kilroy123May 2022Strongly recommends
This is very long but it goes into a well thought-out theory for why and how this happened. Very interesting stuff. Well worth a watch. ▶ this video
in “How to Be Successful (2019)” · View on HN
The Cardboard Box Reform - Nixon's Ghost Bill & A Crucial Flaw in Democracy
The Cardboard Box Reform - Nixon's Ghost Bill & A Crucial Flaw in Democracy on HackerTube: recommended by 9 Hacker News commenters across 10 separate months, 2014–2025.
CRI
Open on YouTubelecture · evergreen
James D'Angelo argues that the 1970 Legislative Reorganization Act made congressional votes public, opening the door to lobbyists and special interests. He proposes restoring secret voting as a cheap fix for corruption and many social ills.
Why Hacker News recommends it
HN commenters recommend it as a long, evidence-backed theory for what changed in the 1970s and why Congress is broken, even when they are unsure they agree.
- people recommended it
- 9
- separate months
- 10
- strong recommendations
- 3
- discussed on HN
- 2014–2025
“It is long, but well-reasoned and supported by a lot of evidence. Definitely worth a watch...”
What HN commenters said
14 Hacker News comments link this video. Each one links back to its thread.
kbakerApr 2016Strongly recommends
This article kinda just glosses over any causes of lobbying, and then complains about the symptoms. There is one incredibly interesting video I have seen which lays out a major root cause of corruption in the US, and the rise of lobbying and corruption since the 1970s. ▶ this video (Cardboard Box Reform) It is long, but well-reasoned and supported by a lot of evidence. Definitely worth a watch...
in “When Lobbying was Illegal” · View on HN
higherpurposeDec 2014Strongly recommends
We need to destroy their logic about "collecting everything, because they might need it in 100 years" first. They do it because it's so cheap, because they can, and because nobody is really standing up to them. However, if we allowed the government to do anything it wants "just because it can", thousands of our current laws wouldn't exist. I don't remember if it was Clapper or Alexander but one of them basically said the whole Snowden thing will blow-over, and they won't have to change a thing . From what we've seen already that seems to be the case. The watered down USA Freedom Act was killed, and they even made their collection powers stronger with that recent Intelligence Authorization Act. Can you believe that? Not even 2 years after the worldwide Snowden scandal, and they shamelessly push for even more spying powers. These people know nothing can touch them or stop them. And that speaks volumes about the state of our current democracies, when the will of the people, who are supposed to control their governments, and are the ones paying their budgets, have no say in the government's decisions. I highly recommend everyone watch this whole video here. It's an eye opener about many things, and I think he may be right about the root cause of the problem (vote transparency in Congress, which causes politicians to be bought, intimidated, and so on for their vote, just like it would happen with normal citizens's vote if it weren't anonymous): ▶ this video It's from the video where I
in “Secret surveillance detected in Oslo” · View on HN
jnellisJan 2025Recommends
I ran across this theory years ago about a piece of legislation in late 1970 allowed lobbyists into previously closed door committee meetings, thus allowing lobbyists to assert direct pressure on congressional members. The second video is from the same guy but is rather long and goes into this idea that transparency in congressional committees is a counter-intuitively bad idea because it allows lobbyists to proactively apply pressure before anything ever gets to a floor vote. [link] ▶ this video
in “WTF Happened in 1971? (2019)” · View on HN
crispywispJan 2025Recommends
I think this group will appreciate this guy's analysis. "James D'Angelo (Winner 2014 MIT Climate CoLab, ex-NASA scientist) uncovers a crucial flaw in American democracy. Incredibly, the solution – which lays at the heart of all current social concerns (inequality, the recession, political division, government disapproval, Citizens United, civil rights and corruption) – costs under 5 dollars. James presents a breathtaking new look at congressional transparency and the troubles it has wrought by opening the doors to special interests and the wealthy. So, welcome to the world of Martin Gilens' 2014 paper and flatline graph. Also welcome to the world created by electronic voting machines and the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1970 (passed on October 26, 1970). Unheard of in any current political discussion, this act of Congress has produced endless avenues for lucrative lobbying of special interest groups." The Cardboard Box Reform - Nixon's Ghost Bill & A Crucial Flaw in Democracy ▶ this video
in “WTF Happened in 1971? (2019)” · View on HN
snomadFeb 2022Recommends
