Nader in his own words on Democracy Now

Don't listen to the Nader Haters, listen to the man himself!

http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=07/07/09/131226

He covers the dictatorship of the corporations that is our government, how the corporations have bought and paid for the politicians and placed their executives in control of nearly EVERY branch of government.

He covers the shame of corporate unions and suggests the best solution to the weakness of the working class that DAMNABLE Taft/Hartley Act of 1948 -- which MUST BE REPEALED for workers to have a chance at being in balance with the owners.

He urges more and better economic models -- cooperatives and local industry.

He urges an assault on the WTO and NAFTA. WTO and NAFTA are basically an albatross around the neck of workers, of consumers and of clean environments..

He talks about the corporate media's stranglehold on the electoral process using OUR AIRWAVES against us. He also speaks of the electoral gatekeepers;

"...the Commission on Presidential Debates. So this commission was created in 1987, as you know, to get rid of the League of Women Voters, which sponsored presidential debates, and they went around and they got money from Philip Morris and Ford and AT&T and Coors beer, and they now control the main gateway to tens of millions of Americans. No matter how many states you run in as a third party or independent candidate, if you don’t get on those debates, you don’t reach tens of millions of people.

And who is the gatekeeper? The Democrat and Republican parties, who even kept Ross Perot off in 1996, after he got 19 million votes in 1992. I called him up, and I said, “Ross, how does it feel for a billionaire to be excluded?” And he says, “Absolutely right.” He said, “I couldn’t even buy thirty minutes of airtime.” They refused him to buy thirty minutes of airtime so he could do his charts on, you know, on the deficit."


He discusses the relative merits and demerits of some of the Dem and repuke candidates and what he says is absolutely accurate, fair and balanced...

He covers the BIG LIE about Nader costing Gore the election in 2000:

"I stood in line waiting for, you know, the book signing, when he came here in Washington. There were 300 people at a bookstore, and I just stood in line and finally got up to his desk, and he was very cordial. Anybody who thinks that the Greens cost Gore the election should ask Gore. He not only won the election, he knows how it was stolen from him. He knows he made some very serious failures himself, including not winning his own state of Tennessee, which would have put him in the White House. But he was very cordial, and I said to him, “Al,” -- because I’ve known him since years ago -- I said, “Al, how does it feel to be liberated?” He said, “Very good.”"

He covers the truth of Single-Payer health care...why we need it and how we can get it...

About bush:

"AMY GOODMAN: Does George W. Bush matter anymore?

RALPH NADER: Yeah, he matters, because he’s a national security menace. He’s a destroyer of our Constitution, a violator of our statutes, a revoker of our regulations. He’s a war monger. He’s a war criminal, clinically a war criminal. And he’s still in charge. And I said some time ago, he’s a giant corporation in the White House masquerading as a human being, although I sometimes wonder about the word “human.” I don’t think it’s possible to see a more obsessively compulsive person with so much contempt for the traditions of our country, including conservative traditions, which is why so many libertarians and conservatives like Pat Buchanan have opposed him again and again."


and Finally what we can do about all of this:

"We have to increase our expectation levels. It all starts with increasing our expectation levels of what kind of society we want and what kind of world we want to bequeath to our descendants. If we’re not motivated enough by the past great reformers and civic patriots of our past, the fighters against slavery, women’s rights and all the rest of the social justice movement, if that isn’t enough to motivate us, then just look around this country and see the tragedies, the dispossession, the injustice, the exclusions, the disrespect, the gouging, the rip-offs, the using of taxpayer dollars against those small taxpayers themselves, the lack of health and safety, the hundreds of thousands of lives lost every year in occupational disease and medical malpractice and air and water pollution and denial of healthcare and so on -- who weeps for those people?"

Now go listen for yourself to someone who has our national problems WIRED...

http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=07/07/09/131226

I urge anyone who "doesn't like Nader" to please listen. Then come back and tell me if there's anything he's said that is untrue or "republican" in tone or content... or anything you don't agree with.

http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=07/07/09/131226

The transcript is there too if you don't want to play the audio or video...

