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Published on Saturday, February 28, 2009 by CommonDreams.org
An Oscar for Activism
As the 2009 Academy Awards swept their way into history, the glitz and the massive global audiences show that across cultures fictional stories, mythologies and money go hand in hand.
As the nominees for the awards were briefly showcased for their artistic imagination in one category after another, it occurred to me that the saying “truth is stranger than fiction” has another meaning. Many people would rather see fiction than the real thing.
What if, permit a flight of fancy, there were the equivalent of the “Academy Awards” for the civic heroism that goes on every day here and abroad. The powerless valiant ones who challenge the powerful and corrupt in ways that throughout history have broken new ground for more justice, economic well-being, health, safety and freedom. They are mostly unsung. They are often marginalized or maligned.
The history books make reference to only a very few—anti slavery abolitionists, women fighting for the vote, workers for the right to organize, farmers for federal regulation of brazen banks and railroads. People take on, for example, corrupt city machines, company towns dominated by a single plant or mine, toxic contamination of drinking water supplies, corporate looters of worker pensions, manufacturers of defective cars and harmful medicines.
Recognition before large audiences keeps a highly nourished concept of the heroic before the people. It gives support to those who take the first step and who speak truth to power. Acclaim is protective and encourages more people to follow in the shoes of these citizen-pioneers. Civic heroism changes the culture and the dreams of youth.
Movies are meant to be dramatic and can take liberties with reality even when they are describing real-life situations and people. But Hollywood can make almost any story dramatic and interesting. Look at Frost/Nixon. On the other hand, there have been great flops with pure violent action—consider Ishtar.
Anything that is important to people in the course of their daily life can be made interesting. Real life narratives of people taking on power and cruelty can be compelling, without losing authenticity.
How would the Civic Heroism Awards be organized? The process would start at the community level with nominations and take it up to the state, national, and international level. Unlike game shows and beauty contests, the nominees would not be allowed to promote themselves. What they have already done is why they have been nominated. There is no present or future enhancement at ever higher levels of awards for what they had accomplished and striven for in the past.
Consider for a moment the peoples’ infrastructure that such a multi-tiered annual award process would stimulate. Local video producers would see an opportunity to profile potential nominees over the Internet, Cable and local screenings. The digital era assures the widespread egalitarian prevalence of such productions. Thousands of communities would be involved.
Discussions, debates and banter would be stimulated over the criteria for nominations which would include awards for “the supporting cast” around the heroes as is done by the Academy Awards.
The teaching of civics in the local schools would become more attached to local activities beyond textbook study. Putting a human face on civic action will stir the minds of youngsters presently saturated with often degrading electronic “virtual realities.”
The positive repercussions are many. Just the chance to become civic celebrities through this process of recognition increases media exposure and greater attention to the serious conditions and reforms that the nomination processes highlight.
The formulaic local television evening news—with its nine minutes of ads, four minutes of sports, four minutes of weather, chitchat, animal stories and miscellaneous fluff leaves very little time for civic news to attract the dwindling number of television reporters. Daily civic efforts to improve community life and justice wither on the vine for lack of any media coverage.
Civic heroism awards—done in a professional and exciting manner—can compel news coverage. Even in print form, columnists like Nicholas Kristof of the New York Times roams the continents of Asia, Africa and South America to find the most courageous and besieged people standing up at great risk for human dignity and humane treatment.
The drama is in the people. The search is for the civic dramatists to find their calling. Finally, philanthropy needs to come forward to jumpstart what could become the citizen equivalent of the Academy Awards from the local to the global for these stalwart pillars of just and democratic societies.
Readers: do you know any likely philanthropists? Have them contact Awards Project at PO Box 19367, Washington, DC, 20036.
As the nominees for the awards were briefly showcased for their artistic imagination in one category after another, it occurred to me that the saying “truth is stranger than fiction” has another meaning. Many people would rather see fiction than the real thing.
What if, permit a flight of fancy, there were the equivalent of the “Academy Awards” for the civic heroism that goes on every day here and abroad. The powerless valiant ones who challenge the powerful and corrupt in ways that throughout history have broken new ground for more justice, economic well-being, health, safety and freedom. They are mostly unsung. They are often marginalized or maligned.
The history books make reference to only a very few—anti slavery abolitionists, women fighting for the vote, workers for the right to organize, farmers for federal regulation of brazen banks and railroads. People take on, for example, corrupt city machines, company towns dominated by a single plant or mine, toxic contamination of drinking water supplies, corporate looters of worker pensions, manufacturers of defective cars and harmful medicines.
Recognition before large audiences keeps a highly nourished concept of the heroic before the people. It gives support to those who take the first step and who speak truth to power. Acclaim is protective and encourages more people to follow in the shoes of these citizen-pioneers. Civic heroism changes the culture and the dreams of youth.
Movies are meant to be dramatic and can take liberties with reality even when they are describing real-life situations and people. But Hollywood can make almost any story dramatic and interesting. Look at Frost/Nixon. On the other hand, there have been great flops with pure violent action—consider Ishtar.
Anything that is important to people in the course of their daily life can be made interesting. Real life narratives of people taking on power and cruelty can be compelling, without losing authenticity.
