"Obama @ Year One": Lessig's Presentation for the "Fair Elections Now Act"

Get involved: http://action.change-congress.org/obamayearonevid

One year ago was a moment when many things felt possible -- whether or not you supported President Obama's agenda. One year later, we've now seen that even a transformative figure in the Oval Office can't transform the way Washington works. Only we can.

Watch Lawrence Lessig's video presentation on why the Fair Elections Now Act is the most important reform right now to restore public trust in our democracy.

Creative Commons-licensed images available through flickr.com: Obama by Scorpions and Centaurs, Capitol by Cowtools, Woman in bubble by dovima_is_devine, Boy with Obama sign by Joe Crimmings Photography, Broken link by welshwitch36.

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[ReliableInsider]

Are citizen-funded elections under the Fair Elections Now Act (FENA) the same as publicly-funded elections?

Or is there a distinction?

I definitely agree that government will be hopelessly mired in inaction until we can completely reform how candidates finance their campaigns.

It's time to start making a list of incumbents who support the bill and to start publicizing who doesn't support it. And voting 'em out!

This really should be priority number one for anyone who cares about ANY issue.

[Snowflake70]

The more we kick this thing around the sooner the sharp corners will be worn off. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT.

When the corners are rounded the flat areas also are reduced - - then, THEN things start to roll Forward.

[michaelpousti]

great presentation.. congrats keep it up .. 

[sandhilldiva]

that is why we should have term limits

[dilbert250]

ITS FUCKING CONGRESS GODDAMNIT!!!! Obama shouldn't have signed the stimulis package or healthcare bill. He could've just said fuck that it has too much bullshit in it!! Congress is so full of corrupt motherfuckers that love sucking cock. PEOPLE IN CONGRESS ARE ONLY INTERESTED IN THEIR PARTY AND THEMSELVES!!! PRAISE BE ALLAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Kingery4President]

@rmharman You have a good point. I think the average is about 2% or 3% of the total eligible voters. At last that is what I recall from the 2008 Presidential race.

[rmharman]

@Kingery4President -- I see your point. Assuming a mechanism that could absorb real input from potentially thousands of candidates, and that kept cost per candidate low, I'd support your idea.

Still, I'd argue that any Congressional candidate who has worthwhile ideas and good qualifications will be able to meet a test such as getting $5 donations from 10k backers. When I ran (successfully) to be a delegate to the CA Dem party, I collected a thousand signatures backing my candidacy in two weeks.

[Kingery4President]

@rmharman If we truly want to be a FREE society, than even the "crackpots" Should be allowed at least the First round of Q&A/Debates/Voting. It is certain that most of them will not pass the first round.

When brainstorming for ideas, one of the most important rules is that during the first phase or two, no matter how foolish the ideas may sound, there is to be no judgement. It is some of those "crackpot" ideas and comments that light the fire for even more brilliant idea that get used.

[IZEASGT]

On that, we most definitely agree. Whatever the implementation, something's gotta be done.

Though considering the health care situation, I don't think our government's too interested in implementing solutions that have been proven to work.

[rmharman]

@Kingery4President - I could get behind at least part of what you're saying. It is worthwhile to require some demonstration of viability, so you don't have every crank in the country eating up funding from the system.

I think we should force the networks to give back some of the public's airwaves, and have 1-2 hours of primetime daily, in the 60 days before an election, of a candidate or a designated speaker, discussing policy and questioning/debating each other at length.

[ReliableInsider]

I think Grigsbys9000's drunk the Kool-Aid.

[ReliableInsider]

If voters don't walk to a newsstand and buy newspapers, our 200-year experiment in democracy is over.