Another Way, by Lawrence Lessig
S6S4: The Fight to End SuperPACs and Originalism
Sep 11, 2024
Lawrence Lessig, a prominent legal scholar and advocate for campaign finance reform, delves into the historical battle against SuperPACs. He discusses the decline of billionaire support for political reform and the implications of the Citizens United decision. Lessig critiques originalism as a tool to redefine corruption beyond quid pro quo, advocating for a comprehensive understanding rooted in the Constitution's vision. He emphasizes the need for citizen mobilization to challenge the current political landscape and push for meaningful change.
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Quick takeaways
- Efforts to amend the Constitution to limit the influence of SuperPACs face significant challenges in the current political landscape.
- The originalist perspective argues that the framers understood corruption more broadly, supporting limits on SuperPAC contributions as constitutional.
Deep dives
The Fight Against Money in Politics
Efforts to address the influence of money in politics gained traction after the Citizens United decision. Various organizations emerged, such as American Promise and Free Speech for People, aiming to push for constitutional amendments that would limit financial contributions in political campaigns. Many of these groups emphasize grassroots mobilization to encourage representation in political discussions, focusing on amending the Constitution to counter the impact of super PACs and the flood of money in politics. However, a fundamental challenge has surfaced; constitutional amendments seem increasingly difficult to achieve in the current political climate.
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