How would the Civic Heroism Awards be organized? The process would start at the community level with nominations and take it up to the state, national, and international level. Unlike game shows and beauty contests, the nominees would not be allowed to promote themselves. What they have already done is why they have been nominated. There is no present or future enhancement at ever higher levels of awards for what they had accomplished and striven for in the past.
Consider for a moment the peoples’ infrastructure that such a multi-tiered annual award process would stimulate. Local video producers would see an opportunity to profile potential nominees over the Internet, Cable and local screenings. The digital era assures the widespread egalitarian prevalence of such productions. Thousands of communities would be involved.
Discussions, debates and banter would be stimulated over the criteria for nominations which would include awards for “the supporting cast” around the heroes as is done by the Academy Awards.
The teaching of civics in the local schools would become more attached to local activities beyond textbook study. Putting a human face on civic action will stir the minds of youngsters presently saturated with often degrading electronic “virtual realities.”
The positive repercussions are many. Just the chance to become civic celebrities through this process of recognition increases media exposure and greater attention to the serious conditions and reforms that the nomination processes highlight.
The formulaic local television evening news—with its nine minutes of ads, four minutes of sports, four minutes of weather, chitchat, animal stories and miscellaneous fluff leaves very little time for civic news to attract the dwindling number of television reporters. Daily civic efforts to improve community life and justice wither on the vine for lack of any media coverage.
Civic heroism awards—done in a professional and exciting manner—can compel news coverage. Even in print form, columnists like Nicholas Kristof of the New York Times roams the continents of Asia, Africa and South America to find the most courageous and besieged people standing up at great risk for human dignity and humane treatment.
The drama is in the people. The search is for the civic dramatists to find their calling. Finally, philanthropy needs to come forward to jumpstart what could become the citizen equivalent of the Academy Awards from the local to the global for these stalwart pillars of just and democratic societies.
Readers: do you know any likely philanthropists? Have them contact Awards Project at PO Box 19367, Washington, DC, 20036.
Posted in Activism
67 Comments so far
Show AllBob Cronin
Ralph Nader drew 90,000 votes from Al Gore in Florida in the 1999 election. He is responsible for Bush becoming President. That makes him responsible for the Iraq/Afghanistan war, the increase in global warming and absence of action on pollution, the impoverishment of millions,and the current financial disaster (NYT says 50 million will be unemployed by the end of this year world wide). No man who is responsible for so much evil deserves any kind of praise
Your rant is so far from the facts that it boggles the mind. Do you not read, do you not think, do you not research? The silliness of your charges has long,long been exposed as nonsense so I can only conjecture that you do not want the truth, perhaps you cannot handle it.
"Most people would sooner die than think, in fact they do so." Bertrand Russell
In 2002, when Senator Harkin became Ag chair, the leading rural Democrats, including Wellstone, Gephardt, Harkin, Daschle, switched over from the Democratic policies of the New Deal and the Harkin-Gephardt farm bill to version of the Republican Freedom to Farm Act, the worst farm bill since Herbert Hoover. (And 2007-2008 Democrats and progressives seeking subsidy caps and green subsidies were doing the same).
Post 9/11 Democrats voted the Bush/Rumsfeld/Ashcroft line, with virtually no exceptions. Then heading toward 2004 the Democratic contenders bashed the leading peace candidate as not tough enough to go head to head with George Bush junior on foreign policy.
What a bunch of wimps! What a bunch of Republicans!!!!!!!!!!
Bob Cronin, don't for a minute think that those in this cowardly party can go head to head with committed Greens, etc.!!!!!!!
I think Ralph Nader is a great man, but I disagre with this suggestion. The problems of our nation can not be fixed by philantrophy. The philatropists are very wealthy people who do not pay their fair share of taxes. By contriburting their money to non profits they avoid paying taxes--yet, they still control the what their money is spent on. By seeming to act to help people to get a fair shake in our society the non profits put the oppressed into racial groups and divide and conquer the people. Affirmative action elevates some few individuals, but does nothing for the conditions for the poor in our nation.
TAX THE RICH!!! These people are getting richer and richer. Tax cuts in Obama's stimulus package are a terrible thing. Haven't we learned anything about the wonders of 'trickle down'? Tax cuts benefit the rich and the whole bailout fiasco gives our tax funds to the banksters who caused the collapse of our ecomomic system by their selfish greed. The very wealthy suffer a mental illness. They can never be satisfied. They always want more!! The only cure for this social pathology is more taxes on the extremely wealthy.
Our government can use these additional tax funds for our badly needed domestic programs. Tax the rich, end the war and maybe we can save our nation.
jeffj
Nader bashing has sadly become a pastime for folks whose concept of civics and responsibility seems to involve little more than vituperative complaint and ad hominen attacks in the form of an infrequent letter, email,or phone call. At least,those exercising their cherished First Amendment rights might consider adorning their screeds with a dash of empiricism before launching a faith based opinion like a cluster bomb. The persistant canard that Nader was responsible for Gore's self-destruction is cognitive dissonance at its best. We pretend we live in a democracy even though routes to citizen participation are torturously convoluted and typically end in a "gotcha" cul de sac.
Nader has articulated issues and ideas that champion justice, democracy, and activism for decades. He is an example of the best America has to offer. The endless energy spent to marginalize and trivialize his past achievements and current efforts is hardly surprising since challenges to the mainstream have never been warmly tolerated.
