This should put fear in the hearts of Americans, what with Donald Trump referring to the press as "The enemy of the people" It could happen here.

@Flowerwall China would feel the same way.

@barjoe How so?

@Flowerwall They feel it's foreign influence in Hong Kong that's caused this unrest. You are worried about foreigners contributing to Think Tanks. Which foreign influences are you worried about?

@barjoe List of People who have called those that don't agree with them "The enemy of the People"
Franco
Stalin
Hitler
Lenin
Trump

@barjoe "Which foreign influences are you worried about?" ALL of them. Why are ANY foreign nations having say in our policies? This is probably why you see so much poverty in US and various social problems. Yes, we can work with other nations in trade, ABSOLUTELY, but how do we ensure an ethical balance? I don't know enough about the inner workings of these think tanks and their downstream effects, but at face value it doesn't look good. How are we ensuring adherence to the purest aims of democracy? It seems like a system completely open for misrepresentaion.

Yes, I do understand arguement with regard to China perception of inflience with HK vs. our perception of influence with media. HK is part of China, HK is part of the world. Each of those statements means something and entails different political ideas in different people. In our nation, influence is too often tied to $. It is completely different, because what happens when you are poor? The media feeds false narratives and takes advatage, so if you are wealthy and own media you control "the truth". Likewise, with think tanks, but now it's policy.

I just read an article stating that there is not a legal requirement to disclose internatinal funding to these places. You're OKAY with that?

@Flowerwall What think tanks have you contributed to? They are funded by donations. I would trust a think tank that was funded by contributions from a benefactor who may not be American over one that has been funded by harmful interests from within the US.

@barjoe Who decides what's harmful? Soverigntity dictates people decide for themselves, not sell out to highest bidder. And that's not to say we can never benefit from the exchange of ideas in international relations, I just don't think hidden international financial contributions that effect US policy are in the spirit of American values.

Also, I added to my previous comment above

@Flowerwall Koch Brothers, Lynde and Harry Bradley Sarah Scaife, all American contributors. You might think they're great. I don't. I have a problem with foreign governments controlling think tanks, foreign individuals not so much.

@barjoe I can't respond back with names and the effects. I just know that there have been policy ideas and positions the public are put in with regard to available choices, it feels so out of touch, it doesn't feel like it's made with real people in mind. It doesn't feel like it's our own.