Public Financing of Elections--A Way Station; Fair, Just and Good Government--The Destination (1/2)
Channel: FSUOccupyBoston
Date: 08/12/2011

"Public Financing of Elections--A Way Station; Fair, Just and Good Government--The Destination" Discussion with Julius "Jules" Levine at Occupy Boston's Free School University on November 13, 2011

(Video 1 of 2)

Public Financing is a unique reform because it is a catalyst to achieving all the others, democratically and nonviolently. The present legislators who will vote on reforms were elected by virtue of private contributions from the 1%. They are beholden to their contributors who oppose reforms, and so vote against reforms. Public Financing laws, which prohibit or drastically limit private contributions, will transform the legislators into persons who will not be beholden to anyone for financing their elections. They will be free to judge reform proposals on their merits, and can be expected to vote them into law as in the best interests of 99 % of the people. Thus public financing is the pragmatic route to achieving our enlightened aspirations.

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Professor Julius "Jules" Levine is a graduate of Harvard Law School and Harvard College with Honors and Phi Beta Kappa. He was a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University where he earned a Ph. D. He has practiced criminal and civil law as a trial lawyer pro bono, as an Assistant DA, and in private practice. He is a Professor at Boston University Law School where he taught for 30 years, and is the author of several books.

As a political activist Professor Levine has worked on many campaigns from President to Selectman, including his own for the Mass. Legislature. Among his civic activities are Director of an affordable housing organization, member of Committee To Reform The Health Care System, and advocate for public funding of elections.