Comment by smacktoward | Hacker News Reader

Comment by smacktoward | Hacker News Reader

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> This change now sharpens the difference between our campaign and the others. Now the strongest contrast in substance is the priority that I give to democratic reform. This difference should then press an obvious question for every other candidate: How do you expect to achieve what you are promising without this reform? And if you believe this reform is necessary, then why isn’t it your first priority?

But in all these words he never gets around to explaining how as President he would actually make the reform happen, other than saying it'd be his "first priority" and (twice) that he would "work with Congress."

Oh, is that all it's going to take to completely upend the deeply entrenched systemic power of elites who are richer than Croesus, Larry? We just need a President who wants it bad enough, and is willing to ask Congress for it nicely? Huh.

I bet Barack Obama wishes he'd thought of that. All this time he could have just gone down to Capitol Hill, clicked his heels three times and made the Koch brothers disappear! Who knew?

Lessig is such a paradox to me. His heart's in the right place, he's clearly earnest, and he's managed to accomplish some remarkable things, like Creative Commons. But every time he wades into electoral politics he does so in ways that are so desperately naïve that they'd be funny, if the stakes weren't so high. It's Mr. Bean Goes To Washington.

> But in all these words he never gets around to explaining how as President he would actually make the reform happen, other than saying it'd be his "first priority" and (twice) that he would "work with Congress."

That's about as exact as any politician gets on the campaign trail. They say no plan survives enemy contact? I'd include that no path to achieving a campaign promise survives the election. By swear-in time, a large chunk of congress is brand new and it's an entirely different game of chess when you actually get in there.

> Lessig is such a paradox to me. His heart's in the right place, he's clearly earnest, and he's managed to accomplish some remarkable things, like Creative Commons. But every time he wades into electoral politics he does so in ways that are so desperately naïve that they'd be funny, if the stakes weren't so high. It's Mr. Bean Goes To Washington.

If running a country was based solely on the ability to understand complex problems and provide novel solutions, I'd say Lessig is a top candidate among US citizens to run our country. But unfortunately, before any of that gets to happen, someone needs to get elected. And you must first play The Game before you can get a crack at getting something positive done. And therein lies the problem. How can one play the a game that runs counter to the fiber of their being? Yes he's running, but he is not playing The Game.

"But every time he wades into electoral politics he does so in ways that are so desperately naïve that they'd be funny, if the stakes weren't so high."

Same was said about a big-eared Senator from Chicago with a funny name, that gave a good political speech in 2004.

Lessig is trying to find a mix between himself, the platform, and the process. You need to be naive if you ever hope to solve any seemingly intractable problem.

Obama was a career politician with lots of support and credibility, a best-selling author, and a charismatic speaker, with an absolutely incredible campaign organization. He was running on an anti-war platform during a highly unpopular war.

Lessig doesn’t have any of those things.

Obama released his first book to coincide with his first political campaign. And his second book 1 years prior to announcing his run for president.

Lessig is a reasonably charismatic speaker.

The rest I agree, Lessig is no Obama.

Look, I don't expect Lessig to make much of a dent in 2016. I wouldn't say he'll never make a dent. The only way TO make a dent is to naively keep trying, and learning, and being willing to look dumb in the process.

"Same was said about a big-eared Senator from Chicago with a funny name, that gave a good political speech in 2004."

Totally different situation. People recognized Obama's potential as a politician, even if they didn't agree with him. They only doubted how far he would go in that period of time.

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