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Is Ralph Nader a crusader or a spoiler? Share your response and reactions to AN UNREASONABLE MAN.Tell us what you think >>
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i'm not an american citizen, my son Ryan is (2 years old), i suffered lot in a strange country alone to give him this citizenship & more i suffered 2d time with 3 little children alone to be evacuated to America just to give my other 2 daughter this citizenship but i returned to my country coz it was so difficult to my children without any member of family & without papers to rent an appartement. i wish i am an american citizen me & my family to give Ralph Nader our vote coz he deserve it & coz we need somebody from our origin country to support us & turn the vision of Lebanon from the bad side to the good side in all the way so we will not be obliged to immigrate to other countries.
Wow! Unreasonable citizens may be more accurate. Mr. Nader has done his part for years, and I am ashamed to realize that I am one of the many unreasonable citizens that has silently allowed our rights, under our Constitution, to be erroded, not by Russia, Cuba, North Korea, terrorist, etc., but by my fellow Americans!
I have just begun to use the Internet to communicate my great frustration, & anger at the National Democratic Party's denying my right to participate in representative government,(I have been a registered Dem. voter in Fla. since 1961)and last night (1-31-08) PBS aired An Unreasonable Man & the light bulb lit up. Ralph Nader has been telling my Silent Majority, for years, that this has & continues to happen.
At first I felt Howard Dean & Co. had done a great injustice to me, but actually they have stirred me to protest their un-American activities! I have found nothing on the Internet that addresses this issue, which seems to me, that without Voters' Rights none of the issues Ralph & friends raise can be dealt with with any noticeable degree of success.
I question if any candidate can stand up to Russia, North Korea,Iran, etc. if they can not stand up to the NDP for Fla. & Mich. voters rights. I have an Honorable Discharge for military service during the mid 60s & my father & father-in-law were in WWII, and this makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up! BUT, last night I heard that this is only the tip of the iceberg of usurping conspiracy attacking our government from within!
This may be the right time to wake up the mature, silient majority & activate the youth of our great country toward re-establishing our govt. by & for the people. Rock on,Ralph!
Respectfully,
Billy Bob-Florida 2-1-08
Your documentary on Mr. Ralph Nader, AN UNREASONABLE MAN was quite impressive. I was astonished to find out how repressive the two political parties are towards independent voices such as Mr. Nader (case in point, the scene in which he is turned away by a police officer under presssure from the two parties from being a SPECTATOR at a political debate while HE HIMSELF WAS RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT!) I highly encourage PBS to re-broadcast this excellent documentary during this important political season. I am shocked by how the mainstream media enable this repressive silencing of nonconformist voices. Last night, Jan 24, NBC allowed FIVE Republican candidates to debate on MSNBC despite the fact that one of them, Guiliani, has not one delagate and not one popular vote nor caucus to his name, yet refused to allow Dennis Kucinich to debate last week on MSNBC despite the fact that Kucinich asked a judge or someone with authority to intervene on his behalf. As a voter, I am outraged that the parties and the media are silencing the voices they don't agree with. Isn't FREE DISCOURSE the BASIS OF A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY? That's what I was taught in school, but that's not what I see in practice. Running your excellent documentary again and billing it as a primer on the "democratic" process of choosing presidential candidates would do much to clear the air on this vital point.
Ralph Nader is not personally ambitious in the way his critics describe. He knows government in the USA in stagnant because of campaign cash. The best and the brightest can not lead, because if they do not represent the powerful interests that hold our country captive they will be destroyed one way or another.
He is trying to create a new party where people, the environment, jobs, cities, healthy farming, schools and children are the main focus of the United States rather than was, empire, and hegemony. I applaud him and support this thinking.
God Bless you for telling the truth. Thnak You, Thank You, Thank You! Shame on the Democratic Party and the Republican party also. However, the Republicans are not looking for a scape goat and have gotten over losing the election fair and square. I was so surprised to hear seemingly intelligent people say that there should only be a 2 party system. Give me a break. These people really do believe that they are right at any cost. I hate that !!!
I have cried and thanked god for your covering other topics on your program that were painful to watch since it went against my basic beliefs at the time. God Bless you for showing the truth about Ralph Nader and the Democratic Party and the Republican party as well. I did not believe we would ever see the TRUTH about the 2000 and 2004 election.
The Democrats need to quit blaming everyone except themselves for the loss of the election. Democrats used to stand for something other than greed and greasing the palms of their buddies. John Cary? Give
me a break, what a small man he is.
Ralph is an honorable MAN and he stands by the right thing. I thank him for all the changes to safety that has helped my children's health and safety. Please keep telling people the truth. Only many I know go to bed too early to see it. Take Care and again thank you. Jodie
Re your Independent Lens program on Ralph Nader. I worked for him as Publicity Director for Critical Mass Journal & Publications Director for Critical Mass Energy Project. I was there for only a short time. He paid very little money. And that was okay if you were part of the Inner Sanctdom like Mark Green, Sid Wolfe or Rich Pollock, my boss. We worked in a building that should have been condemned (it used to be a convent I was told). He paid me $60 a week. Rich said that Ralph loved to "hire" people who were on unemployment. As far as I know no one in my office got health insurance or any benefits. Yes the film was correct you could do things without anyone hanging over you to direct your projects. But Ralph, in my opinion is a terrible employer. For him to say it is a crime for people to make minimum wage, makes him a hypocrite. Just my opinion. The film did not tell the whole story. Thanks for your wonderful programming.
The documentary on Ralph Nader was excellent; very well done. I wish that more people could be familiar with Mr. Nader and his tireless efforts on behalf of the American people. I have voted for him for President in the past and would vote for him again. I don't feel that he has ever "taken votes away from" other political candidates, as I and others would not have voted for those others anyway. Nader is an inspiration. I've spoken with him on two occasions and found him to be authentic. Many thanks to PBS for airing this important show.
Thank you to PBS and Independent Lens for airing this documentary! Most enjoyable and insightful to watch. I believe that Mr. Nader deserves recognition and praise for all he has done for consumers. If he was, or ever is, voted into office, I think that he would have a difficult time enacting all that he would want to accomplish due to the nature of the 'system'. I pray he can continue to work courageously on behalf of all consumers, and continues to enlighten the public. We especially need the 'Nader movement' at a time when we cannot rely on business to self govern/quality check goods going to market.
I voted Democrat from 1980 to 1992, when I switched to Jelo. Biafra, that is. I ordered Jelo in 1992 and 1996, when I still lived in Michigan. It was easy there to pencil in the vote with complete, Constitutionally-guaranteed anonymity. I treasure my right to a confidential vote. I wasn't behind a curtain, but I had the privacy of a sort of "study carrel" and all the voting supplies I needed on hand. If any necessary supply was missing, it was possible to leave the voting carrel and take care of it smoothly.
I tried to vote for Nader in 2000, in Amherst, NY (just north of Buffalo). Problem was, they still use the antique lever style machines, and the lever wouldn't budge when I tried to vote a straight Green ticket. I decided to vote for each Green candidate individually, since the individual levers worked. EXCEPT for Nader's lever!
At that point, I decided I would write in Jelo ... but there was no pencil or paper. Being new to NY, I wondered if it was one of those states that doesn't allow write-in votes (as un-Constitutional as that seems to me).
The only way to solve my problem was to leave the voting booth. To get out of the private booth, it was necessary to pull a large lever to open the curtain -- at which point my vote would be registered.
I hoped I could resolve my problem, but upon leaving the booth and requesting assistance, was told that my vote was registered, and there was nothing to be done. I explained that certain levers were not working, and the election workers -- who are supposed to oversee the FAIRNESS of the election process -- had the gall to ask me WHICH LEVERS! I would not tell them which levers did not work, and the election workers refused to test the voting machine. This sounded quite fishy to me, and I lodged a complaint with the outgoing senator as soon as I got home (Hillary won his spot that year). I also asked the election workers if NY allows write-in votes, and was told write-ins are allowed, BUT the voter must ASK for a paper ballot BEFORE entering the booth -- something I am not comfortable doing, since it makes my intentions public, thus infringing on my right to cast a completely confidential vote. Besides, those rules are not posted anywhere on the voting premises, so as a new resident of the state, I could not have understood the process as practiced in NY.
Bitter Democrats and anyone who wanted "Anyone-But-Bush" in 2004 are fiercely angry with me that I refused to vote for Gore or Kerry. They cannot, however, assert the claim that my vote in either election was "taken" from Gore or Kerry, since I would never vote for either of them... and in any case, my vote in NY was stolen by what I suspect to be Democratic Political Machine operatives who rigged the voting machines.
Even after I first voted for Jelo Biafra, I had some respect for Democrats in general. I was just biding my time until the party became sane again.
Instead, what I have seen from rabid Democrats is atrocious, despicable behavior -- the type my parents taught me is exhibited by frustrated losers.
When I voted in local elections recently, I was surprised and angry that the election workers who verified that I am a registered VOTER announced that I am registered as a DEMOCRAT ... surprised because I never registered with any political party in NY; angry because *someone* put me down as a Dem, and because the election workers announced it loudly when I showed up to vote in a regular election in which voters' party affiliations had no relevance.
Nader is right: our democratic process needs to be fixed. That is why I will continue to vote for either him or Jelo.
