Editing Lawrence Lessig (section)

== Money-in-politics activism ==
[[File:Jack Abramoff and Lawrence Lessig at "In the Dock" 2011 (2).jpg|thumbnail|right|Former lobbyist [[Jack Abramoff]] having a discussion with Lessig]]
At the iCommons iSummit 07, Lessig announced that he would stop focusing his attention on copyright and related matters in order to work on [[political corruption]] instead, as the result of a transformative conversation with [[Aaron Swartz]], a young internet prodigy whom Lessig met through his work with [[Creative Commons]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Lessig |first=Lawrence |url=http://lessig.org/blog/2007/06/required_reading_the_next_10_y_1.html |title=Required Reading: the next 10 years (Lessig Blog) |publisher=Lessig.org |date=2007-06-19 |access-date=2011-01-23 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110116071137/http://lessig.org/blog/2007/06/required_reading_the_next_10_y_1.html |archive-date=January 16, 2011 }}</ref> This new work was partially facilitated through his [[wiki]], Lessig Wiki, through which he has encouraged the public to document cases of corruption.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lessig.org/blog/2007/06/just_because_im_not_working_do.html |title=Lessig's blog July 29, 2007 11:55pm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015180516/http://lessig.org/blog/2007/06/just_because_im_not_working_do.html |archive-date=October 15, 2012 }}</ref> Lessig criticized the [[Revolving door (politics)|revolving-door]] phenomenon in which legislators and staffers leave office to become [[Lobbying in the United States|lobbyists]] and after having become beholden to special interests.<ref name=twsDecM9009>{{cite news |author=Lawrence Lessig |title=How to Get Our Democracy Back |publisher=CBS News, The Nation |date=February 8, 2010 |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/how-to-get-our-democracy-back/ |access-date=2011-12-14 |archive-date=September 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927135033/http://www.cbsnews.com/2100-215_162-6186201.html?pageNum=2 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In February 2008, a [[Facebook]] group formed by law professor [[John Palfrey]] encouraged Lessig to run for Congress from [[California's 12th congressional district]], the seat vacated by the death of Representative [[Tom Lantos]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://draftlessig.org/ |title=Draft Lessig – Change Congress |publisher=Draftlessig.org |access-date=2011-01-23 |archive-date=February 19, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080219163253/http://draftlessig.org/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Later that month, after forming an "exploratory project", he decided not to run for the vacant seat.<ref name="blog-notrunning">{{cite web|last=Lessig |first=Lawrence |url=http://www.lessig.org/blog/2008/02/on_why_i_am_not_running.html |title=On why I am not running (Lessig Blog) |publisher=Lessig.org |date=2008-02-25 |access-date=2011-01-23 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110116042748/http://lessig.org/blog/2008/02/on_why_i_am_not_running.html |archive-date=January 16, 2011 }}</ref>

=== Rootstrikers ===
{{Main|Rootstrikers}}
Despite having decided to forgo running for Congress, Lessig remained interested in attempting to change Congress to reduce corruption.<ref name="blog-notrunning" /> To this end, he worked with political consultant [[Joe Trippi]] to launch a web based project called "[[Change Congress]]".<ref>{{cite news |author=Sarah Lai Stirland|url=http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2008/03/stanford-law-pr.html |title=Stanford Law Professor Larry Lessig Bets 'Wikipedia' Approach Will Transform Congress &#124; Threat Level from Wired.com |publisher=Blog.wired.com |date=2008-03-20 |access-date=2011-01-23 |archive-date=March 22, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080322185238/http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2008/03/stanford-law-pr.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In a press conference on March 20, 2008, Lessig explained that he hoped the Change Congress website would help provide technological tools voters could use to hold their representatives accountable and reduce the influence of money on politics.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.visualwebcaster.com/event.asp?id=46510 |title=Sunlight Foundation Webcast |publisher=Visualwebcaster.com |access-date=2011-01-23 |archive-date=March 25, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100325003611/http://www.visualwebcaster.com/event.asp?id=46510 |url-status=live }}</ref> He is a board member of [[MAPLight.org]], a nonprofit research group illuminating the connection between money and politics.

