Letter to Common Dreams on Their Continuing Attempts to Discredit Ralph Nader

Dear Editors,

I find it pathetic that you would fill your valuable space for article submissions with calls for political candidates to simply 'not run' (Jeff Cohen: Nader's "Grassroots" Campaign...Courtesy of GOP...), and transparent attempts to show that if Republicans get Nader on the ballot he is somehow not a viable candidate. While Nader's own people may be trying to defend the idea that only Democrats will put him on, we all know that Nader supports come from the full spectrum. That's part of what makes him as dangerous as he is to the corporate machine controlling this country - everyone, regardless of political affiliation, begins to understand that corporate values are not the values of a Democracy.

And guess what? This is a Democracy. People of all colors, shapes, sizes, and political parties can put candidates on the ballot for president. Your choice of Kerry is your choice, nothing more. Trying to destroy anyone else's RIGHT to be on the ballot is bordering on Republican and fascist values.

That wasn't what I thought the Democrats were about.

But sadly, we're all having to wake up to the fact that the Democrats are *really* no different than the Republicans afterall. And it wasn't how we thought it would be. It's far uglier.

I'll share with you one experience relayed to me over email, similar to one's I've experienced. And then you can ask yourself what it is you're really doing in your frantic efforts to install your candidate.

"Let me share with you a snapshot of my Saturday.

I live in downtown Oakland. After a lovely Saturday
morning bicycle ride with our -----
bicycling club, I rode over to the Lakeshore neighborhood
for a cup of Peet's.

I scored a seat on their very nice neighborly bench on
the sidewalk in front of the store. This section
of Lakeshore, is a bustling hub of activity on a nice
summer Saturday morning. It is very nice neighborhood.
Diverse, clean, pretty, convenient, fun, etc.

As I was sitting amongst the tumult I caught the
eye of a young man, about in his twenties. I heard
him give his first shout of 'Sign a petition to
get Nader on the ballot'. I quickly waved him
over, and quietly signed his petition, thanked
him and he went back. Turns out he had two
other young men with him. These three young men,
on a busy Saturday, were all collecting signatures.

As I drank my coffee, I watched in disgust, as for
the next hour these three energetic young men, working
on the politics in which they believe, were heaped
upon with scorn, and derision.

They were yelled at, they were insulted, they were
shouted over.

Here in the beautiful diverse East Bay city of Oakland,
I watch as dozens and dozens of my neighbor mocked,
ridiculed, and insulted three men for exercising their
free political speech.

It seems hyperbole, but I honestly felt as if I was
sitting in Birmingham Ala, in 1964, watching supporter of
the civil rights act interacting with the populace.

It just was not pretty. These people, my neighbors,
residence of the bay area, cursing advocates of
progressive politics.

It spoke to me. The meaning still is not perfectly clear.
Some parts though, are at the root of my own principals.

Political speech, should clearly be protected with our
hearts and minds and bodies. There is truthfully great
ugliness now in our country, when the very best of people,
my neighbors, fall to the point of the vitriol which I
witnessed.

I blame no one. The societal system in which we live
is clearly sick. These neighbors of mine are exhibiting
the progressively worsening symptoms. In all that I do, as
a Green, I hope my work continuously strives to heal these core
maladies of our leaders and our people. So healthy people might
engage in spirited democracy whose purpose is to uphold our
human rights and dignity."

Common Dreams -
Editorial editor [at] commondreams.org
Article Submissions submissions [at] commondreams.org