Lawrence Lessig: Funders Take Hostages

Lawrence Lessig Money Quotation saying political favors bought by campaign donations must represent only voters not big money funders who don’t vote. Lawrence Lessig said:
 

 

“You and I both know that as long as our representatives are held hostage to their funders — and their funders are not all of us — our system will not work” — Lawrence Lessig

Lawrence Lessig believes that funders should not represent big money in politics because they are not representative of all voters, but rather only represent the interests of their funders.

He argues that as long as representatives are held hostage to their funders, the system will not work for the benefit of all people.

Lawrence Lessig on Congress Free to Lead

“When we have a congress free of big-money, a congress free to lead, we will fight to preserve the reforms we fought so hard to achieve through whatever amendments to the Constitution are necessary” — Lawrence Lessig

The best interpretation of the Lawrence Lessig quote is that he is advocating for a Congress that is free from the influence of big money, so that it can focus on leading and making decisions that benefit the people, rather than being swayed by special interest groups and wealthy donors.

This quote suggests that he believes that the current system of big money in politics is a barrier to effective leadership and progress, and that amending the Constitution may be necessary to achieve a more equitable and just system.

Lawrence Lessig on Corporate Welfare

Lawrence Lessig Money Quotation saying congressional fundraising leads to politicians supporting tax breaks and subsidies for corporations. Lawrence Lessig said:
 

 

“[Congress] and their cronies secure more than one hundred billion dollars in corporate welfare” — Lawrence Lessig

Lawrence Lessig suggests that Congress and their cronies (likely meaning special interest groups or wealthy donors) secure more than one hundred billion dollars in corporate welfare.

The best interpretation of this quote is that Lessig is criticizing the practice of corporate welfare, where large corporations receive financial benefits from the government, often in the form of tax breaks, subsidies, or other forms of support. The quote suggests that this practice is not only benefiting corporations but also the politicians who support them, implying a corrupt or at least unethical relationship between the two.

It’s important to note that the term “corporate welfare” can be somewhat subjective, and some people may interpret it as referring only to direct financial handouts, while others may include other forms of government support, such as tax breaks or deregulation. However, in the context of Lessig’s quote, it seems clear that he is referring to the former.

Overall, the quote is a criticism of the influence of special interest groups and the corrupting influence of money in politics, and it suggests that the current system of corporate welfare is not in the best interests of the general public.

Lawrence Lessig: Change Campaign Funding

Lawrence Lessig Money Quotation saying we’ve lost our republic because campaigns are given the most money by wealthy businesses & owners. Lawrence Lessig said:
 

 

“We won’t get our democracy back until we change the way campaigns are funded” — Lawrence Lessig

This Lawrence Lessig quote, the best interpretation is that he is suggesting that the current system of campaign funding is a major obstacle to restoring democracy in the United States.

He believes that the influence of wealthy donors and corporations on political campaigns has led to a distortion of the democratic process and that changing the way campaigns are funded is essential to regaining a truly democratic system.

Steve Sack, The Minneapolis Star Tribune

Lawrence Lessig: Congress Owes the One Percent

Lawrence Lessig Money Quotation saying politicians spend too much time raising money from the one percent instead of representing voter interests. Lawrence Lessig said:
 

 

“Right now Congress doesn’t answer to us, it answers to the elite few. Members of congress waste 30 to70 percent of their time raising money from the tiniest fraction of the one percent” — Lawrence Lessig

In this quote, Lawrence Lessig is strongly criticizing the influence of money in politics. He argues that members of Congress spend much of their time fundraising from a very small group of wealthy donors, comprising a tiny fraction of the top 1% of earners.

Lessig believes this means Congress is primarily answering to and serving the interests of this “elite few” rather than ordinary citizens. The quote suggests this donor-driven campaign finance system undermines real representation, as elected officials must cater to big funders in order to get reelected rather than focusing on constituents.

Overall, Lessig is decrying the disproportionate power that a tiny slice of the richest Americans have over political decision-making due to their ability to bankroll campaigns.

Lawrence Lessig on Money in Politics

Lawrence Lessig Money Quotation saying most American citizens agree our political system is broken because of big money in politics. Lawrence Lessig said:
 

 

“In a time of polarized politics there’s one thing that more than ninety percent of Americans agree on, that our government is broken, and broken because of the money in politics” — Lawrence Lessig

Lawrence Lessig relates to the broader theme of the quote, which is the impact of money on politics, because it highlights the widespread agreement among Americans that the political system is broken due to the influence of big money in politics.

The quote emphasizes the issue of money in politics as a source of polarization and dysfunction in the government, which is a central theme of the quote.

John Cole, The Scranton Times-Tribune

Lawrence Lessig on Republic Lost to Funders

Lawrence Lessig Money Quotation saying during his TED talk quoting Leslie Byrne, a Democrat from Virginia to illustrate the cost to US politics of big money Funders controlling elections. Lawrence Lessig said:
 

 

“Leslie Byrne, a Democrat from Virginia, was told by a colleague, ‘Always lean to the green’. … He was not an environmentalist” — Lawrence Lessig

In the context of politics and funding, “lean to the green” means to prioritize the interests of wealthy donors over the needs of the general public. The phrase is used to illustrate the influence of big money in politics and the idea that politicians are more likely to cater to the wishes of their financial backers rather than the people they represent.

This quote is providing context for the advice “Always lean to the green.” On the surface, it could be interpreted as environmental advice to support green policies. However, the context reveals the real meaning.

The colleague telling Leslie Byrne this was not referring to environmental issues, but rather suggesting he always lean toward (i.e. support) whoever provides more money or “green” (cash). It’s a cynical reference to the influence of money in politics. The humor comes from the subversion of the environmentally-friendly interpretation, revealing the actual meaning to be about prioritizing financial contributions over principles.

The quote uses this misdirecting advice as an example of how lobbying money can influence politicians to stray from core issues like the environment. It serves as commentary on the corrupting power of political donations and how rhetoric does not always match reality.

John Cole, The Scranton Times-Tribune