Our democracy no longer represents the people. Here's how we fix it | Larry Lessig | TEDxMidAtlantic

TEDx Talks

20 Oct 201520:54

EducationalLearning

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TLDRThe transcript discusses the concept of 'Tweedism', a system where a small, wealthy elite dominates the nomination process, leading to a democracy that serves the interests of the few rather than the many. It highlights historical examples and argues that this inequality is evident in modern American politics, where campaign funding and gerrymandering create an unfair advantage for the wealthy. The speaker calls for the 'Citizen Equality Act' to reform campaign financing, redistricting, and voting access, emphasizing that addressing this fundamental inequality is crucial for tackling other critical issues and achieving a true representative democracy.

Takeaways

📚 The script discusses a protest in Hong Kong against a law proposed by China for selecting the Chief Executive, fearing it would lead to a biased, pro-Beijing filter due to a nominating committee of only 0.02% of the population.
🛠 It draws parallels to American politics, specifically citing 'Tweedism' — a process where a small elite group nominates candidates, thereby controlling the election outcome, similar to the Hong Kong situation.
📗 The concept of 'Tweedism' is named after Boss Tweed, who famously said he didn't care who did the electing as long as he got to do the nominating.
📝 It highlights systemic issues in American democracy, such as the influence of money in politics, where a small percentage of wealthy individuals have a disproportionate impact on election outcomes.
🖥 A Princeton study is mentioned, illustrating that the preferences of the economic elite have a much higher correlation with government action than the preferences of the average voter.
📊 The speaker suggests that the root cause of these issues is inequality in the political process, and proposes the Citizen Equality Act to address campaign funding, representation, and voting rights.
🙋‍♂️ The script argues that achieving equality in the political process is crucial for addressing other systemic issues, such as climate change, social security, and student debt.
🚲 It criticizes the current state of democracy in the US, stating that the political system does not count all citizens equally, and some are considered more equal than others.
👥 The call to action emphasizes the moral and ethical necessity of fighting for political equality, drawing inspiration from historical and contemporary movements for equality.
🎉 The speaker concludes by stressing the importance of not squandering the potential of American democracy and the responsibility to future generations to restore a true representative democracy.

Q & A

What was the main issue that sparked the protests in Hong Kong a year ago?
-The main issue was a proposed law by China that would determine how the Governor of Hong Kong would be selected, with a nominating committee that represented only 0.02% of the population, leading to concerns about a biased selection process dominated by a pro-Beijing elite.
What is the concept of 'Tweedism' as described in the script?
-Tweedism refers to a political system where a small, dominant group controls the nomination process, thereby influencing the selection of candidates and effectively controlling the democracy to respond only to their interests.
How does the funding process in US elections create a 'Money Primary'?
-The 'Money Primary' is a term used to describe the initial stage of the election process where candidates rely heavily on private funding. This often means that those who can raise the most money, typically the wealthy or well-connected, have a significant advantage in running for office, effectively narrowing down the field of candidates before the actual voting begins.
What was the impact of the 1923 Texas law on the Democratic primary?
-The 1923 Texas law allowed only whites to vote in the Democratic primary, effectively excluding African Americans from participating in the first stage of the democratic process. This resulted in a democracy that was responsive primarily to the interests of whites.
How much time do members of Congress and candidates spend on fundraising?
-Members of Congress and candidates spend anywhere between 30 and 70 percent of their time fundraising, either by making phone calls or other means, to secure the financial support necessary for their campaigns.
What is the significance of the term 'Green Primary'?
-The term 'Green Primary' refers to the unofficial first stage of the election process where candidates must appeal to wealthy donors to secure funding for their campaigns. The term 'green' is a play on the phrase 'green money,' highlighting the importance of financial resources in politics.
What did the study by Martin Gilens and Ben Page reveal about the influence of economic elites on government decisions?
-The study by Martin Gilens and Ben Page found a strong correlation between the views of economic elites and the actual decisions made by the U.S. government. It showed that as the percentage of elite support for a proposal increased, so did the likelihood of that proposal being enacted, whereas the preferences of the average voter had a near-zero impact on public policy.
How does the current campaign funding system contribute to inequality in representation?
-The current campaign funding system contributes to inequality in representation by favoring candidates who can secure large amounts of funding from wealthy donors. This often leads to a disproportionate representation of the interests of the wealthy, at the expense of the broader population.
What is the proposed solution to address the issue of gerrymandering in the United States?
-The proposed solution is the Citizen Equality Act, which includes measures for proportional fair representation across the country. This aims to eliminate gerrymandering by ensuring that congressional districts are drawn in a way that represents the will of the voters rather than protecting the interests of incumbent politicians.
What are some of the measures proposed in the Citizen Equality Act to improve voting access?
-The Citizen Equality Act includes measures such as the Voting Rights Advancement Act to remove provisions that make it difficult for people to vote and suggestions like Democracy Day, which proposes making voting day a national holiday, to make it easier for working people to participate in the electoral process.
Why is addressing the issue of inequality in the political system considered a moral imperative?
-Addressing the issue of inequality in the political system is considered a moral imperative because it is essential for ensuring that all citizens have an equal voice and are equally represented in government. This is a fundamental principle of democracy and is necessary for addressing other critical issues such as climate change, social security, and student debt.

