Comments on: Changing Congress http://tropophilia.com/2009/03/04/changing-congress/ the love of change Fri, 30 Jul 2010 13:01:41 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Solar Energy http://tropophilia.com/2009/03/04/changing-congress/#comment-2313 Solar Energy Sun, 06 Sep 2009 22:07:33 +0000 http://tropophilia.com/?p=1033#comment-2313 Lessig’s message is that government makes poor policy—even when the choice ought to be easy. The problem isn’t overt bribery. In fact, we may have the best situation we’ve ever had in that sense. But even good people are affected by indirect dependence on money. <a href=”http://www.passiontips.info/how-to-give-good-head.php” rel="nofollow">:)</a> Lessig’s message is that government makes poor policy—even when the choice ought to be easy. The problem isn’t overt bribery. In fact, we may have the best situation we’ve ever had in that sense. But even good people are affected by indirect dependence on money. :)

]]> By: Solar Energy http://tropophilia.com/2009/03/04/changing-congress/#comment-2144 Solar Energy Sun, 06 Sep 2009 17:07:33 +0000 http://tropophilia.com/?p=1033#comment-2144 Lessig’s message is that government makes poor policy—even when the choice ought to be easy. The problem isn’t overt bribery. In fact, we may have the best situation we’ve ever had in that sense. But even good people are affected by indirect dependence on money. <a href=”http://www.passiontips.info/how-to-give-good-head.php” rel="nofollow">:)</a> Lessig’s message is that government makes poor policy—even when the choice ought to be easy. The problem isn’t overt bribery. In fact, we may have the best situation we’ve ever had in that sense. But even good people are affected by indirect dependence on money. :)

]]> By: Jarred http://tropophilia.com/2009/03/04/changing-congress/#comment-1961 Jarred Wed, 04 Mar 2009 18:10:39 +0000 http://tropophilia.com/?p=1033#comment-1961 Here's a link to the official Authors@Google version, which cuts between video of Lessig himself and his presentation: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHma3ZQRVoA" rel="nofollow">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHma3ZQRVoA</a>. Here's a link to the official Authors@Google version, which cuts between video of Lessig himself and his presentation: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHma3ZQRVoA.

]]> By: Jarred http://tropophilia.com/2009/03/04/changing-congress/#comment-1960 Jarred Wed, 04 Mar 2009 17:08:00 +0000 http://tropophilia.com/?p=1033#comment-1960 You would certainly know better than me -- I am taking Lessig at his word when he says the average representative spends 30-70% of their time fundraising for their next campaign (one of their proposals-in-planning is a campaign to have congressional reps keeps timesheets of their activities, like lawyers do).<br><br>Lessig does point out that, though, that even if he's wrong and representatives are truly taking citizen interests into account over special interest dollars... few know or believe it. The theme of his presentation is not so much that votes are being bought, but that average citizens have lost their trust in the system because of the mere appearance of suggestion of corruption. From Abramoff to Stevens, there's just too much that's gone down over the past few years. If people don't believe or trust in the system that's established to represent them, does it really even matter if it's working correctly or not?<br><br>And that's why, more and more, I think the strike is a pretty ingenious move. Why would someone who claims to only be representing the people's interests and not taking special interest donations into account not support this legislation? This project serves both to rat out the hypocrites, at a minimum, and ideally change the system to make it trustworthy again. You would certainly know better than me — I am taking Lessig at his word when he says the average representative spends 30-70% of their time fundraising for their next campaign (one of their proposals-in-planning is a campaign to have congressional reps keeps timesheets of their activities, like lawyers do).

Lessig does point out that, though, that even if he's wrong and representatives are truly taking citizen interests into account over special interest dollars… few know or believe it. The theme of his presentation is not so much that votes are being bought, but that average citizens have lost their trust in the system because of the mere appearance of suggestion of corruption. From Abramoff to Stevens, there's just too much that's gone down over the past few years. If people don't believe or trust in the system that's established to represent them, does it really even matter if it's working correctly or not?

And that's why, more and more, I think the strike is a pretty ingenious move. Why would someone who claims to only be representing the people's interests and not taking special interest donations into account not support this legislation? This project serves both to rat out the hypocrites, at a minimum, and ideally change the system to make it trustworthy again.

]]> By: Anne http://tropophilia.com/2009/03/04/changing-congress/#comment-1959 Anne Wed, 04 Mar 2009 14:03:05 +0000 http://tropophilia.com/?p=1033#comment-1959 hi jarred! really interesting proposal from lessig. but, to me, it smacks of responding to public hype and perception rather than working to adjust those perceptions down to reality before "striking". i think that if you asked members of congress and their staffs to what and to whom they devote time and energy (and favoritism) that they would comment that the advent of mass advocacy campaigns with technologically savvy users (or at least technologically savvy forums) has altered their capacity to pander to high dollar donors. the sheer volume of emails and calls from average janes cannot be overlooked in this conversation. i know i'm told on a regular basis the impact that these millions of calls, emails and letters make and challenged to match them with regards to my own issue advocacy. it's, in some ways, a steeper hill to climb than delivering a high dollar donor or compelling my org to start a PAC (special interest at its finest). just a thought and maybe something he addresses - not enough hours in the morning today to look more into it! hi jarred! really interesting proposal from lessig. but, to me, it smacks of responding to public hype and perception rather than working to adjust those perceptions down to reality before “striking”. i think that if you asked members of congress and their staffs to what and to whom they devote time and energy (and favoritism) that they would comment that the advent of mass advocacy campaigns with technologically savvy users (or at least technologically savvy forums) has altered their capacity to pander to high dollar donors. the sheer volume of emails and calls from average janes cannot be overlooked in this conversation. i know i'm told on a regular basis the impact that these millions of calls, emails and letters make and challenged to match them with regards to my own issue advocacy. it's, in some ways, a steeper hill to climb than delivering a high dollar donor or compelling my org to start a PAC (special interest at its finest). just a thought and maybe something he addresses – not enough hours in the morning today to look more into it!

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