1. Citizen Equality Bruce Skarin – www.bruceskarin.comwww.bruceskarin.com & Jamie Melhuish

2. “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.” ― George Orwell, Animal FarmGeorge OrwellAnimal Farm

3. As citizens, are we equal?

11. Yet as citizens, are we still equal?

12. “The core principle of representative democracy is that we are all equal citizens. Corruption creates 2nd class citizens.” ― Lawrence Lessig (2015)2015

13. Corruption, creates 2 nd class citizens

14. Institutional Corruption

15. What is Institutional Corruption? “Institutional corruption is manifest when there is a systemic and strategic influence which is legal, or even currently ethical, that undermines the institution’s effectiveness by diverting it from its purpose or weakening its ability to achieve its purpose, including, to the extent relevant to its purpose, weakening either the public’s trust in that institution or the institution’s inherent trustworthiness.” –Lawrence Lessig (2014)

16. What is Institutional Corruption?

32. So as citizens, are we still equal?

33. “When the preferences of economic elites and the stands of organized interest groups are controlled for, the preferences of the average American appear to have only a minuscule, near-zero, statistically non-significant impact upon public policy” – Gilens and Page (2014)

34. As citizens, are we equal?

35. no

36. All citizens are equal, but some citizens are more equal than others.

37. How do we fix it?

39. How did we get here?

40. Trust In Government elite favorable policy ratio Congressional Favoritism Toward Elites Elite Favorable Policy Elite Political Investment Elite Income Indicated Elite Influence Elite Contributions Over $2700 Total Contributions to Winning Campaigns Middle Class Contributions Under $200 Cost per Impression Middle Class Political Investment Middle Class Income Middle Class Favorable Policy Transparency Leverage Effect Registered Lobbyists indicated number of lobbyists Lobbyist Cost Expected Campaign Shortfall available funds for hiring new lobbyists Potential Spending on Lobbyists Total Spending on Lobbyists Total Campaign Expenditures politician effort contacting important donors B B R R R R R Elite Influence Crony Capitalism Loops Desired Lobbyists Desired Campaign Budget Voter Engagement Voter Participation Voter Influence Lobbyist Policy Contributions R Elitism Loops + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + - - - - - - - - + + + R Lobbying Gains

41. Congressional Favoritism Toward Elites R Crony Capitalism Loops

42. Congressional Favoritism Toward Elites Indicated Elite Influence Elite Contributions Over $2700 R Crony Capitalism Loops + +

43. Congressional Favoritism Toward Elites Elite Political Investment Elite Income Indicated Elite Influence Elite Contributions Over $2700 R Crony Capitalism Loops + + + +

44. Congressional Favoritism Toward Elites Elite Favorable Policy Elite Political Investment Elite Income Indicated Elite Influence Elite Contributions Over $2700 R R Elite Influence Crony Capitalism Loops + + + + + +

45. Congressional Favoritism Toward Elites Elite Favorable Policy Elite Political Investment Elite Income Indicated Elite Influence Elite Contributions Over $2700 R R Elite Influence Crony Capitalism Loops + + + + + + Registered Lobbyists Lobbyist Policy Contributions + +

46. Congressional Favoritism Toward Elites Elite Favorable Policy Elite Political Investment Elite Income Indicated Elite Influence Elite Contributions Over $2700 R R Elite Influence Crony Capitalism Loops + + + + + + Registered Lobbyists Lobbyist Policy Contributions + + indicated number of lobbyists Lobbyist Cost available funds for hiring new lobbyists + - +

47. Congressional Favoritism Toward Elites Elite Favorable Policy Elite Political Investment Elite Income Indicated Elite Influence Elite Contributions Over $2700 R R Elite Influence Crony Capitalism Loops + + + + + + Registered Lobbyists Lobbyist Policy Contributions + + indicated number of lobbyists Lobbyist Cost available funds for hiring new lobbyists + - + Potential Spending on Lobbyists + + R Lobbying Gains

49. Congressional Favoritism Toward Elites Elite Favorable Policy Elite Political Investment Elite Income Indicated Elite Influence Elite Contributions Over $2700 R R Elite Influence Crony Capitalism Loops + + + + + + Registered Lobbyists Lobbyist Policy Contributions + + indicated number of lobbyists Lobbyist Cost available funds for hiring new lobbyists + - + Potential Spending on Lobbyists + + R Lobbying Gains Total Spending on Lobbyists + - B Desired Lobbyists