WHAT A GREAT DOCUMENTARY, I DIDN'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT HIS PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN AND ALL THE ROADBLOCKS HE OVERCAME. I WAS ASTONISHED ABOUT MR. NADER NOT ABLE TO ATTEND THE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES AS A SPECTATOR AND THE ORGANIZATION THAT SPONSORS THE DEBATES..... WHERE'S THE DEMOCRACY? MR. NADER "RATTLED SOME CAGES" AND IT APPEARS THAT A LOT OF "SOUR GRAPES' FROM THE DEMOCRATS. WHAT A GREAT PUBLIC SERVICE THIS FILM IS!
great documentary, (you)PBS should show it more often, so more people can watch them. i don't know who is in charge of scheduling, if it is not you, contact the people who get to decide what's on, and have them air it more.
It would also be great if you had these documentaries online so people can watch them for free. It's also a great business idea, because more people would be inclined to buy it.
ralph nader, imo is a great socialist. we need more people like him.
When democracy is uncorrupted, people who wish to win against a corrupted party (Republican) would all agree to vote for the purest, most experienced and least corrupted -- for a man who can not be bribed -- and for the most dedicated and most courageous in standing against powerful, dictatorial corporations as Nader was.
But it didn't happen that way because our system is corrupted. Nader couldn't even get in the debates and the newspapers wouldn't let him compete on the basis of equality.
FURTHERMORE, I DISCOVERED SOMETHING REALLY CORRUPT.
I went to a polling place to apply for a job. They had all of the applicants sit around a table and passed out a sample script that they were using when they call people.
The instructions for a particular question was that if someone suppports Kerry, a certain number was entered into the computer. If they support Bush it gave a different number to enter into the computer. But if they support Nader, nothing was entered into the question. There was no number by Nader's name. THE POLLSTERS DIDN'T RECORD IT!!!
Weep for America. Weep for democracy. Weep for Nader.
It would be a sin not to love Ralph Nader with all he has done for us. Thank you, Mr. Nader, for all the suffering you have endured for us.
I am a Green Party member. I used to be a Democrat and am VERY SORRY GORE LOST the Presidency. I don't blame Ralph Nader -- but I sued to until I went to my first Green Party meeting and got a better perspective. I also support, and admire Ralph Nader for the integrity of his work.
HOWEVER, whoever decided to call this movie and unreasonable man is treading on the reputation of Al Gore (whom I also admire and support -- It's a CHEAP Shot. I bet the movie is great but I'm turned off by the title because it makes me feel like Nader is needling Al Gore or Making fun... I wish you had chosen a unique title which did not appear to be picking on another great American. Seems cheap, not very creative, and underhanded, and makes me think less positively about Ralph Nader, accept that it was probably someone elses idea. Attacking Al Gore will not help Nader, it's nasty and wrong, IMHO.
Ralph Nader is a true American stateman and personal hero to me because he didn't sell out for selfish personal gain. His dedication to protecting the health and safety of others and high principles based on protecting and working for the common good of ordinary people, many without voice, money or power, has saved many lives because he fought the greedy corruption and domination of corporate business giants and other deep pocket private investors.
I voted for him both times before, I did not waste my precious right to vote on the lesser of two evils. Those who didn't vote at all are the true spoilers who totally ignored their civic duty and real responsibilities to other people less fortunate than themselves. Many people truly wasted their votes by not taking part at all. We got eight years of Bush baloney, simple cowboy antics and strategic power plays by a corporate puppet and prince of modern American royality elite because too many foolish uneducated Americans don't think it is neccessary or important in their own lives to vote intelligently at all and/or too many voted blindly based on one single politically trumped up pro-life social issue like abortion was used as a ploy to deny women's individual human rights to control their own bodies and make private personal health care choices.
Pro-life means just that, it ought to be pro-all life equally, not just a select few lives of the unborn, many innocent civilians, poor mothers and their unwanted children, the sick and the elderly are forgotten and ignored by our government. Especially the lives of those whose homes are destroyed in war torn regions or by natural disasters or those who suffer in poverty with sickness or physical and mental abuse, malnutrition and lack of decent health care and equal educational opportunities.
It seems the ordinary promising young lives of our sons and daughters serving in the armed forces are less valuable than the unborn or those who died in 9/11 now because of blind economic nationalism and irrational fear of other human religions and cultures.
Today cancer cells are a much greater health danger and possible killer of the majority of ordinary Americans than any people of another country. Cancer is the real terrorist cell hiding inside our own body, cancer cells are the true sleeper cells waiting to attack us.
History will remember Ralph Nader's contributions and his critics' names won't even be a footnote. The documentary was excellent.
Ralph Nader is one of the greatest American's to have ever lived. His decision to run for President in 2000 and 2004 helped to shine a light on the sad state of our democracy. I am proud to say that I voted for Ralph.
He has always been a champion for causes that benefit people. How anyone can be critical of his passionate efforts (Michael Moore, Susan Sarandon, etc.) for democracy, freedom, and fairness is mind-boggling to me. How many leaders (especially those that have been in the public's view for as long as Ralph has) can say that they walk the walk - and can truly lead by example?
Ralph has and he is one of my heroes.
Was Ralph Nader a spoiler in the 2000 election? NO! Al Gore ran a crappy campaign. Not once during his campaign did Gore mention the eight years of peace and prosperity that we had under Clinton and that under Clinton, we finally had a surplus in the national budget. And Gore should have attacked Bush with the same energy and vehemence that Bush used to attack Gore. Ralph Nader is a national hero and should be remembered everytime we buckle our seat belts. Kudos to Independent Lens for another great program!
Thank you so much, PBS and Independent Lens, for airing this incredibly well polished documentary to the public at no charge. Thank you, Mr. Nader, for your life-long crusade for defending the people--from the poorest of the poor to the richest of the rich, your efforts have kept our air clean, our water safe to drink, et. al.
Also, without Ralph running for president, I would have never gotten into civics. I would have been apathetic and uninterested, but Ralph gave me inspiration and opportunities that I would otherwise not had. I went on to inspire and edify others, and so on.
Best,
Nigel
The DNC and its toadies will need to work harder to destroy another Nader candidacy in 2008, if he finds the utterly corporatist Obama or Clinton on the general election ballot.
Currently, the Dem efforts in court to crucify his 2004 campaign in Pennsylvania is having little effect. In case you are unaware, apparently, Dem operatives in Pennsylvania conspired to enter falsified names on Nader petitions for ballot access there. After the election, the campaign was sued by the Dems for accepting the false names. The Dem court found for the Dems. The case continues.
I guess if you can't argue your opponent out of the picture, you destroy him and more importantly, what he stands for. Quite sad, actually.
Many of us will be with you again, Ralph....
thank you for making and showing this film. Mr. Nader needs to run for president now. every day counts. lots of work to be done. my slogan is:
2009 - It' Time. Nader for President. We need to remind everyone that it is what happen after the election that is important. it is not just about winning. it is about what you win and how.
Nader is infinitely more electable than any of those clowns already running. in both factions ('parties'). Not to metion THE clown. how is it possible that someone like you know who has become president, and someone like Nader hasn't?? Yet. This country, you, I, we deserve a president in the white house that is not a clown.
An activist, an advocate is the only true,qualified and morally qualified politician. what we have come to accept as 'electable politicians' are in fact crooks. in the best of circumstacne, peanute farmers, actors, former agency directors, sons of former agency directors, ane not politicians; nor do they make a valid president. Nader for President. It's time. 2009
I guess the most irritating thing about Ralph Nader is that he's still around. He just keeps working to make the lives of human citizens better, and the corporate "citizens" more accountable. Decades and decades of this. Your piece indicated that GM couldn't make him go away, Reaganites couldn't make him go away. And now the Democrats and Hollywood can't seem to make him go away.He might just keep working for what he thinks is right his whole life. How irritating. Thank you Ralph Nader. Kathy Chung
I've seen the last half of the Ralph Nader show twice. Even so, I found it terrific. Ralph Nader deserves a lot more recognition and credit than the citizens of the USA and the rest of the world have afforded him. His so-called friends can take a flying leap. As I see it, he doesn't need them.
I want to thank you for airing the Ralph Nadar documentary. It was one of the most informative films I've seen this year.
Dear Sir,
We enjoyed your program on PBS about Ralph Nader. I believe that someone that wins the presidency should give him a cabinet job. Jim Hightower said that we should be agitators and Ralph has certainly done that.
Yours truly, Disgusted Middleclass Taxpayers, Mr. & Mrs. LaVern Isely
I did not vote for Mr. Nader, but after watching an Unreasonable Man, I have respect for him. I am glad the commission on presidential debates was exposed. I had no idea that the commission receives donations from private groups. Like a fool I thought it was government funded.
It outrages me that he was asked to leave the presidential debate site, even when he had a ticket to be there. His first ammendment right should not have been violated.
I rember when I was in high school and a person told me that there was no difference between democrats and republicans, it was one big game of I'll scratch your back if you'll scratch mine. I thought this was laughable. After watching an Unreasonable Man, I know its true.
I think that Ralph Nader has been trying to send an important message to Americans in his two recent presidential campaigns -- that's the differences between the Democratic and Republican parties are lessening and that they're both becoming the errand boys of vast corporate interests and monies, rather than serving American citizens. I really enjoyed and valued the Independent Lens broadcast of "An Unreasonable Man" displaying the extraordinary citizenship and commitment of this man to American and democratic values, from his beginnings as a consumer advocate to his recent political campaigns. I thought the program, although somewhat biased in its portrayal of Ralph Nader, tried to achieve some balance in discussing opposing viewpoints such as whether his third-party run in 2000 cost Al Gore the election.