Those who participate in this cultural lynching are accelerationg America's suicidal trajectory. Obama may be an answer, but his "solutions" are, for now, too little too late. Yet despite the anemic presentation of Obama, like Nader, he is being attacked as a "radical communist" by the media, centrists, the extreme right, Wall St. criminals, oligarchs and plutocrats, and the ignorant wad. The fact that video games, television, and scores of dreadful movies that perpetuate a delusional national mythology and effectively detaches us from a difficult reality while preempting serious discourse is prima facie evidence that we have acquieced to the corruption and facile deceptions that define our collective synthetic and corporate psychosis.
The American creed will remain the farcical, rhetorical fantasy it has always been, and will continue to be, unless we the people acquire the capacity to listen, learn, empathize, respect each other, and act. As Nader's father asked him after school, "Did you learn to think or did you learn to believe." I pledge allegiance ...
This country is filled with courageous, brilliant people and possesses an unlimited potential for greatness. Hansen, Mckibbon, Wendell Berry, Zinn , Chomsky, and Nader are just a few of the tens of thousands of thinkers and problem solvers who have become cultural pariahs because of the threat they present to the " greed is good" ethos that has infilterated the American epigenome. Why is it acceptable to bail out the recidivist criminality of Wall St., but not homeowners facing foreclosure? A homeowner bailout will only reinforce bad behavior, right? Tell the lie often enough and people will believe it. Thank you Joseph Goebbels, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, George Bush,Paul Wolfowitcz, Richard Perle etc..Reagan is canonized, Nader demonized, and a proposal for civics literacy is derided with visceral contempt. Irony has replaced cinnamon in apple pie.
Comments denigrating a problem solver must come from peolpe who live their lives in bitterness and exhausting chronic fear. You not only do yourselves a disservice, but you are the most eloquent spokesmen for the pathologies of contemporary America and the so-called free marketeers who want to perpetuate the social, economic, and ecolgical train enabled by all of us. Americans will continue to worship at the feet of Mammon because we do what we are told. The mutant capitalism that privatizes profit, but socializes risk will rise from the ashes of Wall St., and our nation will continue its giddy slide to ruin.
The shamans of a broken culture will never be heard because we are told not to listen.
jeffj,
I must commend you on a very well done effort. I hope to see more such from you here, heaven knows we do need counterpoint to the cacophony of those you so subtly put in their place.
"Most people would sooner die than think, in fact they do so." Bertrand Russell
Reagan worked within the Republican Party with Nixon back in the 1960s and 1970s or he wouldn't have had a chance to wreck the country in the 1980s. Nader neither worked to fix the Democratic Party nor stay dedicated to 3rd party efforts. Even after 2000, Nader could have stayed in the Green Party and actually empower it but he didn't. Maybe that's why Nader's vote count dropped from 2,883,105 in 2000 to 738,771 in 2008. Something is really wrong with the way he tried to get his message out these last 8 years, no? Call me a Nader basher all you want to but the long term results prove that it takes teamwork to win, not running a one man show with only narrow minded cultists. Even of the 738,771 voters, a lot of them were unhappy with Nader's poor showing and were even angered by his racist remark on Faux Noise. He can run in 2012 at the age of 78 and I have no problem with that but he'll be lucky to keep even 500k votes if he keeps this up.
Gee,
Do you think that Arizona Joe is the same guy as Nebraska Nathan? I do. They both use the expression "smashed" to argue that voting results are all that a man's value is measured by. Joe, just how many sock puppets does a guy need to shore up a poor argument?
Ralph fights the good fight. He fights for the little guy. He fought to get more voting capacity in Black neighborhoods. The racist charge is absurd as you know.
Arizona Nathan, or Nebraska Joe or whatever part of your Hitchcock brain is reading this...., have you even read "Uncle Tom's Cabin"?
I doubt you understand the reference.
TJ
"All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent." - Thomas Jefferson
"Ralph fights the good fight. He fights for the little guy. He fought to get more voting capacity in Black neighborhoods. "
If he was really all that great as you claim, then why did his vote count drop from 2,883,105 in 2000 to 738,771 in 2008? That's a 74.4% drop in the last 8 years which should be an obvious sign to you that Nader seriously needs to improve his campaigning, communications, and reaching out skills in addition to learning to help and respect people in local districts running for office and sharing his vision, no? Besides, if you had even thought about that quote you had posted, you might be asking yourself "Gee, why isn't Nader countering that by motivating people out of silence?"
Nebraska Nathan1, Well, I see we are one and the same. Yawn.
I got one for you, what do
1. tanguero
2.azjoe
3.truthbetold
4.lino
5.soderealm or some such (sorry s., this is from memory).
And Nebraskanathan1 ALL HAVE IN COMMON?
Well, ALL Six! are being currently insulted, their mother's insulted, their minds and hearts, by 'ardee' who now has shown up as 'Red Rick.'
To be insulting and denigrating in the most foul ways six human beings AT ONCE says this. You have a horrible problem. To share it in a public forum is filthy.
It also smacks of trying to drive people off CD that don't agree with you.
