HN Books @HNBooksMonth

> if you're going to launder money, you should launder a whole shitload of it

Yes. Or rather, if you're going to launder money, make sure you're making healthy campaign contributions, hiring ex-politicians and their staffers as lobbyists, oiling the great lobbying machine, etc...

For those who haven't read it, Lessig has written a rather nice book on exactly how this kind of "soft corruption" works: http://www.amazon.com/Republic-Lost-Money-Corrupts-Congress/...

⬐ contingencies

For a more visual equivalent (lower attention span required) check out http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/money-lobby/

I would recommend reading Lessig's book Republic Lost [1], it's very short and is very quick to discuss that "getting money out" is not the only thing that matters.

To your point, you're right that restricting money is often worse for challengers than incumbents. This is because the challengers need to spend money to get their name out and prove they're "serious" as opposed to the incumbents who already have name recognition and can get attention without spending money. However, the issue that he's talking about is different (though related). The problem is that both incumbents and challengers require some small subset of people to support them and fund them.

http://www.amazon.com/Republic-Lost-Money-Corrupts-Congress/...

2. Is the subject of Republic Lost by Larry Lessig. I could not recommend that book enough.

http://www.amazon.com/Republic-Lost-Money-Corrupts-Congress/...

Lawrence Lessig provides a great description of how our representatives "rush in" in time to vote and then rush out immediately to make more phone calls to solicit contributions.

http://www.amazon.com/Republic-Lost-Money-Corrupts-Congress/...

The article only touches on lobbying, but that's the key mechanism by which wealthier people gain an unfair influence on government. As campaigns have gotten more expensive, the system selects for those politicians that raise enormous amounts of money – people who cater to the lobbyists. Lawrence Lessig did a phenomenal job breaking down the campaign finance / lobbying problem in his book Republic, Lost: http://www.amazon.com/Republic-Lost-Money-Corrupts-Congress/...

I also found the Lawrence Lessig / Jack Abramoff interview very illuminating in understanding the corrupting influence of money on government. It's long but worth watching: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkvIS5pZ0eI

⬐ stretchwithme

We'd all be better off without winner-take-all elections. It takes money to pretend to be all things to all voters.

Larry Lessig (the same guy who single-handedly designed Creative Commons) has spent the last 4 years investigating how to "stop this racket", and summarizes his thoughts in this book:

http://www.amazon.com/Republic-Lost-Money-Corrupts-Congress/...

If you want to know what to do, a nice first step would be to buy and read Republic, Lost.

⬐ bh42222

The fact that it's a whole book makes me nervous.

A strategy which requires a whole book to be explained sounds like giving up on anything simple and claiming we can go through 1001 non-radical steps to eventually get to a happy place.

This to me is a form of denial. You realize simple solutions can not be practically implemented and you convince yourself a marathon of tiny changes is the way to go.

(Disclaimer: I have not read that book.)

⬐ a1k0n

> The fact that it's a whole book makes me nervous.

At least 3/4ths of the book beats you over the head with countless examples of the corruption, how it came to be, and why it's not technically illegal.

The very last part covers potential solutions, none of which have a great chance of success due to the vested interests but should be tried anyway. e.g. a constitutional convention is one way out, if we can convince enough states to call one.

⬐ bh42222

The very last part covers potential solutions, none of which have a great chance of success due to the vested interests but should be tried anyway

What happens if we try them all and they (as expected) do not succeed?

If they don't have a great chance of success, why can't we find other solutions?

⬐ greyish_water

Why not just pirate it?

also his book - http://www.amazon.com/Republic-Lost-Money-Corrupts-Congress-...

Technology's favorite lawyer, Lawrence Lessig, has a new book out advocating for campaign finance reform. Like most things from Lessig, his arguments are well-considered, balanced and thought-provoking.

He includes a quote I found particularly compelling, especially in the light of Marco's link between 'the next SOPA' and campaign finance reform: For every one striking at the leaves of evil, there is one striking at the root. - Thoreau. Marco wants us to strike the root.

Book: http://www.amazon.com/Republic-Lost-Money-Corrupts-Congress/...

NYTimes review: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/15/books/republic-lost-campai...