I believe this program has far-reaching implications as our nation is once again embroiled in the same old two-party contest for President, shutting out independent parties and points of views from reaching the attention of mainstream America, and the probable continuation of big corporate politics and lobbying as usual.
Kudos on a show well done!
Wow! Ralph Nader and the Green Party! What a sad historical event. Its clear that most folks who actually took the time to comment don't have a lot of awareness about the Greens and their history...
Ralph's relationship to the Greens is a bit of an embarrassment. I don't want to come off as a purist (like the way Ralph comes off in the documentary) but the Greens had lost their heart and soul long before Ralph came along.
Let's face it, for anyone who knows the history of the Greens, it means knowing about the political aspirations of Die Grunen (the German Green Party) and its political roots. The Green Party was born dead on arrival in 1988, when insiders in California broke process and formed the first state party in California, with the rest of the country to follow shortly.
The whole state of affairs that appears to magically spring out of the advent of Bush is a media myth. The Greens in Germany were formed around a process and structure that wanted nothing to do with star based politics. Die Grunen at its best did not give a damn who was running for office. It was the party's platform and teamwork that was what the party sought to build its base upon.
There is nothing wrong with the legacy of Ralph Nader. Sadly, the Greens in this country failed to understand the importance of the group's goals should have always come first. It should be noted that Nader was not the candidate for the Greens in 2004! Even though I'd long dropped out, there was a debate about Nader's name recognition vs. his non-existant relationship with the party's damaged internal process and development. From its inception, there were those who wanted to run as candidates. There were many others who were concerned about their motivations and how to deal with this.
The movie was really about Nader and the author's personal views of what Nader did. The Greens paid dearly for failing to understand Ralph's personal agenda which is so classically american. Running big ego's or namebrands can vary from brand to brand. Name Brand's with personal agenda's was why the more pragamatic movement linked community never came on board with the Greens back when it was formed. Many of had seen Jesse Jackson or the Peace and Freedom campaigns. When people agressively step forward and claim leadership, are they going to be the best at what confronts a third party candidate or party?
Grassroots organizing around issues was what Die Grunen was originally all about and still seams to be, at least in Germany. The 1988 Fresno conference that hatched the formation of the Cal. Green Party was a disaster. The fact that the entire process had yet to evolve any kind of workable version of a decision making process resulted with insiders not inviting opponents of their plan to the convening convention in Fresno!
Dozens of major issues had not been properly addressed.
But in this country, who cares that thousands of people from across the country spent years working to build a movement at a time prior to the advent of the internet! ITs all about political stars, not the issues and the people who worked so hard to make it possible for Nader to showboat!
Having helped write national SPAKA platforms, been at the convening Fresno convention and been pushing for the Greens since 1980, it was with sadness I left the group soon after. It has been my humble opinion that the Greens should be shut down, and reconvened, starting back where it had failed to address concerns about bringing in labor, minorities women and indigenous communities into its birth.
Sadly, political process is seldom about issues or values, or how people could ever come together to counter the symbolic horserace culture the media has set up in this country. Nader deserves his legacy to the extent that he helped start Public Citizen (he reminds me of Lincoln). But there were thousands of people who worked at every level of that group, of whom without their participation Nader's legacy would be far less. Yeah, he was supposed to be fearless leader! But the next generation weren't buying Bulwinkle and Rockie's leadership anymore! We were the generation that had bumper stickers everywhere that said "Question Authority!"
Just as the media focuses way too much on Martin Luther King during the massive civil rights movement, so is the case with Nader with the advent of the environmental and consumer rights movements.
Of historic interest, Die Grunen in Germany came out of the huge anti-nuclear movement in that country with the vision of working on all the issues the movement was concerned about. At the same time that the anti-nuclear movement was growing here in the U.S. Ralph Nader attempted to become the titular head of the movement here. Most of the anti-nuclear community refused to follow Ralph and his push to coral the movement here. Sadly, that movement never was able to carry the vision, values and community strategies forward long enough to stop the next illiterate generation of eco-whites from gaining control and turning the greens into the same kind of horserace mentality that Die Grunen and the global anti-nuclear movement was wanting to shun.
Is Ralph Nader a "spoiler" or not? The answer is simple. The "spoiler" is the election system itself. There should not even be the possibility for "spoilers" in a fair election system and there doesn't need to be in ours. Election reforms like Instant Runoff Voting are picking up steam throughout the country and ensuring that as many candidates as want to can run for office without any worries about "spoiling".
Those who are busy debating whether Nader should or should not have run in 2000 and 2004 need to stop and realize that they are both victims of a double bind that our flawed election system creates, pitting them needlessly against each other. They need to gather their energy, team up, and channel that energy toward supporting groups working to fix the election system.
I was very disappointed that this issue was not discussed in An Unreasonable Man and that it is not often discussed by Nader himself when asked about this topic. But it is the single most important point of all to me. I have written about it in my post Instant Runoff Voting Excluded: An Unreasonable Omission from An Unreasonable Man. I hope people will read the post, include discussion of the points made in it in any community gatherings around this film, and direct more energy toward those organizations working for election reform. Also feel free to get in touch with me if you are interested in this issue. Thank you.
I wish I was paying attention then because It is so clear to me now that this country would have been better off in so many ways if Ralph was elected. This film really brought to light the influence that the corporations in this country have upon us without us even knowing it.I wish Ralph would run again because I would vote for him in a heartbeat.If he doesn't this country will be once again drained by the republicans and the corporations who line their pockets.
This historic show missed at least one absolutely critical point Nader made after the catastrophe of the 2000 election: If we used Choice Balloting [listing our choices, as in 1,2,3], Ralph would not have been a spoiler. [As in elections around the world where Instant Runoff Voting: IRV, and the other applications of the Transferable Vote are used, now in San Francisco. Check out the Center for Voting and Democracy at FairVote.org or google CVD] Democratic elections are hardly possible without it. Of course there are other problems with our elections including manipulated electronic machines, registration policies, and most serious, absence of total public campaign finance.
And if Ralph had only opted out of New Hampshire in 2000, Gore would have had enough Electoral Votes to be elected, and we would not have even heard about the problems in Florida. We would have been spared thousands of American deaths in Iraq, hundreds of thousands of Iraqi deaths, disastrous loss of world opinion, many hundreds of billions of dollars from which our nation's economy may never recover, as well as the pathetic corruption of our Bill of Rights, the Constitution itself, the Supreme Court, other crucial judge appointments, government agencies, housing, alternative energy, health, education, global warming etc etc. The losses to our nation and the progressive movement are incalculable, and some say in your video that it could take 30 years to recover. Perhaps Edwards could shorten that.
I have been involved in politics before Nader, before Nixon. Elections without Choice Balloting are almost always choices for the lesser of evils. You can be pure in voting or you can fight the greater evils. You can vote against the Quizlings [if unfamiliar, check Wikipaedia] or be a Collaborator, a passive Enabler for Bush/Cheney types. Ralph was perhaps the great American, even world, hero for democracy in the last half of the 20th Century and now, the great villain of the new century.
But then who could have imagined the mind-boggling scope of the destruction Bush has perpetrated? ‘Puts Nixon and even the Reagan royalist wrath in the shade. It would have been hard to believe, but they now look like mere Boy Scouts in destroying democratic progress of the last century and more.
Another of his important defeats was the destruction of a project my college, Antioch, established, [and that he led], which operated a pubic interest law school in Washington. Perhaps that too can be rebuilt if the pervasive stench of the current administration actions can be exorcized.
Ralph Nader is the Thomas Paine of our times.
It's sad that the bloodthirsty corporate stranglehold on our private and public lives makes it difficult for citizens of intellect and courage willing to speak out. Everyone I know--educated or not--is afraid to speak up and "get involved." Those who do speak up are usually the most brazenly ignorant, glib, and brainwashed of the lot--eager, easily duped, and blindly proud to sing whatever the corporate news chorus book instructs them to. Yet, they are lauded while Nader is pied in the face. It's sickening. What we have is a populace that is frightened, intellectually and morally weak, apathetic, and historically ignorant.
I have nothing but the greatest admiration for Ralph Nader and Maude Barlow (read her great book, "Blue Covenant," about the corporate theft of worldwide water). We need more documentaries and interviews with truth tellers like these two. We need more truth. Period.
I think this was an excellent documentary. I wish there were more politians with the strength and intelligence of Ralph Nader. I agree with many that his resume is impressive and I believe he should have been able to be in the presidential debates. I feel unfortunate growing up in this generation. At a young age Nader took major issues that made such a great difference in improving America's quality of life. I am about the age he made impressive changes. I wish there was a way I could help make positive changes like Nader. I don't even know were to begin or how to start. I wish schools would value citizenship and taught true democracy instead of a dumbed down version of a political system. I wish there were more political role models like Nader and I hope this isn't the end of Nader's political career.