And Red Rick has a new cheerleader that questions my honesty? I wiped Red Rick off my shoes before, for JUST THAT and Jefferson is next.
Joe.
If you don't mind, I don't like us being split up in teams like this. I just wish to God the Nader/Mckinney and Obama folks could be able to work things out and find a common ground. Trust me, I don't like to kick people's butts but really want to help enlighten. Maybe my trying to reason with those folks is about as "easy" as trying to reason with the die-hard rightwingers in my state. However, I just post knowing that in the long run, future readers will come upon this and perhaps try to understand what needs to be done in order for something like making the dream of a 3rd Party Progressive Independent in power come true. I don't mind being hit by the Far Left for I'm just about as used to it as being hit from the Far Right. Besides, as http://www.marco.org/81566726 points out, the negativity that is spreading like wildfire as if there wasn't enough of it on the radio and TV has got to stop somewhere. We will never ever be able to get our pols to listen until common ground is found. If all people want to do is attack others for giving a new kind of advice on being a successful 3rd party candidate and all too often rant shit like "Nader was right all along and you were wrong and dumb to vote for Obama, blah-blah-blah ...", then we shall treat them as second-born rightwingers. Sigh ... :(
Nathan. Hello. We are not on teams. Sometimes we concur, others not. I have learned much from CD threads over the years via this process. However I recall talking about policy, our hopes and frustrations. Not constantly attacking one anothers intellect, integrity and lineage.
When I hear something I deplore, adulation for Nader and his newest 'project' for example, rather than call his supporters childish names, I might point out the Salon.com article highlighting the Nader-McCain relationship this last election cycle, or the Naomi Klein article about Cisco Systems and Nader, China & Surveillance.
I don't insult Nader suporter's mothers or his supporter's intellect. Why would I? Many are quite intelligent.
And my points get made now and then....
But this same m.o always, flammable facts, this is not a sewing circle, but nothing personal, because neither is CD a forum for that.
Respectfully, Joe.
Hi, thanks Joe for the info. I afraid that like Nader, we the electorate have lost touch of our sense for compassion and unity a long time ago. If my parents who survived the Great Depression were alive to see this, they would be devastated by the political dysfunctional nature of this electorate. I would like to add that states like AZ and NE don't give the kind of easy access to even moderated liberals let alone the pure ones unlike states like CA and NY. You, Thomas More, myself, and countless others who voted for Obama make it clear that there are indeed a lot of great things to love about Nader that we sadly wished the Democrats would posess and despite our commending Nader on a lot of us great ideas and suggesting better ways to bring them forth so that those ideas can materialize in the public, we get pelted at as Nader bashers. Just running for the White House as a lone candidate just doesn't work. Take heart, someday we'll all get this together right and rejoice as we get rewarded for it.
Joe,
Why don't you understand, that this is the signature of an honest man. He does not alter his campaign principles to get votes. Ralph knows he's going to lose before he even begins. Nader is not trying to win. He's simply a patriot of the country and cares about it deeply enough to waste time campaigning against triple digit million dollar corporate candidates. Nader only cares that Americans learn what the issues of the day are. You can't learn that listening to Fortune-500 puppets.
In a democracy Joe, you should not feel threatened by a man like Ralph running on his convictions (even if they are wrong.) Personally, I like Obama. I hope he pulls a rabbit out of his hat and saves us. But that doesn't mean we should quit criticizing him; and Obama knows this.
Your post is probably correct. But what puzzles me most Joe, is why you feel it is necessary to exaggerate the faults of a fine activist like Ralph Nader.
TJ
"To criticize those in power, is the highest form of patriotism" - Thomas Jefferson
ThomasJefferson. Hello. To what puzzles you. At risk, but oh well, I will share w/ you because of your most decent query.
First, let me say I distinguish between perception and empirically 'provable' fact, and maybe things are first awry when that line blurs....
Anyway, back in 2000, it was my perception, purely personal and subjective, that Ralph's entry in the race would help the GOP. Many elements within the GOP saw it that way too, contributions and signature gathering by them on his behalf made this quite clear. Still, all legal. But I did not like the idea of helping Bush.
After 2000 and Florida I felt this, that RN had not 'cost' Gore the election, but HAD played a role in the Florida vote theft by contributing to the overall smoke-screen the GOP orchestrated. Unwitting? Uh, okay, but QUITE FORESEEABLE. It was aiding the enemy and I chose to loathe it. Ralph had the RIGHT to run, okay, well, millions of Americans were appalled and still are, THEIR right.
After 2000 I began looking at RN more closely and learned other things I did not like, mostly about where he kept his money and how he busted his own worker's attempts to unionize. That was pretty foul. Then appearing on Fox radio w/ the Uncle Tom comment, but much worse, discernably attacking the Dems to the near exclusion of the RepubliScum-A picture of a GOP friendly 'progressive' has clearly defined itself to me. That is how I see Nader.
And I feel this-Nader has been the 3rd Party candidate de jour for Decades and this, sadly, has usurped a potential that would have otherwise been realized.
Thank you for your very decent tone, I hope to always be as graceful, Joe.
"Ralph knows he's going to lose before he even begins."
Then why waste millions in taxpayer money trying to get 15 minutes of fame? If that's his mentality, that explains why he's a piss poor communicator and can't reach out. Besides, he's lost 74.4% of what little support he had in 2000 by 2008.
