What would it take to build a democracy that works for everyone? Communications strategist Sally Kohn and entrepreneur Jeff Maurer discuss the systems they think need rebuilding — and what people will need to truly thrive within them. They debate whether politicians should face a wealth limit, what success should mean for those in office and whether the next generation will have more opportunities than the last. (This episode is part of “Idea Knock Down,” a series featuring experts with different perspectives taking on big questions — one block at a time.) (Recorded on June 12, 2026)
Join us in person at a TED conference:
Become a TED Member to support our mission:
Subscribe to a TED newsletter:
Follow TED!
Instagram:
LinkedIn:
TikTok:
Facebook:
X:
The TED Talks channel features the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world’s leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes (or less) — plus originals, podcasts and exclusive content. Look for videos on Technology, Entertainment and Design as well as science, business, global issues, the arts and more. Visit for our entire library, transcripts, translations and personalized recommendations.
Watch more: [firstnamelastname]
[YouTube video URL: ]
TED videos may be used for non-commercial purposes under a Creative Commons License, Attribution–Non Commercial–No Derivatives (or the CC BY – NC – ND 4.0 International) and in accordance with the TED Talks Usage Policy: . For more information on using TED for commercial purposes (e.g. employee learning, in a film or online course), submit a request at
#TED #TEDTalks #Democracy
@Hezyo922
June 29, 2026 at 5:29 pm
Yes, you can cancel the live, everyone says yes
@akarp111
June 29, 2026 at 5:36 pm
No. Wealth limit is just a round-about way to stop corruption. Repeal Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission that gives Corporation the “Freedom of Speech” through unlimited political donations. Implement ranked choice voting so our elected officials actually represent the people’s interests. Stop politicians from adding special interest legislation to ‘must pass’ bills.
@Th3Sh1n1gam1
June 29, 2026 at 5:36 pm
Politicians should be paid and given the same benefits as whoever are working minimum wage and should be majorly taxed on any amount beyond that including unrealized gain if they are allowed to keep trading stocks with the regulations they set in place.
@stephw6046
June 29, 2026 at 5:50 pm
The idea that “polotician” is a career blows my mind. I was born here in the US, and it never made sense to me that politicians get to make the rules about sectors they have not a clue about. Health care, education, elderly care, child care, etc. policies should be made up by committees of at least 50 percent people who are actually currently working in the sectors. For example, a committee of 20 would have to have 10 teachers out of the 20 who propose the laws for education. Health care reforms should include input from actively practicing health care providers, etc.
“Politician” should not be a lucrative, paid position. Theyshould not be able to vote yes to their own raises, trade in the stock market, or be able to conduct any business that creates a conflict of interest. In fact, I would like to see this position take on a more volunteer-type role.
So yeah, politicians make too much money and are severely out of touch with the rest of America. There are not too many you will find that you can describe as “fair,” or that have any morals. I am sure there are outliers, but for the most part, the corruption is rampant in the ranks.
@GsusIsKing
June 29, 2026 at 5:50 pm
We should be addressing how politicians get their riches first before we argue if they are too rich…
@Gageflynn
June 30, 2026 at 1:11 pm
@GsusIsKing yes! Corruption Cronyism and Corporations are the true enemy of the people.
@allgoodthings7777
June 29, 2026 at 5:51 pm
I’ve been saying for a long time if there’s a minimum wage there should be a maximum wage.
@TimmyKo
June 30, 2026 at 3:38 pm
Are you rich already or why do you want to limit your own chances of getting independent so you don’t need to work again (but of course can).
@allgoodthings7777
June 29, 2026 at 5:52 pm
Not necessarily just the politicians aswell
@homerdk77
June 29, 2026 at 6:12 pm
Take a look at all the various countries political parties business clubs first. Denmark for example has a huge corruption problem with american large firms sticking their noses up their skirts to get them to influence EU politics on their behalf. THEN we can look at their stated income after that.
@Speed001
June 29, 2026 at 7:01 pm
Interesting question. However I think it needs a much deeper talk about what being rich entails.
How value is both quantified and determined.
Money is the most rudimentary measuring device along with net worth.
What about a CEO that takes $1 income and instead gets paid in company shares? That’s a thing or was a thing. Managers can get pieces of the company too.
Is that $10 million dollar property really worth that much?
And if you instead measure net worth, what about taking loans against your company stock so that you’re technically not making money and have less value?