Ralph Nader is the American conscience. We've grown so accustomed to ignoring our conscience that the idea that our ideals may be realized sounds just as crazy as Nader does. Did that make sense? In any event, this documentary inspired me to more rigorously advocate for the candidate who most embodies my own ideals, rather than the one is considered to be the best candidate to win. Go Mitt Romney! (just kidding)
Thank you PBS, thank you Independent Lens. Time off for the holidays were going to be "spouse-core" but this film solidifies advice from 30 years ago that the worse statemement to a philosopher was to call them "vague". RN is not vague and to see the critics against his clarity was humorous. Not a factor to be in the debate but a factor in the loss---- priceless. The producers and fellow readers may consider like minds to formulate plans to move ahead this most wonderfull of causes. As previously mentioned Naomi Klein's Shock Doctrine is so to the point and it's great to see Zinn's contribution but there is no clearer mind, honed by the same years as Nader as Chomsky in his explanation of media bias in the Watergate-Cointelpro coverup.
Wait for the use of the word "cointelpro" and watch as he hesitates to make his point.... Priceless. See also Esquith in the Hobart Shakesperians, a great film about education in America. The fear of action doth make cowards of us all... but there is a solution for that too. Phillip Zimpardo says the same oppression tactics in use today, as he so elegantly demonstrated in the Stanford prision experiment, can be used for GOOD. I think the time has come for one of you dear readers to take up the next installment of this great cause and sow the seeds of human evolution. For Christ's sake, 2000 years of moral philosophy needs help with what Nader knows :-) Lawson, Texas
Ralph Nader did not help Bush nor did he hurt Al Gore in the 2000 election, because Gore won the 2000 election by 543,816 votes. Bush may have been named president, but he did not win the popular vote; Bush received 50,460,110 votes and Gore received 51,003,926 votes. We promote to the world (and ourselves) that we live in a democracy. However, is it a democracy when the votes of over half a million do not even count? Is it a democracy when corporations coordinated and controlled our presidential debates? Is it a democracy when our state police are used (or rather misused) to disenfranchise third party candidates from the presidential debates? Ralph Nader has done so many great things for this country, to me he is what the United States should be; we need more like him.
I would like to thank Ralph Nader for everything he has done for us. In addition, I would like to thank PBS for airing this very important documentary (even though it was shown at 2:00 AM in my area). I think that something this important should have been aired at a more reasonable time.
I had heard about this little documentary worshiping Nader but never given it much thought. As a staunch Republican, his views have zero impact on my world, my decisions, and my reality. However, I am very glad I bothered to watch.
The first half was quite dry and boring, however the ominous cloud of Regan bearing down on Nader, Carter, and all their little friends was easy to see from early on. Remembering the greatest president in American history and how thoroughly he crushed the leftist stupidity that was infecting our country is always pleasurable.
Then we got to the good part. Tears and wailing from both sides. I was laughing and cheering as Democrats and Naderites took turns savaging each other. Their tears truly are the finest wine. Judging by his forthright arrogance and ossified self importance, I have no doubt Nader will run again in 08. I wish him the best of luck.
For a man who has worked tirelessly his entire career for the American public to have a pie thrown in his face broke my heart.
The tragedy that few of the younger generation who are now reaping the benefit from Mr. Nader's hard work have no idea how courageous and difficult it all was for him. Also for the many other talented people who worked so hard for a cause they beleive in. We owe them all a great debt.
When the mainstream media mixed news with celebrity we lost the truth in the new, "Talk down to the American Taxpayer, and they will never notice the new world order." Was the cry of the day, and they won.
Thank you Mr. Regan, and the rest who did/do not care about much of anything but money. Be careful what you wish for...
Many of us played right into their wicked web of lies, we and those who come behind us will pay a heavy price for such greed.
Before this marvelous show I was unaware or I had forgotten the hassle Mr. Nader went through just to sit in the back room to watch the debate, then go on to a show he was invited on.
Instead he was tossed out like he was not a president candidate for this country. Horrifying!
No wonder we get the worst in Washington, a bunch of greedy lazy fools, who think: Why bother with the American fools who like to watch game shows when they get home from work. When they made us work so hard, it was hard to keep up with the true criminalty they were up to.
Although, I do believe many in Washington still care and are fighting hard to keep their head on strait in an ever growing and corrupt system.
To see that he was almost arrested and treated like a common criminal because he had a real message was too maddening.
The fear of the democratic party and the debate kings is beyond frighting.
However, he still continues to works for a cause worth fighting for.
An inspirational man, yes, unseasonable, you bet!
He is his own man, not a Stepford Man. His brilliance, critical thinking and hard work is the only way to get the many wrongs righted.
His early years show how people are formed. The sit down dinners and talk about the importance of learning to think for yourself on the issues of the day has been missing in many of the sad and broken homes in our generation. Or, worse the over the top wealthy and spoiled homes filled with the lazy what do I get next generation of today.
He had a good sense of, "What can you do for your country?" His parents thought it a gift to live in a free country and the need to give back.
With a show such as an UNREASONABLE MAN. his powerful legacy will live on.
I had been persuaded that Nader spoiled the chance of the 2000 Democrat's victory. But looking at the context of his life's work, I hope Nader paves the way for opening the window beyond the two-party revolving door.
When George Bush appointed Roland Arnall, a key player in the sub-prime fiasco, to the post of U.S. Ambassador to The Netherlands; and BKSH, the firm associated with Hillary Clinton's chief strategist, also represents Blackwater, I don't know who are being more cynical, the politicians of either party? or should it be the citizen?
I thank Nader for his decades of work on behalf of the people, and for keeping cynicism at bay.
I happened to stumble upon the show as I was flipping the channels and ended up watching the whole show with my jaws dropping! What a man Mr. Nader is!
Ralph Nader is my one and only American hero. He has been for many years, and it will never change. He alone has been fighting to get the government out of the clutches of the corporations, and Gore/Kerry/Clinton are poor excuses for Democrats. These latter people have all caved to the corporations, and so it is with those who are running for president now. This government is by and for the corporations, as Ralph himself said more eloquently. Until that stops, this country will not be a democracy. As for Ralph being to blame for the Bush disaster, blame the idiots who voted for everyone but Nader. In other words, if you voted for anyone but Nader, blame yourself. A people get the government they deserve.
Wow. I simply didn't know much about Ralph Nader before viewing this enlightening film. I loved particularly watching his critics reveal their obvious weaknesses when held up against Mr. Nader's unshakable reputation and consistency. His Resume' reads like a hollywood movie about a mystical figure, but this guy is for real.
Ralph was wise to go outside Washington politics, and regroup with the common person. This has always been the domain of the righteous. He has what every potential leader should have which is true power. Power that is based on his proven ethical standards and intelligence. None of our leaders have ever had this, and no one ever will. To give an honest man the political power of the presidency would turn this or any country upside down, even though we say that is what we would all want. The exception to this is maybe the Netherlands.
I sold out my idealism a long time ago for what I like to call financial opportunism or "The American Dream". Maybe some day, I will come to my senses, and give it all away to the poor, and follow Ralph.
Yes, RN is an unreasonable man and that is what is needed to propel change, but he is unelectable in a representational democracy (as opposed to true democracy) since he cannot compromise. Is half a loaf better than the whole loaf? Certainly, or at least, sometimes, maybe. Great leaders are great because they can see the whole picture and look out for the greater good. The danger of course is erring on the side of the money boys instaed of the public. So yes we need Rn but we also need leaders who know when to move things along. As much as I love RN, could you imagine living with this guy? I will vote for him again even if it's only a write-in because it feels sooo good finally voting for someone rather than just voting against someone.
I was really impressed by this documentary. It gave me an insight into Ralph Nader and the American political system that I had not had before. Your documentary really opened my eyes into realizing that the Democrats and the Republicans are very much the same party with two different names. Nader was absolutely right to have shown the people of the United States that they were living in a "Democratic Dictatorship".
The INDEPENDENTLENS provided WAKE UP CALL for AMERICA. I am hoping that it provides a DRAFT PETITION for Mr. RALPH NADER for presidential candidate of the USA, and a PETITION to be placed on the ballot in ALL states of the USA for "he got the whole world in his hands”! He dose not need to campaign to get my vote.
Nader is an inspiring American. Those who think he is in part responsible for the Iraq war (Bush instead of office instead of Gore) don't wish to accept the fact that Al Gore, Bill & Hilary Clinton, John Kerry and the majority of democrats all SUPPORTED the invasion of Iraq, or did they forget that? They changed their minds only when the polls changed. Nader was always opposed to the war, one of the main reasons I voted for him. The only way to get real change in politics is for voters to vote their conscience, not for who has the best chance to win. Nader is a true patriot.
I stumbled across the documentary on PBS last night and was riveted. WHile I reluctantly voted for GOre in 2000, my support was with Ralph. The obvious media neglect of his campaign was not a good sign for democracy. If the Reagan years did so little to open the public's eyes to corporate control and corruption, then maybe the W years will have that effect and Nader's role as the spoiler was a good one. Although I personally think the Democrats are simply too weak and unorganized and are their own spoilers. The two events that I found most revealing were 1)the time when Nader decided not to get arrested at the debate--why?? Because he had never been arrested before?? And 2) when the Democrats became minor league Republicans by selling out to the K-street crowd: "it's all about the money" Why are so many of the Raiders upset with Nader?
