Our democracy no longer represents the people.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

Summary

The transcript discusses protests in Hong Kong over a law proposed by China to influence the selection of the Chief Executive, limiting democratic processes. The speaker compares this to historical examples of 'Tweedism,' a system where a small elite controls nominations, rendering elections unrepresentative. The talk extends this concept to the U.S., where campaign funding creates a 'Money Primary,' skewing political influence towards a wealthy few. The speaker advocates for reforms to address systemic inequality, proposing a 'Citizen Equality Act' to restore true democratic representation and address pressing societal issues.

Takeaways

• 🎓 The Hong Kong protest started with students objecting to a law on how their Chief Executive would be selected, fearing biased nominations favoring Beijing.
• 🤏 Only 0.02% of Hong Kong's population would nominate candidates, raising concerns about democracy being responsive only to China.
• 🗳️ This system resembles 'Tweedism,' where those who control nominations effectively control the candidates, compromising democracy.
• 📞 American democracy also suffers from 'Tweedism' due to the 'Money Primary,' where campaign funding dictates which candidates can run, giving disproportionate power to wealthy donors.
• 💰 In 2014, the top 100 political donors gave as much as 4.75 million smaller donors combined, demonstrating the dominance of a few in elections.
• 🔢 Only 0.02% of Americans control the first stage of elections by funding campaigns, creating a system that responds more to donors than average voters.
• 📊 A Princeton study showed that economic elites’ preferences strongly influence government policy, while average voters have nearly no impact.
• 🚍 The metaphor of a bus with a detached steering wheel illustrates how citizens have lost control over government decisions due to this systemic corruption.
• ⚖️ The 'Citizen Equality Act' aims to reform campaign funding, provide equal representation through redistricting, and ensure equal voting access.
• 🌍 Addressing this corruption is necessary for tackling larger issues like climate change, social security, and student debt, emphasizing that democratic reform is foundational to achieving broader goals.

Q & A

What was the main reason for the protests in Hong Kong a year ago?

The protests were initiated due to a proposed law by China that would determine how the Governor of Hong Kong would be selected, which involved a nominating committee representing only .02 percent of Hong Kong's population.

What is the significance of the .02 percent mentioned in the script?

The .02 percent refers to the proportion of Hong Kong's population that would be part of the nominating committee for selecting the Chief Executive. This small percentage was seen as a biased filter controlled by a pro-Beijing elite, leading to concerns about democracy.

Who is Boss Tweed and how is he related to the concept of 'Tweedism'?

Boss Tweed was an American political figure known for his corrupt practices. 'Tweedism' is a term coined in the script to describe a political system where a small group (like Tweed's Tammany Hall) controls nominations, thereby influencing the election outcomes.

How did the script connect the concept of 'Tweedism' to the American political system?

The script draws a parallel between the historical practice of 'Tweedism' and the current American political system by pointing out that a small percentage of funders (the 'Tweeds') have a disproportionate influence on the selection of candidates, leading to a democracy that responds to their interests.

What does the 'Money Primary' mentioned in the script refer to?

The 'Money Primary' is a term used to describe the initial stage in the election process where candidates must secure funding for their campaigns. This stage is controlled by a small group of wealthy donors, similar to the nominating committee in Hong Kong.

According to the script, what percentage of Congress's time is spent on fundraising?

Members of Congress and candidates for Congress reportedly spend between 30 to 70 percent of their time fundraising.

What is the 'Citizen Equality Act' proposed in the script?

The 'Citizen Equality Act' is a proposed statute that aims to address the fundamental inequality in the American political system by changing campaign funding, ensuring equal representation, and guaranteeing an equal freedom to vote.

Why is addressing the issue of political inequality considered the first step to solving other critical problems according to the script?

The script argues that political inequality is the root cause that prevents the government from addressing other issues like climate change, social security, and student debt. By addressing this inequality first, the government can become more responsive and capable of solving these problems.

What historical event is referenced in the script to emphasize the need for equality in the American political system?

The script references the 400-year history of slavery in the United States to highlight the ongoing struggle for equality and the need for a peaceful fight for political equality.

How does the script suggest that the current American political system betrays the principle of representative democracy?

The script suggests that the current system betrays the principle of representative democracy by allowing a small, wealthy fraction of the population to dominate the political process, thus creating a system where the rich have more influence than the poor.