew Meade McGee [amm5ae at virginia.edu <mailto:amm5ae at virginia.edu> ]
Sent: Saturday, February 25, 2017 10:41 AM
To: members at sigcis.org <mailto:members at sigcis.org> 
Subject: Re: [SIGCIS-Members] Email "inventor" claimant to run for U.S. Senate -- alternative facts about technology and democracy collide

As a follow up to Ayyadurai's candidacy  -- have there been any previous instances of people who identify with the software industry running for major political office in the United states or internationally?

--Andrew

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Andrew Meade McGee
Corcoran Department of History
University of Virginia
PO Box 400180 - Nau Hall
Charlottesville, VA 22904

On Sat, Feb 25, 2017 at 10:37 AM, Andrew Meade McGee <amm5ae at virginia.edu <mailto:amm5ae at virginia.edu> <mailto:amm5ae at virginia.edu <mailto:amm5ae at virginia.edu> >> wrote:
Continuing with the ongoing saga of V. A. Shiva and his claims regarding the invention of e-mail, that gentleman has just announced his candidacy for the United States Senate.

https://twitter.com/va_shiva/status/835420061993218048

As several SIGCIS contributors noted earlier this month, this nicely parallels the upcoming SHOT themes of technology and democracy. "Alternate facts" about the history of technology will play a major public element of this campaign next year.

--Andrew

 

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