I AM HUMBLED AND ASHAMED FOR MYSELF AND THIS COUNTRY. RALPH NADER IS THE DEFINITION OF INTEGRITY! I HAVE NEVER MET ANYONE LIKE RALPH, I WISH I HAD. RALPH HAS POWERFUL SOLUTIONS TO REAL PROBLEMS RIGHT HERE IN AMERICA! CAN'T MORE PEOPLE SEE THAT? IF WE CANNOT TRUST IN A MAN LIKE HIM, WHAT POLITICIAN CAN WE TRUST?
THANKS TO STATIONS LIKE PBS, NPR AND KGNU HERE IN DENVER WE ACTUALLY CAN HEAR AND SEE WHAT AN AUTHENTIC, PROACTIVE HUMAN REALLY LOOKS LIKE AND SOUNDS LIKE! YES THAT MEANS CASH IS ON THE WAY!
Even though I have had a brief interlude with politics,I have come to the conclusion that I can effect more change in my own life by my own critical thinking and follow up actions. This will change my own world quickly and efficiently rather than watching a truly great human be castrated by a corrupt government, a delusional media, and an ignorant and misinformed general public. However I will continue to watch RALPH with great interest and will most certainly support his cause.
WHEN WILL I AND EVERYONE ELSE TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR OUR PROBLEMS? WE ARE FORTUNATE TO WALK THE PLANET WITH A MAN SUCH AS RALPH. WHEN WILL WE CHANGE? HOW BAD DOES IT HAVE TO GET?
People are dropping like flies from an infinite number of diseases and problems as never before. Most of us have no idea what to do about rather basic human issues. We are constantly being distracted and coerced by inanimate things. Then again we do like our comforts! None of this seems to be an immediate threat to our lives so why get in such a huff? Comfortably Numb to the end is our motto. It's quite uninspiring and lethargic to say the least.
I am an evolving human though. If I take responsibility for all of this I can then change it regardless of what my past record shows. I CAN THINK AND ACT ON MY OWN AUTHORITY. I CAN BE AN INSTRUMENT OF PEACE AND BE FOR THE THINGS THAT I BELIEVE IN, AND STOP FIGHTING THE THINGS THAT I DON'T. WHEN I AND OTHERS LIKE ME REACH A CRITICAL MASS -THE WORLD WILL BE DIFFERENT. IN THE MEAN TIME I CAN BE POSITIVE AND HOPEFUL IN ALL PEOPLE . EVEN THOSE THAT MANY WOULD CONSIDER MY ENEMIES. THESE ARE EXCITING TIMES WE LIVE IN! LET'S AT LEAST GIVE IT A GO AND MAKE IT MORE FUN TO LIVE HERE!
Thanks for the soapbox, and joy to all!
I was surprised no one mentioned what Nader said in his campaign speeches that I found very illuminating:
1. Corporations were originally required to serve the public good, but, in a Supreme Court decision that delighted the robber barons of the late 19th century, this requirement was stripped away.
2. Corporations are considered not persons when sued, but persons when exercising political free speech.
The way the system is rigged has led to the deplorable developments today.
I recommend Naomi Klein's new book, The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism, to show how this has played out in the last 35 years.
This is a statement of, hopefully, responsible praise of the program I just saw on Ralph Nader.
Never before have I seen a show about the current political scene, along with its relevant history, that so clearly shined a bright, balanced, articulate, well informed light on the issues at stake for each of us as individuals, and for the nation or world as a whole.
Bravo to your entire team for a very very responsible, well researched, emotionally potent, unbiased delivery of a story of a man who is leading in the way we need to see others lead.
Maybe for the first time ever, I felt both a sense of huge realistic fear at the current circumstances, in addition to an urge to yell a fight song for freedom, justice and individual responsibility in the American power selection process.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart, for showing us all how easily the message gets deluded and distorted and how much we all need to keep getting in touch with it, and fighting for it.
Thank you for featuring ralph nader. this is why i will always continue to support his missions.
I am also grateful to you for putting objective information out there.
Keep up the excellent work!
HI, wow, once again you woke up my sleepy brain with your inspirational and insightful story about Ralph Nadar. I had no idea he'd done so much for our country. He's truly an American Hero and would get my vote for president any day. Thank you for your stimulating and informative show. Truly, you are the best show on TV!
Just a great show on Ralph Nader it was edited very well and done with true professionalism. Each and every one of your docs. is informative and entertaining. I always look forward to all that your org. produces. Also in the spirit of Public TV they are always fair minded. Keep up the great work and keep your host. I'm a man of color, so I thank you and feel very proud.
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! What a powerfull document.
Remember, if you don't like the title "Unreasonable Man" that the "fox is in the henhouse" - so to speak. President Bush's political appointments have altered the make-up of PBS and NPR. You can no longer count on unbiased content from PBS/NPR. There are only crumbs left. So take it all with a grain of salt. Kudos to Mr. Nader though...a true American hero and a patriot. Too bad more people don't understand what he has been saying about our political process. People are lazy or stressed-out. Thank you Mr. Nader.
The program on Ralph Nader was the most significant I have seen on WTTW yet. I am a resident alien (from Germany) and have not naturalized in 20 years living in the US. I have come away with two main points - the elections in the US are deeply flawed and undemocratic because of the electorate system in place and the Green Party is the only hope to brake the gridlock that the two parties have on this country. There would be no question in my mind who I would vote for in the US and have been since the foundation of the Green Party in Germany. Go Ralph and shame on Michael for slipping into the bag of 'big' politics.
This is as important and timely as An Inconvenient Truth. Please publicize it more and schedule it when young people can see what a real hero is like.
I can't thank you enough for airing the Ralph Nader documentary on Dec. 18th 2007. I am about to host the next generation of my family here for the holidays and I will be sharing this film with them. To teach them what they,shamefully,will not learn otherwise. You have also inspired me to create an equally important fund to sit along side our daughters college accounts. A plan of support for the educational value and independence of THEIR future of PBS.
Dear Independent Lens,
I appreciate you doing a program on Ralph Nader. It brought out the greatness of the man and I commend you for that. But I do have a fundamental critique.
Why did you frame the story so as to give legitimacy to our broken electoral system? Why did Independence Lens provide space for sour Democrats on a program about Ralph Nader so that they could continue to spew their vitriol and venom in complete contempt for real democracy? What does the adjective "independent" in your program's name mean? Certainly it's not "independent" to repeat all the hysteria and hatred drummed up one faction of our ruling business party to attempt to discredit a person who maintains his principles and won't sell out.
Just watched your program on Ralph Nader. It is one of the most interesting documentaries I have seen in a long time. Congratulations to all concerned.
Just wanted to thank you for the excellent film on Ralph Nader.
I was a member of the Green Party and campaigned for him in 2000. Ran for a local seat on our town council but unfortunately was sabotaged by another candidate because his wife didn't like the photo I had taken of him to mount with mine on the side of a bus. Got a real education on the stupidity of people who were focused on themselves rather than the goals of the party. Also, the woman who was the Chair of our local Green Party had gotten involved for her own selfish purposes. She thought she would attract Greens to her annual festival but that didn't work because it had a bad reputation due to drugs and drunkeness. When those of us who had joined saw how the goals of the party were being twisted and distorted to serve these ends, we had to stop putting any energy into it.
Sincerely believe people will increasingly wake up to the integrity and honor of Ralph Nader as the years go by but I guess that is only the proof that he is way ahead of his time. What is the expression? No man is a prophet in his own land! I would be curious to see what would happen if he ran again--because so much of what he said is being revealed as true with each passing day. Think your film does a good job of demonstrating that.
Ralph Nader has been the target of much unfair criticism and deserves far better.
As for the 2000 election, Bush had such a poor record as a governor and citizen that Gore can only blame himself for losing. As the program pointed out, exit polling showed that those who voted for Nader would not have voted in the first place if the only choices were Gore and Bush.
The Democratic and Republican parties no longer have the interest of the country at heart. They have both turned public service into self service. Nader's candidacy was essential in pointing out these sad facts. As a result, many people's eyes were opened, which may be the beginning of the reclamation of our political system.
I do not know if Mr. Nader is reading any of the comments here, but if he is, I want to say thanks Ralph for all that you have done for the country. You will continue to have my support and respect.
Corporations are not citizens and should have no rights. They should not be able to influence politicians by donating money, not be able to lobby people and write legislation. The drug companies write the prescription drug plan. The oil companies write the energy policy. The insurance companies write the health policies. ETC.
If and only if we held clean elections funded by the public and eliminate the electoral college can we have fair elections with multiple candidates. Until then I will always vote for a third party in national elections. Ralph should have gotten arrested at the 2000 convention, then maybe the media would have lead with the story - A candidate running for president of the united states is arrested for trying to go to the debates.
thank you for featuring ralph nader. this is why i will always continue to support his missions.
i am also grateful to you for putting objective information out there.
keep up the excellent work!
I agree with Linda U. (Posted by: Linda U. on December 19, 2007/ It is sad...) It is sad. Ignorance is what hinders our present and future.
I wish Ralph could break the oligopoly that is ruining this country and the world just for profit.
Billy D
The revelation of Ralph Nader and the program were the first real hope I have had about true goodness and the cost we pay for steadfast resolve to move to a higher plain of truth for a better world. I hope someone can help me work with Ralph if he makes another effort or needs help. I hope to write a book about peace and really need his perspectives on key issues. My efforts at a better world have seemed like stabing air in the dark and on my own so I need the resolve and maturity attained by Mr. Nader. It is the future of hope and positive works that reasonate into a more perfect union for our children that I ask to be part of His efforts.
