the only solution

Posted on December 19, 2008 by Lessig

Here’s the latest argument for CHANGE (v2). It makes a strong push for “Citizens’ funding of the Nation’s elections.” The idea is being discussed and voted on at change.org.

Please support the idea there if you can. I need about 500 279 179 votes to get the idea into round two.

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16 Responses to the only solution

  1. Seth Finkelstein says:
    December 20, 2008 at 1:36 pm

    Jimmy Wales was spinning you in what he said above. In fact, HE ORIGINALLY WANTED WIKIPEDIA TO BE AN AD-SUPPORTED SITE! This is extensively documented in the history, and I wrote a Guardian column debunking the mythology:

    “Wikipedia isn’t about human potential, whatever Jimmy Wales says”
    http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2008/sep/25/wikipedia.internet

    It only became a non-profit because it was a little side-project that nobody thought would ever amount to much.

    I know that by not cheerleading, I make myself unpopular. But truly – if you’re already ending up used by a small-fry exploitative businessman as part of his PR campaign, on what’s a very simple issue, really, isn’t this a problem with disturbing implications?

  3. Seth Finkelstein says:
    December 20, 2008 at 1:48 pm

    Jimmy Wales on Wikipedia advertising, 2003:

    “I know that not many people share my curious political views, but to me, it’s much worse to seek money from governments, i.e. to ask them to take money by force from others, than it is to accept advertising money.

    However, it is not clear to me that ads would produce “an incredible amount of money”. I should look at the traffic and make an estimate, just so we have some awareness of what we’re giving up.”

  4. scott crawford says:
    December 20, 2008 at 4:05 pm

    A deep and heartfelt thanks.

    As you so aptly pointed out, we all could certainly benefit from a national 12-step program. In lieu of that, we all can at least learn from the Four Absolutes that underpin that most famous of recovery programs: Honesty, Unshelfishness, Love, Purity. If you don’t know their definitions, or only think you do, please take the time to Google and read. The solution, as laid out here, is fundamentally simple. We all must take responsibility for our actions, our roles, our impacts. We must understand our motives and learn to live with them exposed.

    Thanks again.

  5. scott crawford says:
    December 20, 2008 at 4:05 pm

    A deep and heartfelt thanks.

    As you so aptly pointed out, we all could certainly benefit from a national 12-step program. In lieu of that, we all can at least learn from the Four Absolutes that underpin that most famous of recovery programs: Honesty, Unshelfishness, Love, Purity. If you don’t know their definitions, or only think you do, please take the time to Google and read. The solution, as laid out here, is fundamentally simple. We all must take responsibility for our actions, our roles, our impacts. We must understand our motives and learn to live with them exposed.

    Thanks again.

  6. Geoffrey Irving says:
    December 20, 2008 at 6:33 pm

    Thank you for the excellent talk! I have two concerned about your particular proposal, and would be curious to hear your thoughts:

    First, the presentation makes no mention of indirect sources of funding, such as third party ads. These indirect sources would likely grow if there were no other place to put the money. Two ways this might not be a significant issue are if current regulations are sufficient to keep it small, or if the indirection is sufficient to avoid the trust issue.

    Second, it is easy to view the $250 per person clause as rationalization for Obama’s abandonment of public funding. You have expressed disappointment in his move before, but adding it into your plan seems like a change. *Regardless* of the merits of this provision, this will make it more difficult for people on the right to trust the plan.

  7. Austin McGee says:
    December 23, 2008 at 5:47 pm

    Congrats, your proposal has enough votes to make it into round 2!

  8. Stephen says:
    December 28, 2008 at 8:17 pm

    Bravo!

    I am a long time lurker, first time poster. Almost all your ideas (crusades?) make perfect sense to me, and I can’t believe they would not to any sane human.

    I am Canadian and a very right-leaning individual. Recently, our (conservative) prime minister tried to repeal the way parties are funded with public money. No-one was very happy with that. I just sent him your presentation.

  15. mahdi pedram says:
    August 16, 2017 at 2:44 am

    خرید گل و سفارش دسته گل و سفارش جعبه گل از طریق سایت آنلاین گل فروشی ما یکی از بهترین و آسان ترین راه ها برای خرید گل است.

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