When I think of Ralph Nader running for president again as an independent candidate and how that could affect the general election, I think he must be a closet Republican, or have a few advisers that fit the bill. He was the spoiler before and he might be again.
He says that Republican and Democratic candidates are too beholden to big business. Perhaps. He says we are not doing enough to protect the environment, also true. He thinks he knows better, maybe; but Cuba just had a guy named Fidel step down from his presidency (sort-of) who knew better also, or so he insisted since 1959.
In the 1960's and 1970's Nader was an important figure who successfully championed many causes including the environment, consumer protection, civil rights, disclosure laws and fought for those that could not fight for themselves. He was a man of the times. These are his times no more. His provocation of the electorate may stem more from being 'green with envy', as much as being a green party advocate.
When Nader began his quest to do good decades ago, he truly was unique, and he was needed. Today, he has been supplanted by dozens of advocacy groups working tirelessly to improve the human condition, challenging government and big business to clean up their acts, nationally and internationally.
As a young adult I was a supporter of Nader, I appreciated him and most of the good work that he has done. He can still do a lot of good work. However, when I hear him today, I hear a man frustrated by the system who cannot get anyone to listen to him unless he upsets the apple cart. Apparently, he feels the need to do that, and it is most likely the Democrats that will be stumbling over the apples.
The real reason that Nader cannot support either of the major political parties has more to do with who he is than the issues themselves. Neither party has really frozen him out and if he thinks that the people would support him he could work from within the system, but alas, theres the rub. It is not in his nature or his history to work within the system. He feels most comfortable working from outside the system, playing the underdog and throwing down the gauntlet. He has done so again.
Sheldon Liber is the CEO of a small private investment company and the principal for design and research at an architecture & planning firm. He writes the columns Chasing Value and Serious Money.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
2-25-2008 @ 5:20PM
Mel said...
Did somebody say "egomaniac?"
2-26-2008 @ 8:53PM
don said...
Ralph Nader was a hero of mine in the past, but to do this campaign again has just added to the furor I felt after the last election when he could have pulled out before the main event and saved the country FOUR MORE YEARS OF DESTRUCTION BY BUSH AND HIS PALS AFTER THE FIRST FOUR YEARS NADER IS ABSOLUTELY LIABLE FOR WHATEVER HE TELLS HIMSELF. If he had gotten out in time his votes would have gone to someone else and our country wouldn't be in the hell hole it is now. Please get out now. I do believe the criics in the streets that say he allegedly runs not for pride, not because he's an egomaniac, not for belief, not to repair his image and distort the truth about the results of the last two elections, and not for advertsing dollars. I believe that he is aledgely running because someone has a gun to his head or he's getting setup for the rest of his life with payola that would shock the average person out of their gorde, alledgedly. What else could it possibly be???????? A citizen sick and tired of corruption and wrong logic in our system. Both have put us in this hell hole aiding by gasoline profiteers and the oil companies who will take no blame when they have destoyed America(we are well on the way!)