[[Change Congress]] later became ''Fix Congress First'', and was finally named [[Rootstrikers]].<ref>[http://www.rootstrikers.org/whoweare.php Who We Are] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111223040848/https://www.rootstrikers.org/whoweare.php |date=December 23, 2011 }}, Rootstrikers</ref><ref>[http://www.rootstrikers.org/about.php About Us] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111155608/https://www.rootstrikers.org/about.php |date=January 11, 2012 }}, Rootstrikers</ref> In November 2011, Lessig announced that Rootstrikers would join forces with [[Dylan Ratigan]]'s ''Get Money Out'' campaign, under the umbrella of the United Republic organization.<ref>[http://unitedrepublic.org/2011/rootstrikers-and-united-republic/ Rootstrikers and United Republic], Lawrence Lessig, United Republic, November 16, 2011 {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111219230017/http://unitedrepublic.org/2011/rootstrikers-and-united-republic/ |date=December 19, 2011 }}</ref><ref>[http://unitedrepublic.org/about-us About Us], United Republic {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207223737/http://unitedrepublic.org/about-us |date=February 7, 2012 }}</ref> Rootstrikers subsequently came under the aegis of [[Demand Progress]], an organization co-founded by Aaron Swartz.

=== Article V convention ===
[[File:Lawrence Lessig 2.jpg|thumbnail|Lessig speaking before [[Change Congress]] and the [[Sunlight Foundation]]]]
{{main|Convention to propose amendments to the United States Constitution}}

In 2010, Lessig began to organize for a national Article V convention.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.callaconvention.org/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100206220707/http://www.callaconvention.org/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 6, 2010 |title=Call a Convention |publisher=Call a Convention |access-date=2011-01-23 }}</ref> He co-founded ''Fix Congress First!'' with [[Joe Trippi]].<ref>[http://www.fixcongressfirst.org/about/ About] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110830005700/http://fixcongressfirst.org/about/ |date=August 30, 2011 }}, Fix Congress First!</ref> In a speech in 2011, Lessig revealed that he was disappointed with Obama's performance in office, criticizing it as a "betrayal", and he criticized the president for using "the (Hillary) Clinton playbook".<ref name=twsDecM4j8767s>{{cite news |author= Lawrence Lessig |title= Republic, Lost: How Money Corrupts Congress—and a Plan to Stop It |publisher= Google, YouTube, Huffington Post |quote= (see question & answer session near the end of the video; see 50:30+) |date= November 16, 2011 |url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ik1AK56FtVc |access-date= 2011-12-13 |archive-date= December 5, 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131205212035/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ik1AK56FtVc |url-status= live }}</ref> Lessig has called for state governments to call for a national Article V convention,<ref name=twsDecM433s>{{cite news |author = Lawrence Lessig |title = Republic, Lost: How Money Corrupts Congress—and a Plan to Stop It |publisher = Google, YouTube, Huffington Post |quote = (see 32.06 minutes into the video) |date = November 16, 2011 |url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ik1AK56FtVc |access-date = 2011-12-13 |archive-date = December 5, 2013 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131205212035/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ik1AK56FtVc |url-status = live }}</ref> including by supporting [[Wolf-PAC]], a national organization attempting to call an Article V convention to address the problem.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lessig.tumblr.com/post/118995215027/democracy-in-small-states|title=Democracy in small states|work=LESSIG Blog, v2|access-date=January 13, 2016|archive-date=December 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181212204119/http://lessig.tumblr.com/post/118995215027/democracy-in-small-states|url-status=live}}</ref> The convention Lessig supports would be populated by a "random proportional selection of citizens" which he suggested would work effectively. He said "politics is a rare sport where the amateur is better than the professional."<ref name=twsDecM433s /> He promoted this idea at a September 24–25, 2011, conference he co-chaired with the [[Tea Party Patriots]]' national coordinator,<ref name=conconcon>[http://conconcon.org/ Conference on the Constitutional Convention] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131026062406/http://www.conconcon.org/ |date=October 26, 2013 }}, Harvard University, September 24–5, 2011</ref> in Lessig's October 5, 2011, book, ''[[Republic, Lost]]: How Money Corrupts Congress—and a Plan to Stop It,''<ref name=lessigbook>Lessig, L. (2011) [https://web.archive.org/web/20110927113614/http://twelvebooks.com/books/republic_lost.asp ''Republic, Lost: How Money Corrupts Congress—and a Plan to Stop It''] (New York City: Hachette/Twelve) [https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/blogs/national-affairs/lawrence-lessig-on-how-we-lost-our-democracy-20111005 excerpt] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140410155637/http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/blogs/national-affairs/lawrence-lessig-on-how-we-lost-our-democracy-20111005 |date=April 10, 2014 }}</ref> and at the Occupy protest in Washington, D.C.<ref name=occupydc>Tackett, C. (October 19, 2011) [http://www.treehugger.com/files/2011/10/could-occupy-wall-street-become-conventionists-ows.php "Could #OccupyWallStreet Become a Constitutional Convention?"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111021043758/http://www.treehugger.com/files/2011/10/could-occupy-wall-street-become-conventionists-ows.php |date=October 21, 2011 }} ''Discovery / TreeHugger.com''</ref> Reporter [[Dan Froomkin]] said the book offers a manifesto for the [[Occupy Wall Street]] protestors, focusing on the core problem of corruption in both political parties and their elections.<ref>{{cite news |last=Froomkin |first=Dan |author-link=Dan Froomkin |date=October 5, 2011 |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/05/lessig-new-book_n_996519.html |title=Lawrence Lessig's New Book On Political Corruption Offers Protesters A Possible Manifesto |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170320164806/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/05/lessig-new-book_n_996519.html |archive-date=March 20, 2017 |work=[[Huffington Post]] }}</ref> An Article V convention does not dictate a solution, but Lessig would support a constitutional amendment that would allow legislatures to limit political contributions from non-citizens, including corporations, anonymous organizations, and foreign nationals and he also supports [[public financing of campaigns|public campaign financing]] and [[Electoral College (United States)|electoral college]] reform to establish the [[one person, one vote]] principle.<ref>Hill, Adriene (October 4, 2011) [http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/10/04/am-campaign-finance-lobbying-major-roadblocks-to-effective-government/ "Campaign finance, lobbying major roadblocks to effective government"] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120713213901/http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/10/04/am-campaign-finance-lobbying-major-roadblocks-to-effective-government/ |date=July 13, 2012 }} ''Marketplace Morning Report'' (American Public Media)</ref>

