Two Videos of Talks by Prof. Lawrence Lessig

11 a.m., November 4, 2018

Lawrence Lessig III is a distinguished American academic, attorney, and political activist. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Equal Citizens Foundation (https://equalcitizens.us/).

The first video is a TED Talk (see http://www.ted.com) from 2013 entitled “We the People, and the Republic we much reclaim” (18 minutes, https://www.ted.com/talks/lawrence_lessig_we_the_people_and_the_republic_we_must_reclaim). Here is the description of the first video:

There is a corruption at the heart of American politics, caused by the dependence of Congressional candidates on funding from the tiniest percentage of citizens. That’s the argument at the core of this blistering talk by legal scholar Lawrence Lessig. With rapid-fire visuals, he shows how the funding process weakens the Republic in the most fundamental way, and issues a rallying bipartisan cry that will resonate with many in the U.S. and beyond.

The second video is a YouTube video entitled “Lawrence Lessig: What Maine Can Teach” (14 minutes, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3H6yswvPwg). It can be shown under the Creative Commons license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/legalcode). It presents Lawrence Lessig’s keynote address at the “Get Money Out of Politics Summit” at the University of Southern Maine on April 7th, 2018.

There will then be a general discussion of the content of the two videos by audience members.

After the Forum, please join us for a lunch at 12:30pm. The lunch is complimentary for first-time visitors and students.

RSVP on Meetup here.
Like us on Facebook here.
Follow us on Twitter here.
See videos of our past Forums here.

Should Judges Make Laws?

Attorney Leland Chan

October 28, 2018

Note: This Forum will be held at Hacker Dojo, 3350 Thomas Road, Suite 150, Santa Clara, CA 95054. Click here for a map.

The contested nomination of Brett Kavanaugh highlights the fact that many Americans on the left and the right look to the Supreme Court to decide some of society’s big questions: whether abortion should be legal, whether corporations can spend freely on elections, whether all citizens who are real persons have the right to vote.

Why do we invest so much power in the “third branch of government,” the one that Alexander Hamilton referred to in Federalist Papers No. 78 as the “weakest” branch because it had “no influence over either the sword or the purse”? Is it because of judicial activism? Are we better off with original intent or living constitutionalism? Or should we just abandon judicial philosophy – in other words just accept the reality that judges are political and be sure we get the right ones in order to get the right results?

We will examine these intriguing questions in the next segment of the Mini Law School.



RSVP on Meetup here.
Like us on Facebook here.
Follow us on Twitter here.
See videos of our past Forums here.

Humanist Values and the November 2018 California Ballot Propositions-Pros/Cons/Supporters/Opponents/Money Source

The HCSV Social Action Committee

October 21, 2018

Note: This Forum will be held at Hacker Dojo, 3350 Thomas Road, Suite 150, Santa Clara, CA 95054. Click here for a map.

What are your values that influence the way you vote? Are some of these values in conflict with each other? The 11 California Ballot Propositions will be presented by six members of the Social Action Committee:

Helen Athey
Kakoli Banerjee
Pam Erwin
Alex Havasy
Cherie Long
Jim Naylor

After the Forum, please join us for a lunch at 12:30pm. The lunch is complimentary for first-time visitors and students.

RSVP on Meetup here.
Like us on Facebook here.
Follow us on Twitter here.
See videos of our past Forums here.

Arts and Activism in Silicon Valley

Jan Rindfleisch

October 14, 2018

Note: This Forum will be held at Hacker Dojo, 3350 Thomas Road, Suite 150, Santa Clara, CA 95054. Click here for a map.

Join Jan Rindfleisch in probing questions about arts and activism in Silicon Valley. Why is it important to have an arts community in Silicon Valley? How is it created? In these wrenching and divisive times, with pressing national and local issues, can the arts be part of the solution? What forms of arts activism are especially effective in these times?

Building a vibrant arts community can bring in new ideas, cultural differences/insights, different definitions to free us up, new economic opportunities, and a new take on prestige. We can expand our horizons in terms of creativity and understanding as doers and observers. We need to get past narrow academic definitions of art. We can draw from our life experiences and that of others, find common ground, and build from there.

As an artist, educator, curator and author, Jan Rindfleisch brings unique perspectives to the development of the arts in the South Bay Area. Her most recent book, Roots and Offshoots: Silicon Valley’s Arts Community, explores Silicon Valley’s innovative arts collaborations and organizational structures—offshoots, spin-offs, and startups—founded by unsung heroes who resisted the establishment. She offers insights into the practices of community building by sharing profiles of passionate individuals, creative partnerships, and maverick arts institutions that challenge the status quo.

Rindfleisch taught art and art history at De Anza College, and in 1979 began a 32-year tenure as executive director/curator of Euphrat Museum of Art. Together with the Euphrat board, De Anza college and community activists, Rindfleisch created an interdisciplinary forum to explore cultural and social justice issues, foster civic engagement, and expand opportunity and visibility for artists working outside the mainstream. Questioning assumptions and working in collaboration with people of all ages and backgrounds, she developed thought-provoking exhibitions and innovative programs, including arts education programs for at-risk youth.

In addition to supporting small arts organizations, Rindfleisch helped found the Cupertino Arts Commission, has participated on numerous state and regional panels, and been recognized with multiple awards. Rindfleisch has written essays and over a dozen books, including Coming Across: Art by Recent Immigrants; The Power of Cloth: Political Quilts 1845–1986; Content: Contemporary Issues; and Staying Visible, The Importance of Archives. Rindfleisch earned a bachelor’s degree in physics from Purdue University and a Master of Fine Arts in painting from San José State University.

www.janrindfleisch.com
www.gingerpressbooks.com

After the Forum, please join us for a lunch at 12:30pm. The lunch is complimentary for first-time visitors and students.

RSVP on Meetup here.
Like us on Facebook here.
Follow us on Twitter here.
See videos of our past Forums here.

A Discussion of the Kavanaugh Nomination

Facilitated by Herman Winick

October 7, 2018
11am-12:15pm, with your Denny’s order served around 12:30pm

Stanford Professor (Emeritus) Herman Winick will facilitate an audience discussion of the Brett Kavanaugh nomination to the Supreme Court.

Since Palo Alto University is unavailable this Sunday, this Forum will be held at the Denny’s at 2060 S Bascom Ave. in Campbell (see this map).

In return for the use of their private room (which seats around 50 people), Denny’s requires that Denny’s receive a total of at least $200 from:

(1) total food and drink orders from the group,

and (if that total is less than $200),

(2) a payment from HCSV to make up the difference between $200 and the total food and drink orders from the group (so that Denny’s is always guaranteed to “make” at least $200 from the event, from food and drink sales, and, if needed, an additional payment from HCSV).

Food will probably be ordered towards, or at, the end of the discussion (around 12:15pm).

We hope that you will be able to come and check out this new (and temporary) venue, and take part in a discussion of this momentous topic.


RSVP on Meetup here.
Like us on Facebook here.
Follow us on Twitter here.
See videos of our past Forums here.