How the Net destroyed democracy | Lawrence Lessig | TEDxBerlinSalon

Summary

In this thought-provoking talk, the speaker explores the importance of public participation in democracy. They challenge the perception that ordinary citizens are incapable of understanding complex issues like constitutional law, citing an experience in Mongolia where 800 randomly selected citizens deliberated on constitutional changes. The speaker emphasizes that, given proper information and respect, the public can engage in thoughtful decision-making. They contrast this ideal with the current state of democracy, which is often undermined by media and political figures, and argue that the future of democracy depends on elevating the people's role in governance.

Takeaways

• 😀 The concept of 'We the People' in democracy should reflect the power of informed and engaged citizens, not just a superficial media portrayal.
• 😀 Ordinary people, when given the proper information and opportunity to deliberate, can make smart and balanced decisions on important issues.
• 😀 A deliberative poll is a process where a random group of citizens engages in informed discussions to make decisions on significant matters, such as constitutional changes.
• 😀 The Mongolian Parliament's unique approach of randomly selecting 800 citizens to deliberate constitutional changes is an example of empowering ordinary people in democratic processes.
• 😀 The speaker, despite being a law professor, was humbled by the insights and thoughtful arguments presented by the randomly selected citizens in Mongolia.
• 😀 Media often portrays citizens as uninformed or ignorant, which undermines the potential for meaningful democratic engagement.
• 😀 Democracy works best when citizens are provided with information, given a chance to deliberate, and treated as important participants in the process.
• 😀 The current state of democracy is threatened by superficial political engagement, such as the behavior of political figures on social media, which may not represent the true intelligence of the people.
• 😀 There is a need to resist media that reduces citizens to a stereotype of ignorance, and instead, provide avenues for citizens to express themselves thoughtfully and with respect.
• 😀 The challenge in scaling democratic processes like deliberative polling lies in how to engage larger populations effectively and meaningfully in such discussions.

Q & A

What is the main idea of the speaker's message in the transcript?

The speaker emphasizes the importance of public deliberation in democracy, arguing that when citizens are given proper information and a chance to discuss, they are capable of making informed decisions. The speaker critiques the current media and political systems that often undermine the wisdom of ordinary people.

How does the speaker define the concept of 'deliberative democracy'?

Deliberative democracy is defined as a system in which citizens are randomly selected to participate in informed discussions and decision-making. The speaker highlights a specific example from Mongolia, where citizens were chosen to deliberate on constitutional changes, demonstrating the power of informed, collective decision-making.

What example does the speaker use to demonstrate the potential of ordinary citizens in a democracy?

The speaker refers to the Mongolian experiment where 800 randomly selected citizens were invited to deliberate on constitutional changes. Despite not being legal experts, these citizens showed the capacity to engage in thoughtful and informed discussions, which the speaker found humbling.

What critique does the speaker offer about modern media and political engagement?

The speaker criticizes modern media for portraying the public as uninformed or ignorant, and highlights how figures like Donald Trump use social media in ways that undermine the depth and dignity of democratic engagement. The speaker calls for a more respectful and informed approach to public discourse.

Why does the speaker express skepticism about the scalability of deliberative democracy?

The speaker is unsure how to scale the concept of deliberative democracy to a larger, more complex population. Despite recognizing the value of these democratic practices in small-scale examples, they acknowledge the difficulty of applying it broadly.

What does the speaker believe is required to make democracy work better?

The speaker believes that democracy can work better if citizens are respected, provided with the right information, and given the opportunity to deliberate in meaningful ways. This, however, requires restructuring democratic processes to ensure that the voices of ordinary people are heard and valued.

What is the significance of the phrase 'We the People' in the speaker's argument?

'We the People' is used by the speaker to challenge the simplistic and often negative portrayal of the public in the media. The speaker argues that this phrase represents a more powerful and informed collective capacity, which can be realized through proper democratic engagement.

How does the speaker view the relationship between elites and ordinary people in the context of democracy?

The speaker, as a self-identified elitist, acknowledges the value of expert knowledge but stresses that ordinary citizens, when given the right tools and opportunities, are capable of making informed and important decisions. The speaker suggests that democracy should not be dominated solely by elites but should include genuine contributions from the wider public.

What role does the media play in shaping public perceptions of democracy, according to the speaker?

The speaker argues that the media plays a negative role by frequently portraying the public as uninformed and incapable of making rational decisions. This misrepresentation undermines democratic processes and prevents citizens from being seen as competent participants in important discussions.

What message does the speaker want to convey about the future of democracy?

The speaker expresses concern about the future of democracy, particularly if it continues to be shaped by shallow political tactics and media portrayals that diminish the value of informed public participation. The speaker calls for a return to a more respectful, deliberative approach to democracy where ordinary people are trusted to make meaningful decisions.