The New Freedom

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Bummer.

After lots of thinking and advice, I have decided it does not make sense for the Change Congress movement for me to a run for Congress in CA12. We would have just over 30 days to introduce a district to me and to an idea. That would not be enough time to convince them to turn away from an extremely popular politician with 30 years of public service. And while anyone within the district would understand that, outside the district, the lesson would be that a “Change Congress” message has no salience or support. That would, in my view, harm the movement more than it would help.

— Larry Lessig, February 25, 2008.

Before he announced he wasn’t running, I sent him an email of encouragement and a few criticisms of the Change Congress movement. This morning I got an email from him thanking me for the support, which was really nice. I got excited seeing Lawrence Lessig in my inbox! Here are both emails (his reply and my opinions about the Change Congress movement):

Subject: Re: You represent the solution: Openness!

Rich, thanks for this kind but balanced support. I’m sorry I couldn’t follow through in the way you wanted here, but I agree with you about the strategy. And I agree with you about the duty part.

On Feb 22, 2008, at 10:30 PM, rwjones@bu.edu wrote:

Mr. Lessig!

This is my note of encouragement. I love everything that you?ve done in creating Creative Commons and your ideas about copyright. I don?t agree entirely (you are not pirate-friendly), but your works have done wonders in bringing the issue higher into the social consciousness.

The reason I want you to run is because you are Open. Even in your thoughts about whether or not you are going to run, you are open. This is basically unheard of in politics, which is disgusting, especially considering how easy it is with readily available technologies. When you run, and when you win (which you will), I assume that you will continue to be just as open about your thoughts. That means that for the first time ever, the people will have a true expose of the real processes that drive a campaign and a congressional position. That will be a truly novel and amazing thing even as a purely academic document, let alone as a vehicle for real political change. You have a chance to be the people?s bullshit detector. When a person is this open, there can be no doubt: You are actually on our side! Not a single other politician can say that.

If anything, I am afraid your positions are not progressive enough. Change Congress shouldn?t just be about earmarks and PAC money, it should necessarily be about openness. I want to know exactly how you are spending your money and I want to know who you are talking to. I want to know your opinions about their motives. At the end of your term, I even want to read all of the emails you sent and received. It?s so simple technically, a .mbox dumped onto a server, and if you are worthy of your position you should have nothing to fear.

The only way to stamp out corruption is to bring it under total, constant public scrutiny.

Please, Mr. Lessig, you have the clout to make this potentially world-changing idea into a full blown sociopolitical revolution. Consider it your moral duty!

Rich Jones
Boston University Free Culture
http://www.thenewfreedom.net

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Lessig
Stanford Law School
559 Nathan Abbott Way
Stanford, CA 94305-8610
650.736.0999 (vx)
650.723.8440 (fx)

After I wrote that, I found out that (at least according to this brief article) Swedish politician’s emails are public domain. Oh, Sweden!

Speaking of Sweden, I discovered this Google Tech Talk of Rick Falkvinge, the founder of the Swedish Pirate Party, talking about “Copyright Regime vs. Civil Liberties.” It’s an hour long, but it’s very good, as are the questions asked by the Googlers at the end.

Rich!

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