I'd like to believe
Republic Lost... is a "roadmap" or a next step. I'd like to believe that Lessig is not just one more person selling an idea, a book, a platform. I'd like to believe that one more person is not going to ultimately use to personal advantage the very dynamic, un-level playing field and hierarchy that s/he protests perhaps too much against.
And maybe the anomalous heroes are still out there. Maybe there are some who still believe that the only things worth fighting for are something other than yourself or bigger than yourself and that that sometimes doesn't ride you to some safe shore on the crest of a book deal and a lecture circuit and endless engagements. So I hope.
Let the ideas lead but not the personalities. And let us not replace one inequitable hierarchy with another. And in fact, let's look askance at all hierarchies and not just question a corrupted democracy and proffer "fixes," but lets cast a cold, discerning eye on the flawed seed in human nature that grew it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Miss Tick
I like Lawrence Lessig. Of course if you scratch his liberalism too hard you will find a conservative underneath, but that can be said about many a liberal I imagine. And at this point it isn't about whether you stand to the left or to the right, it's more about whether you want to regain control of your country. He has some good ideas and he has spoken out and worked against insane copyright infringement and anti-piracy laws, so that wins him points in my world. As for the first 50 dollar project(the Grant and Franklin Project), I find it pretty interesting. I like it. It definitely wouldn't fix everything, but it doesn't propose that it could. And I'm not sure about a constitutional amendment. I don't know what the amendment would have to say that would allow it to actually work. The supreme court's quirky interpretation of the first amendment to cover the rights of individual citizens to be able to listen (listening to what? to the corporate dollar go ca ching) makes it a pretty sticky wicket and hella confusing.
I put a couple of links to some articles explaining the project, but I'm pretty sure they won't tell you much more than you already know.
I'm not sure there is one answer or one strategy to such a complicated issue. It took a long time to completely loose any control or influence over the government so it will probably take awhile to get any back. I think it is important though to take the time to thoroughly understand the problems from all angles so as not to jump at ineffective strategies and quick fixes. Although in my opinion the fifty dollar project would be a great first step.
And you would think i have a pretty face, it looks a lot like yours. 
http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/...street/247561/
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-1...ce-lessig.html
http://lessig.tumblr.com/post/143571...anklin-project
http://coffeepartyaustin.org/?page_id=1402 |