"He's simply a patriot of the country and cares about it deeply enough to waste time campaigning against triple digit million dollar corporate candidates."
But it's entirely irrelevant if he can't make a winning out of his successes, if he actually had any since 1980 which so far he hasn't. In fact, he has only gotten worse in the last 8 years alone and because he lives up to the libel of being known as nothing more than "spoiler", no wonder he's taken less seriously. When a candidate loses 74.4% of the votes he or she mustered 8 years earlier, something is really wrong with that candidate or even the party in general.
"you should not feel threatened by a man like Ralph running on his convictions "
I didn't say I was. In fact, I made it clear that Nader's free to run again in 2012 and compete with Lyndon Larouche as going down in the history books as another "also ran" candidate.
"why you feel it is necessary to exaggerate the faults of a fine activist like Ralph Nader."
I didn't know that pointing out the facts was "exaggerating" the truth. I hate to say this but being a fine activist is null and void if you can't translate it into even a remote victory. Even Thomas Jefferson knew that.
Thanks Ralph. Great Idea! Ignore a lot of the above. They wouldn't get the big picture if it were painted in bright primary colors on their dashboards.
And that's why your man dropped from 2.88 million in 2000 to less than 750k in 2008. Something is very wrong with the way Nader "progressed" in the last 8 years, no?
Nanoo
I think this is a good idea. Amy Goodman has interviewed many people who are outstanding in their commitments. There are times I'm clapping and cheering just watching her show. Happy too, that there are many people out there who truly go the distance and make a difference. They are an inspiration and as Nader has pointed out, they don't often get much recognition on the National stage.
What is Ralph pushing here?
How Shock-Ing. HIMself. The Awards Project he lauds is Ralph's Project!
With all going on in the world, Ralph has one consistent theme, Ralph.
And his deceptive article does not clearly state this Project is his project-I had to check on that. No the article speaks of a noble need, then asks if the readers know any philanthropists, are they not folks who give money?
He then in Pure Nader fashion directs them to himself. His 'Project'.
Nader's various 'projects' get $, give it to other Nader projects and Nader's name stays in print. LIKE HERE, A WASTE.
Nader deserves an Oscar. For Comedy.
Joe.
"Consider for a moment the peoples’ infrastructure that such a multi-tiered annual award process would stimulate. Local video producers would see an opportunity to profile potential nominees over the Internet, Cable and local screenings. The digital era assures the widespread egalitarian prevalence of such productions. Thousands of communities would be involved."
Likewise, it would be a great idea if Ralph Nader would get out there and answer to people across the nation running for local, state, and even federal offices sharing his view rather than worrying about the Hollywood elite. Forget about Hollywood. That problem can be solved by simply turning off your television and getting a life. Think outside the tubes and motivate others to join the cause. Besides, this author couldn't even muster 800k votes to Obama's 69.5 million or even Mccain's 59.9 million votes. There is something wrong with the way Nader and most other 3rd party candidates have been campaigning and reaching out and that has to change by building the infrastructure from the ground up instead of trying to get 15 minutes of fame by blaming the Democrats for everything even when the Republicans were in control.
An Oscar for Activism?
I nominate Obama!
sure, ralph ...let's buy into the mindset that all good deeds are accomplished within a competitive framework, and also the crazy celebrity-worship framework of hollywood, where you're nobody unless the academy votes that you're somebody
is there an alternative? instead of this boring droopy idea, why not promote
democracy within schools...call it 'the project for democratic learning'
get kids to prepare their own food...for instance...vote on the curriculum...learn gardening and permaculture during recess
the possibilities are limitless
i understand that you mean well, but is there no greater cause that might similarly motivate rug rats and adults?
for the majority of public k-12 students, the experience is about as boring and dreary as...well, your piece above, ralph --- the one I just had the pleasure of reading
"...but is there no greater cause that might similarly motivate rug rats and adults?"
No, if you mean the massive majority of American TV watchers!
Growing and cooking your own food, learning how your community works?
Of course you think kids and adults would want to know this but only if it was a computer game/TV show that racks up points!
Like most every thing that Ralph says or does...this idea of his is based on the general behavior of the American consumer in general not someone like you.
Naders concerns, as they have been for several decades, has been to addresses the REAL NEEDS of masses/consumers/public and as of the last election less than 2% of Americans get it!
At lease he tries ... and I will YET again vote for the guy come 2012!!!!!
marci,
You'll vote for Nader again? You mean if the Republicans once again help get him on the state ballots? Like McCain-Florida last Fall? Like that.. Or like when the GOP got him the necessary signatures to get on the Michigan ballot in '00, or was it '04? Lot of electoral votes in those states, huh? Ralph has been a tool of the Republicans, and was rewarded by his "long-time friend," Senator John McCain in Nadeer''s pathetic campaign-this unlikey GOP-'progressive' alliance made the NYT's and Salon.com. for it's nefarious absurdity.
Or did you mean you will vote for Ralph if the rigor mortis is not too far advanced? Not to worry, rigor or not, he'll run. His flesh gone from his bones, a Skeleton from the GOP Closet of Old Friends, with his hand out asking for money, he'll run.
