[Marxism] Re: More on Nader

[David Walters <dwalters@xxxxxxx>]

I only answered Jose to give some written citations about Nader's
relationship (as small as it is) with Fulani and the Newmanites. The
ex-IWP web site is bursting with this sort of thing.

I for one couldn't care less about Nader's relationship with her or
Sharpton, it's not relevant to what Nader represents. He usually enters
discussions with his eyes wide open, willing to listen to anyone. The
nor is Nader's seemingly soft approach on the Democrats even the issue,
albeit it's an important issue, it's not THE issue. Nader is also very
honest, doesn't have a 'line' he's trying impose and speaks from the
heart. I love hearing him bash the Democrats even when it appears he's
trying to pressure the 'better' Democrats to 'take back' their party,
etc. I'm sure if he could, he'd want to see a genuine working class
mass movement labor type party develop or something similar (he was, if
people don't know, also a LP member back when the LP was something of a
going concern). I don't believe, however, that Nader is capable of
building such a movement.

People have framed this discussion, occasionally, over what the Nader
campaign represents in terms of *The Left*. My own three-cents on this
is that I couldn't care about *The Left*. It's a relatively novel
concept for a political alliance framed in this way since *The Left* is
so undefined and if defined, usually of very small parameters.

Personally, I think we ought to put things in class terms, in terms of
the organizations of our class breaking with the Democrats (and
Republicans) and posing a working class alternative. I don't believe
Nader fits this bill. I haven't seen a shred of evidence that Nader is
actually interested in seeing a *movement* develop that would pose not
only a progressive (also rather amorphous) alternative to the Democrats
but also a working class one. It certainly didn't happen in 2000 and he
got tons of votes including endorsements by some union locals and many
community organizations...still...nada. I think this will be even more
true this time around.

David


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