Institutional Corruption

So how does corporatism exist and propagate itself? Via institutional corruption, as Lessig calls it, an economy of influence. Here in this presentation below Mr. Lessig, a Constitutional Law Professor who has taught at Stanford University and who currently works at Harvard University, explains how this economy of influence has served to capture our government for the interests of only the most wealthy.

One great example of how this economy of influence works is the recent Healthcare bill which was lobbied to death, so that rather than fix our healthcare system, the lobbyists have ensured that the bill is only a boon to private health insurance companies and for big pharma. Or take the recent financial reform bill which did little to actually change the big banks practices which got us into this economic mess back in 2008 due to the efforts of the financial industry which has 5 lobbyists for every 1 member of Congress. Also, with the financial reform bill you will recall how little actual debate there was on the floor of Congress for Congress would rather make its deals with lobbyists and each other in the back rooms, away from the nation's eyes.

Mr. Lessig does have some proposed solutions to this such as calling a constitutional convention and passing a publicly-funded election bill. Please take a look at his youtube channel here and his website Fix Congress First here. Regarding the proposed Constitutional convention, you can find out more information here.

I would also myself add to this list requiring term limits and enacting robust anti-revolving door legislation in order to prevent the incestuous relationship between big business and congress and lobbying firms and regulatory agencies, which I believe is one of the largest contributing factors to the trouble we now find ourselves in.