50. Congressional Favoritism Toward Elites Elite Favorable Policy Elite Political Investment Elite Income Indicated Elite Influence Elite Contributions Over $2700 R R Elite Influence Crony Capitalism Loops + + + + + + Registered Lobbyists Lobbyist Policy Contributions + + indicated number of lobbyists Lobbyist Cost available funds for hiring new lobbyists + - + Potential Spending on Lobbyists + + R Lobbying Gains Total Spending on Lobbyists + - B Desired Lobbyists + +

51. Elite Favorable Policy Elite Political Investment Elite Income Transparency Leverage Effect Registered Lobbyists indicated number of lobbyists Lobbyist Cost available funds for hiring new lobbyists Potential Spending on Lobbyists Total Spending on Lobbyists B R R Elite Influence Crony Capitalism Loops Desired Lobbyists Lobbyist Policy Contributions + + + + + + + + + + + + - - + + R Lobbying Gains Congressional Favoritism Toward Elites Indicated Elite Influence Elite Contributions Over $2700 + + +

52. What leverage?

53. Secrecy is crucial to good democracy

54. Why?

58. A Republic If you can keep it.

60. Congressional Reorganization Act of 1970

61. “bills were better when drafted away from lobbyists’ watchful eyes” – CQ Press, 1987

62. Intimidation and Fraud in Congress?

64. Elite Favorable Policy Elite Political Investment Elite Income Transparency Leverage Effect Registered Lobbyists indicated number of lobbyists Lobbyist Cost available funds for hiring new lobbyists Potential Spending on Lobbyists Total Spending on Lobbyists B R R Elite Influence Crony Capitalism Loops Desired Lobbyists Lobbyist Policy Contributions + + + + + + + + + + + + - - + + R Lobbying Gains R Elitism Loops Congressional Favoritism Toward Elites Indicated Elite Influence Elite Contributions Over $2700 + + + politician effort contacting important donors +

65. Elite Favorable Policy Elite Political Investment Elite Income Transparency Leverage Effect Registered Lobbyists indicated number of lobbyists Lobbyist Cost available funds for hiring new lobbyists Potential Spending on Lobbyists Total Spending on Lobbyists B R R Elite Influence Crony Capitalism Loops Desired Lobbyists Lobbyist Policy Contributions + + + + + + + + + + + + - - + + R Lobbying Gains R Elitism Loops Congressional Favoritism Toward Elites Indicated Elite Influence Elite Contributions Over $2700 + + + politician effort contacting important donors + Total Contributions to Winning Campaigns Expected Campaign Shortfall Total Campaign Expenditures + + -

66. Elite Favorable Policy Elite Political Investment Elite Income Transparency Leverage Effect Registered Lobbyists indicated number of lobbyists Lobbyist Cost available funds for hiring new lobbyists Potential Spending on Lobbyists Total Spending on Lobbyists B R R Elite Influence Crony Capitalism Loops Desired Lobbyists Lobbyist Policy Contributions + + + + + + + + + + + + - - + + R Lobbying Gains R Elitism Loops Congressional Favoritism Toward Elites Indicated Elite Influence Elite Contributions Over $2700 + + + politician effort contacting important donors + Total Contributions to Winning Campaigns Expected Campaign Shortfall Total Campaign Expenditures + + - Trust In Government Cost per Impression + -

67. CANDIDATES$

68. Elite Favorable Policy Elite Political Investment Elite Income Transparency Leverage Effect Registered Lobbyists indicated number of lobbyists Lobbyist Cost available funds for hiring new lobbyists Potential Spending on Lobbyists Total Spending on Lobbyists B R R Elite Influence Crony Capitalism Loops Desired Lobbyists Lobbyist Policy Contributions + + + + + + + + + + + + - - + + R Lobbying Gains R Elitism Loops Congressional Favoritism Toward Elites Indicated Elite Influence Elite Contributions Over $2700 + + + politician effort contacting important donors + Total Contributions to Winning Campaigns Expected Campaign Shortfall + - Trust In Government elite favorable policy ratio Middle Class Favorable Policy + - - - Total Campaign Expenditures + Trust In Government Cost per Impression + - R Voter Engagement

69. Elite Favorable Policy Elite Political Investment Elite Income Transparency Leverage Effect Registered Lobbyists indicated number of lobbyists Lobbyist Cost available funds for hiring new lobbyists Potential Spending on Lobbyists Total Spending on Lobbyists B R R Elite Influence Crony Capitalism Loops Desired Lobbyists Lobbyist Policy Contributions + + + + + + + + + + + + - - + + R Lobbying Gains R Elitism Loops Congressional Favoritism Toward Elites Indicated Elite Influence Elite Contributions Over $2700 + + + politician effort contacting important donors + Total Contributions to Winning Campaigns Expected Campaign Shortfall Total Campaign Expenditures + + - Trust In Government Cost per Impression + - elite favorable policy ratio Middle Class Favorable Policy R Voter Engagement + - - - Middle Class Contributions Under $200 Middle Class Political Investment + + -