Is power and influence money? It can be.
And jumping over the hazy legal line.
What about every illegal gain?
Politician D says he’ll make sure Politician R doesn’t get elected if R doesn’t do what D wants.
The law doesn’t matter if nobody pursues it. And, is D richer than R?
@trisetank862
June 29, 2026 at 8:52 pm
What if you could have unlimited net work but only a certain power more net worth than bottom 10% of people? (Politician X can be unlimitedly rich but only a certain amount richer than the poorest person.) I’ve always wondered why we can make Porches on a massive scale but we as a society have decided that only a certain class of people have earned them, and being in that class isn’t necessarily merit based.
@ivarborthen7320
June 29, 2026 at 8:55 pm
Politicans should be rewarded a handsome bonus if certain measureable achievements are met 5 years and 10 after they worked. This should incentivize both cooperative handover to next party in charge + planning long term. The achievements to be measured should be varied and include health, happiness, environment, economic, crime, education, corruption and so on. But giving a big carrot for doing long term strategic politics seems reasonable. We as society keeps having the wrong incentives and almost always only thinking short term
@poeticus-FX8
June 30, 2026 at 3:13 am
Well, it’s definitely a fair point, because as their wealth grows beyond the upper class, they have little to no idea about the lives of the general public, which makes them incapable of genuine leadership, and a countries governing ethic always becomes neo liberal, which neither supports democracy or the public’s interests. So, one could argue, not having a wealth cap for leadership, is unethical, but even then, the allowance for insider trading and capitalism without limit, equally unethical, as it festers like a rot on society, and removes democracy as a whole.
Take usa, they have a swamp creature who drained the swamp to make it his swamp, like Shrek imo, but it should be a case study. Democracy doesn’t work for many reasons, but what we got from the 80’s, and what we now have, is definitely not democracy, so, when veterans talk about regretting what they thought they fought for, it’s not about who they fought, but what’s become of what they fought for. Wealth capping should be a thing, because without it, humanity as a species, will stay on track to becoming what was fought against in the 2nd world war… It’s inevitable, and you don’t need a PhD to know a train going along tracks, will stay on that track or derail trying.
@thefoolishkat
June 30, 2026 at 5:53 am
It should be like in a Zelda game, when the wallet exceeds it’s limit the crystals fall out
@quadpumped34
June 30, 2026 at 8:55 am
I’m very intrigued to see how politicians are going to legislate laws against themselves and their wallet XD Corruption in politics can’t be resolved by democratic means IMO.
@jasonvegan5761
June 30, 2026 at 11:37 am
Keep out of touch billionaires away from politics, they’re only in it for their own benefits
@daringwolverin
June 30, 2026 at 11:47 am
Yes there should and if they are getting their riches through, the obvious, they need to be DEPOSED
@DS-pe8tt
June 30, 2026 at 11:59 am
Yes accountability
@chocomalk
June 30, 2026 at 12:01 pm
Compare pubic servants and volunteer firefighters.
One does literally nothing and the profits are virtually unlimited.
The other risks their lives for a payout at the end of the year.
@noname-pb9vj
June 30, 2026 at 12:08 pm
Put them all in a section 8 group home apartment, they can 10% above poverty, anything more than that is mandatory to be donated to food banks or homeless shelters.
@tiavor
June 30, 2026 at 12:53 pm
wealth limit no, income limit yes. 200k max and every single bank transaction needs to be monitored.
@noname-pb9vj
June 30, 2026 at 12:53 pm
The only one thus far showing is Mamdani
@TheZombie1984
June 30, 2026 at 12:54 pm
They don’t call money “The root of all evil” for nothing. So sorry buddy, wealth IS inherently bad.
@Z7d3nR4
June 30, 2026 at 1:44 pm
Stop the cult of personality b.s. Return to debates over issues and policies. Institute term limits, campaign funding limits, then ban lobbyists, and make every politician accountable for every promise they make during their campaign.
@anitawebster9450
June 30, 2026 at 4:00 pm
Music might have helped, but that was great!
@HIgodzilla.1
June 30, 2026 at 4:12 pm
trillionaire and billionaires and centimillionaires grow their wealth by 10-20% every year. We should have at least a 5% wealth tax annually. Billionaires are parasites. They keep taking taking taking and hoarding what they can get. We’d be better off with a thousand millionaires for every billion dollars of wealth they hoard. Tax the rich.