"fuck you Ralph"


:evilgrin:

It's not Ralph's ideas or what he 'says' are his ideas - no one can hear them behind his big fat egotistical ego. He has zero credibility with me and there was a day I really admired him - no more.

If he cannot see the difference between the neocons and the democrats... I feel sorry for him.

against corporatists but, when he runs for President, won't make public his tax returns or his stock holdings?

And yet files a form with the FEC saying he is worth almost $4 million?

who are depression era babies, my middle class father who worked all his life and was able to buy a couple of houses in California (back when they were cheap) and scrimped and saved to pay for them are now worth much more than $4 million on paper thanks to equity in the houses...

So much for your knee-jerk ad-hominemisms --

Did you listen to or read what he said or are you too much of a coward to run the risk of having to change your mind about Mr. Nader?

If so, what part of his philosophy do you not agree with? Which of the FACTS that he's stated are untrue? What part of his "platform" do you dislike?

If you didn't listen to or read any of what he said you aren't worth talking to and we're done here... :shrug:

You laid out the facts, and the first response was the typical ad hominum "Fuck you Ralph", which as we all know shows great depth of understanding and analysis.

The sad fact is these BPL's (Blind Party Loyalists) actually BELIEVE that Nader STOLE their voters from them. Yes - they actually believe such an absurdity. Trying to show them the truth of the matter is like trying to get water to run uphill.

In the same breath they will gush over Live Earth and wax poetic over their recycling habits, all the while doing their best to make sure that representative government never gets a foothold here.

The irony is astounding.

Yes, it can be argued that it was Gore's fault, people not bothering to show up and vote, or the illegal caging of votes, or a million other reasons, but when Nader had an opportunity to work with the Democratic candidates, he indicated that he saw very little difference between the corporate interests of both. What else should he expect, open arms?

Six years, and a new Supreme Court are only one example of the differences

Nader has effectively made himself obsolete, by not working with the Democrats when it counted

In reality there is not room for a third party in this country. It might be a nice idea, but we aren't a parliment

The good news is that Nader will NEVER be a spoiler in another election

Honestly, can't you see that?

And please for the love of <blank> tell me why the fuck is somebody OBLIGATED to work with Democrats?

That is bizarre.

"There is no room for a third party" - what kind of FUCKING nonsense is THAT?

Really, I just can't go on - my head will explode.

Christ, you all should go form Blind Loyalty Underground or something.

Oh wait - you already did.

out to revenge his Daddy.

We would have a majority of progressives on the Supreme Court, and Roe v. Wade would be intact.

We would be supporting the Kyoto accords, and other measures to fight global warming.

No difference? My head will explode.

And the previous poster is right. Unless we switch to a parliamentary system, a third party candidate (to the left of the Democrats or the right of the Republicans) acts as a spoiler. A centrist 3rd party candidate might actually win, but is that what you want?

I am for embroyonic stem cell research, and so are most DEMOCRATS

I am for not privitizing social security, and so are most DEMOCRATS

I am for not privitizing medicare, and so are most DEMOCRATS

I could go on, but since you like to through the F* bomb around so casually as the people who critisize Nader, I see very little difference between YOU or THEM

You don't want to work within the party, then what are you DOING HERE?

Go start you own party. DU stands for DEMOCRATIC UNDERGROUND, NOT third party underground

go for it

and the whigs...

"there is not room for a third party in this country"

Seriously the real question is "is there room for a second party in this country?"

Right now, and for over 2 decades we've been saddled with the two-right wings of the Big Business party.

When it comes to dealing with the corporate crooks, I'd LOVE to see a 2nd party...

