National Security & Foreign Policy

Throughout our history, America’s strength has come only in part from its might. Much more important are our actions for right.

Our sacrifice in World War II to save the world from fascism — and then, through the Marshall Plan, to help the…

Education

Since the founding of this nation, we have recognized the need for the government to subsidize education. Education benefits the student. It benefits the society. We all gain from an educated people.

But over the last 20 years, we have lost sight of this fundamental truth. The…

Criminal Justice Reform

Our criminal justice system is an embarrassment to our tradition and our values. The #BlackLivesMatter movement is the most recent reminder of this obvious fact, and the most urgent demand for reform. That reform must happen over the course of the next presidential administration. I…

The First Reform

The first priority of a Lessig administration would be to fix the corruption that has crippled Congress, by enacting legislation to restore the fundamental principle of a representative democracy: the equality of citizens.

Tax Reform

Taxes in America should be progressive and efficient. Today they are neither — or at least, not enough. We have flattened the traditionally progressive income tax substantially. We have capped Social Security contributions at a regressively low amount. We tax corporations unequally and unfairly — and as…

Protecting Our Environment

Our values teach us that we don’t own this planet. We hold it in trust for our children. And we must pass to them as rich and diverse a world as we inherited from our parents. This is a moral principle that it has taken too long for us to recognize, and act upon.

The So-Called “War on Drugs”

The “war on drugs” has been the most self-destructive war in American history since the Civil War. Motivated by the same naive idea that led America into prohibition, the war has cost billions of dollars, and countless American lives; it has weakened the law’s protection for…

Social & Financial Security

The market is a powerful engine for economic growth. We should encourage it where appropriate, and celebrate the achievements that are inspired by its freedom.

But there are spheres of social life that need to be protected from the market. Federal policy…

Health Care Reform

The Affordable Care Act (which out of respect for our President, I will refer to as Obamacare) represents enormous progress towards providing all Americans a security that citizens of other nations take for granted. We should celebrate and defend its provisions.

The Emerging Surveillance Society

The war on terror has led America to compromise a fundamental American value: that the state must leave us alone unless it has evidence to support invading our privacy. To protect this value, our Framers enacted the Fourth Amendment. Its central principle is that…

Immigration Reform

America’s tradition is to welcome immigrants to this country. Almost all of us have ancestors who came here, and very few with a visa issued in advance. We need to recognize that among us Americans, there are millions of Americans who are not yet citizens, but should be. I would support the…

The Internet

The Internet is infrastructure for the 21st century. It is the most important driver of economic and social transformation in America in our lifetime. It is an engine of growth and innovation, and the core technology protecting the freedom of speech. If I were President, I would advance policies to…

Reforms to Support Work

Our economy is changing. We have left the time when people work for one company for their whole life. We have entered a time when workers are certain to work for many employers over the course of their career, and may in fact have many careers.

Innovation Policy

Since the founding of America, the American government has secured to creators and inventors the protection of limited monopolies, to give them the the incentive they need to create.

I support this innovation policy. But I have long fought for reform in innovation…