Authoritarian Pattern of Deliberative Exclusion
or, Freakin' Ralph Nader Speaks The Truth
from Manchester Union Leader

Ralph Nader has heard the term before: spoiler.

"Ever hear of that word?" he asked several hundred who had gathered for the Choosing an Independent President 2004 convention in Bedford yesterday. The word itself implies anyone outside the Democratic or Republican parties is a "second-class citizen," Nader said.

Nader knows about being in a fringe political party. And after garnering precious votes during the 2000 presidential election that resulted in a razor-thin Republican victory, he's heard the term "spoiler" before.

A perennial Green Party Presidential candidate, the longtime consumer advocate commiserated with independents yesterday at the Wayfarer Inn.

Getting a candidate into the Presidential race without Democratic or Republican affiliation is just harder, he says.

"In North Carolina, you need twice the amount of signatures to run as an independent," he said. "It's pure conspiracy renewed every year. . . an authoritarian pattern of deliberative exclusion."

No one has ever accused me of being a member of the Green Party, but the man is right. I keep my voter registration "L" not only because they have some good ideas but also to promote the idea that more than two political parties are necessary for vital political discourse.

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Independents look ahead
to breaking 2-party system
By GARY DENNIS
Union Leader Staff

RALPH NADER
addresses convention
Ralph Nader has heard the term before: spoiler.

"Ever hear of that word?" he asked several hundred who had gathered for the Choosing an Independent President 2004 convention in Bedford yesterday. The word itself implies anyone outside the Democratic or Republican parties is a "second-class citizen," Nader said.

Nader knows about being in a fringe political party. And after garnering precious votes during the 2000 presidential election that resulted in a razor-thin Republican victory, he's heard the term "spoiler" before.

A perennial Green Party Presidential candidate, the longtime consumer advocate commiserated with independents yesterday at the Wayfarer Inn.

Getting a candidate into the Presidential race without Democratic or Republican affiliation is just harder, he says.

"In North Carolina, you need twice the amount of signatures to run as an independent," he said. "It's pure conspiracy renewed every year. . . an authoritarian pattern of deliberative exclusion."

The convention in Bedford this past weekend, which drew more than 300 attendees from 30 states according to convention organizers, wasn't a search for an independent Presidential contender. Rather it was more of a brainstorming session where independents are looking for ways to change the system.

"Half the people overall don't vote," said Fred Newman, a convention organizer and member of the New York State independent party. "And a third of voters - 35 percent - are independent."

One of the faults of the current system of selecting a President is the election process itself, Newman said.

"We need to change it. Why is there an election day and not an election week?" Newman asked. "Part of the process here is to get more people out to vote and participate."

The election of Jesse Ventura as governor of Minnesota had much to do with the state's rule to allow voters to register on election day, Newman said. Make voting easier, he said, and the voters will come.

But being an independent now isn't about your candidate winning, but changing the process so voters don't think of the two candidates coming from the Democrats and Republicans are the only real potential winners, he said

posted by prof_booty | 10:41 AM