Fighting Money in Politics

This below image and text were received from Cambridge, MA City Councilor Nadeem Mazen. The wealthiest person in Cambridge, MA is the corporation officially known as The President and Fellows of Harvard College. Harvard University has a $37 billion endowment. Do they use any of it to influence elections and policy decision makers? Does their wealth influence the court system? Harvard has three full time lobbyists in Washington, DC. Most of the city councilors and many city employees are Harvard graduates. The university controls city and state government. Does Harvard's money corrupt what the prominent university does? Mazen does not say. 



Earlier this year a prominent Harvard University Law School professor of ethics, Lawrence Lessig, chose to run for President during his leave of absence. He began using his offices for his campaign in apparent direct violation of IRS laws, US Treasury department laws, city and state tax laws. One of his hired consultants at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University may also have used his office for the campaign. His company address is in California. Then a woman professor at the Harvard Center for Government and International Studies published an essay in the Washington Post attacking Donald Trump. Was this another illegal use of the University's 501(c)(3) tax exemption? Did their $37 billion endowment encourage their alleged transgressions? Mazeen does not speak about these events.



The Ethics professor decided to run after he raised more than $1 million for his campaign. But he dropped out shortly after he announced. He is allowed by state and US law to keep the money he raised for future campaigns. Did I mention the reason he gave for running was to fight corrupt campaign finance practices? Mazeen does not address this as an abuse. Ex-MA State Senator Jarrett Barrios, left his senate seat with $500,000 in campaign funds which he kept. Barrios is now the CEO of the Massachusetts Red Cross and earns over $300,000 a year in salary, plus unknown  benefits. The goal of ending campaign finance abuses attracts a certain nobility among politicians. 



Usually emails from high minded city councilors include invitations to fund raising parties. Do they all oppose money in politics while they want you to give them your money? Are they "not politicians" as former Governor Patrick of Massachusetts used to announce, saying "I am not a politician."? 



Help Get Money Out of Politics
We have been working hard to reform campaign finance in Cambridge and push back against special interests but we need your help! Join the Team Nadeem Campaign Finance Working Group to fight for publicly-financed elections alongside other committed local activists.

Harvard Law School Professor Arrested At Washington, DC Protest

Harvard University, employer of law professor of ethics Lessig also employs three full time lobbyists in Washington DC. The university has a $37 billion dollar endowment. The money and the lobbyists have no effect on elections? Is there room for improvement in campaign finance where Lessig works when not on sabbatical? Is Lessig the Martin Luther King, Jr,. of campaign finance reform?


Harvard Law School Professor, Candidate For President, Lawrence Lessig

http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2016/4/19/lessig-arrested-DC-protest/

Lessig Arrested at Campaign Finance Protest in Washington
By KABIR K. GANDHI

Harvard CRIMSON STAFF WRITER
April 18, 2016

Harvard Law School Ethical Candidate For President Continues to Fight Teeny, Tiny Part of Corruption

Great to see Prof. Lessing keeps up his concern about corruption. There is plenty in nearby (to the Harvard University bubble) Cambridge, MA and at the state house. “'To have the appetite to join the political fray as a citizen is laudable, [. . .]' Harvard Law Professor Jonathan L. Zittrain said." Suggesting Prof. Lessing is an ordinary citizen shows how insular the university faculty and staff are. They are private citizens when it suits them but public officials when that brings exemption from laws. Lessig could look at research on Harvard University property using human subjects. That needs attention of ethicists. The reform candidate will always have the remains of $1 million for any future political activity.

