I normally try to stay away from politics – but this one has to be reblogged.
Lawrence Lessig, part of my Community Dream Team is considering running for Congress in my home state of California.
While this video is about changing politics – consider what happens if you take the same video and talk about the media?
A great EXPERIMENT. I would love to see it succeed. The system needs to change.
But his analogy of alcoholism is too accurate. It betrays a possible fundamental flaw in his experiment. Because alcoholism is also a symptom. Alcoholism is a negative behavioral symptom in the attempt to control one’s life. Not a problem unto it’s own.
I personally would support Lessig and he is right to test his support. Sadly, when the actual campaigning begins and mass marketing also begins my personal support no longer matters.
The money from corporate powers will drown out rational debate in the form of TV advertisements and smear campaigns.
Political corruption like alcoholism is a negative behavioral symptom. We voted for Schwarzenegger, Reagan and Jesse the Body Ventura because we do not vote rationally. Like an alcoholic drinks even though they know it’s not good. We can’t seem to help it.
The system needs to change. But this progressive change begins with much smaller steps. It begins with ourselves and our local community and our education.
I hope Lessig proves my cynicism wrong. But I fear our collective impulses will make us drink from that well a few more times.