guy hacks constitution

[Triple Zero]

Ok, so I know as good as nothing about US constitution and politics, so tell me if this is bullshit or if it can't actually work. But if it does, it's fuckin awesome (or at least tickles my hacker-bone):

http://blogs.pitch.com/plog/2010/06/sean_tevis_to_save_america_starting_with_kansas_2nd_district.php

Sean Tevis to save America, starting with Kansas' 2nd District

  Sean Tevis -- who made a splash two years ago when he ran for the Kansas House on a war chest raised $8.34 at a time -- is back. This time, the office is higher (the 2nd District race for U.S. rep.), and the plan is bigger. Way bigger. 

  This morning, Tevis formally declares his candidacy on his website. But throwing his hat in the ring against the other two contenders running in the Democratic primary is a footnote compared with the announcement he's been teasing the media about in recent days.

Tevis, whose day job is building websites and who has a finely tuned ironic wit (see those comics), answered an e-mail yesterday about his plans this way: "I'm starting a national movement. I'm going to end the culture war, fix Congress, and save America."

The movement hinges on Congress' ability to make separate law for separate nations within the United States -- American Indian nations. On the same principle, Tevis means to construct a virtual health-care nation to allow those wanting a public option access to it without mandating insurance for those who'd rather stick with the status quo.

It's heavily researched, complicated, a challenge to explain, a sure magnet for skeptics -- and so crazy it just might work.

In a follow-up interview, he explains the genesis of what's going live on his site today. "In September or October, I was at a health-care rally in Merriam," he says. "I went and set up two tables, one on each side of the debate. I asked people to write down why they thought the way they did. A friend asked me what I'd learned, and I said, 'Of course we're deeply divided, but I think there's a solution to every problem.' My friend bet me $100 I was wrong. I went into systemic mode ... and I started looking at government as a computer problem. Check the source code and find the problem. The Constitution is our source code. We're finding a way around the damage. I came up with this idea around Christmas last year and I couldn't let it go."

Tevis compares himself to "that scientist who's been working out in the middle of nowhere and then shows up and is like, tah-dah."

"I wouldn't be running without this idea," he says. "I believe in the idea, and I can't believe in it unless I champion it. So I'm running for Congress."

The state's Democratic Party advised Tevis to avoid the crowded 3rd District race, so he's moving from Olathe to Lawrence. "They're proud of me because I'm high-profile, and yet they don't understand me," he says of the party.

For now, Tevis is keeping his day job. "I told them [his bosses] that I'd come up with an idea to fix Congress, and they just kind of smiled and said, 'Oh?' If the campaign flops. I keep my job and campaign on the weekends. And if it goes crazy, I'll take a leave of absence."

Meanwhile, he has his old new idea -- micro-fundraising -- to kick back into gear. "I haven't done any traditional fundraising," he says. "I filed last Thursday, so I haven't asked anyone [for money], but someone gave me $20."

His wife, Michelle, doesn't like politics. "She tolerates it," Tevis says. She's his first audience, though, for ideas. "I'll show her something about, say, fixing special interests, and she'll tell me, 'It's too much.' "

Is he prepared to be misunderstood as a crank? "I expect that," he says. "I just don't know what it'll be like."

Here's the first page of the new comic explaining his movement.

[Remington]

I like this.

I like it a lot.

[Adios]

I like it in a sand in the gears kind of way.

[Cramulus]

This is a very interesting and promising idea. I will be curious to read more about its development. Nice to hear some fresh ideas now and then.

[Iason Ouabache]

I remember this guy from the last time he ran. Very funny guy. The domestic nations idea is interesting but seems like it would cause more problems than it solves. Wait... why am I acting like that's a bad thing?

[Requia ☣]

Inherently broken idea, at least as far as health care goes.  The people trying to block national healthcare aren't blocking it because they don't want it for themselves, but because they don't want it at all.  And that's ignoring the problem of the rich not having any reason to sign onto a national healthcare plan, and the poor already not being able to afford it that any voluntary program would have.

I like the general idea though.