Peace Maintain
Bill Wilson
As a two-time Nader voter and volunteer, I'm proud of what we did in 2000! I'm basically a three-issue voter (campaign finance reform, trade reform and single-payer health care)and New Dems not only abandoned me on these issues, but worked throughout the '90s and continue today to make things worse.
Clintons/Gore brought us media consolidation, free trade, MFN for China and a hundred other previously-failed Republican proposals. The friend who turns coat can do more damage than the enemy who's never stood by your side.
I relish the idea of having helped "spoil" the 2000 election! My vote finally counted. Short of Democrats nominating Edwards (or Kucinich), I see another Nader campaign as a probable necessity in 2008. We also need spoilers in house and senate campaigns to drive the New Dems from the halls of congress.
Progressives must take back the Democratic party or get out of it! Why do we keep taking the same girl to the prom if she'll never dance with us? Bringing New Dems down is the only way to win back the party.
One more thing...Ralph Nader needs to run in '08! This country needs him!!
I enjoyed watching the PBS documentary on Ralph Nader. I feel very strongly that he is a critical component in unveiling the truths about our government. I don't fully understand why so many of his supporters turned tail on him during the elections of 2004. What are they really afraid of? Personally I am tried of our country being run by big businesses and corrupted politicians. I thought someone like Ralph would have made alot of differnce and maybe have brought the People back into government. But, I don't know...maybe everything is really okay the way it is now. Maybe there's nothing to really be worried about and we're not being bamboozeled by all those politicians and corporate lobbiest. Everything's okay...right?
I like Nader a lot, especially after viewing this documentary, I suppose you would call it. I cannot say that I was aware of all that Ralph Nader has done for the US. I'm a Canadian myself, so it was a very interesting and enlightening programme.
I think Nader has a lot of backbone. He doesn't compromise himself. He was certainly not the cause of the 2000 Bush win. That's a ridiculous statement. Ralph Nader ran his campaign the exact way it should have been run. Why would he ever do anything other than try to maximize his own vote-count? He's not here to perpetuate the idea that America, people, or democracy should have to settle for the lesser of two evils. Democracy is about having the opportunity to be exactly who you are without compromise. I think that message has been lost in the constant fear mongering injected into every election and that is really disappointing.
I respect what Nader has done outside of presidential politics and I think people need to realize all of that too before they dismiss his efforts. Even though some argued Nader stood for "none of what he really believed," etc. during his campaign, I respect his decision to still give people the option of not having to compromise their wants, needs, and beliefs for fear of a worse possibility.
America isn't a bad place to live in, just frustrating when the system is being perverted.
Ralph Nader and his campaign can say what they want. We are in this cesspool and quagmire because of him. I think its clear now, there is a clear and distinctive difference between Democrats and Republicans. 4,000 dead in an illegal War in Iraq, countless Iraqis dead, illegal wire tapping, dismantling government, tax cuts for daddy Bush, corporate corruption, imminent economic downturn, gas companies getting rich on the buck of the American middleclass. Thanks Ralph, thanks for beleiving in democracy!
While I am on the opposite side politically, you can not help but admire Ralph Nader for his honesty and tenacity in pursuing what he believes to be the truth.
As the show suggested,his record of accomplishment and the he has lived his life will make him a very significant historical figure. It was an excellent show.
One aspect of the show, which is very indicative the politics of today, was the vitriolic attacks on him by the "Liberal" members of the political spectrum. Their blind hatred of Bush would have them supporting Stalin if it meant defeating Bush. American democracy will not long survive when subjected to the blind visceral hatreds of either end of the political spectrum. One cannot see the scene outside the debate in Boston and not fear for our country.
While I am on the opposite side politically, you can not help but admire Ralph Nader for his honesty and tenacity in pursuing what he believes to be the truth.
As the show suggested,his record of accomplishment and the he has lived his life will make him a very significant historical figure. It was an excellent show.
One aspect of the show, which is very indicative the politics of today, was the vitriolic attacks on him by the "Liberal" members of the political spectrum. Their blind hatred of Bush would have them supporting Stalin if it meant defeating Bush. American democracy will not long survive when subjected to the blind visceral hatreds of either end of the political spectrum. One cannot see the scene outside the debate in Boston and not fear for our country.
i apologize for my mistake. In 2000 i also thought Ralph Nader split the democratic vote and thus produced 2 terms of Bush. Now i see he's one of the few who can change this dictatorship of wealth and return it to the people and sharing it with every human being.
Please forward the following to Mr,Nader...thank you
Dear Mr Nader,
I have just watch the PBS independence lens show about your life and semi-biography.
I have being crying and weeping after the show.
I was a medical student during the 2000 and 2004 election. During the rigorous cerriculum, I did not pay too much attention to politics, even though I thought I supported demacratic ideals.
I want to apologize to you for my ignorance and stupidity during those years.I did not really know you or what you stand for during the election. I am sorry I did not look over the media fog and see what was really behind the Green party agenda.
Its amazing to learn what me and the rest of America had missed for the past 10 years, not Gore, not Kerry, but you. You are one of us, you are the true hero, what you did in your life time, had touch me and my families and future generation so deepely, I want to let you know that I really really appreciate your hard work and integrity.
The way you talked about politics in America really stimulated my desire and motivation to make a difference in what I do as well as my teaching toward my child. You gave us hope and a new light in the darkness.
Thank you for all your hard work in standing with the common people and everyday citizen. Thank you for being so courageous and consistant in what you do. Thank you for fighting the coporate interests and give a breath of fresh air in politics.
most of all, thank you for shaking my core and making me look at the world from a different angle. Please let me know what I could do to help and would you consider running again for president of USA or president of UN, I know you have changed our world for better and you would do the same for the future generation.
By the way, the seat belt you helped to mandate saved my life, Thank you for saving my life more than once on the highway and will continue to do so everyday.
Thank you
Frances
I urge all of you who have spoken so passionately about Mr. Nader to go to the Green Party website (www.gp.org) now and Register. Join the true Party, the Revolution!! Get your Green Card for just $36 and you will become a card carrying member of the Green Party. Get your bumper sticker, button and newsletter. Your donation can go directly to your own State's Green Party. Get involved - we need each and everyone of you. You can make a difference! Thank you to all of you who see the vision.
Thank you for this terrific film, a poignant and balanced presentation. Like many other people at this site and throughout the country, I still have agonizingly mixed feelings about Nader, a truly honorable, heroic, and tragic figure. I agree with everything he says and find it disturbing that this embodiment of the ideal citizen we pretend to lionize actually has no place in the political life of our country. On the other hand, I could not disagree more that there is no difference between the major parties. Not enough, to be sure, but the world would have been a different place with Gore as President. We owe Nader so much, but NOT another run for the White House.
I just saw the documentary. I have a lot of respect for Ralph Nader holding on and speaking out on his convictions. I have yet to see anyone else with such integrity. After voting Democrat and Republican for a couple of years I am fed up with the corrution and lies. I am voting for Ron Paul in the Primaries because he wants to follow the U.S. Constituion. In the General Elections, I hope Nader runs becuase I would vote for him because he too follows the U.S. Constitution. As far as the Demublicans/Republicrats are concerned, one party is creeping toward fasicsm while the other is rushing into it full throttle.
I voted for Nader in 2000. The next 4 years of Bush made me believe that no matter who the Democratic candidate was in 2004 I would vote for them.
But the night before the 2004 election I went to hear Nader speak. And what did he say? "I don't agree with Kerry about the war, but just for now I'm going to hold my nose and vote for him. I don't agree with Kerry regarding corporate power, but I'm just for now I'm going to hold my nose and vote for him. I don't agree with Kerry regarding the Patriot Act, but just for now I'm going to hold my nose and vote for him."
"When will you stand up for what you believe if not now?"
The next day I voted for Nader, not Kerry and have never regretted it. Even as I cried when Bush won.
Ralph Nader is the last of the genuine All-American heroes. The man is awsome for what he has already done, and for what he still tries to do for all of us. I am very disappointed by some of the crying done by some of the big names of the left; it just seems to show that in the great trial by fire to see if their consciences were integral, they came to be found wanting. The same goes for some of Mr. Nader's former colleagues whom abandoned him.
If it wasn't so tragic for the way some of these people publicly beat-up on Ralph, it would be almost laughable to see some of these people project their own egotism on to him and disengenuinelessly accuse him of their own hang-ups and shortcomings.
Especially unbelievable is the BS of trying to lay blame at Ralph Nader's feet for the idiocy and corruption of the Democratic Party-what a bunch of losers (the complainers and retardrd hierarchy). Do these people recall that in 2000, Gore just represented a coninuation of the Clinton's "Republican Lite" and that his running-mate vice-prez was none other than Bush butt-kisser Joe Lieberman, who just today endorsed John McCain for president and a few weeks ago was the co-sponsor for the senate bill basically giving Bush the green light to invade Iran when his ego decides to head that way?
What an amazing and horrifying story! How people turn on someone, just pile on like a mob, turn on someone who has been so dedicated and tough and thoughtful and right over many, many years. And how afraid the Democrats seemed makes me a bit ashamed of us. I voted for Gore, but defended Nader's freedom to run. Maybe You Tube would have given him a platform. Public Citizen should put his name back on their group as founder. It seems to be a craven rewrite of history that they took his name off and not giving credit where credit is due. They make themselves look really petty, mean and sniveling.
