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Author Topic: The corruption of congress  (Read 6710 times)

BernardLanguillier

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The corruption of congress
« on: May 06, 2013, 11:20:35 pm »

For my US friends, I just finished reading "Lesterland - The corruption of congress and how to end it" on TED books.

It is a more developed version of this Ted speech: http://www.ted.com/talks/lawrence_lessig_we_the_people_and_the_republic_we_must_reclaim.html

For once, this isn't about Democrats vs Republicans or us against them.

For those who have ready it/seen it, I was wondering how the views of the author were considered by LL readers/contributors?

Cheers,
Bernard
« Last Edit: May 16, 2013, 01:06:30 pm by BernardLanguillier »
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Peter McLennan

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Re: Lesterland
« Reply #1 on: May 06, 2013, 11:51:02 pm »

Superb.  Duly forwarded.

Thanks, Bernard.
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BernardLanguillier

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Re: The corruption of congress
« Reply #2 on: May 16, 2013, 01:06:39 pm »

Indeed.

Kirk Gittings

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Re: The corruption of congress
« Reply #3 on: May 16, 2013, 01:24:46 pm »

We should be proud of this! The best damn government money can buy.
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Thanks,
Kirk Gittings

Slobodan Blagojevic

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Re: The corruption of congress
« Reply #4 on: May 16, 2013, 01:36:55 pm »

Or you can just watch "House of Cards" on Netflix, the US version, with the brilliant (as usual) Kevin Spacey.

plugsnpixels

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Re: The corruption of congress
« Reply #5 on: May 19, 2013, 01:25:23 pm »

Things are indeed getting ugly in Washington. Makes you miss the innocent days of Richard Nixon, doesn't it? ;-)
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RSL

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Re: The corruption of congress
« Reply #6 on: May 19, 2013, 01:36:44 pm »

Things are indeed getting ugly in Washington. Makes you miss the innocent days of Richard Nixon, doesn't it? ;-)

"Getting?"
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plugsnpixels

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Re: The corruption of congress
« Reply #7 on: May 19, 2013, 01:54:21 pm »

"Ramping up more than we've ever seen before" ?
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RSL

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Re: The corruption of congress
« Reply #8 on: May 19, 2013, 02:15:22 pm »

Yeah, but it's been ugly all along. It's just that the bugs are crawling out from underneath the rocks so people can see 'em.
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langier

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Re: The corruption of congress
« Reply #9 on: May 20, 2013, 01:47:34 am »

It will now take a truck load of RAID and a lot of stomping to get rid of our self-created bug problem in Washington and in many of out state houses...
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Rob C

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Re: The corruption of congress
« Reply #10 on: May 20, 2013, 10:06:19 am »

It will now take a truck load of RAID and a lot of stomping to get rid of our self-created bug problem in Washington and in many of out state houses...


When you've done that, send what's left to the Strip at the eastern edge of the Mediterranean; they have problems too. Okay, it's not in their houses, but it is in their land, so I guess they have a right to look after it and try to keep it in order...

Palestine, India, Rhodesia, Kenya, Suez, Iraq, Afghanistan etc., what a sorry history of deception, betrayal and cowardice on a grand scale. Viva Zapata us.

Rob C

Rocco Penny

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Re: The corruption of congress
« Reply #11 on: May 20, 2013, 10:32:48 am »

Not watching the ted-
I think you can easily write to and lobby your representative, and your senator.
Say you can't go ahead-
a single well thought out and well expressed concern can do wonders.
Yep one good thing.
Dismantling the bad set up one deed at a time.
One good thing.
The problem isn't congress or anyone else.
The problem is ourselves.
One good deed,
try it,
you'll see,
one good deed.
everyone on a single day at a single moment in a single unison.
One good thing-
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Slobodan Blagojevic

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Re: The corruption of congress
« Reply #12 on: May 20, 2013, 10:42:05 am »

....
The problem isn't congress or anyone else.
The problem is ourselves.
...

Finally, a word of reason in this thread!

Rob C

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Re: The corruption of congress
« Reply #13 on: May 20, 2013, 12:34:00 pm »

Finally, a word of reason in this thread!


Yes, of course we are ultimately the problem because we vote them in.

But, until we have votes limited to an eductated electorate, and where so few even reach the end of their basic schooling with any real certificates, an educated vote is going to happen no time soon.

I know, I know, if they are old enough to sign up for a life (or death) in the forces etc. etc. but it doesn't work like that in life: you really have to be aware of the consequences of your vote.

Anyhow, it seems to me that the only way of achieving change (should you want it) is via the street. Political parties only pander to their usual/traditional class of voters. And as far as I can see, it is about class and probably always will be that way. Sadly, it's usually only those with next to nothing to lose who take to the streets in order to make their points. When governments don't see you on tv, you don't exist.

Rob C

Slobodan Blagojevic

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Re: The corruption of congress
« Reply #14 on: May 20, 2013, 12:49:43 pm »

Yes, of course we are ultimately the problem because we vote them in.

Not only because of that. As much as some like to liken them to cockroaches, politicians are simply human, i.e., the same as most of us. Meaning, following incentives and pursuing their interests and interests of their constituents (this is where we come into play, again).

Quote
But, until we have votes limited to an educated electorate...

Wouldn't solve the problem. Politics is not a pursuit of noble knowledge, but a brutal game (some would argue war) of crude interests. Education, like any tool, can be used for good or misused. Educated spin of crude interest is just a dangerous and damaging as uneducated following.

RSL

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Re: The corruption of congress
« Reply #15 on: May 20, 2013, 01:03:14 pm »

Slobodan's right. And the only thing that's going to end this circle-jerk is serious term-limits that put an end to career politics. Problem is that to get that done you've got to convince career politicians that it's time to end their gravy train. Don't think it's going to happen any time soon. As Alexander Tytler said, and I paraphrase: "A democracy can only exist until the people discover they can vote themselves largess out of the public treasury." If you look around you realize we've reached that point. In fact, I'm afraid we've passed it.
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Rob C

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Re: The corruption of congress
« Reply #16 on: May 21, 2013, 04:51:50 am »

Trouble with ending career politics is that all that experience and contact-building in the international arena goes to waste if re-election is impossible. Yes, local city-hall politics might be cleaner, but from things I know first-hand, all you get with a change of structure is a new power structure with its personal friends taking over old opportunities once enjoyed by the previous incumbents of the magic circle.

The solution is to be found in honourable people, and part of my thinking on elected officials is this: 'nobody whom wants to stand for office should be allowed to stand for office.'

Rob C

Rob C

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Re: The corruption of congress
« Reply #17 on: May 22, 2013, 03:43:33 pm »

Another point of view:

http://youtu.be/yuJKj4NSBW8

Rob C

RSL

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Re: The corruption of congress
« Reply #18 on: May 22, 2013, 03:48:13 pm »

. . .all that experience and contact-building in the international arena goes to waste if re-election is impossible.

Exactly one of the reasons it's such a good idea.
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Russ Lewis  www.russ-lewis.com.

Rob C

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Re: The corruption of congress
« Reply #19 on: May 23, 2013, 05:28:53 am »

Exactly one of the reasons it's such a good idea.


But then it would be a matter of reinventing the wheel every couple of years: we'd still be in the Cold/Hot Wars of the middle ages!

On the other hand, if we restored the divine right of kings...

Rob C
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