[Golden Applesauce]

I'd have to see a more complete version of his proposal, (can't seem to find the rest of that comic) but from my extremely limited knowledge it sounds like a bad idea.  As I understand it, the basic idea is for people to form abstract sub-nations, which could each then have their own set of laws - the idea being to take the First Nations as a model, but removing the hereditary and geographical requirements.

I'll be the first to admit, the only thing I know about the legal/constitutional status of the First Nations is that they can build casinos on their land regardless of local regulations.  I think.  What other regulations are they exempt from?  Does Federal stuff still apply?  If they wanted to build an under-regulated coal or nuclear plant on their land instead of a casino, could they do it?

Basically, what I don't want to happen is for the Carcinogens Build Character Nation to move in and start screwing up my groundwater because a "nation" composed entirely of industrialists has a different take on the "economic costs of regulation vs. the right for people who aren't filthy rich industrialists to have babies that aren't all mutated and stuff" issue.  Or the Screw Marijuana We Want Free Heroin Nation, or the We Don't Believe in Speed Limits Nation, or any of a dozen different special-interest nations.

[Doktor Howl]

I'm going to end the culture war, fix Congress, and save America."

THIS MAN MUST BE STOPPED.

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

Giving virtual domestic nations sovereignty sounds like a complete and utter disaster waiting to happen; the comparison to American indigenous nations is completely misleading because indigenous nations have residents within physical borders, which forces them to share certain concerns with their fellow citizens even when their political orientation differs. Creating a self-governing political entity of widely-spread assortments of people who share a political agenda is sure to result in mayhem.

I support it!

[Doktor Howl]

Giving virtual domestic nations sovereignty sounds like a complete and utter disaster waiting to happen; the comparison to American indigenous nations is completely misleading because indigenous nations have residents within physical borders, which forces them to share certain concerns with their fellow citizens even when their political orientation differs. Creating a self-governing political entity of widely-spread assortments of people who share a political agenda is sure to result in mayhem.

I support it!

I retract my earlier position.  This is fucking genius.  This has "Tacoma Narrows" written all over it.   

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

Giving virtual domestic nations sovereignty sounds like a complete and utter disaster waiting to happen; the comparison to American indigenous nations is completely misleading because indigenous nations have residents within physical borders, which forces them to share certain concerns with their fellow citizens even when their political orientation differs. Creating a self-governing political entity of widely-spread assortments of people who share a political agenda is sure to result in mayhem.

I support it!

I retract my earlier position.  This is fucking genius.  This has "Tacoma Narrows" written all over it.   

YES!

Build it, make popcorn, and wait for the wind!

[BabylonHoruv]

This reminds me of the novel "Snow Crash"  I dunno if the guy read it and swiped the idea or if he really arri4ed at it independantly.

[The Wizard]

Interesting idea if anything. Not sure if it'll work, but even if it doesn't, it won't be boring.

[Jasper]

I just want to see it tried.  If it works, hurrah.  If it fails, it will not be in vain- for it will have amused me.

[Template]

I'd have to see a more complete version of his proposal, (can't seem to find the rest of that comic) but from my extremely limited knowledge it sounds like a bad idea.  As I understand it, the basic idea is for people to form abstract sub-nations, which could each then have their own set of laws - the idea being to take the First Nations as a model, but removing the hereditary and geographical requirements.

I'll be the first to admit, the only thing I know about the legal/constitutional status of the First Nations is that they can build casinos on their land regardless of local regulations.  I think.  What other regulations are they exempt from?  Does Federal stuff still apply?  If they wanted to build an under-regulated coal or nuclear plant on their land instead of a casino, could they do it?

Basically, what I don't want to happen is for the Carcinogens Build Character Nation to move in and start screwing up my groundwater because a "nation" composed entirely of industrialists has a different take on the "economic costs of regulation vs. the right for people who aren't filthy rich industrialists to have babies that aren't all mutated and stuff" issue.  Or the Screw Marijuana We Want Free Heroin Nation, or the We Don't Believe in Speed Limits Nation, or any of a dozen different special-interest nations.

This exists, at least
http://option4.seantevis.com/index.htm

Also,
http://athousandnations.com/2010/07/19/hacking-virtual-sovereignty-through-indian-sovereignty/#comments