Most people see Kerry as the alternative to Bush in the elections, Many of these people are misled in this choice and don't realize that they probably share more views with other candidates.
So I decided to post Nader's views on different issues:
Ralph Nader (Independent)
Nader was born February 27, 1934, in Winsted, Connecticut. Nader graduated magna cum laude from Princeton in 1955 and from Harvard Law School in 1958. As a student at Harvard, Nader first researched the design of automobiles. Consumer advocate and attorney; consultant to U.S. Department of Labor, 1963; founder, Public Citizen research group; author of several books, including Unsafe at Any Speed, 1965.
Taxes & Spending: The Green Party platform calls for the following:
"Jobs for All: A guaranteed right to job. Full employment through community-based public works and community service jobs programs, federally financed and community controlled."
"Living Wages: A family-supporting minimum wage. Start at $12.50 per hour in 2000 and index to the cost of living."
"30-Hour Work Week: A 6-hour day with no cut in pay for the bottom 80% of the pay scale."
Social Services Funding: While not addressing the issue directly, The Green philosophy seems to oppose the Bush Faith-based initiatives. "The Greens support the separation of religious practices from the activities of government, commonly known as the separation of Church and State."
Welfare: The Green Party platform: "Universal Social Security: Taxable Basic Income Grants for all, structured into the progressive income tax, that guarantee an adequate income sufficient to maintain a modest standard of living. Start at $500/week ($26,000/year) for a family of four, with $62.50/week ($3,250/year) adjustments for more or fewer household members in 2000 and index to the cost of living." "Free Child Care: Available voluntarily and free for all who need it, modeled after Head Start, federally financed, and community controlled."
"End Corporate Welfare: Target subsidies for worker- and community-owned enterprises, not absentee-owned corporations. Put subsidies in the public budgets where they can be scrutinized, not hidden as tax breaks in complicated tax codes."
Security & Terrorism: "No compromise on Civil Liberties and Due Process Rights for reasons of 'national security,' 'anti-terrorism,'..."
Foreign Affairs: "Green Party called on the United Nations to enforce its charter provisions against the U.S. and other member countries planning to launch a preemptive war." "American Greens are praising the influence of Greens in European parliaments and other Greens in public office around the world in the efforts by their governments to avert an invasion of Iraq led by the U.S...demand that the United Nations enforce its charter against preemptive war by member nations" "Due Process Rights for reasons of 'national security,' 'anti-terrorism'..." Nader said that he supports the creation of an independent Palestinian state.
Education: "No School Vouchers: No school vouchers from public budgets for private schools." "No For-Profit or Religious Charter Schools: Stop the diversion of public funds to for-profit corporations or religious organizations running charter schools with unaccountable administrations, uncertified teachers, and segregated student bodies."
Healthcare: From the party platform: "A single-payer National Health Program to provide free medical and dental care for all, with freedom of choice for consumers among both conventional and alternative health care providers, federally financed and controlled by democratically elected local boards.
Social Security: "Universal Social Security: Taxable Basic Income Grants for all, structured into the progressive income tax, that guarantee an adequate income sufficient to maintain a modest standard of living. Start at $500/week ($26,000/year) for a family of four, with $62.50/week ($3,250/year) adjustments for more or fewer household members in 2000 and index to the cost of living."
"The various Social Security privatization schemes, full and partial, would cost both the 'social' -- that is the public, cooperative, societal -- element of the program and 'security' -- the rock-solid income guarantee afforded by the system. It should be rejected." -- Statement of Ralph Nader At the "Saving Social Security From the Privatization Threat" Conference Rayburn House Office Building January 21, 1999
Illicit Drugs: "Decriminalize possession of drugs. Regulate and tax drug distribution. Release nonviolent drug war prisoners. Treat drug abuse as a health problem, not a criminal problem. Drug abuse treatment on demand."
Trade: Ralph Nader said, "Millions of manufacturing jobs in this country have been shipped overseas. This transfer was supposed to be part of the "win-win" process of free trade. But 27 straight years of growing trade deficits makes one wonder: who's winning?"