I was almost convinced by Nader. I had Hope for America in the first part of my life. (till 1980) But it is the Dems that are the real jackass.
He should not have run as an Independent
I am a Viet Vet and a firm believer in anybody but a Republican.
PS. I had my own succsessful business and retired at 53 years old.
Jack, Bronx, NY
I have always appreciated the work Nader has done for this country. I think we are increasingly being governed by plutocrats and moving farther away from a true democracy. I am proud to have voted for him and I stand by my vote to this day. It's unfortunate that so many saw his candidacy as a divisive thing because now any future efforts of his on our behalf will be met with resistance -- not that he's a stranger to obstacles. We need him and his companions out there more than ever now.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS DOCUMENTARY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH RALPH NADER. I feel Very good that I finally have had someone to vote for President in my lifetime. AN UNREASONABLE MAN was a GREAT documentary I hope that EVERYONE that SHOULD see it does as soon as POSSIBLE. Mr. (Smith) Nader goes to Washington with GOOD INTENTIONS for ALL AMERICANS and it is a terrible shame that know one gets it. He is not a SPOILER he is DEDICATED to All Americans and everthing he does scares Corporate America. Honest reasoning and Common Sense are also things that Republicans and Democrats just don't understand. Ralph Nader always points out the flaws made by politicians and they just hate to admit to their mistakes. ETHICS is a tough word for any politician to swallow. PLEASE RALPH NEVER NEVER give up. The program gave me hope and I hope it will be shown over and over. Shame on those who backed Ralph Nader and then LET him down. The only reason Pat Buchanan talked kindly about Ralph Nader was because he was also TREATED UNFAIRLY. To blame Ralph Nader for anything is PITIFUL. AS Americans we must get off our rears and do whatever it takes to help Ralph Nader move forward. Thank You Again Ralph Nader.
“Some people are blind and are able to see everything, some people have eyes and are totally blind”. The Commission on Presidential Debates had elapse of memories!
Memory of one lane street that “my land is your [their]land and not your [their]land is my land”! As with any Sheppard that leads a herd to greener pasture there is always a danger of the “sheep herd” being attack by wolfs, so was Naders [ours], no exception!
The “spoilers” were the ones who agree among themselves for two candidates debate, as he was being threaten either to live voluntarily or to be evicted by a “police force”. Democracy denied to participate in the process that people believe were and are entitled!
As Nader travel the road I shall watch, read enthusiastically, for it provides hope for better to morrow. What ever he does we wish him “good health and long life”.
America is not ready for Mr. Nader. His ideas are too prosperous to be understood by the masses and be accepted by the hegemonic class. The political history of America is nothing else but a decadent spiral of lousy plutocracy disguised as a two-party system.
I would like to see this program aired often enough so all American's have the oppertunity to see the political strangle hold our current system use's to keep the "good ol' boy's" in power. Ralph was "strangled" when it came to people getting to hear what he had to say, please try to undo this injustice by playing this documentary soon and often. Thank you in advance.
Sincerely, b.r.p Austin,Mn.
Nader's one mistake was probably to NOT get arrested when he tried to enter the debate with a valid ticket. The first time in American history that a Presidential candidate was arrested for trying to go where he had a perfect right to be would have been one remarkable story. Even our anti-issue media couldn't have ignored that.
A magnificently produced documentary, a tribute to Nader as a thoroughly unreasonable man in the best sense of the word, and an exploration of the country's most fundamental domestic political issue - should big government or big business have the ultimate power in a democracy - I hope it gets the widest possible viewership. More impressive even than anything done by Ken Burns, it could also be a vital contribution to the discourse of the 2008 election. Ron Thompson
I voted for Ralph Nader in 96. But I really caught it from a friend of mine who blamed me and everyone else who voted for Ralph for the loss against bushy boy. After that, I lied and told everyone else I voted for Gore. Now I'm proud of my vote. Ralph...PLEASE RUN FOR PRESIDENT IN 2008!!!
Mr. Nader's life story should be the required text book for all boys, and it should be entitled: "How To Be A Man".
It is sad and it is prophetic that this country the United States of America is on the same path as all the other countries that have dictators, self proclaimed kings, and despots controlling the citizens to their own selfish benefit. Wake up people don't you see what big business is doing? The media tries to distract us by pointing to the demonic actions of other governments in other countries against their own people, to keep us duped into believing that we are all better off. BS! Ralph Nader is just the tip of the iceburg! We already live in a police state. Our so called guardians of our security is taking away our rights under the umbrella of the Patriot Act and that is just one law, stating that they have a right to do whatever they want to us and we can do nothing about it!
The media is controlled as well as the police and government officials by people who parade themselves around as saints (Bush) and patriots (Chaney)when all they want is more money and power. They use our own laws to kill our young men by sending them off to war or knocking them off in the streets. This country was built on the principle that ALL are created equal and have an equal right to speak and voice opposition. What chance do we the common person have if even Ralph Nader a famous advocate for the average citizen is stepped on and grounded into the dirt.
WAKE UP! We are being duped into oblivion by crooks and thieves hiding as lambs. They are sucking our lifes blood away. Our FREEDOM to be who we are and grow this country into what it once was.
Let me quote the Declaration of Independence:
"--That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--"
This is our precious charter of freedom that was penned many years ago. We don't have to throw off our government. We have to revamp our political system by putting in the right people and letting EVERYONE speak without reservation. I don't want to believe that the majority people of this country is asleep or so indifferent that they are willing to allow tyrants that are slithering behind the scenes to control our free speech. To hinder people like Ralph Nader who has done more than the republican and democratic parties put together for the people of this country from speaking the absolute truth is an abomination. This is definitly a very very dark era for this country.
This is the beginning of the end for us all unless YOU do something about it!
GOD HELP US!
It makes me sick to think about the way (true?) Democrats have the unmitigated gall to blame Ralph Nader for either election loss. If they had any courage they would blame themselves for the ridiculous campaigns that they attempted and the candy-ass platforms that they chose to run on. I'm a Canadadian and despair about the state of politics in my country but I laugh/cry when I turn my my gaze to south of the border. You don't need Ralph Nader to run for president you need 4000 Nader's to run for office. As for how he has damaged his legacy because of his political ventures, well like he said they won't be pulling seat belts and air bags out of cars just because he lost elections. Your country should thank its lucky stars that it has someone with the conviction of a Ralph Nader. I know I wish we had a whole parliament full of Naders.
Crusader or Spoiler? This sets up a false dichotomy. The sad irony of Ralph Nader is that he is both. The road to hell is often paved with good intentions. Nader as advocate has had tremendous power; I hope he will use it in '08 to help ensure that all votes are counted and verifiable. A voting system that relies on computerized voting machines desperately needs a crusader with Nader's track record to protect our most basic democratic right.
I watched the show on Ralph Nader. I was very impressed by Ralph Nader as usual. The Democrats were their own undoing. They to have principles and stick to them just as Ralph Nader does. If we should blame anyone for Geoge Bush we should blame the 7o million or so uninformed people who voted for him. The people who voted for Ralph Nader at least knew what they were voting for. It is a sad commentary when most of the so-called democratic countries in the world don't have provisions for electing the best candidate but rather somebody who is motivated by huge monetary gains from a few very wealthy donors.
Thank you PBS for such an excellent, thought-provoking documentary of such an important historical figure. Ralph Nader is an American hero.
As for those critics who bitterly blame Nader for the 2000 and 2004 presidential election "results," get over it! You'll find the scapegoats you're so desperately in search of in the forms of Al Gore and John Kerry (slaves of corporate power and influence). You call yourselves democrats while vociferously opposing the very notion of democracy and obstructing the mere prospect of any third-party candidacy which threatens to take votes away from your "lesser-of-two-evils" candidate. Such an exercise is intellectually dishonest and anti-American. Oh ... but that's right, the stakes where just too high. What an absurd defense. You should be ashamed!
I agree with all the heartfelt tributes to Ralph Nader on this forum. Hopefully, Mr. Nader feels validated by the outpouring of support. I voted for RN every time he ran and will vote for him again-even if I have to write in his name. With the current roster of candidates we can be assured of business as usual. Ralph Nader is the only public figure we can trust to stand up to the corporatocracy that runs this country.
Ralph doesn't understand that in the REAL world there is the "law of unintended consequences." Bush is also an idealogue. Ralph needs to understand "real Politik." The best is not the enemy of the good. "A jouney of a thousand miles starts with the first steps." Ralph seems to demand immediate results. What world is he living in?
The film gave me a better appreciation of the man's contribution to our nation. A great American!
This fantastic documentary about both the principled life of a great american hero and the corruption of liberal party politics proves that Integralism (as articulated by Jean Gebser, Ken Wilber, Don Beck, etc.) is needed instead of the futile oppositional politics that liberals and conservatives usually engage in.
God bless Ralph Nader. Down with cynicism and hopelessness.
Thanks!
A couple years ago I was involved in a car crash. I wasn't hurt for two reasons. One, I was wearing a seatbelt. Two, an airbag padded my crash. It is not an exaggeration to say that Ralph Nader, who is directly responsible for both of those safety items, may have saved my life. Has Al Gore, or any other major candidate, affected my life in such a positive, direct and significant way? Nader is a rare bird, whose depth of belief in improving our rather weak democracy is unquestionable and unshakeable. I don't blame his detractors for trashing him, and I don't blame anyone for voting for Kerry even though he was a weak and severely compromised candidate, but I do think a little less of them for it. This country needs more NADER, not less.