Google Nader Investments Naomi Klein Cisco Systems China Surveillance if you are bored.
Joe.
Your man couldn't even muster 750,000 votes while Obama won a smashing victory with 69.5 million votes. And Nader's failed himself miserably in the last 16 years. That's a long time to be failing, no? If he had stayed in the Green Party and worked towards improving it in the last 8 years, trust me Nader would have been the progressive counter-Reagan of 1980.
Apple/wants/$1200/to/repair/my/spacebar/so/pardon/the/slashes./
Over/to/you/Mr./President.
Seriously/aBioPic/of/Ralph/Nader's/life/would/be/great./I/think/AdrianBrody/could/play/him.
"The formulaic local television evening news—with its nine minutes of ads, four minutes of sports, four minutes of weather, chitchat, animal stories and miscellaneous fluff.."
I wonder if Mr. Nader has actually studied this formula? It seems like more 10-20 minutes of weather. He leaves out the two or three minutes devoted to prejudicing the jury for the next big murder trial. "Fluff" is far too generous. It's more like reports of really stupid people which thus flatters the audience with how smart they are by comparison.Then there are the national news feed clips: the latest cosmetic miracle, prospective medical breakthrough, or hometown support for our lonely boys in Iraq.
The ads are pretty standard too: the next supermarket coupon scam, o% financing on that new SUV, the latest snake oil "backed by clinical studies". Viagra and Flo-max ($109 per month) are reserved for the big time news and major sporting events.
Interestingly, the major focus of these shows IS consumer advocacy. The same sort that induced native Americans to sell their land and rights for a few silk shirts and a barrel of booze.
Consumer trickery is not advocacy...
"Most people would sooner die than think, in fact they do so." Bertrand Russell
Advertising is what pays for the media. The media be it entertainment or news or both is shaped for the client of the ad.
It doesn't get any deeper than that.
Watch the newspaper disapear.............
Lol.
I won't miss the Pravda corporate newspapers at all! Good Riddance! Newscorp owns most of them and it's stock is in a long dive. Adios Rupert Murdock! Thanks for the lies!
I hope TV networks are next on the chopping block. I personally boycott everything produced by Fox just to get even with them for airing The Fox Misinformation Network which has destroyed our country. I don't know which is worse: Bill "conehead" O'Riley or Screaming Shaun Insanity... (the dip doesn't even have a college degree and he foams from the mouth about issues he knows nothing about.) It's irresponsible to air a person like this...
TJ
"All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent." - Thomas Jefferson
I agree that Big Media must be allowed to collapse. In place of it, it is high time we rebuilt the People's media bottom up, from local to national.
I nominate Ralph Nader.
There are already hundreds of activist awards banquets that occur in cities around the country each year... I went to a KPFA awards ceremony that honored Media Benjamin and Michael Franti and others a few years ago...
A national awards show may inspire some, and it may contribute to the "more activist than thou" mentality that is already annoying...
A better use of time and money would to promote and watch " TED Talks" (technology, engineering, design) and hear ten minute lectures by visionary scientists and activists as they present on their field of expertise... Like solar, wind, etc
We need to raise the bar on intelligent use of technology, TV for educational programs, not a cult of personality fashion show...
"A national awards show may inspire some, and it may contribute to the "more activist than thou" mentality that is already annoying..."
This aversion to the "more activist than thou mentality" is part and parcel of the insecurity and resentment mentality of the last 40 or so years.
But like you say, "A national awards show may inspire some"--maybe even more than some--which is what I think Nader's idea is getting at.
Please explain the "aversion to the more activist than
Thou mentality"...
I don't understand your point...
Read "Nixonland" by Rick Perlstein.
I don't want to read a book by someone else... What do YOU mean by it? What's the gist of it?
"I don't want to read a book by someone else... What do YOU mean by it? What's the gist of it?"
OK, I'll go with that.
The gist of Perlstein's book refers to the political manifestation of one of the oft lived and repeated stories of mankind with regard to the conflict between those who identify with and feel largely compelled by their stronger inner nature and less selfish tendencies and those who ask--am I my brother's keeper?
In our country you could say the story of this conflict has been fought between the likes of Jeffferson and Adams as well as Lincoln and Douglas--among others. And in recent history specifically, Nixon fueled the continuation of that story--at a whole new level--with his ingenious ability to tap into not only his own insecurities and resentments--but more importantly, to bring those feelings out in others and exploit them for political gain.
That's my take--albeit with some liberties--on the book.
So the result is that for the last 40 or so years Americans have been living in "Nixonland"--a place where talent is furthering your own narrow self-interests and self-worth is doing whatever you have to do to come out on top.
It's a place where pride means a particular scorn and resentment toward those who are deemed "a little to big for their britches" for evidencing a different definition of self-worth.
And that is the general phenomenon I was referring to in my original reply to you here.
Now, I'm wondering about something. Obviously I don't know you(if that is your point) and therefore can't speak yet as to what appears to motivate you--but I'm curious as to your political inclinations--did you like Ike?
I admire your patience, I would never have responded to one who made that absurdly comical statement.
"Most people would sooner die than think, in fact they do so." Bertrand Russell
Thanks--If you're referring to the statement: "I don't want to read a book by someone else..." I'd agree with you. But don't get me started on the fact that the aversion to books is also part and parcel of the "aversion to the more activist than Thou mentality"...
