Comments on: Making the Best of Nader’s Run http://isgreaterthan.net/2008/02/28/making-the-best-of-nader%e2%80%99s-run/ An eclectic journal exploring the intersections of culture and politics, art and the free market, technology and science Fri, 29 Aug 2008 00:11:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: ncm http://isgreaterthan.net/2008/02/28/making-the-best-of-nader%e2%80%99s-run/#comment-1215 ncm Sat, 01 Mar 2008 17:48:44 +0000 http://isgreaterthan.net/2008/02/28/making-the-best-of-nader%e2%80%99s-run/#comment-1215 so, we need more Edwards. Viable populists. so, we need more Edwards. Viable populists.

]]> By: Matthew Beck http://isgreaterthan.net/2008/02/28/making-the-best-of-nader%e2%80%99s-run/#comment-1212 Matthew Beck Fri, 29 Feb 2008 19:38:00 +0000 http://isgreaterthan.net/2008/02/28/making-the-best-of-nader%e2%80%99s-run/#comment-1212 This is what happens in the absence of a true progressive - http://openleft.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=4250 This is what happens in the absence of a true progressive - http://openleft.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=4250

]]> By: Paul M Davis http://isgreaterthan.net/2008/02/28/making-the-best-of-nader%e2%80%99s-run/#comment-1206 Paul M Davis Fri, 29 Feb 2008 17:02:22 +0000 http://isgreaterthan.net/2008/02/28/making-the-best-of-nader%e2%80%99s-run/#comment-1206 That isn't even the worse of it, Mykle. This came up the other day: http://paulmdavis.tumblr.com/post/27379178 Stupid Adsense. I'm looking into other advertising options... That isn’t even the worse of it, Mykle. This came up the other day: http://paulmdavis.tumblr.com/post/27379178

Stupid Adsense. I’m looking into other advertising options…

]]> By: mykle http://isgreaterthan.net/2008/02/28/making-the-best-of-nader%e2%80%99s-run/#comment-1204 mykle Fri, 29 Feb 2008 01:14:14 +0000 http://isgreaterthan.net/2008/02/28/making-the-best-of-nader%e2%80%99s-run/#comment-1204 This is silly and beside the point, but I thought it funny that a "Vote for John McCain" ad came up on the sidebar for this article. This is silly and beside the point, but I thought it funny that a “Vote for John McCain” ad came up on the sidebar for this article.

]]> By: ncm http://isgreaterthan.net/2008/02/28/making-the-best-of-nader%e2%80%99s-run/#comment-1203 ncm Thu, 28 Feb 2008 23:29:45 +0000 http://isgreaterthan.net/2008/02/28/making-the-best-of-nader%e2%80%99s-run/#comment-1203 I have two points to make to this argument of Nader's ability to shift the political dialogue or expand it. First, Nader can only effect the conversation if he is allowed into it, which I do not think he will. In this specific way he does have a negative affect, and maybe even some positive effect, but not too significant because not only is he ignored and mocked by the media, until the green party passes a threshold he will not be able to participate in any debates. So, one might answer, then voting for him may get him past that threshold and into the debate next time around, which brings me to my second point. Nader is not bad for the democratic process, but he is bad for the Democrats. Most of his criticisms are directed at the Democratic party's hypocrisy and many of his voters are ones that would have (perhaps grudgingly) voted for the Democrats. In this way his negative affects is isolated to a party that may produce universal health care, assistance for college tuition, take us out of a unjustified bloody war, and many other positive policies. His success means some division of the American left between the Green party and the Democratic party, which would likely push the latter towards a more centrist position in order to be able to compete with a unified republican party. (The party mergers of the past were a result of a desire to win or a need to compete with other merged parties.) Finally, and in culmination, we would be better off electing more liberal local and state representatives, as well as congressmen, if we want to push the conversation left. It is far more likely that the Democratic party could be pushed left internally then the national debate could be shifted externally. Let's push for Nader's ideals within the party, shifting it, taking power, and really changing politics. We shouldn't shy away from competition, but calling Nader 'competition' is an overstatement. I have two points to make to this argument of Nader’s ability to shift the political dialogue or expand it. First, Nader can only effect the conversation if he is allowed into it, which I do not think he will. In this specific way he does have a negative affect, and maybe even some positive effect, but not too significant because not only is he ignored and mocked by the media, until the green party passes a threshold he will not be able to participate in any debates. So, one might answer, then voting for him may get him past that threshold and into the debate next time around, which brings me to my second point.
Nader is not bad for the democratic process, but he is bad for the Democrats. Most of his criticisms are directed at the Democratic party’s hypocrisy and many of his voters are ones that would have (perhaps grudgingly) voted for the Democrats. In this way his negative affects is isolated to a party that may produce universal health care, assistance for college tuition, take us out of a unjustified bloody war, and many other positive policies. His success means some division of the American left between the Green party and the Democratic party, which would likely push the latter towards a more centrist position in order to be able to compete with a unified republican party. (The party mergers of the past were a result of a desire to win or a need to compete with other merged parties.)
Finally, and in culmination, we would be better off electing more liberal local and state representatives, as well as congressmen, if we want to push the conversation left. It is far more likely that the Democratic party could be pushed left internally then the national debate could be shifted externally. Let’s push for Nader’s ideals within the party, shifting it, taking power, and really changing politics. We shouldn’t shy away from competition, but calling Nader ‘competition’ is an overstatement.

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