It seems every four years Ralph Nader surfaces as a presidential candidate to remind progressives, and even some libertarians, why our system of government is rigged, why we’re getting screwed, and why we should vote for him. There’s nothing wrong with Nader running as a presidential candidate. I’m not one of those who gets all frothy at the mouth and screams “Spoiler! You’re responsible for George W. Bush in 2000! You’re an ego-head who just loves the limelight and doing what you can to destroy the Democratic party!” I don’t resent Ralph for wanting to become President on a far left agenda. In fact, I’m in agreement with him on many issues. And when he talks about democratizing the election process by giving people more choices in terms of candidates, I can only say “You go, Ralph!”
I think people need to hear from individuals who come from political parties that haven’t been part of the duopoly (to use Ralph’s term for the way in which the Republicans and Democrats have basically closed the system so their candidates are the only viable ones running for office). I also think it’s important to end “safe seats” for members of Congress, and to end the dominance of corporate power by changing the way in which campaigns are financed. However, all this presumes that we, as a people, actually find these issues compelling and act to change the way in which business in conducted in Washington D.C. and in state capitals around the country.
It takes more than just a presidential run as a third party candidate to alter The System. It takes a movement that agitates, pressures, and compels The System to do thing differently. It’s not an easy thing. Just look how long it took for the U.S. government to finally pass civil rights legislation, or how long it’s taken right-wing activists to chip away at reproductive rights for women in this country. For the most part, the notion of “change” that’s been part of almost every presidential campaign is an incremental thing. When is it not incremental? Well, that’s easy to answer: war, or some kind of national crisis where people turn to the government to “do something.” (more…)
