[Marxism] Why Ralph Nader Should Run for President in 2008 - Statement from Twin Cities Socialist Alternative branches

[Dan DiMaggio <dannydamage@xxxxxxxxx>]

Hi,

This is a statement from the Twin Cities branches of Socialist
Alternative calling on people to sign the petition at
www.draftnader.org urging him to run and making the case for why he
should run - as well as welcoming McKinney's declaration and urging a
united ticket, though recognizing McKinney has much less name
recognition and therefore Nader would be the stronger candidate in my
opinion.

-Dan

Why Ralph Nader Should Run for President in 2008
*** Sign the www.DraftNader.org online petition! ***

Statement from the Twin Cities Branches of Socialist Alternative
www.socialistminnesota.org

Within the next few months, the Democratic and Republican nominees for
president will be decided. Regardless of who wins, the two major
presidential candidates will both support continuing the wars in Iraq
and Afghanistan indefinitely, the expansion of the military by 90,000
more troops, the disastrous for-profit healthcare system, and a host of
other policies that benefit Corporate America at the expense of the
majority of the population.

A year ago the Democrats were voted into power in Congress on a wave of
mass anger in U.S. society at the war in Iraq, economic polarization,
and the policies of the Bush administration. However, the Democrats
have quickly betrayed their electoral base on every major issue.  The
Democratic Congress has handed over hundreds of billions more dollars
for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and now has an approval rating of
20 percent ? lower than Bush!

None of the major Democratic presidential candidates ? Clinton, Obama,
and Edwards ? promise to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq by the end of
their first term ? in 2013. In an election awash in corporate cash ?
2008 will be the first $1 billion election in U.S. history ? the top
Democrats have received millions of dollars more in big business
donations than their Republican counterparts.  While 48 million
Americans lack healthcare, Hillary Clinton, the Democratic frontrunner,
is the leading recipient of money from the for-profit insurance and
pharmaceutical companies. In July, Fortune magazine, one of the leading
mouthpieces of the rich elite, even ran a cover story titled, ?Business
Loves Hillary!?

Neither party?s candidate will give voice to the millions of Americans
fed up with the war in Iraq, the lack of affordable housing, health
care and good-paying jobs, the mass poverty, under-funded education
system, the racist criminal injustice system, and environmental
devastation at the hands of corporate polluters.  A USA Today/Gallup
poll from July 20 showed that 58% think that a third party is needed
and that both the Democrats and the Republicans do an inadequate job
representing the American people. A record number of voters (25%) are
registered as independents. These facts show that millions of Americans
are disillusioned by the two major parties, and that many would be
responsive to an anti-war, anti-corporate voice in the 2008 elections,
independent of the big business-dominated two party system.

Socialist Alternative in the Twin Cities calls on Ralph Nader to run
for president again in 2008 to provide a voice to the millions outraged
at the brutal war in Iraq and corporate domination of our society. For
tens of millions of Americans, Nader?s name remains synonymous with an
independent, left-wing challenge to the Democrats and Republicans. He
is a reference point who immediately brings to mind the key question
facing workers and youth in the U.S. ? is it justified, strategic and
possible to break from the two-party system and run independent
candidates against big business and their two parties? Or should we
continue to support the politics of ?lesser-evilism,? which means
limiting ourselves to what is acceptable to Corporate America?

In 2000 and 2004, Nader?s campaigns for president reached millions with
radical demands, including:
?    A universal single-payer healthcare system
?    Full withdrawal of U.S. troops and personnel from Iraq
?    A $10/hour minimum wage
?    An expansion of workers? rights and repealing the Taft-Hartley Act
?    Public works programs to create millions of jobs and end
unemployment
?    A progressive tax system that makes big business and the rich pay
?    Rigorous environmental protection and a sustainable energy policy
?    Repealing the Patriot Act
?    Same-sex marriage rights
?    Abolition of the death penalty
?    An end to the failed war on drugs

Nader is not a socialist, instead wrongly believing that the major
social problems we face can be solved through greater regulations on
business. Nevertheless, his presidential campaigns in 2000 and 2004
were extremely important developments because they popularized the idea
of building a left-wing alternative to the two-party corporate
stranglehold over U.S. politics. We campaigned for a Nader vote, but on
an independent, socialist basis (see links below for our previous
material on Nader).

