Hacker News Reader

Comment by ekianjo | Hacker News Reader

> "We have this fantasy politics right now where people are talking about all the wonderful things they’re going to do while we know these things can’t happen inside the rigged system.”

Followed by:

> Lessig said he would serve as president only as long as it takes to pass a package of government reforms and then resign the office and turn the reins over to his vice president. He said he would pick a vice president "who is really, clearly, strongly identified with the ideals of the Democratic Party right now,"

So, wait. You don't want the "System", yet your Vice President is basically a member of the Democratic Party which is part of the precisely bi-party, rigged System right now ?

Makes a lot of sense if you want to perpetuate the said rigged System.

View on HN

There may be a disconnect between the ideas of the democratic party and what can be realistically achieved within the current rigged political system.

So I think what Lessig may be saying here is that he would pass government reforms that would make it possible to do "all those wonderful things" that can't happen inside this "rigged system", but then turn it over to someone whose ideals he agrees with once that is accomplished.

Fair to disagree with those ideals, but it's pretty clear to me that there is a difference between this and perpetuating a rigged system. It could also be reasonably argued that this would, in practice and outcome, not be any different from perpetuating the rigged system.

However, I disagree that this contradiction is inherent in what Lessig has said.

  So, wait. You don't want the "System"

That's not what is said. They are against "rigged system" which from their stand [0] and their previous attempt [1] implies getting rid of corrupting influence of big money.

  yet your Vice President is basically a member of the Democratic Party which 
  is part of the precisely bi-party, rigged System right now

That is an umbrella statement which doesn't hold the ground as there are certain people in the party who are fighting against the rigged system currently.

[0]

  The singular focus of Lessig's campaign would be passing the Citizens 
  Equality Act, a package of reforms that would guarantee the freedom 
  to vote with automatic registration, end partisan gerrymandering and 
  fund campaigns with a mix of small-dollar donations and public funds.

[1]

  He launched Mayday PAC to much fanfare in the spring of 2014, billing 
  it as the "super PAC to end super PACs." But it failed to play a 
  decisive role in any race that year. The group spent more than $10 
  million going after candidates opposed to measures that would lessen 
  the impact of wealthy donors

I think the idea is that if you can pass the election reform, then anything that comes afterwards - republican or democrat would be better than what would have come otherwise. The VP doesn't matter at all. Break the rigged system and all else will follow - even if it takes a few more election cycles to get there.

But Lessig was quite emphatic about his intent to select his successor (the VP) based on Party principles - no discussion on Constitutional principles at all in his platform. Why would Sanders or Warren want to be his VP? If they knew they would become President as soon as Lessig enacted his own brand of mandates, and that those mandates were important enough to get him elected, then why wouldn't they take up the mantle of proposing those mandates in the first place?

I agree--I think that there are problems deeper than special interests. It would take many years and many people in different parts of government, but I think the real solution is a movement to a multi-party system. One person elected as president can't turn the ship around.

Who in this "rigged system" wanted to have marijuana legalized? It is more convenient to believe that a secret cabal is ruining everything than to accept messy reality.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com