You want to roll the clock back 200 years be my guest. I don't have the time. I will WORK within my OWN party for change

If I recall it was the Democrats who provided the civil rights act of the sixties, and most of the other progressive causes of the 20th century including Social Security and Medicare

I wonder if Mr. Nader still has his Fidelity Magellean fund. Hmmmmmmmmm

http://soc.qc.cuny.edu/Staff/levine/Ralph-Nader-As-Suicide-Bomber.html

"The writer Matt Welch also noticed Nader's joy that day. Welch had spent election night at the Nader party in Washington, D.C. where he had seen the dismay of many Naderites about Bush's likely victory. Welch arrived at the National Press Club the next morning, just before the press conference where Nader seemed to me to be beaming. He writes:

'Then Nader walked in. The man whose supporters had been so anxious the night before about Gore losing -- to the point of creating, even before the first polls closed, a bogus mathematical "formula" to "prove" Nader didn't tip the election to Bush -- had the biggest grin I'd ever seen on his face before noon.

'"Fearless leader!" Buchanan yelled. "Hey, fearless leader!" Nader finally understood what was going on, and the two shook hands warmly. "Congratulations, you ran a terrific campaign," Buchanan said.

"Well, Pat, you know how hard it is to challenge this entrenched two-party system!"

Nader Haters.

I was hoping that by posting some of what Ralph said might make some of them curious. Then they might want to listen to what Ralph actually stands for and argues for rather than the old lie "Ralph created bush"...A tired meme that even Al Gore won't buy into...

I guess some of them are so reactive they see the name Nader and go apeshit... Their loss...

In this talk, Ralph DEFINED what should be the Democratic Party platform...it's a guaranteed winning strategy.

public his tax returns, as all the other candidates have done for years? How do you justify his not making public his stock holdings?

http://www.hereinstead.com/DARK-SIDE-OF-RALPH.htm

"In the affidavit, Jacobs indicated that the reason he decided to leave Nader's employ was his growing concern about the way Nader handled his personal and professional finances. Jacobs outlined in some detail what he characterized as questionable practices regarding taxes, bookkeeping, investments and stock transactions. He wrote, "Although Mr. Nader was earning approximately $500,000 per year in personal income, he paid little or no taxes since he deducted various expenses of his operations as 'business expenses' or he made contributions to 'charitable organizations' controlled by him." Jacobs continued, "He also engaged in what I viewed to be questionable end of year tax juggling, often pre-dating or post-dating checks to get a deduction in a particular year. He would often pad travel expenses and double-bill for travel expenses when he had two engagements in a particular out-of-town city."

The former associate also charged that Nader's nonprofit enterprises were run with very little oversight by their boards: "No independent outside audits were made of any of the Nader organizations until various states required Public Citizen statements."

Jacobs also wrote in the affidavit that Nader was "inordinately harsh in his dealings with his employees and others. Although he had amassed a reserve of over $2 million in various foundations, organizations and in his personal brokerage account, he paid extremely low wages and often refused to pay employees and others for work done."

Jacobs never filed his affidavit with the FBI, but some of the allegations it contains were confirmed by two former associates of Nader's on the Congress Project, an ambitious Nader-sponsored undertaking to investigate every single member of Congress up for reelection in 1972. Attempts to verify information about other people mentioned in the affidavit were unsuccessful because they could not be found or were unwilling to comment about events that occurred 30 years ago.

SNIP

He owns substantial amounts of stock in some of the same corporations he rails against.

BTW, he held stock on Haliburton before election 2000, not many people knew that. Nader is an ass, he's a political opponent of Democrats, and I dont care to read his speeches here any more than I care to discuss the "good things" about George W. Bush.

it just might be useful to discuss the issues he raised rather than attacking the man.

but those who attack Nader would NEVER do that. they think one man is more important than the issues. and that's the way they think about party loyalty and the candidates they support too. positions don't matter. issues don't matter. only their candidate matters.

those attacking Nader without addressing the issues that he AND GOODMAN discussed are putting politics ahead of policies. How sad for them.

