Comments on: a list of honor

By: Wayne Conrad

Wayne Conrad — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 20:17:58 +0000

"Why not strictly enumerate the powers of Congress"

The powers of congress are strictly enumerated under the constitution. However, congress, aided by the supreme court's lose interpretation of the commerce and "necessary and proper" clauses, has long since slipped those bonds.

"stupid rednecks from Texas" "more sophisticated persons from New York and California"

Prejudice is ugly even when--actually, especially when--the group you're in approves of it.

By: Matt Weatherford

Matt Weatherford — Wed, 20 May 2009 03:20:00 +0000

I love this idea and you should too:

"members of Congress should have to wear the logos of their sponsors like Nascar drivers"

By: Santino

Santino — Wed, 13 May 2009 20:26:22 +0000

It would have its advantages. It would prevent stupid rednecks from Texas from imposing their mores, values and will on more sophisticated persons from New York and California; and vice versa.

By: Chuck

Chuck — Mon, 11 May 2009 10:20:40 +0000

Power does corrupt. However in some cases a unique way. People in power won't want to leave power but they will still be good people.

By: Steve Baba

Steve Baba — Fri, 08 May 2009 13:12:33 +0000

I don’t believe 99% of conspiracy theories on the web, since most things are caused by stupidity or just bad luck then conspiracies, but there is a conspiracy theory that this amateur campaign finance reform is so inferior to the “broken” public (give the two parties an equal amount) that it was designed to sink campaign finance (by pointing out that Moveon/Fox News true believers will all have their contributions matched 4-1)

Most conspiracy theories also suffer from the fallacy of collective action, which Lessig still has not understood.

By: Steve Baba

Steve Baba — Wed, 06 May 2009 23:41:14 +0000

Unless there is another reality-challenged lawyer on that list, I don't think a single one of the above would say it took any honor to sign that list. Did any of them lose their government jobs like a whiste blower would?

I suppose you also have to avoid the name "public financing" because of that Obama incident with "broken" public financing. (which would require some minimal honor to point out)

Hybrid systems, if one learned anything in economics, often work worse then either pure system. I have not read the details, but matching every lobbyist's or nut's contribution 4 to 1 does not look like an improvement to me.

By: Jardinero1

Jardinero1 — Wed, 06 May 2009 15:57:29 +0000

I thought it was power that corrupts.

Wouldn't it make more sense to limit the power of Congress? Why not strictly enumerate the powers of Congress and then leave it to the various states to decide how they want to pick their Congress people.

It would have its advantages. It would prevent stupid rednecks from Texas from imposing their mores, values and will on more sophisticated persons from New York and California; and vice versa.