Thursday, July 08, 2004
Why I support Ralph Nader
June 13, 2004
As a New York State delegate to the Green Party National Convention, I will tell you why I support Ralph Nader to be the Green candidate.
Ralph Nader is an important figure in modern American history, a crusader who has fought for the rights of average citizens for over forty years against the fraud and abuse that saturates corporate culture and threatens the health and safety of the population. Nader's Presidential campaign is a continuation of his struggle and highlights the corporate domination of our money driven duopolisitic electoral system.
Though not a Green Party member, Ralph Nader is a person of greater public stature than anyone the Green Party can currently present. Nader has also been waging his battle, and scoring many important victories, for longer than the Green Party has been around. Since 1996 the Green Party and Ralph Nader have found common cause in the Presidential elections and have forged ahead together. It is not time to abandon that alliance. Ralph Nader needs our continued help.
The 2004 Presidential race is a three way race between George Bush, John Kerry, and Ralph Nader, at least as far as the general public and media see it. A separate Green Party candidate will not register in the public perception and will only serve to draw needed energy off the opposition candidate who represents the Green agenda, Ralph Nader.
The Duopoly candidates both support the war in Iraq and continued Israeli aggression, they also both support the petro-economic model advanced by the military-industrial complex. Nader opposes these in meaningful ways that continues to attract new voters, voters that may ultimately identify with the Green Party. It is crucial that the Green Party be a part of this fight, and not split the effort in a sectarian battle over party memberships and rules.
I have always seen Ralph Nader as a pre-Green, he is from an earlier generation who's political identities formed prior to a Green consciousness being present. Green is a 21st century identity, Nader started battling in the 1950's. It does not matter whether he is a Green Party member, he is an iconic figure that the Greens need to emulate, and of course support. Ralph Nader is in his seventies, the Green Party is vigorous with youth and speaks to the young generation with the offer of a new identity. Part of that identity is to look to the heroes of the past. But were Martin Luther King jr. or Thomas Jefferson Greens, no, but we appreciate their efforts nonetheless.
We Greens need to appreciate Ralph Nader's efforts, and support him in the fight he is in. The Green Party cannot offer up any candidate who will be more in the fight than Nader, and Nader needs our help in this round because he is fighting with very limited resources. Perhaps Nader will accept Peter Camejo as a running mate, and recement the Nader/Green alliance.
As far as Kerry v. Bush goes, I personally feel that Bush's dismissal is pretty certain as his mismanagement of the operation is quite obvious for all to see. His stumbling ineptitude is bleeding the White House, and like the coach of any team or any CEO, when the team goes south the owners bring in a new manager. In steps John Kerry who's positions, particularly in foreign policy, are nearly carbon copies of Bush's. Kerry supported most of the major legislation and all of the foreign policy decisions of the Bush administration. A Kerry victory will be a very hollow victory for the left because all of the wars and economic models will keep on going. And if Bush does win in November, he will be looking at a growing pile of potential criminal indictments that could very possibly lead to an impeachment in the second term. George Bush failed at every business he ran, he is failing as President, he will likely lose in November.
Ralph Nader though can bring in many new voters to the Green ranks, because they can see that he is the true opposition candidate, and the Green Party is the true opposition party. Ultimately I believe the history books will treat Ralph Nader very kindly, and will note his association with the Greens as crucial to the growth and success of the Greens.
Sincerely,
Ed Dodge
Brooktondale, New York
As a New York State delegate to the Green Party National Convention, I will tell you why I support Ralph Nader to be the Green candidate.
Ralph Nader is an important figure in modern American history, a crusader who has fought for the rights of average citizens for over forty years against the fraud and abuse that saturates corporate culture and threatens the health and safety of the population. Nader's Presidential campaign is a continuation of his struggle and highlights the corporate domination of our money driven duopolisitic electoral system.
Though not a Green Party member, Ralph Nader is a person of greater public stature than anyone the Green Party can currently present. Nader has also been waging his battle, and scoring many important victories, for longer than the Green Party has been around. Since 1996 the Green Party and Ralph Nader have found common cause in the Presidential elections and have forged ahead together. It is not time to abandon that alliance. Ralph Nader needs our continued help.
The 2004 Presidential race is a three way race between George Bush, John Kerry, and Ralph Nader, at least as far as the general public and media see it. A separate Green Party candidate will not register in the public perception and will only serve to draw needed energy off the opposition candidate who represents the Green agenda, Ralph Nader.
The Duopoly candidates both support the war in Iraq and continued Israeli aggression, they also both support the petro-economic model advanced by the military-industrial complex. Nader opposes these in meaningful ways that continues to attract new voters, voters that may ultimately identify with the Green Party. It is crucial that the Green Party be a part of this fight, and not split the effort in a sectarian battle over party memberships and rules.
I have always seen Ralph Nader as a pre-Green, he is from an earlier generation who's political identities formed prior to a Green consciousness being present. Green is a 21st century identity, Nader started battling in the 1950's. It does not matter whether he is a Green Party member, he is an iconic figure that the Greens need to emulate, and of course support. Ralph Nader is in his seventies, the Green Party is vigorous with youth and speaks to the young generation with the offer of a new identity. Part of that identity is to look to the heroes of the past. But were Martin Luther King jr. or Thomas Jefferson Greens, no, but we appreciate their efforts nonetheless.
We Greens need to appreciate Ralph Nader's efforts, and support him in the fight he is in. The Green Party cannot offer up any candidate who will be more in the fight than Nader, and Nader needs our help in this round because he is fighting with very limited resources. Perhaps Nader will accept Peter Camejo as a running mate, and recement the Nader/Green alliance.
As far as Kerry v. Bush goes, I personally feel that Bush's dismissal is pretty certain as his mismanagement of the operation is quite obvious for all to see. His stumbling ineptitude is bleeding the White House, and like the coach of any team or any CEO, when the team goes south the owners bring in a new manager. In steps John Kerry who's positions, particularly in foreign policy, are nearly carbon copies of Bush's. Kerry supported most of the major legislation and all of the foreign policy decisions of the Bush administration. A Kerry victory will be a very hollow victory for the left because all of the wars and economic models will keep on going. And if Bush does win in November, he will be looking at a growing pile of potential criminal indictments that could very possibly lead to an impeachment in the second term. George Bush failed at every business he ran, he is failing as President, he will likely lose in November.
Ralph Nader though can bring in many new voters to the Green ranks, because they can see that he is the true opposition candidate, and the Green Party is the true opposition party. Ultimately I believe the history books will treat Ralph Nader very kindly, and will note his association with the Greens as crucial to the growth and success of the Greens.
Sincerely,
Ed Dodge
Brooktondale, New York
