Lawrence Lessig: How to Get Our Democracy Back

When a group (whether it's citizens with a hobby, a union, a corporation, or a church) sees that government is throwing it's $3 Trillion/year bulk around in their neighborhood, they - rationally - try to buy off the government so that it does not destroy them or do them harm.<p>The solution is not to restrict speech - the solution is to get politics out of so many questions by getting the government out of those issues.<p>Once upon a time doctors did not feel the need to lobby the government ... because the government did not feel the need to regulate the prices and conditions under which doctors did their work.<p>Once upon a time target shooters did not feel the need to lobby the government ... because government did not feel the need to regulate every aspect of the hobby of shooting.<p>Lessig is way off base here. He's a big government statist, but he doesn't want folks who disagree with him to have the power to influence the government.

Something of a broader response from Reason.com - "Stop the Car, Larry. I Want to Get Out", excerpt: "While the folks at Cato would respond to special-interest lobbying by reducing the size and scope of government so less of life is politicized and there is less to lobby about, Lessig would respond by amending the Constitution to restrict freedom of speech."<p><a href="http://reason.com/blog/2010/01/28/stop-the-car-larry-i-want-to-g" rel="nofollow">http://reason.com/blog/2010/01/28/stop-the-car-larry-i-want-...</a>

I think the most disturbing part of the SCOTUS ruling on corporations' donating to campaigns is being missed.<p>Let's say I work a normal 9-5 job for a large company, like Ford. Let's further say I'm a Democrat, but Ford decides to donate a large sum of money to a Republican candidate. (Or, if you'd rather not consider party affiliation, just assume I disgree with the candidate's platform.) Essentially, my work is now directly going to fund policies that I disagree with. Does that mean I should quit my job and go work for a corporation that supports Democrats?<p>This can happen in a way without corporations being able to directly contribute, but at least the money is funneled through the compensation of the executives and it's their own personal decision. Although I might think the executive is overpaid, I have no right to tell anyone else how to spend their own money.<p>Similarly, what if I'm an average American and I have some of my IRA/401(k) invested in Ford, who then backs a political candidate I don't agree with. In a less direct way, my money (used to purchase stock in the company) is being used to fund political decisions I disagree with. Should I sell my stock?<p>The missing element that it seems no one is talking about is that the ruling essentially politicizes both the employer-employee relationship and the corporation-stockholder relationship.

As a non American: Is it not obvious that a politician accepting money to mould policy is bad for the bottom line?<p>Also slightly related - why is it acceptable to persuade a court to release suspects by simply paying them bail money in England and America?<p>Money walks all over morals.

"our government is corrupt"<p>Those in power want it to be corrupt to perpetuate themselves in power. Those aspiring for power become corrupted once they get there.<p>Small government, local voting and decision making. Direct democracy. No politician wants a reform for they will be left out.<p>We must burn down the government to save it.

I like Lessig and I like this article but does this really belong on Hacker News? Articles about technology are fine; articles about technology and business are okay; articles about technology and politics are okay, but this story ...?

To my knowledge, our government was never meant to be a Democracy. Republic innit?

I want the restricted republic back. No interest in democracy.<p>"Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want and deserve to get it good and hard." --Mencken

I agree with Lessig.<p>Maybe all these "small government", "liberty" people responding can explain how it fits with their world view that the northern European countries, who are not known for the smallness of their governments, consistently manage to have the highest standard of living and the most well-functioning and democratic governments in the world?