Outlines

00:00

🇭🇰 The Spark of Protest in Hong Kong

A year ago in Hong Kong, a significant protest was ignited by students—from high school to college levels, and even elementary school students—prompting their parents to join in solidarity. The protest targeted a proposed law by China aiming to determine the selection process of Hong Kong's Governor. This law introduced a two-step process involving a nominating committee of 1,200 people, merely 0.02% of Hong Kong's population, responsible for selecting candidates for the public to vote on. The protest stemmed from concerns that this committee would be biased, dominated by pro-Beijing elites, effectively sidelining 99.98% of the population from the nominating process and threatening democracy by catering solely to China's interests. The narrative humorously likens this system to 'Tweedism,' a term inspired by American political boss Boss Tweed, who emphasized control over nominations to ensure political influence, highlighting a critical flaw in democratic processes where a minuscule fraction holds disproportionate power.

05:01

💰 The American 'Money Primary'

The script moves to the United States, where a parallel is drawn between Hong Kong's protest and the flawed democratic process in America, focusing on the 'Money Primary.' This process sees Congressional members spending a significant portion of their time fundraising, effectively becoming beholden to donors. This system, where only a tiny fraction of Americans, represented by the top donors, have significant influence over the nomination of candidates, is criticized. The influence of this affluent minority contrasts sharply with the negligible impact of the average voter on policy, as highlighted by a study from Princeton. This setup, where financial contributions rather than the electorate's will determine political influence, is presented as a form of corruption, undermining the democratic ideal of government 'by the people.'

10:04

🚀 Toward a True Democracy

The narrative advances with a powerful call to action against 'Tweedism' and the corruption it symbolizes within the American democratic system. The speaker proposes the 'Citizen Equality Act' as a remedy, aiming to overhaul campaign financing, ensure equal representation, and guarantee the freedom to vote without undue hardship. This Act seeks to address systemic inequalities that skew political power towards the wealthy and disenfranchised certain voter demographics, proposing solutions like public funding for campaigns and reforms to combat gerrymandering and voter suppression. The emphasis is on achieving a democracy that truly reflects the will and equality of all its citizens, suggesting that addressing these inequalities is not just practical but a moral imperative.

15:07

📣 A Moral and Practical Call for Equality

In the concluding segment, the speaker underscores the moral and practical necessities of fighting for equality within the political system. Drawing parallels with historical and global struggles for equality, the call to action is framed as both a legacy and a duty to future generations. The urgency of addressing the systemic issues plaguing American democracy is highlighted as not only a pathway to resolving specific policy challenges like climate change, student debt, and social security but also as a moral crusade to fulfill the promise of true equality and representation. The speaker concludes with a passionate plea for a national campaign for equality, invoking the spirit of past civil rights movements and the intrinsic value of democracy.

20:09

🌟 Legacy and Responsibility

The final words serve as a reflection on the responsibility of the current generation to uphold and enhance the democratic ideals inherited from their forebears. The speaker evokes a sense of urgency and duty towards ensuring the realization of America's potential to be a leading democracy. This call to action is framed within the context of historical struggles for equality and the need to address contemporary challenges that threaten the democratic fabric. The segment ends with a heartfelt acknowledgment of the audience's support, emphasizing the collective effort required to preserve and advance the principles of democracy for future generations.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Protest

A public expression of objection or disapproval, often associated with the demand for a change in government policy or action. In the context of the video, the protest in Hong Kong was initiated by students and their parents against a proposed law by China, which they feared would lead to a biased selection process for the Chief Executive of Hong Kong, thus undermining democratic principles.

💡Universal Suffrage

The right of all adult citizens to vote in elections, regardless of property ownership, sex, race, or other such criteria. In the video, the law proposed by China claimed to aim for the selection of the Chief Executive by universal suffrage, but the process was criticized for being controlled by a small, pro-Beijing elite, thus not truly reflecting universal suffrage.

