"It's more than a little ballsy for a seventy-three-year-old childless attorney to want to publish a book about parenting," writes journalist Madeline Holler. But that's just what Ralph Nader has done with The Seventeen Traditions, his new book about how to raise responsible citizens. And as we all know, when it comes to elections, first comes the noble book about America's children, then comes an announcement of candidacy. So, is Nader going to run? We sent Holler to interview Nader for Babble, and here's what he said.Babble: Give me an exclusive, are you running in 2008?
Nader: No . . .
No, you're not running or no, you're not saying?
It's too early to tell . . .
Are you up for it?
It's not up to me entirely. If I can't get on the ballot . . .
Let's say you run. What can government do to help American families?
Affordable housing. This idea that we can produce endless numbers of iPods and computers and hamburgers but somehow there's always a shortage of houses is an example of inverted priorities. There needs to be more participatory recreational facilities in the cities - instead of just turning kids into spectators, without being scheduled in leagues. There's a lot of tax dollars being put into stadiums for billionaire sports owners but the little basketball courts and recreation facilities for kids are not well maintained and there aren't enough.
You sound like a city councilman.
Well, there's universal healthcare. That would reduce a lot of anxiety. Living wage. People should be able to live on one job instead of being away from home for a job and a half.
Universal childcare?
Sure. That [affordable, quality daycare centers] should be part of the neighborhood, part of our lives, just like the fire station.
Read the whole interview here. (He also explains what's wrong with kids today and what the women's movement screwed up.) And let us know in feedback: what do you think about the prospect of Nader entering the race�
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 1)
1. Socialist
Matthew at 6:44AM on Sep 7th 2007
2. Ralph Nader has fought all his adult life for fairness, democracy, and the average citizen. I, for one, would back him whole-heartedly! I think the new slogan should be: SAY NO to deciet, lies and corruption! Just Vote Nader!!!
Alyana at 8:27AM on Sep 7th 2007
3. Whether or not Ralph Nader runs for President is irrelevant because the two major parties are no longer allowing minor party candidates and independents to get on the ballot. Nader was the reason why Democrats in Oregon changed the election laws of the state so that an independent candidate cannot run against a Democrat for President because Democrats regard independent voters as their property.
This is something the parties are doing nationwide at the present time. In Arizona the legislature passed a bill requiring a new voter registration form. The reason for the bill, to remove a check box which said No Party Preference leaving only a space marked Specify Party Preference. The effect of this change can be seen statistics for registration of new independent voters.
2000-2002 107,715
2002-2004 165,771
2004-2006 26,382
The fact that these changes violate state laws requiring free and open elections and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 at federal level does not bother party politicians at all. Laws are interpreted by judges who are appointed by political parties. They are going to rule against independent voters every time.
This puts independent voters in the United States in about the same position that Jews were in when the Nazi Party took over Germany. The parties have marked independent voters for extinction and believe that they have the means to accomplish it. It would almost appear that they do. I took the preceeding information to the news media in Arizona, and they refused to publish it. The same thing happened in 1988 when I took information about the dismissal of independent deputy registrars in the state to a reporter of a major newspaper. He was very interested, took notes, and said I would hear from him, but when I arrived back hiome he called to say that his editor would not allow him to write the story. So the news media is a propaganda ministry for the two-party system of corruption. What else is new?
There is a way around all of this. In 1943 in Hamburg, Germany, a sixteen year old boy invited one of his friends over to listen on his radio to a broadcast from BBC. This was against the law in Germany at the time, but the boys had decided to do it anyway. Noticing the difference between what BBC was reporting about the war and what the German press was reporting, the boy with the radio, who also had access to a printing press, decided to print a newsletter giving the BBC account of the news. He enlisted the help of his friend and another boy in distributing the newsletter in his working class neighborhood. The put it in mailboxes, on bulliten boards, and on doorsteps. Needless to say, the Gestapo was not happy about the newsletter. It took them some time to find out who had distributed the offending paper because they were expending all of their manpower looking for a Communist cell and were surprised to learn that the culprits were three sixteen year old boys.
The boys were arrested on charges of treason, and the boy with the radio was convicted of those charges, sentenced to death, and executed by guillotine. The other two boys were convicted of lesser charges and sentenced to ten years and three years in prison, which they served in various prison camps until they were freed by Allied troops, which is how we know of this incident today.
My question is, considering the fact that we have freedom of the press here in the United States, why are there no real newspapers here with real news like the one these three boys printed in Hamburg, Germany, in 1943?
Could it be that Americans are afraid of offending these two corrupt political parties?
Robert B. Winn
Robert B. Winn at 7:57PM on Sep 11th 2007
4. GO, RALPH! Numerous are the contributions this man has made to better our society. Sure, it's a long shot to win, but it's fabulous that someone of such integrity has even run. Whatever you think of his politics or political maneuvering, the documentary "Ralph Nader: An Unreasonable Man" is a good way to spend a couple of hours.
Eddie at 7:38AM on Oct 10th 2007
5. Nader is a bought and paid for stepford candidate for the neocons. It is so...obvious that he is backed by conservatives, supported by conservatives to agitate and pick off ultralib votes that would otherwise go to the Dems. It amazes me that more people don't see this. Don't you find it odd that he especially attacks Dems...who are much more in line with him than Reps. He happily acts as a "vote your conscience" spoiler for the DEMS. Cons will stop at nothing. They've created networks for the dissemination of their propaganda, they've got the fix in with Diebold and now they're trying to change the way California gives out it's electoral votes. Nader is just another tool in their belt. One day, it will come to light, this mans secret involvement with the cons.
budbud at 1:08PM on Sep 24th 2007