Monday, February 23, 2004
Ralph Nader
Ralph Nader is entering the race as an indepdent. Though I doubt he will garner the 3-4% he managed in the last election, he could, as the referenced article suggests, serve as a "spoiler" because he is sure to pull more votes from the Democrats (who have a lefty wing) than the Republicans (who don't).
My only theory as to WHY he wants to run is as a way to pull the Democratic party more to the left. If Kerry (or Edwards, though probably Kerry) has to fight to keep certain Democrats from voting for Nader, he is more likely to advocate more "leftish" policies. That would pull Kerry (or Edwards) away from the center, though that would also lose Kerry (or Edwards) the election given that America isn't going to vote for anything further to the left than a moderate.
I guess Nader could be trying to make a point, that Republicans and Democrats don't "own" the American political system. However, I might make a point that I have the right cross the road at the crosswalk, but that doesn't mean I'm going to step into the road when a semi comes barreling down the road paying little heed to mundane things such as "crosswalks."
Nader is NOT going to win the election, making the retirement he seems to want all but guaranteed after the November elections. He isn't going to make much a dent in the two-party system, either. That's going to take a serious and concerted effort to reduce the amount of money required to get politicians elected, not independent candidates with a yen for tilting at windmills. I think the BEST way to change the system is by running as a Democrat or a Republican, getting yourself elected, and then changing the system from the inside. Trying to take on a squadron of tanks on your environmentally-friendly mountain bike is more than ludicrous.
Ralph Nader is entering the race as an indepdent. Though I doubt he will garner the 3-4% he managed in the last election, he could, as the referenced article suggests, serve as a "spoiler" because he is sure to pull more votes from the Democrats (who have a lefty wing) than the Republicans (who don't).
My only theory as to WHY he wants to run is as a way to pull the Democratic party more to the left. If Kerry (or Edwards, though probably Kerry) has to fight to keep certain Democrats from voting for Nader, he is more likely to advocate more "leftish" policies. That would pull Kerry (or Edwards) away from the center, though that would also lose Kerry (or Edwards) the election given that America isn't going to vote for anything further to the left than a moderate.
I guess Nader could be trying to make a point, that Republicans and Democrats don't "own" the American political system. However, I might make a point that I have the right cross the road at the crosswalk, but that doesn't mean I'm going to step into the road when a semi comes barreling down the road paying little heed to mundane things such as "crosswalks."
Nader is NOT going to win the election, making the retirement he seems to want all but guaranteed after the November elections. He isn't going to make much a dent in the two-party system, either. That's going to take a serious and concerted effort to reduce the amount of money required to get politicians elected, not independent candidates with a yen for tilting at windmills. I think the BEST way to change the system is by running as a Democrat or a Republican, getting yourself elected, and then changing the system from the inside. Trying to take on a squadron of tanks on your environmentally-friendly mountain bike is more than ludicrous.