"In an interview with E, Nader says--as he often said during the campaign--that there really isn't much difference between the Democratic and Republican parties when it comes to environmental issues. Both, he claims, serve corporate interests in the end, though the Democrats are better at using green language. There's certainly no question that Nader has been a reliable friend of the Earth over the years. Here's the man in his own words:

E: You said during your campaign that it didn't really matter if Al Gore or George W. Bush won the election.

Nader: That's right. In the sense that in all these areas that Gore and Clinton ignored, they're just the same as Bush. And in the areas where Bush is going to go on the offensive, he's going to lose. If they continue to pursue a scorched-earth policy, they'll be defeated in the next election, and the environmental rules will come out stronger as a result. There's no way they're going to drill in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). There's just too much undrilled land up there already--too many lands that they already have permits to that they've screwed up, that they haven't drilled. They've virtually stopped both oil and gas exploration because of that.

...

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1594/is_3_12/ai_74628712

Many environmental groups knew Mr. Nader was full of crap when he equated Gore to Bush http://www.commondreams.org/headlines/102700-03.htm

From Carl Pope Executive Director - The Sierra Club
writes To Ralph Nader on Friday, October 27, 2000

"Neither the letter nor the tactics you are increasingly adopting in your candidacy are worthy of the Ralph Nader I knew.

The heart of your letter is the argument that "the threat to our planet articulated by Bush and his ilk" can now be dismissed. But you offer no evidence for this crucial assertion. Based on the polls today Bush is an even bet to become the next President, with both a Republican Senate and a Republican House to accompany him.

You have referred to the likely results of a Bush election as being a "cold shower" for the Democratic party. You have made clear that you will consider it a victory if the net result of your campaign is a Bush presidency.

But what will your "cold shower" mean for real people and real places?"

Here's one example of what that cold shower "meant."



And another:



And another:



Can someone explain why this self centered windbag has one OUNCE or credibility left? And while your at it, explain why I have to continually hear about the so called "values" of a Democratic political opponent who helped Bush win in 2000 on DEMOCRATIC Underground?

or are you too much of a coward to run the risk of your prejudices being challenged and your mind changed?

Your loss...

Unless both of these deluded narcissists are willing to apologize to the world for their hand in the deaths of thousands, I'm frankly not interested. Did he apologize? Or did I miss "nothing?"

Did Kerry?

Who knows what Edwards did - another day, another focus group persona.

Or don't they count 'cause they're on "our" side?

Exactly how deep are you going to dig your hole?

make a profit? The war vote that came after BUSH's FAILURE to prevent 911? The one where Powel went before the world claiming that Saddam had Nukes and stuff? That vote?

Yes, Kerry did apologize in spite of his speech on the day of the vote urging caution. In spite fo the the promises made by * that he would only use the authority as a last resort.

http://www.mydd.com/story/2005/10/26/135253/28

As for Clinton she said she regrets how Bush handled the authority and she would not have used a vote in the same manner.

Now, what about Nader ANY responsibility at all on his part for anything? BTW, last time I checked this thread was about HIM?

In desert.

Under water.

How do I know you'll buy it?

Oh, it's called "The Democratic Bridge To Empty Promises And After The Fact Toe Dancing."




"Wait, let me get my checkbook..."

In the arctic.

Under ice.

How do I know you'll buy it?

Oh, it's called "The Nader Swamp To Empty Hypocrisy And After The Fact Ego Stroking."


"Wait, let me call my Grammy and borrow some Money ..."

I didn't know that bush and Nader were co-commander-in-chief...

Or maybe they were co-Deciders???


:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

Still I say fuck Nader.

Which is, after all, only right.

in your unreasoning hate of Nader. Your ridiculous avatar shows that.

You'd do wonders for your blood pressure if you'd drop it and realize that Nader's more of a potential ally than an enemy...always has been, always will be.

All he wants is for Dems (and republicans) to stop selling our government to the highest bidder.