Perlstein is a U of Chicago guy, thus rather exceptionally bright. He is also, sad to say, a Democratic loyalist as well. Nixonland was a solid read and I enjoyed it. He writes a blog for Ourfuture.org and you might enjoy him there.
Im for activism period. Involvement and action is the key. Ill let others judge who is the better .....
"Most people would sooner die than think, in fact they do so." Bertrand Russell
"Im for activism period. Involvement and action is the key. Ill let others judge who is the better ....."
Agreed.
I'm also for getting more people actually, um, activated too--instead of this crazy waiting for and expecting Obama or someone or something else to demand our rights for us.
So you kind-of have to sell it--sorry to say--to compete on any level.
People would ask me all the time when I was collecting sigs for Nader what I was selling and I'd tell them freedom and the cost was participation.
I think it is a great idea.....I remember back in the 1980's watching some Turner network channel on a Sunday morning and I think it was called "Good News" or something like that. It was a show that highlighted what good things were going on around the country. I loved it!!! I watched it in high school before I discovered "Sunday Morning" which is a show I love to watch now.
People are so driven by rewards.......it sounds like a novel idea to promote the good things the left is doing to dig us out of this trench. I hope it catches on like wild-fire!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
From a man who has sought no accolades and who deserves our utmost respect....Ralph Nader will be remembered in the history books (if there is any REAL justice) as a man who never stopped seeing the potential for good in others!
KUDOS!
Respectfully....
A Ralph Nader Supporter for Life!!! MS
Ralph Nadar for president, however, his presidency is not possible in the United States not because he represents the views of less people than republicans represent but because his ideas are not part of the industrial military semi-fascist semi-democratic system in place in the United State today.
I did not vote for Nadar this time but I have voted for him in the past. I agree, at this moment, that it is imperative we elect as many democrats as possible. Hopefully totally eradicating the scum filled Republican Party that strands for nothing but hate, greed, fear, and terror and representing no on one but a chosen few billionaires here and abroad.
Frankly my vision on what the US would ideally be aligns closers to Nadars than most of the democrats currently in congress. I believe his ideals; intellect and oratory skills are far superior to most politicians. Additionally I believe progressive ideas in the past, that have helped to make this a more perfect nation, have come from him and other third party idealist.
Thank you once again for your unpaid patriotic service Mr. Nadar!!! A true American Hero!!!!
Yeah , he is all of that...but its NadEr...
"Most people would sooner die than think, in fact they do so." Bertrand Russell
Unfortunately, your rightwing puritanical foaming is what killed Nader's chances at a political career in addition to Nader going about it all the wrong way.
Bring America Back !!!!...We should place Ralph Nader in nomination for a Permanent Member Seat on Senator Leahy's forthcoming Commission on the Truth.
He is definitely capable of investigating the crimes, the treasons, the wrongdoings of members of both Political Parties.
So send your recommendation of Nader to Senator Leahy before the Panel gets corroded with the usual Hacks and Cronies !! It's the only way we will get the
Truth !
hey tanguero, wake up! you're drooling.
sorry, couldn't help it - Ralph is such a bore - where's the Pinto when you need it?
Considering Mr. Nader's lifetime contributions to consumer protections and political sanity I find your comment tedious, childish, unsupportable, dismissive and reflecting badly, not upon Nader , but upon you.
"Most people would sooner die than think, in fact they do so." Bertrand Russell
"lifetime contributions to consumer protections and political sanity"
There haven't been any of that in the last 30 years. In fact, it has all come undone and the last 8 years have shown the worst of it. Where was Ralph Nader these last 8 years when MPAA, RIAA, and other Big Entertainment bullies were "free" to price gouge the consumers and go out of their way to stifle P2P technologies? And ever since Reagan, political partisanship has only gotten nastier ever since. Sorry, but Nader hasn't been keeping up and you cultists have only ruined his candidacy and reputation.
It just doesn't take much to dig up the old "Nader Haters" does it? They are walking zombies mumbling to themselves about poor poor "Corporate Al Gore"; whose own state wouldn't vote for him because he sold everybody out in Tennessee. Then Al Gore sold everybody out in the USA when he was in office by repeatedly voting for destructive laws with his tie breaking Vice Presidential vote in the senate.
Suddenly, The New Al Gore (unemployed) is for the environment after having not done anything about it for the eight years he was in office. After taking credit for inventing the internet, now's he's invented Global Warming. What a guy. A guy with a 20,000 square foot home.....
Ralph Nader, however, slaved tirelessly his whole career to make our lives better. He accomplished more for our quality of life than a hundred elected politicians ever could.
You really should be ashamed of yourselves, trying to slander a fine man.
Ask yourselves, what have you ever done to make other peoples lives safer?
My guess is nothing.
TJ
"All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent." - Thomas Jefferson
Your man couldn't even muster 750,000 votes while Obama won a smashing victory with 69.5 million votes. And Nader's failed himself miserably in the last 16 years. That's a long time to be failing, no? If he had stayed in the Green Party and worked towards improving it in the last 8 years, trust me Nader would have been the progressive counter-Reagan of 1980. Right now, Nader's simply competing with Lyndon LaRouche as an "also ran" historical figure.
