Cross posted from The Stars Hollow Gazette
There is a corruption at the heart of American politics, caused by the dependence of Congressional candidates on funding from the tiniest percentage of citizens. That’s the argument at the core of this blistering talk by legal scholar Lawrence Lessig. With rapid-fire visuals, he shows how the funding process weakens the Republic in the most fundamental way, and issues a rallying bipartisan cry that will resonate with many in the U.S. and beyond.
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Good man, Lawrence Lessig.
I would love to see all political campaigns funded by the government as in England.
I would think Mr. Lessig would approve.
But then is England better off than we? Doesn’t appear to be from here.
Then what is the problem.
The problem is Dumb, Unaware, Unconcerned, Gullible.
What to do?
Beats the hell out of me but getting the money out is a fine first step.
Then what?
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Best, Terry
… But if it focuses on Lessig’s call for another Constitutional Convention, his thoughts, while admirable, fall short.
I blame social media.
The best way I can describe the problem, as I see it, is a world of people in a melting pot set to a simmer, given just enough to feel safe, but cooking nonetheless, unable to climb out of the pot, some suffering, but helpless at the hands go the cooks.
Social media is a pacifier, not a tool. It is a data engine, gathering information to be used against us. Revolution will never occur as our venting and planning keeps things simmering, never to boil. Social media allows us to feel free will, when it is an addiction, a distraction, a weapon to be used against us. Seemingly innocuous, the whole thing is crunched by corporations and the NSA, both operating against our best interests.
Only when we no longer have enough, when the heat becomes too much, or cools off, would the contents of the melting pot collectively reach a conclusion that things are not as they should be.
Lessig’s hopes for change from within the current system are noble but naive. I won’t discount a miracle but do not see change coming from within a system that works against us 24/7. It will take revolution in the way we live and work to change the system, to at least to even come close to leveling the playing field. And even then, human nature, individual desires to reign over others, to use, to dominate, to control, cast a dark cloud over the world’s fate, not just that of our nation.
The best we can do is adapt, to take what we are given and make the most of it, or even survive to rebuild.
Again, I don’t discount miracles, and have hope for myself and my family, that one day goodness and love will take root and grow. I believe that setting a personal example is the best I can do, and pray for the sun to shine, for the rain to fall, and be glad for each new day.