The Opposition…

Republic, Lost: How Money Corrupts Congress--and a Plan to Stop It

Lawrence Lessig

Discussion: 2011-Oct-Nov-Dec

Why we're reading this: December 13, 2011
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2011-Oct-Nov-Dec

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* December 2011
By Tiffany , WristStrong · 1 post · 35 views

last updated Dec 20, 2011 06:46PM

* November 2011
By Tiffany , WristStrong · 1 post · 29 views

last updated Dec 03, 2011 08:09PM

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Feb 24, 2012 Peter rated it liked it

Politicians pay attention to influential people. Especially rich ones. The power capture by these few is magnified by the apathy of the general voting public. Instead of blaming the voters the author then goes on a tirade of how to raise money (clean elections) to combat the problem. Essentially fighting fire with fire.
He discusses his dislike of the supreme court Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission decision.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizens...

I appreciate most of Lawrence's des Politicians pay attention to influential people. Especially rich ones. The power capture by these few is magnified by the apathy of the general voting public. Instead of blaming the voters the author then goes on a tirade of how to raise money (clean elections) to combat the problem. Essentially fighting fire with fire.
He discusses his dislike of the supreme court Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission decision.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizens...

I appreciate most of Lawrence's description of the problem but I am completely uninterested with his proposed solutions. Most of his propositions to fixing campaign finance corruption seem more targeted at weakening political opposition then anything else. Forcing the public to contribute won't force them to be involved. The world is run by those that show up. Sure it is hard to take control from those that already have it but if we are going to let Congress pick winners and losers then those most interested in winning are going to do everything they can to control those regulators. Either through thinly veiled campaign bribes, promises of highly paid future employment, funding the opposition, or funding their own employees to get elected to these positions. Essentially turning those groups intended to regulate for pubic good into authoritative branches of a corporation with the power to shut down competition and impose their will on the public.

My interest isn't to force the politicians onto a forced funded system. If congress has billions in tax loopholes and other goodies to sell then the'll find a way to make sure they go to the highest bidder. Campaign finance doesn't need reform as much as Congress needs their power to direct funds to targeted companies and or individuals. What we truly need is tax reform. If everyone can play by different tax rules goverened and manipulated by congress over and over again every few years then that is all congress will be able to do. Pick and choose tax rates and bank debit card fees. They'll never have the time, will, or organization to do anything else.

I do like his idea of a one issue campaign to take congress hostage to fix a single identified problem. A campaign platform promise of nothing but reform and then resignation. ...more

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