I’ve been following the writings of Stanford Law professor Lawrence Lessig for many years now. A copy of his book Code and Other Laws of Cyberspace rests comfortably on my book shelf. While I don’t always agree with him, I usually will take the time to read his latest blog post or article. In his latest article for Wired, Dr. Lessig takes aim at a familiar theme. Namely, how the government is mortgaging the long term future of the country in exchange for short term political gain. He cites examples ranging from the environment to deficit financing to Iraq. Lessig takes a pretty tough shot at the “Me Generation” in this excerpt.
The Me Generation - which elected the first two presidents to have actively avoided military service (Clinton and Bush) and which will decide this election, too - is in charge, but it has taken its name much too seriously. Gone is the sense of duty that made so compelling Kennedy's demand "ask what you can do for your country." We don't even ask what we, as a nation, can do for our kids. The rhetoric of self-interest so deeply pervades politics that an ideal as fundamental as building a better future has been lost.
The crux of the article is that politicians have no accountability to the future because children (and the not yet born) do not have the power to hold them responsible for decisions that will adversely affect our country in the decades ahead.
The article seems to have a anti-Bush slant, but it’s not overt. I think it’s safe to say that there are compelling counter-points for his arguments…but they’re worth checking out nonetheless.