James Kwak: The Only Two Things That Matter: Why I'm Supporting Larry Lessig

James Kwak writes that The Only Two Things That Matter: Why I’m Supporting Larry Lessig.

One of the most common objections to Larry Lessig’s candidacy is that even if he does become president, he won’t be able to pass his electoral reform bills. But why won’t he? Because Republicans have a solid lock on the House of Representatives — and they have it because of systematic gerrymandering on the state level. Again, the problem is with a political system that allows the majority in the state legislature to use redistricting to entrench itself in power.

If we don’t fix the system — then, well, nothing else really matters. Forget about doing anything about climate change.

At a minimum, Larry Lessig’s campaign will bring attention to the importance of electoral reform and political equality. And if he does win the Democratic nomination? Well, I’d like to see the election that will follow. We know that a large majority of Americans have lost faith in the political system. What will happen when one candidate campaigns solely on a platform of leveling the playing field?

(And, let’s face it, it’s not like we have such great candidates this time. Bernie Sanders is a self-professed socialist, Hillary Clinton is one of the most disliked people in American politics, and … Joe Biden?)

Emphasis Mine

Kwak is a Capitalist apologist who believes that the wrong people are running the system. I am a Communist apologist who believes we have the wrong system.

Both of us believe that the majority of people are alienated from the political system. Kwak does not understand that this is by design in a Capitalist system.

The politcal system must serve and protect the economic interests of the ruling class.

In a Capitalist system, the ruling class consists of the owners of capital. Their primary objective is to preserve and grow their capital. The political process must serve that objective.

Thus, any measures to dimmish their capital through redistribution of wealth, prohibition of profitable industries (such as coal mining, car production, etc.) is to be fiercely contested.

This fierce defence sometimes leads to Fascism wherein the petite bourgeiosie seizes power to defend their little capital against all-comers (banks, multi-nationals, unions, foreigners, etc.).

In a Communist or Socialist system. the ruling class consists of workers whose objective is protect their livelihood. Thus a Communist political system must protect a worker's right to sustenance and well-being.

Having the right people run a wrong system can only mollify the horrors of that system.