=== New Hampshire Rebellion ===
The [[Coalition for Open Democracy|New Hampshire Rebellion]] is a walk to raise awareness about corruption in politics.<ref name="atlantic-2014">Lawrence Lessig, [https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2014/01/why-were-marching-across-new-hampshire-to-honor-aaron-swartz/282962/ "Why We're Marching Across New Hampshire to Honor Aaron Swartz"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170331143300/https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2014/01/why-were-marching-across-new-hampshire-to-honor-aaron-swartz/282962/ |date=March 31, 2017 }}, ''The Atlantic'', January 10, 2014.</ref> The event began in 2014 with a 185-mile march in New Hampshire.<ref>Jennifer Harper, [http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/dec/25/inside-the-beltway-self-awareness-and-the-science-/?page=all "Restless grassroots: New Hampshire 'Rebellion' declares their state is not for sale"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150120130353/http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/dec/25/inside-the-beltway-self-awareness-and-the-science-/?page=all |date=January 20, 2015 }} (Inside the Beltway column), ''Washington Times'', December 25, 2014.</ref> In its second year the walk expanded to include other locations in New Hampshire.<ref>John Koziol, [http://www.unionleader.com/article/20150118/NEWS06/150119165 "NH Rebellion Marching Its Way to Concord for Reform"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150119183715/http://www.unionleader.com/article/20150118/NEWS06/150119165 |date=January 19, 2015 }}, ''New Hampshire Union Leader'', January 17, 2015.</ref>

From January 11 to January 24, 2014, Lessig and many others, such as New York activist [[Jeff Kurzon]], marched from [[Dixville Notch, New Hampshire]] to Nashua (a 185-mile march) to promote the idea of tackling "the systemic corruption in Washington".<ref>{{Cite web |title=New Hampshire Rebellion Blog |url=https://www.nhrebellion.org/blog?page=12 |access-date=2025-04-27 |website=NH Rebellion}}</ref> Lessig chose this language over the related term "campaign finance reform", commenting in an interview with the [[Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs|Carnegie Council]] that the term "sounds like an alcoholic as someone who has a liquid intake problem."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Money and American Politics: A Conversation with Lawrence Lessig |url=https://www.carnegiecouncil.org/media/series/gt/20141210-money-and-american-politics-a-conversation-with-lawrence-lessig |access-date=2025-04-27 |website=www.carnegiecouncil.org |language=en-US}}</ref> The walk was to continue the work of New Hampshire native [[Doris Haddock|Doris "Granny D" Haddock]], and in honor of deceased activist [[Aaron Swartz]].<ref name="atlantic-2014" /> The New Hampshire Rebellion marched 16 miles from Hampton to New Castle on the New Hampshire Seacoast.<ref name="vasseur">Flore Vasseur, [https://medium.com/backchannel/larry-lessigs-long-walk-b96d80d34972 "The New Hampshire Rebellion: Larry Lessig's Long Walk"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150119183446/https://medium.com/backchannel/larry-lessigs-long-walk-b96d80d34972 |date=January 19, 2015 }}, ''The Medium'', December 15, 2014.</ref> The initial location also was chosen because of its important and visible role in the quadrennial "New Hampshire primaries", the traditional first primary of the presidential election.<ref name="vasseur" />