techPresident - Larry Lessig - Comments

Digital divide

Cdub — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 23:36:58 -0400

I think there is a level of ivory tower syndrome in the gravity placed on Internet for Everyone. I do think it's important, but there are many basic needs that I wish we could meet for everyone before the Internet. Though Van Jones is right to point out it's hard to apply for jobs you don't know about, it's harder to apply for jobs or get the Internet when you can't afford to spend time looking for a job or clothes to go to an interview or a healthy breakfast.
Vermont's governor is campaigning to make Vermont the first "e-state" by providing access to high-speed Internet for all. It'll be interesting to see how this progresses ... but note that this is access only. The government isn't providing free or subsidized Internet, the government purports to be working with businesses (ie Comcast) and non profits to run a line to each town. (Much of rural VT relies on dial-up, or satellite for those who can afford it)

Ron Paul

marksstc — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 11:58:03 -0400

It's easy to be sarcastically dismissive of Ron Paul; sarcasm though, is a poor substitute for debate. Make no mistake -- Ron Paul is not delusional. He admits he's not going to win the GOP nomination. But he's campaigning to continue educating people about the need for constitutional government, individual liberty, sound money, and a sane foreign policy. If you actually listened to his recent video message, he says the campaign is about ideas, not about him.

Must be difficult for most people to accept a politician who's not simply in it for personal power.

Mark Smith

running in the fall isn't much better

luis — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 17:02:41 -0500

If he were to run in the fall, he'd have to be on the dem. primary line in June- which isn't much more time than the special election, really. So this is almost certainly the end of this particular dream right now. I'm personally glad- Lessig is a hero of mine, but this was not the right time for him yet.

(BTW, acc. to Joe Trippi's twitter feed he was the pollster-type consulted.)

Lessig on Corruption

Michael Connery — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 11:51:36 -0500

What better vantage point than as a member of Congress to witness and combat the corruption that Lessig says he will dedicate the next 10 years of his life to ending?

I'm in Brooklyn, but I'd donate to Lessig for Congress.

Small world

Philip de Vellis — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 19:55:09 -0400

My father grew up in Tunisia. I had not seen this video until now, but I think it is wonderful that it played an interesting role in that country's politics.

It looks like the 1984 ad is becoming the equivalent of sample from a James Brown record that seems to make an appearance in every hip-hop album.

Since mash-ups are inherently a derivative genre, it doesn't really matter who did something first or better.

In this case, I think the mash-up artist did some amazing work and made a very powerful statement for change.