[From article]
“To have the appetite to join the political fray as a citizen is laudable, whatever the result,” Harvard Law Professor Jonathan L. Zittrain said of his colleague’s run.

http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2016/1/26/lessig-reflects-upon-return/

Back at the Law School, Lessig Reflects on Failed Campaign
Lessig said he sees businessman Donald J. Trump as the candidate with the best chance of enacting the campaign finance reforms he ran on
By CLAIRE E. PARKER and DANIEL P. WOOD,
Harvard CRIMSON STAFF WRITERS
January 25, 2016

One More Harvard Law School Professor Lawyer Politician Fighting Corruption

What about the open violations of law by the White House, the IRS, and the Department of Justice? No ethical problems there? No corruption? For someone who says he is concerned about political fund raising is it curious that he uses Harvard University's non profit tax exempt offices for political purposes contrary to US law? There are serious penalties for doing that in a law abiding nation run by the rule of law. Didn't the homosexual lobby just get religion when a Christian clerk refused to sign same sex marriage certificates in Kentucky? Do they support the rule of law for the president? For Prof. Lessig? Ethics? What ethics? We don't need no stinkin' ethics. How is he any different from the White House, giving speeches saying one thing and doing the opposite? One more Harvard Law School produced politician. Just what we need.

http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2015/9/7/lessig-to-run-president/

Fundraising Goal Reached, Lessig Says He Will Run for President
By MEG P. BERNHARD

Harvard CRIMSON STAFF WRITER
September 7, 2015

Harvard Ethicists Silent on FBI Corruption, Homicides

Lessig said, “campaign contributions need to be limited, and Congress should limit but not ban independent expenditures[.]” SCOTUS says campaign contributions are protected speech. How does Lessig know that "everyone agrees that money shouldn’t be in politics?” Is he making it up? Lessig says, "Politicians [and the media] profit from us hating each other.” Communists too. If unity is a noble goal why does Harvard promote affirmative action programs? Why are some groups of citizens prioritized over others, e,g, women, homosexuals, and Black Americans? Does demonizing "the rich" by the 99 percenters and HLS grad Barack Obama encourage unity? What is the role of Harvard's Kennedy School in coddling congressional corruption? Newly elected US Reps, are invited to the K School for orientation of the issues. Many attend. Is there any connection? Why are these ethicists silent about the wholesale criminal abuses of the Boston FBI? One agent is in prison convicted of homicide. Another died in prison awaiting trial for homicide. An FBI informant is on trial in Boston for 19 homicides. A frame-up of four white men for murder by the Boston FBI. Two died in prison, two were released after 30 years. US Judge awarded $101 million plus attorneys fees. How can corruption be eliminated if the FBI is killing citizens? Hello? Anybody home?

http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2011/11/2/corruption-gergen-lessig-talk/

Professors Lessig, Gergen Discuss Corruption
By Michael G. Proulx, CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Harvard Crimson
Published: Wednesday, November 02, 2011

Harvard Appoints Lawyer to Teach Ethics

Harvard Appoints Lawyer to Teach Ethics

How is the focus of Harvard University's Edmond J. Safra Foundation Center for Ethics different from city, state and US laws? Did I miss some ethical standards besides those? Does Harvard Law School teach law, and how to get around laws? Lessig will reportedly teach 'what happens when public institutions depend on money from sources that may be affected by the work of those institutions - for example, medical research programs that receive funding from pharmaceutical companies whose drugs they review, or academics whose policy analyses are underwritten by special interest groups.' Is there any problem with a Harvard psychiatrist getting $1.6 million for signing his name to articles written by drug companies? What happens is that people are encouraged to take unsafe drugs which make people ill. Duh! Do academic consultants to School Committees have any conflicts with colleagues who teach at their institutions? What happens is they get their associates high paying jobs. Duh!
Are there not enough laws in place now? Or is the problem lack of enforcement by elected and appointed officials? Why will Lessig 'encourage teaching and research about ethical issues in public and professional life?'
Saying teaching ethics is of 'enormous importance to our democracy,' sounds like the Harvard Lawyer City Councilor (Hint: BM) promoting democracy by censoring citizen public comment.

Roy Bercaw, Editor ENOUGH ROOM

http://www.wickedlocal.com/cambridge/news/x1049856265/Legal-scholar-Lessig-joins-Harvard-Law-faculty

Legal scholar Lessig joins Harvard Law faculty
Unsigned
Cambridge Chronicle
Fri Dec 12, 2008, 04:51 PM EST