Comments on: Larry Lessig on the corrupting influence of money

By: Brian Turner

Brian Turner — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 22:31:05 +0000

If money is a corrupting influence, then what does that say about the fact that Google Shopping will now require an active Adwords campaign for inclusion?

By: Data Outsourcing India

Data Outsourcing India — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 18:23:34 +0000

Great share matt, this really good as you always produce. It’s really informative!!

By: Ryan Murton

Ryan Murton — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 15:54:17 +0000

Hey Matt, totally agree with all of that there! It’s good to see it

By: Rosendo Cuyasen

Rosendo Cuyasen — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 01:14:56 +0000

I’m not american but when I saw the video it help me understand what is happening in the political issue of America. But I believe that this situation is happening everywhere around the world.

I also believe that we as a people can truly make the difference by being humble and helping one another to educated people and be more willing to share. I think this will greatly help our attitude towards a better community and government.

By: Karl Heinz Knop

Karl Heinz Knop — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 02:14:51 +0000

My forecast: at the end of this century the word democracy will be a cuss;
the reason is, this system needs more than the most people can give. No one is really interested to devellope this system with rationality, the only active people are these which defeats their social achievements. At most this sytem lives by the hushed majority; and because the majority rules this sytem, there could be no movement foreward, before it collapsed totally.

By: Rich Gorman

Rich Gorman — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 16:00:27 +0000

Matt,

This is going up on my blog. Bottom line is that Google and its partners have the financial wherewithal to make a change to this country.

This was a very powerful speach. My respect for you and the Google team just went up 1,000 fold.

Government is ran by big business…logically Google is one of the most capital intensive businesses in the world, therefore you can make a change. This country needs it.

Thank you again for this post.

By: Morris Rosenthal

Morris Rosenthal — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 16:43:30 +0000

Matt,

Given the amount of money Google is pouring into lobbying to try to prevent authors from defending their works, I’d say you’re calling the kettle black. For every millionaire Hollywood producer, there are thousands of struggling writers. And I wouldn’t be surprised if for every millionaire Hollywood producer, there’s a millionaire Google employee as well:-)

BTW, I repurposed my last comment here as a letter to the Wall Street Journal in response to an anti-SOPA editorial they ran, they printed it a couple weeks ago:

WSJ came up with the title.

BTW, Google’s DMCA Dashboard has been a pleasure to work with, though they seem to have taken the week off.

Morris

By: Craig Jull

Craig Jull — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 17:51:19 +0000

Hi Matt,
Google could sidestep this problem for many countries by creating an online voting system.
Seems so old fashioned now to go to the polls to cast your vote.
What about setting up a website where all registered voters are entered into a data base, then each person can log in securely to cast their votes online. This system could be sold as a service to countries with endemic corruption. It could also be used for voting on different proposals etc.
This could in effect render much of government obsolete.
Thanks
Craig

By: Baruch

Baruch — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 21:17:48 +0000

Matt,

Would you recommend Prof. Lessig book to a Canadian ? If so I will buy it.

By: G

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 22:15:08 +0000

Thanks for sharing this Matt. Whether it the USA or Europe there I feel is a growing mistrust of politicians and suspicion of corruption. The state Lessig describes is an appalling one where 99.95% wishes are ignored and corruption has been legalized. There was a great euphoria when Obama was elected but little will change as long as the structure stays the same. Like him or not one of the greatest things Obama did was reconnect people that had been isolated from politics. I recall a story of a 90 year old lady who voted for the first time because of Obama. These same people are left without a voice again.

I think it’s a great idea to restrict campaign donations and a good place to start. But I also think the internet has a role here. Not simply to entertain or shop but also to inform and educate. I do not accept Chris’s notion that a Senator can not be intouch with his voters as the internet provides us the opportunity both to express our opinion and to be informed. Not just that but there is a wealth of knowledge on every subject online. People who are experts in there field are available and should be consulted or able to voice there opinion.

Maybe before we go invading any more countries to bring democracy we should strive to provide a true democratic process in our own countries first. Maybe then we can see a world where Bankers don’t get the Bail Out and we get the Bill. Where an individual can make a difference and where 99% of people aren’t ignored. And I think Google could have a big part to play in this type of future