70. Elite Favorable Policy Elite Political Investment Elite Income Transparency Leverage Effect Registered Lobbyists indicated number of lobbyists Lobbyist Cost available funds for hiring new lobbyists Potential Spending on Lobbyists Total Spending on Lobbyists B R R Elite Influence Crony Capitalism Loops Desired Lobbyists Lobbyist Policy Contributions + + + + + + + + + + + + - - + + R Lobbying Gains R Elitism Loops Congressional Favoritism Toward Elites Indicated Elite Influence Elite Contributions Over $2700 + + + politician effort contacting important donors + Total Contributions to Winning Campaigns Expected Campaign Shortfall Total Campaign Expenditures + + - Trust In Government Cost per Impression + - elite favorable policy ratio Middle Class Favorable Policy R Voter Engagement + - - - Middle Class Contributions Under $200 Middle Class Political Investment + + - R Voter Participation +

71. Elite Favorable Policy Elite Political Investment Elite Income Transparency Leverage Effect Registered Lobbyists indicated number of lobbyists Lobbyist Cost available funds for hiring new lobbyists Potential Spending on Lobbyists Total Spending on Lobbyists B R R Elite Influence Crony Capitalism Loops Desired Lobbyists Lobbyist Policy Contributions + + + + + + + + + + + + - - + + R Lobbying Gains R Elitism Loops Congressional Favoritism Toward Elites Indicated Elite Influence Elite Contributions Over $2700 + + + politician effort contacting important donors + Total Contributions to Winning Campaigns Expected Campaign Shortfall Total Campaign Expenditures + + - Trust In Government Cost per Impression + - elite favorable policy ratio Middle Class Favorable Policy R Voter Engagement + - - - Middle Class Contributions Under $200 Middle Class Political Investment + + - R Voter Participation + Middle Class Income Voter Influence + + R

72. Elite Favorable Policy Elite Political Investment Elite Income Transparency Leverage Effect Registered Lobbyists indicated number of lobbyists Lobbyist Cost available funds for hiring new lobbyists Potential Spending on Lobbyists Total Spending on Lobbyists B R R Elite Influence Crony Capitalism Loops Desired Lobbyists Lobbyist Policy Contributions + + + + + + + + + + + + - - + + R Lobbying Gains R Elitism Loops Congressional Favoritism Toward Elites Indicated Elite Influence Elite Contributions Over $2700 + + + politician effort contacting important donors + Total Contributions to Winning Campaigns Expected Campaign Shortfall Total Campaign Expenditures + + - Trust In Government Cost per Impression + - elite favorable policy ratio Middle Class Favorable Policy R Voter Engagement + - - - Middle Class Contributions Under $200 Middle Class Political Investment + + - R Voter Participation + Middle Class Income Voter Influence + + R B Desired Campaign Budget +

73. Trust In Government elite favorable policy ratio Congressional Favoritism Toward Elites Elite Favorable Policy Elite Political Investment Elite Income Indicated Elite Influence Elite Contributions Over $2700 Total Contributions to Winning Campaigns Middle Class Contributions Under $200 Cost per Impression Middle Class Political Investment Middle Class Income Middle Class Favorable Policy Transparency Leverage Effect Registered Lobbyists indicated number of lobbyists Lobbyist Cost Expected Campaign Shortfall available funds for hiring new lobbyists Potential Spending on Lobbyists Total Spending on Lobbyists Total Campaign Expenditures politician effort contacting important donors B B R R R R R Elite Influence Crony Capitalism Loops Desired Lobbyists Desired Campaign Budget Voter Engagement Voter Participation Voter Influence Lobbyist Policy Contributions R Elitism Loops + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + - - - - - - - - + + + R Lobbying Gains

74. How did we get here?

76. How do we fix it?

77. 1.Vouchers: $50 tax rebate per election ($25 per year) for each voter 2.Small Dollar Match: 6 to 1 or 9 to 1 match of contributions under $150 3.Media Cost Controls: Sets lowest unit cost for campaign ads

78. 4.Reduce Leverage: Secret process, transparent final bill

81. As citizens, can we be equal again?

82. YES

85. Alternate Slides For presentations without the actual simulation model

86. How did we get here?

93. So how do we fix it?

97. 5.Voucher and Media Cost Control Combination 6.Voucher, Media Cost Control, and Reduce Leverage Combination