Ex-felons' Voting Rights: "Restore the voting rights of people who are in prison or on parole. The stripping of voting rights of convicted felons, many of them drug war victims, has eliminated the voting rights of 1 out of 6 African American males. Loss of voting rights is no deterrent to crime, but it is a deterrent to rehabilitation. "
Gun Policy: We believe in a citizen's right to self defense and to bear arms as constitutionally protected - we also believe it is inappropriate for criminals to have access to "killing machines", that is, assault rifles, automatic weapons, armor-piercing and "anti-personnel" ammunition. Therefore, we support the "Brady Bill" and thoughtful, carefully considered GUN CONTROL. --From the Green Party Platform 2000.
Abortion Policy: "Reproductive Freedom: People should be free from government interference in making their reproductive choices, including abortion, which should be covered by all publicly funded medical insurance programs.
Environmental Policy: The platform lists among other points, "Environmental Defense and Restoration: "Full funding for anti-pollution enforcement and toxic sites clean-up." "Preserve ecosystems and biodiversity by strengthening the Endangered Species Act and expanding areas designated as wildlife refuges and wilderness areas." "Ban old-growth logging, clear cutting, and strip mining." "End all commercial exploitation of public lands by private timber, mining, and cattle grazing interests." "Ban off-road vehicles on federal lands. Decommission National Forest logging roads."
While Nader may be aligned with the League of Conservation voters, they for pragmatic reasons are not aligned behind him. After the disputed 2000 Election Day said League president Deb Callahan said, "If Florida goes to Bush, it will clearly be Nader's fault... I think there will be a lot of anger and upset toward Nader, even from people who have fought side-by-side in key battles with him."
Minority Issues: "End Institutionalized Racism, Sexism, and Oppression of People with Disabilities: Strengthen civil rights, anti-discrimination, and affirmative action laws, programs, and enforcement." "African American Reparations: A national commission on reparations for African Americans."
Civil Liberties: No compromise on Civil Liberties and Due Process Rights for reasons of 'national security,' 'anti-terrorism,' or 'the war on drugs.'"
So I decided to post Nader's views on different issues:
Ralph Nader (Independent)
Nader was born February 27, 1934, in Winsted, Connecticut. Nader graduated magna cum laude from Princeton in 1955 and from Harvard Law School in 1958. As a student at Harvard, Nader first researched the design of automobiles. Consumer advocate and attorney; consultant to U.S. Department of Labor, 1963; founder, Public Citizen research group; author of several books, including Unsafe at Any Speed, 1965.
Taxes & Spending: The Green Party platform calls for the following:
"Jobs for All: A guaranteed right to job. Full employment through community-based public works and community service jobs programs, federally financed and community controlled."
"Living Wages: A family-supporting minimum wage. Start at $12.50 per hour in 2000 and index to the cost of living."
"30-Hour Work Week: A 6-hour day with no cut in pay for the bottom 80% of the pay scale."
Social Services Funding: While not addressing the issue directly, The Green philosophy seems to oppose the Bush Faith-based initiatives. "The Greens support the separation of religious practices from the activities of government, commonly known as the separation of Church and State."
Welfare: The Green Party platform: "Universal Social Security: Taxable Basic Income Grants for all, structured into the progressive income tax, that guarantee an adequate income sufficient to maintain a modest standard of living. Start at $500/week ($26,000/year) for a family of four, with $62.50/week ($3,250/year) adjustments for more or fewer household members in 2000 and index to the cost of living." "Free Child Care: Available voluntarily and free for all who need it, modeled after Head Start, federally financed, and community controlled."
"End Corporate Welfare: Target subsidies for worker- and community-owned enterprises, not absentee-owned corporations. Put subsidies in the public budgets where they can be scrutinized, not hidden as tax breaks in complicated tax codes."
Security & Terrorism: "No compromise on Civil Liberties and Due Process Rights for reasons of 'national security,' 'anti-terrorism,'..."