Socialist Alternative believes the antiwar movement, the labor
movement, and other social struggles can effectively challenge the two
corporate parties if they unite and use their powerful resources to
build a new mass party of working people that fights for our interests
in the streets, the workplaces, and the electoral arena. We have
criticized Nader for not using the authority he built up to clearly
call for the formation of such a new political party. In 2004 we also
made clear our opposition to Nader taking the ballot line of the
right-wing, anti-immigrant Reform Party in several states.  If Nader
does run, it should be on a clear, principled, and left-wing basis.

However, if Nader does not run, it will likely be a setback to
challenging the Democrats and Republicans and preparing the basis for a
mass left-wing, working class political alternative in this country. 
Owing to his prominence in 2000 and 2004 and his many years of consumer
activism, Nader has become a household name and a symbol of resistance
to the corporate domination of politics. More than any other
foreseeable left independent candidate in 2008, a Nader campaign has
the potential to reach the largest number of workers and youth and get
the largest vote.

This is important, because the larger the campaign and vote for a left
independent in 2008, the greater the confidence ordinary working people
will have in our ability to build a powerful, lasting political
challenge to corporate rule. It is precisely the fear of this
development that explains the uniquely vitriolic, well-funded attack
campaigns directed at Nader by apologists for the Democratic Party.

In reality, it is a mistake that Nader has not declared he is running
already.  This would have allowed activists to be out campaigning
against the Democrats and Republicans and channeling support into an
independent left-wing alternative, rather than allowing a lot of
anti-war, anti-establishment sentiment to get sucked into the campaign
of right-wing libertarian Ron Paul or left-wing Democrats like Dennis
Kucinich. Despite Kucinich putting forward a platform essentially
similar to Nader?s, he ultimately acts as a vehicle to channel
progressives back into the corporate-dominated Democratic Party.

We also welcome the declaration by former Democratic Congresswoman
Cynthia McKinney that she has broken from the Democrats and is seeking
the Green Party?s nomination for president.  McKinney has been
outspoken against the occupation of Iraq, calling for ?troops home
now,? and is a leading critic of Bush and Congress?s attacks on civil
liberties. With her base in the working class African American
neighborhoods of Atlanta, McKinney has fought against racist and
anti-worker policies and championed the fight to rebuild New Orleans in
working peoples? interests. Her program of far-reaching reforms within
capitalism is fundamentally similar to Naders.?

While McKinney is much less well-known, if Nader fails to run in 2008
the McKinney campaign will likely be the strongest independent antiwar,
anti-corporate electoral challenge for the White House. We feel that a
united Nader-McKinney ticket in 2008 would be the strongest challenge
to the two-party system and be a pole of attraction for millions fed up
with the two parties of war and big business.

Nader has said that he will decide soon whether or not to run for
president, depending on the number of activists he feels will get
involved in actively building his campaign.  We urge everyone who
agrees that Nader should run to show your support by signing the Draft
Nader petition at www.draftnader.org.

?
Previous Socialist Alternative Material on Nader:
2004 Statement: Support Nader?s Campaign for President: It?s Time to
Break From the Two-Party System
http://www.socialistalternative.org/news/article10.php?id=279

Review of An Unreasonable Man: New Documentary About Ralph Nader
http://www.socialistalternative.org/news/article21.php?id=517

Assessing the Nader Challenge in 2004 ? Was It Worth Voting for Kerry
After All?
http://www.socialistalternative.org/news/printerfriendly/148.html

Learning from Nader?s Mistakes ? We Need a Workers? Party
http://www.socialistalternative.org/news/article10.php?id=147

The Nader Factor in the 2000 Elections:
http://socialistalternative.org/oldjustice/justice22/3.html

Growing Cracks in the Two-Party System
http://www.socialistalternative.org/news/article10.php?id=151



      
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