Wednesday, March 3, 2004

Nader should stay home

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Until a few years ago Ralph Nader was a selfless crusader on a quest to protect the lives of Americans. His stubborn advocacy of moral principle in consumer affairs raised the moral, environmental, health, safety and communication standards of America.

His 1965 book, "Unsafe at Any Speed," and the automobile safety standards he forced on an uncooperative industry saved more lives and mangled bodies than, say, have been lost in Iraq.

America has benefited immeasurably from Nader’s work. Among the government agencies and laws created through Nader’s efforts are Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Environmental Protection Agency, the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Freedom of Information Act.

Nader was unequaled as a consumer activist who changed the system. His contention that the two-party system of American government is controlled by corporate and big business interests at the expense of the public’s well being is accurate. But his decision to switch from activist to presidential candidate in 2000 was a mistake that undid a life’s work by handing the presidency to the environmental, economic, civil rights, justice and international affairs catastrophe that is the Bush administration.

Nader would make a terrible president, but he might have changed the financing laws of American politics had he stayed with his activist strengths. But he didn’t, and his candidacy in 2000 was forgivable if disastrous human folly.

His 2004 presidential candidacy is incomprehensible, self-centered stupidity. It may undo the reputation of a man who should go down in history as a great American, but who may turn out to be just another fool for power.

 

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