💡Tweedism

A political strategy where a small group controls the nomination process to influence the outcome of an election, effectively dominating the political landscape. The term is derived from the American political boss Boss Tweed, who controlled nominations to ensure his preferred candidates were elected. In the video, the concept is applied to describe the perceived manipulation of the political process in Hong Kong and the United States, where a small percentage of the population holds significant influence over the selection of candidates.

💡Money Primary

A term used to describe the unofficial first stage of the election process where candidates must secure funding to run their campaigns. This concept suggests that the initial selection of viable candidates is heavily influenced by their ability to raise funds, often from wealthy donors, rather than the general electorate's preferences. The term is critical of the current campaign financing system in the United States, which is seen as favoring the interests of the wealthy few over the many.

💡Gerrymandering

The practice of manipulating electoral boundaries to favor one party or class, often resulting in oddly shaped districts that undermine the principle of fair representation. In the video, gerrymandering is criticized for creating 'safe seats' that are uncompetitive and do not reflect the will of the majority of voters, leading to a form of inequality where certain citizens' votes hold less weight than others.

💡Citizen Equality Act

A proposed piece of legislation mentioned in the video that aims to address the inequalities in the American political system by changing campaign funding, ensuring fair representation, and protecting the freedom to vote. The Act is intended to reduce the influence of wealthy donors and gerrymandering, and to make voting more accessible, thus promoting a more equitable democracy.

💡Representative Democracy

A form of government in which citizens elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf. The speaker in the video argues that the current system has strayed from the principles of representative democracy by allowing certain groups, such as the economic elite, to have a disproportionate influence on government decisions, thus undermining the concept of equality among citizens.

💡Economic Elite

A term referring to a small group of people who hold a significant amount of wealth and economic power. In the context of the video, the economic elite is contrasted with the average voter, with the speaker arguing that the preferences of the economic elite have a much greater impact on government policy, leading to a system where the rich have more influence than the poor.

💡Voting Rights Advancement Act

A proposed piece of legislation aimed at combating provisions that make it difficult for people to vote, particularly those that disproportionately affect minority communities. The Act is part of a broader effort to ensure equal access to voting for all citizens, regardless of race or socioeconomic status.

💡Democracy Day

A proposed national holiday aimed at making it easier for working people to vote by moving the voting day to a designated holiday. The concept is part of a broader effort to remove barriers to voting and to ensure that all citizens have an equal opportunity to participate in the democratic process.

💡Inequality

A state of unequal treatment, opportunity, or status among individuals or groups within a society. In the video, the speaker argues that the current political system in the United States is characterized by significant inequalities, where the influence of the wealthy and powerful is disproportionately greater than that of the average citizen, leading to a distortion of democratic principles.

Highlights

A year ago, an extraordinary protest began in Hong Kong initiated by students and their parents.

The protest was against a proposed law by China to determine the selection of Hong Kong's Chief Executive.

The law proposed a two-step process for electing the Chief Executive with a nominating committee that represented only 0.02% of Hong Kong's population.

The fear was that the nominating committee would be dominated by a pro-Beijing elite, leading to a democracy responsive only to China.

The concept of controlling nominations to influence elections is referred to as 'Tweedism', named after American political philosopher Boss Tweed.

Tweedism was also practiced in the US, exemplified by Texas's 1923 law allowing only whites to vote in Democratic primaries.

Campaign funding is considered a 'Money Primary' that determines which candidates are allowed to run in voting elections.

Members of Congress spend 30 to 70 percent of their time fundraising, which influences their political decisions.

The 'Money Primary' is dominated by a small fraction of the 1%, leading to a democracy responsive to these funders only.

A Princeton study showed that the preferences of the economic elite and organized interest groups have a significant impact on government decisions, while the average voter has near-zero influence.

The speaker proposes the 'Citizen Equality Act' to address the corruption and inequality in the current political system.

The act aims to change campaign funding, ensure equal representation, and make voting more accessible for all citizens.

Gerrymandering is highlighted as a significant issue that creates safe seats and diminishes the representation of 89 million Americans.

The speaker argues that addressing this fundamental inequality is the first step to solving other critical issues like climate change, social security, and student debt.

The need for a peaceful fight for equality is emphasized, drawing parallels to the civil rights movement of the past.

The reality of inequality in America today is confronted, with a call to action to restore the ideal of a representative democracy.

The speech concludes with a call for love, sacrifice, and unity in the pursuit of equality and a true democracy.

Transcripts

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Related Tags

Political Corruption Democracy's Crisis Representation Election Funding Gerrymandering Citizen Equality Tweedism Voting Rights Social Inequality Activism Historical Parallels Policy Influence Campaign Finance American Democracy Inequality in Politics Proportional Representation Systemic Change