The long-time progressive makes a pitch for the disenfranchised Right.


Ralph Nader recently accepted Pat Buchanan?s invitation to sit down with us and explain why his third-party presidential bid ought to appeal to conservatives disaffected with George W. Bush. We think readers will be interested in the reflections of a man who has been a major figure in American public life for 40 years?and who now finds himself that rarest of birds, a conviction politician.

Read the interview (http://www.amconmag.com/2004_06_21/cover.html) before you comment...

I dunno if that's gonna fly. Between the no tax on people making less than $100,000, raising the minimum wage to $10, and his usual "corporations run the world" rants, I don't see it happening. Although he seems sort of in tune with Buchanon, but Pat is a odd sort of conservative.

Where does most of the funding coming from in this presidential election?

Who's covering the bill of the democratic and republican national convention? You heard about the call to end overtime pay for certain mid level employees? Who is that going to benefit? The workers? Or the Corporation?

I think you don't give enough credence to just how much corporations control what you watch, what you hear, and what you read. That control is not for your interest, but for theirs and the shareholders.

Can you live on $5.35 an hour?

I have to agree with Nader on the influence corporations have on the world as a whole. When you think about it the thought is pretty scary. While a gross exageration the movie "Josie and the Pussycats" was a funny example of corporate control.

That said, as much as Nader talks up hurting George Bush in the coming election I do not see that happening at all. As much as it pains me to say it but the worst thing for Kerry right now is having Nader in the race. If Nader really wanted to get rid of Bush he would not run but rather endorse Kerry. I think a lot of the Deaniacs that were so anti-war are going to flow to Nader because besides Kucinich he is the only anti-war candidate out there.

Originally posted by Pepper
Where does most of the funding coming from in this presidential election?

Who's covering the bill of the democratic and republican national convention? You heard about the call to end overtime pay for certain mid level employees? Who is that going to benefit? The workers? Or the Corporation?

I think you don't give enough credence to just how much corporations control what you watch, what you hear, and what you read. That control is not for your interest, but for theirs and the shareholders.

Can you live on $5.35 an hour?

Uh, I believe the topic was whether Nader could attract conservatives?

Very interresting reading,Buddy he would certainly shake the cage here in this country. You know some of the stuff sounded not so awfull,maybe just not as far as he wants to go,what about $8.00 and hour min. wage and under $50.000 per year no tax. That would be a big huge block of voters that would fall into those two things alone !! I personally don't think he can pull it off thou.

Originally posted by LionelHutz
Uh, I believe the topic was whether Nader could attract conservatives?

Well that's the thing about forum boards, the topic starts with one subject, and can often deviate to other topics.

I was simply addressing some of the issues you had with the interview, specifically with corporate control in this country.

Originally posted by Pepper
I was simply addressing some of the issues you had with the interview, specifically with corporate control in this country.

I wasn't really trying to argue whether he was wrong or right as much as I was just pointing out that his views on those issues don't really correspond to those of your average conservative.

Maybe Nader could get more support if advocated a flat tax, of lets say 500 per year on those making less than 55000 and then 1000 for those between 55001 and 100000 then step it up in 500 dollar increments fro every 50000 in income.
Place the same type of system on corporations but of course start the tax base at a higher rate.
As for minimum wage, that is a can of worms that I wouldnt want to open.
I am for higher wages but I also like to buy stuff. Any raise in the wages is reflected in the merchandise we buy and all services.
So if you raise it, after a couple of years we would be right back where we started.
I am for a system that would regulate itself, but most corporations are not very worker friendly.
Nader would not make a good President, he is not balanced in his views and leans to much toward punishing corporataions which would cause, IMO, an economic crisis.