> It would be good to analyze what happened between 1965 and 2022, what has changed that instead of progress we see some kind of downward spiral. Whether you agree with him or not, this video highlights how the 70s changed everything (in the US at least) The Cardboard Box Reform - Nixon's Ghost Bill & A Crucial Flaw in Democracy ▶ this video
in “There Is a Much Larger Problem Than the Great Resignation” · View on HN
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kilroy123Dec 2021Recommends
I think they have the correct answer as to 'why' this has happened and what the root cause is: ▶ this video
in “Worker pay isn’t keeping up with inflation” · View on HN
swalshNov 2020Recommends
Another great explaination is the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1970, here's an interesting video. ▶ this video
in “WTF Happened in 1971? (2019)” · View on HN
snomadNov 2020Recommends
This video has a nice summary of all the changes in the 1970s, and how many other prominent authors have documented that radical shift. ▶ this video The author believes the problems can be traced to the US congress switching from closed (anonymous) to open voting on January 3rd, 1971 Somewhat related, this post shows how the US congress has grown incredibly divided over time [link]
in “WTF Happened in 1971? (2019)” · View on HN
mtgxOct 2018Recommends
You may reconsider after watching this video on why secret ballots (or anonymous voting in general) should be preferred over "voting transparency": ▶ this video
in “As Chinese investment pours into the EU, the Europeans are beginning to worry” · View on HN
kbakerSep 2016Recommends
Just going to have to disagree... I think earmarks are exactly the thing that caused congresspeople to lose all of their power. > you've just put the big donors totally in charge of the campaign, because their spending dwarfs the spending of the candidates themselves. When the donors are the corporations, and earmarks result in higher profits for the corporations, a dangerous positive feedback loop occurs where you basically end up with corporations controlling the government instead of the elected politicians. As far as the worst political decision of the past few decades, watch this video if you have an hour to spare. It lays out the case where adding transparency in congressional voting is really the root cause of Congress being so screwed up. It might change your mind... ▶ this video
in “A prototype of a decentralized political party” · View on HN
stephensongrMar 2015Recommends
Voting has to be truly and completely private to not permit of corruption. Smartphones will not and cannot ever be so. Watch this: ▶ this video
in “Ask HN: Why is there no solution for direct democracy?” · View on HN
pzuraqMay 2016Cites it
Or because there are very good reasons to not have online voting, like vote buying and voter intimidation could become a thing again: 1. [link] 2. ▶ this video Not that I don't think there is way to get the best of both worlds. I'm sure there's a way for us to vote without having our votes be made public, so things like vote buying and voter intimidation can't happen, especially with blockchain technology. Or perhaps those factors won't matter as much any more, and are actually acceptable factors when compared to voter suppression through poorly placed and managed polling locations. Either way, it's not as simple as it may seem.
in “Millennials and the Working Class Are Leaving America's Expensive Cities” · View on HN
higherpurposeMay 2015Cites it
Term limits should be set. I think 12 years in Congress is about the optimum number: not too long to become your life, but also long enough to get "enough experience" and pass it along to the newcomers as they come in. That would be 6 terms for House Representatives and 2 for Senators. Of course it's not a magic bullet. Many other things need to be changed: 1) banning corporations, PACs or any organization from giving money to politicians - only individuals should be able to donate and the sum should be limited to maybe $1,000 (allowing "NGO's" and such to give money is just a loophole looking to be abused) 2) making votes in Congress anonymous [1]. Votes shouldn't have "transparency". There's a reason why anywhere else voting is anonymous: it's much harder to get influenced this way, whether it's by money or peer/leader pressure (see invasion of Iraq, passing the "Patriot" Act, etc). The lobbyists can give you money, and then you can still vote as you wish, which over the long term it will seem like a less and less viable strategy for lobbyists. 3) switching to a much more democratic voting system ("approval voting" [2] would be ideal, but even the 2-voting rounds system that's used in some European countries would be a HUGE improvement, as it would fix the "spoiler effect" somewhat - but still nowhere near enough as approval voting does) 4) proportional party representation in Congress (seems like a no-brainer to me). The idea that 2 parties can dominate Congress/Parliament
in “Big companies are stopping Congress from fixing the patent system” · View on HN
Topics & tags
US politics & electionsLaw, policing & justicelegislative reorganization actsecret ballotlobbyingcongresspolitical reform