Change 2.0

2. Banning lobbyist or PAC money in campaigns—an idea that Obama adopted as a rule of thumb for his campaign and the Democratic National Committee, but which members of Congress have yet to embrace.

3. Eliminating earmarks, the idea pushed by Senator McCain to remove the "obvious corruption" from the current system.

4. Redistricting crafted to produce real competition among parties rather than protection for current incumbents.

5. Real transparency in the way Congress and the government function, using a world of digital tools to bring the people closer in.

6. Technologies that reliably and accurately do the very first task of democracy: counting votes truthfully.

Which among these changes are needed first, or represent the right path? That has yet to be decided. But Obama should begin the conversation now with leaders and citizens inside and outside Washington, and politicians of all stripes. The aim should not be to favor one party over the other. The chance for real bipartisan reform comes instead from neutral efforts to restore faith in whatever government does, leaving to the battles of politics the question of precisely what government should do.

These eight years (if he's lucky) will go quickly. The time during which fundamental reform can be planned will expire within two years. If there is one thing Obama has already achieved, it is creating an appetite for what he promised: a transformational presidency. Republicans and Democrats alike are sickened by the current system; everyone (save the gaggles of lobbyists in D.C.) wants something fundamentally new. There could be no greater political sin than to allow this moment to pass without effect. But change won't define itself. And it won't wait.

Lessig Is A Professor At Stanford Law School And Author Most Recently Of "Remix: Making Art And Culture Thrive In The Hybrid Economy." He Was An Adviser To Obama During The Primaries.

© 2008