If I may, Mr. Jefferson, it is best to ignore that twaddle. No reasonable person would find it on point, or even thought provoking, though it might provoke ones disgust or sympathy for his parents, depending upon ones proclivities.
No, best to allow the child to vent his nonsense unanswered, and perhaps he will tire of being ignored and depart for his sandbox.
"Most people would sooner die than think, in fact they do so." Bertrand Russell
Touche' Mr. Rick,
You are of course, correct, sir. But sometimes I just can't help myself. I hope you will forgive my apparent hypocrisy. (This goes in the "Do as I say; not as I do department!) ;)
TJ
"All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent." - Thomas Jefferson
I know, Mr. J., he is such an easy target after all, and his tripe is so ripe smelling and can so easily be refuted by a mildly intelligent twelve year old. But I think he feeds on low opinions of him, some psychosis or other. To respond in any way is to encourage him. I just let him rant, he is the best help the left could hope for actually, as his arguments are so freaking weak.
"Most people would sooner die than think, in fact they do so." Bertrand Russell
"his tripe is so ripe smelling and can so easily be refuted by a mildly intelligent twelve year old. But I think he feeds on low opinions of him, some psychosis or other."
Obviously, you don't understand others and expect others to be clones like you. No problem though because I'm pretty sure most other readers are not the narrow minded looney tune like yourself. Besides, you have your cousin, VP of Merill Lynch, to "bail" you out and keep you all fattened up so you can keep foaming at the mouth. Between you and the die-hard conservatives, I see no difference.
"I just let him rant, he is the best help the left could hope for actually, as his arguments are so freaking weak."
As you wish, sir. Your puritanical rightwing idiocity knows no bounds. Maybe my arguments are "weak" to narrow-minded fools such as yourself but at least I can relate to historical long term events and trends so that in the days ahead, more open-minded people might start learning some more constructive and positive thinking rather than the puritanical rightwing attacks from guys such as RR.
RR and TJ can talk amongst themselves but only time will tell who's right and who's wrong. I rest my case.
Speaking of hypcrisy, why not tell your man Nader to stop taking money from Big Defense and grow a real grassroots of his own? It's not as if his contributions to the organizations made any difference and thanks to the lack of infrastructure and unity, those progressive organizations are privatized lock stock and barrel.
And tell your man Nader to try campaigning in my state in 2012.
Maybe that's why your man Nader couldn't even muster 750,000 votes while Obama smashed him at 69.5 million and Mccain at 59.9 million. And since Nader dropped from 2.88 million in 2000 to 750,000 in 2008, something is very wrong with the way Nader conducted himself, no?
Covair
Bring America Back !!!!.......Commendable concepts and ideas here from Mr Nader.
Seems in this day and age the Awards Project would have a website and an e-mail address rather than a 'snail-mail' post office Box !!??
If I knew a philanthropist then I would also apply for a good size Bailout from Uncle Sammy...why is that not happening ??? Can't hit the Lotto either !
**I do have a nominee for a CHA--Civic Hero Award, named William Rodriguez, the maintenance man at North Tower, World Trade Center who entered the Tower after the jumbo jet impact on the upper floors, had the keys to the locked stairwell doors---opened them for NYFD & NYPD, allowed trapped employees to escape, and is thought to be the last out of North Tower before it came down...he dove under a fire truck and survived ! A statistic we don't hear much when we grieve the 2800 innocents who perished, is that 25,000 escaped and lived..so
Mr Rodriguez may claim that number along with the First Responders.
**Seems Willian Rodriguez just can't cut it with the annual CNN American Hero Awards--primarily because Rodriguez is well on-record as hearing multiple, timed, and phased bomb explosions deep within the NOrth Tower as he was doing his rescue work. Bomb explosions which could not possibly have come from the jumbo jet 90 stories up higher in the building.
**You see, bomb explosions just don't fit into the King George Bush party line terrorist theories, which mainstream media like CNN and FOX--et al, have enabled, spread, adopted and misled the American viewing and listening public on. The bombs of Rodriguez do explain how 3 massive skyscrapers of WTC turned into dust on Sept 11, 2001 !! It is called DEMOLITION !!!
The bombs of Rodriguez are the reason mainstream media wants us to think about Torture and water-boarding--the aftermath, and wants us to forget that the Truth of 9/11 has yet to reach the eyes and ears of America !
"We Will Never Forget" !!!! Remember 9/11 !! Wake up America !!!!
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Is it the content of the program that puts ya to sleep or is it the ads... The two major parties and their sponsors are dying to know?????????????????
Let's see, Nader's an activist and has written an article about how he want an Academy Awards-style ceremony for activists.
I guess Nader's jealousy of Al Gore has finally come to the surface.
Do you ever tire of such sophomoric contributions..I bet many here do.....
"Most people would sooner die than think, in fact they do so." Bertrand Russell
Ah, good ole' RR. He never stops throwing tantrums even as the obvious sign that Nader's votes dropped from 2.88 million in 2000 to 750k in 2008 continue to smack him in the face all the more making him redder. Keep it up, RR. Your man will be lucky to hold on to 500k by 2012 at this rate should he run yet again by then.