Lawrence Lessig has this essay in The Atlantic. Lessig has written several books, explaining that the greatest political problem facing the United States is our campaign finance system, which puts undue power in the hands of the wealthy. Lessig believes that Americans Elect may nominate a presidential candidate who would speak about the urgent need to reform campaign finance. Lessig also believes that candidate might possibly get into the general election presidential debate, and that might put the campaign finance issue at the forefront of public awareness.
Lessig is not well informed when he says that no one but the Democratic and Republican presidential nominees have been on the ballot in all 50 states in “the modern era.” Libertarian presidential nominees were on the ballot in all states in 1980, 1992, and 1996. Ross Perot was on in all states in 1992 and 1996. Lenora Fulani was on in all states in 1988. Thanks to Alex Hammer for the link.
THE problem is the ANTI-Democracy minority rule gerrymander systems in the U.S.A. regime – House, Senate, Electoral College and ALL 50 State legislatures.
i.e. EVIL nonstop monarch/oligarch robot party hack stuff since 4 July 1776.
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How about clear ALL comments about ballot access history stats with BAN ???
Democrats want a kind of “campaign finance reform” that advantages their most loyal friends in the media and the unions. Not that they don’t have many friends on Wall Street, but the latter don’t march in lock step like the two groups mentioned before.
By way of contrast, a good constitutional amendment would be a two-round presidential system like France, but (similar to the French parliamentary elections) allowing parties that get 10% in the first round to advance to the second round. Then distribute the electoral votes proportionally. Finally, end the state unit rule for the House when selecting the POTUS if no one gets enough electoral votes.
I’m not so sure Lessig is a Democrat. His book Republic, Lost describes how he was a huge fan of Ronald Reagan. But then he says he was a huge fan of Senator Barack Obama, yet now Lessig is disenchanted with him. I’m betting he is a registered independent.
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Pardon me, but your post is utter crap.
Lessig may be contemplating Roemer as the AE candidate. But I don’t see Roemer, or any of the declared AE candidates, polling at 15% – which is one of the requirements to be included in the debates. Roemer will have to stand in the parking lot, like Nader, if he wants any attention during the two-party system debates. (On the other hand, if somebody with a national organization, like Santorum, was the AE candidate he might have the support and money to achieve that 15%.)(I prefer Sanders, but he’s not interested.)Lessig’s problem is that he wants to slice up the 1st Amd – which I regard as anti-reform!