Begin 'Pursuit of Justice' in Your 20s, Ralph Nader Tells DePauw Students

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In the past I've describe Ralph Nader as a "political predator", and that I will be his Chris Hansen, stopping him from his predations. I've noted before that he preys on college students, and now here you see a hint of the fact that he knows that someone's wisdom and judgement is not what it will be in their 30s and beyond. This is why he has appeal to college students, because they are more impressionable and can be more easily manipulated into making an unwise decision, such as voting for Ralph Nader. Even scientists studying human brain development will tell you that the sense of risk is not fully developed until you reach your mid-twenties.

He can't win and therefore you're voting for someone who will never obtain the power to shape policy.

As far as shaking up the two party system, Ralph hasn't been very successful. The fact that he got significantly less support in 2004 than he did in 2000 suggests to me that voters do see the differences between the two parties despite the fact that Nader claims there is none.

IMO, one day there will be a large enough dissatisfaction with both parties and a candidate that is strong enough and politically astute enough to break the system. This is not that time and Ralph Nader is not that person.

The Democrats haven't had a chance to effectively govern since Lyndon Johnson's administration. Carter and Clinton had to deal with largely hostile congresses with coalitions of Republicans and conservative Democrats blocking a lot of real progress. But the recent election of senators in red states like Jon Tester, Claire McCaskill, and Jim Webb suggests that Democrats are building a new coalition. Some of these new legislators may not be the most liberal members of congress but they are far more progressive than a lot of the Democrats that used to maintain our majority like Bennett Johnston, David Boren, and Richard Shelby.

I don't think the two party system is ready to collapse yet because I still think that voters are willing to give Democrats a chance to govern in the post-Reagan era with this new coalition.