Foreign Affairs: "Green Party called on the United Nations to enforce its charter provisions against the U.S. and other member countries planning to launch a preemptive war." "American Greens are praising the influence of Greens in European parliaments and other Greens in public office around the world in the efforts by their governments to avert an invasion of Iraq led by the U.S...demand that the United Nations enforce its charter against preemptive war by member nations" "Due Process Rights for reasons of 'national security,' 'anti-terrorism'..." Nader said that he supports the creation of an independent Palestinian state.
Education: "No School Vouchers: No school vouchers from public budgets for private schools." "No For-Profit or Religious Charter Schools: Stop the diversion of public funds to for-profit corporations or religious organizations running charter schools with unaccountable administrations, uncertified teachers, and segregated student bodies."
Healthcare: From the party platform: "A single-payer National Health Program to provide free medical and dental care for all, with freedom of choice for consumers among both conventional and alternative health care providers, federally financed and controlled by democratically elected local boards.
Social Security: "Universal Social Security: Taxable Basic Income Grants for all, structured into the progressive income tax, that guarantee an adequate income sufficient to maintain a modest standard of living. Start at $500/week ($26,000/year) for a family of four, with $62.50/week ($3,250/year) adjustments for more or fewer household members in 2000 and index to the cost of living."
"The various Social Security privatization schemes, full and partial, would cost both the 'social' -- that is the public, cooperative, societal -- element of the program and 'security' -- the rock-solid income guarantee afforded by the system. It should be rejected." -- Statement of Ralph Nader At the "Saving Social Security From the Privatization Threat" Conference Rayburn House Office Building January 21, 1999
Illicit Drugs: "Decriminalize possession of drugs. Regulate and tax drug distribution. Release nonviolent drug war prisoners. Treat drug abuse as a health problem, not a criminal problem. Drug abuse treatment on demand."
Trade: Ralph Nader said, "Millions of manufacturing jobs in this country have been shipped overseas. This transfer was supposed to be part of the "win-win" process of free trade. But 27 straight years of growing trade deficits makes one wonder: who's winning?"
Ex-felons' Voting Rights: "Restore the voting rights of people who are in prison or on parole. The stripping of voting rights of convicted felons, many of them drug war victims, has eliminated the voting rights of 1 out of 6 African American males. Loss of voting rights is no deterrent to crime, but it is a deterrent to rehabilitation. "
Gun Policy: We believe in a citizen's right to self defense and to bear arms as constitutionally protected - we also believe it is inappropriate for criminals to have access to "killing machines", that is, assault rifles, automatic weapons, armor-piercing and "anti-personnel" ammunition. Therefore, we support the "Brady Bill" and thoughtful, carefully considered GUN CONTROL. --From the Green Party Platform 2000.
Abortion Policy: "Reproductive Freedom: People should be free from government interference in making their reproductive choices, including abortion, which should be covered by all publicly funded medical insurance programs.
Environmental Policy: The platform lists among other points, "Environmental Defense and Restoration: "Full funding for anti-pollution enforcement and toxic sites clean-up." "Preserve ecosystems and biodiversity by strengthening the Endangered Species Act and expanding areas designated as wildlife refuges and wilderness areas." "Ban old-growth logging, clear cutting, and strip mining." "End all commercial exploitation of public lands by private timber, mining, and cattle grazing interests." "Ban off-road vehicles on federal lands. Decommission National Forest logging roads."
While Nader may be aligned with the League of Conservation voters, they for pragmatic reasons are not aligned behind him. After the disputed 2000 Election Day said League president Deb Callahan said, "If Florida goes to Bush, it will clearly be Nader's fault... I think there will be a lot of anger and upset toward Nader, even from people who have fought side-by-side in key battles with him."
Minority Issues: "End Institutionalized Racism, Sexism, and Oppression of People with Disabilities: Strengthen civil rights, anti-discrimination, and affirmative action laws, programs, and enforcement." "African American Reparations: A national commission on reparations for African Americans."
Civil Liberties: No compromise on Civil Liberties and Due Process Rights for reasons of 'national security,' 'anti-terrorism,' or 'the war on drugs.'"