What the hell's wrong with that????

It matters what he does.

Hundreds of young activists, inspired by Nader's work, came to DC to help him with other projects. They came to be known as "Nader's Raiders" and, led by Nader, they investigated corruption throughout government, publishing dozens of books with their results:

* Nader's Raiders (Federal Trade Commission)
* Vanishing Air (National Air Pollution Control Administration)
* The Chemical Feast (Food and Drug Administration)
* The Interstate Commerce Omission (Interstate Commerce Commission)
* Old Age (nursing homes)
* The Water Lords (water pollution)
* Who Runs Congress? (Congress)
* Whistle Blowing (punishment of whistle blowers)
* The Big Boys (corporate executives)
* Collision Course (Federal Aviation Administration)
* No Contest (corporate lawyers)
* Destroy the Forest (Destruction of ecosystems worldwide)
* Operation:Nuclear (Making of a Nuclear Missile)

In 1971, Nader founded the NGO Public Citizen as an umbrella organization for these projects. Today, Public Citizen has over 140,000 members and numerous researchers investigating Congress, health, environmental, economic, and other issues. Their work is credited with helping to pass the Safe Drinking Water Act and Freedom of Information Act and prompting the creation of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

Non-profit organizations

In 1980, Nader resigned as director of Public Citizen to work on other projects, especially campaigning against what he believed to be the dangers of large multinational corporations. He went on to start a variety of non-profit organizations:

* Capitol Hill News Service
* Citizen Advocacy Center
* Citizens Utility Boards
* Congress Accountability Project
* Consumer Task Force For Automotive Issues
* Corporate Accountability Research Project
* Disability Rights Center
* Equal Justice Foundation
* Foundation for Taxpayers and Consumer Rights
* Georgia Legal Watch
* National Citizens' Coalition for Nursing Home Reform
* National Coalition for Universities in the Public Interest
* Pension Rights Center
* PROD (truck safety)
* Retired Professionals Action Group
* The Shafeek Nader Trust for the Community Interest
* 1969: Center for the Study of Responsive Law
* 1970s: Public Interest Research Groups
* 1970: Center for Auto Safety
* 1970: Connecticut Citizen Action Group
* 1971: Aviation Consumer Action Project
* 1972: Clean Water Action Project
* 1972: Center for Women's Policy Studies
* 1980: Multinational Monitor (magazine covering multinational corporations)
* 1982: Trial Lawyers for Public Justice
* 1982: Essential Information (encourage citizen activism and do investigative journalism)
* 1983: Telecommunications Research and Action Center
* 1983: National Coalition for Universities in the Public Interest
* 1989: Princeton Project 55 (alumni public service)
* 1991: GLAAD sponsorship committee
* 1993: Appleseed Foundation (local change)
* 1994: Resource Consumption Alliance (conserve trees)
* 1995: Center for Insurance Research
* 1995: Consumer Project on Technology
* 1997?: Government Purchasing Project (encourage the government to purchase safe and healthy products)
* 1998: Center for Justice and Democracy
* 1998: Organization for Competitive Markets
* 1998: American Antitrust Institute (ensure fair competition)
* 1999?: Arizona Center for Law in the Public Interest
* 1999?: Commercial Alert (protect family, community, and democracy from corporations)
* 2000: Congressional Accountability Project (fight corruption in Congress)
* 2001?: League of Fans (sports industry watchdog)
* 2001: Citizen Works (promote NGO cooperation, build grassroots support, and start new groups)
* 2001: Democracy Rising (hold rallies to educate and empower citizens)

I was glued to the radio! So much sanity at one sitting is rare...

I've downloaded the show to listen to when things get me down...A guaranteed pick-me-up...

Someday maybe the People will be smart enough to act on this...to finally bring a real democracy to this country...

...and seemingly so undaunted by terribly adverse circumstances -- he just keeps pushing. I think there's a lesson there if we can learn it.