A Response to A Nader-Hater…
(This is a post made to a Green Party mailing list in response to someone claiming that Nader would destroy third parties in the US for generations to come…)
This issue has been beaten to death by now, but I figure I’m going to add my $0.02 here as well…
Andy, the fact is that I would never have become engaged in the Green Party if it wasn’t for Ralph Nader. And I know I am not the only one. To suggest that “we can expect third parties to die off” as a result of Nader running is to ignore all facts that suggest otherwise — such as the fact that the Green Party has only grown because of the 2000 election.
I am not here to play games. I am not here to support the democrats. I am not here to continue business as usual. I am here to change the system. I am here to challenge the thugs and bastards who dare to call themselves American senators, congressmen, president, etc. They are a disgrace not only to our nation but to our world, and I am not here to say “yea, just play a bit nicer and we’ll let you stay in power”.
This issue has been beaten to death by now, but I figure I’m going to add my $0.02 here as well…
Andy, the fact is that I would never have become engaged in the Green Party if it wasn’t for Ralph Nader. And I know I am not the only one. To suggest that “we can expect third parties to die off” as a result of Nader running is to ignore all facts that suggest otherwise — such as the fact that the Green Party has only grown because of the 2000 election.
For me, the idea of Kerry winning is a worse nightmare than that of Bush — as if that happens, the left may well go back to where it was under Clinton, smiling and nodding while the thug does exactly the same shit Bush does (and Bush does it openly, thus provoking far more outrage). Enough is enough.
I am not here to play games. I am not here to support the democrats. I am not here to continue business as usual. I am here to change the system. I am here to challenge the thugs and bastards who dare to call themselves American senators, congressmen, president, etc. They are a disgrace not only to our nation but to our world, and I am not here to say “yea, just play a bit nicer and we’ll let you stay in power”.
“A bit nicer” won’t cut it for my friends in Palestine who are being shot and slaughtered day in and day out. They won’t cut it for my friends in Kansas who are losing their farms and jobs thanks to Clinton’s NAFTA and corporate agriculture subsidies. And they certainly won’t cut it for those now serving in Iraq, and for my brother who will be drafted when we attack Iran or whoever the next target will be.
Enough is enough. You don’t challenge the system by smiling and nodding like that slimey Cobb is doing (while simultaneously de-toothing both the Green Party and the Nader Campaign). You challenge it by going out and running a full out campaign like Nader did in 2000.
I dare to say what very few others will openly say: you challenge it by forcing the candidate from the opposing party to lose when he fails to oppose as both Gore and Kerry have failed to do. They do
not deserve to win the election.
Enough trying to crack walls by banging our heads against it. You crack it by using a sledgehammer. No more pulling of punches. Not if we want real change.
I am here because of Nader. Many others are as well. And you suggest that in light of all evidence otherwise, the Greens will shrink because of him? That is almost funny, if not outright laughable.
-Vladislav
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