Ralph Nader was no spoiler. I know people who voted for Bush twice. A family member voted for Bush because he was convinced that the Democrat's were trying to take away his guns. He was glad Bush was in office after 911 because Gore would be inclined to ask why it happened rather than just "punching back". A close friend voted for Bush because of his stance against gay marriage. These are blue state, college educated people making these decisions in the voting booth. America is getting 8 years of Bush because American's are just as ignorant on the important issues as he is.
I disagree with the other coments that are said about Nader, those who think that the democrats have a myopic view think again. Karl Rove the republican strategist and golden boy met with Nader in secret and pay him off to cost the election to the democrats in 2000 and 2004. So those who said that he is a scapegoat he's not he's making himself the victim here of political bureaucracy and he doesn't realize that he is the victim of his own ambitions. I agree with the other guy's comment that he is a lousy politician. But to me he is nothing but a spoiler and an election-stealer.
As I watched "An Unreasonable Man" I sat on my couch and wept. Ralph Nader is a true patriot, and he gets betrayed by his former colleagues, threatened with arrest and pies thrown in his face. He isn't perfect. He may seem belligerent, but I think he's just dedicated and driven. He's worked consistantly and diligently for what he beleives in for his entire life. It made me cry to see his "loyal" supporters turn their backs on him. It made me incensed to see bitter liberals wine about how Ralph caused the Bush white house. Folks - WE have caused the Bush white house. I voted for Nader twice, and I'd vote for him again and again. I knew he wouldn't take the race, but at least I wasn't settling for the "lesser of two evils". Just THINK what this world would be like if Nader had been in the white house following 9-11.
Ralph Nader is a brilliant man. You Americans are lucky to have him. Megalomaniac? I think not. Visionary. He is thinking so far ahead of anyone else - which is a shame because it seems so few of your most powerful and influential politicians have the capacity, the guts, will and heart to truly pursue public interest.
I get it now. I'm sorry I didn't vote for Nader in 2000 and 2004. He is the most representative of my political beliefs. I, like a lot of us, was deluded into believing my vote was pragmatic--the choice of the lessor of two evils and like most of us, I'm disgusted by the corporatization of America. I'm not going to settle in future.
This country is in sad shape politically wise and our government interests and lack thereof in the citizenry. We do not have a government run by one party; any more than one party voting detracts from that party; additionally candidates detract from the first two; and so on. Give me a complete break that people hold a third parties as only detractors of the two. Maybe it has to come down to this; two party systems are efficient machines for corporations to control the government; unfortunately, look at how well they are doing.
"An unreasonable man" is a good film for waking Americans up to the idea that we, the world, are becoming just fodder for the corporate machine and their sole profit objectives.
In response to my previous post, for further proof that our values are out of whack, check out a new book by S. Talvi titled 'Women behind Bars.' If we care more about the price of jeans so that the majority of us go to Walmart rather than we care about the mental condition of the people in incarceration maybe we do deserve Bush and worse. At least Korea is solving it's own problems without US intervention.
Did Nader cause Gore to loose the elections? YES. An independents should continue to "spoil" races for the Demopublicans until they adopt pro-democracy reforms like proportional representation and Instant Runoff Voting.
I really resent PBS's entitling the program about Ralph Nader as being "An Unreasonable Man". I find the title asinine. Nader has always been extremely reasonable. Honest reasoning has been his trademark. It's the leaders of corporations, government and religion who do not like men and women of reason because they just want us to do what they want without questioning. I can't think of anything Nader has done that has been unreasonable. The media, including PBS, tends to misrepresent far to much of what is happening in this country.
RALPH NADER MUST SLEEP WELL AT NIGHT KNOWING THAT MANY LIVES HAVE BEEN SAVED BY THE AUTO SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS THAT HE PUSHED TO HAVE IMPLEMENTED
After watching some of the program last night I am now going to tape a late night repeat and watch from the beginning. The elections were where I became shocked back to awareness of how things are operating. I was one of those that did not like that Nader ran because he could not win but after listening to the sides discuss who was right, I found myself worried that we have missed the opportunity to demonstrate that the people are not satisfied with fluff and distractions of who lived what life, who is the most christian, who helps little old ladies cross the street. Where have the issues gone? Why does the media today only ask questions about who said what and who cries, who had the best childhood. What will the candidate do about the reversal of consumer rights legislation. What will the party do about funding reforms? Why can't the people have health care for every citizen? What is the cost of not altering the business environment to promote clean air, water, safe working conditions, a fair wage? If companies can not afford health care for large groups how is it possible that there is no talk about insurance profits over health. Individuals are led to believe that they can do better than a group can. Yet every company uses actuaries to determine the cost for the group they insure based on all the individual data. Ralph Nader seems to have been discredited primarily because he dared to point out the flaws of the Dems that wanted his devotion. This kind of film and this kind of documentary deserves to be heard and seen on a large scale with as much publicity as a major movie. It was a far fairer account of the way things work than any of Michael Moore's films. Is there some way to get the word out to demand some real policy discussion in this next election?
The documentary was excellent in many ways. However there was no mention of an effort of Nader's that might show even more dramatically how his long-range thinking has affected our society. What about his efforts to get the airlines and the FAA to make changes that would have, if enacted back when he proposed them, prevented the 9/11 disaster?
Immediately after that tragedy, the airlines and FAA fortified the cockpits and changed the operational rules to eliminate the possibility of commandeering an aircraft, even in violent situations. All the other subsequent airline security measures are nonsense in comparison with those fundamental moves. I would like to know more about Nader's work on that topic, who opposed his proposals, and why the opponents prevailed all the way to 9/11.
Hurray for democracy! We get to hear Nader's voice (on one documentary) which is aired once, at 9pm, 10pm, 2 am, 4 am. Freedom of Speach at its best. He doesn't get to participate in the (Debates? Are they still called that when you're not allowed to discuss real issues?). So we'll hear all about whether this or that candidate appears strong and tough and experienced, and whatever other meaningless abstraction, and no mention of where they stand on policies... like the longstanding occupation of much of europe, as part of the 750+ bases scattered across the world... no mention of the bipartisan US/Israeli attack on Lebanon (after all, whose cluster bombs are falling? Whose apache helicopters are gifted despite continued violations of UN resolutions and continued atrocities against the palestineans?). We'll we hear a discussion on NAFTA, the key reason Mexicans are flooding over the border? No, issues like economic and military imperialism must remain outside of democractic discussion. Let the elites decide that, after all, life has gotten so much better as a result of their decisions... (the average worker works over 1 month longer per year, for the same or reduced pay and fewer benefits).
Ralph Nader is the truest American I know and
I am proud to say I voted for a true American.
After watching the documentary last night I found myself sad, depressed, with a hopelessness beyond hope. I didn't realize Michael Moore had taken such a stance in '04. That scene of him and Mahr placating Ralph was especially ugly. I will again, as in '04 and before write in Ralph's name on my ballot in '08. If liberal America continues to not understand simple reality and continues to "wise acre" (in the words of Gurdjieff) the air will not be breathable, the skies will be dark, the daffodils will not come up in the Spring and on and on. Hopeless. Please PBS, more programs on Ralph, more interviews, more platforms for him, more, more, more. Make sure those ugly Democrats who think Ralph is a spoiler get to read this message. Ralph Nader is the most distinguished American.
Bravo! An excellent profile of a Great American. As a teenager Mr. Nader and his Raiders made me proud to be an American. I felt safe and protected knowing that he was looking out for us and that he had sway with the American people and Congress.
Then it all changed and for more than 20 years I've been asking what happened? Your documentary gave me my answer; the birth of the Republi-crat party. The Democrats betrayed the public trust for power and cash. Clinton was a moderate Republican and yet people flock to him as some kind of American working class savior.
While Mr. Nader may have ego and temperment, I don't know anyone who ever accomplished anything who didn't care passionately about their cause. I'm grateful for all he's done for us.
After viewing AN UNREASONABLE MAN, I must say that there is nothing distinguished about Eric Alterman, Moore and a few others.
I saw portions of this film last night and it really made my blood boil. Those who accused Nader as being a deliberate spoiler need to pull their heads out of the sand and quit whining!! George W. Bush got into office not by winning the vote but by being appointed by the Supreme Court. Do we all remember that? Personally, I did not vote for Al Gore because he did not present himself as anything more than an opportunistic politician. I proudly voted for Ralph Nader for the reason anyone should cite when casting their vote: he was the one I wanted elected. Gore didn't deserve to be president, anyway. He gave up on his ligitimate fight to have ALL the Florida votes counted (when they finally were, Gore had the votes). He owed it not only to himself, but to the citizens of the US and democracy itself. But he caved, just like the Democrats have always caved since Reagan came to power. John Kerry, another lousy candidate, caved again in '04 when Ohio voting irregularities were so rampant as to scream "INVESTIGATE ME!!!". Yet no investigations by the Democrats were done. This is why I voted for Nader. I'm registered as an independent, but I would love to have a real party to put my energies into. Unfortunately for America, the two parties making up our system are not the ones that should be leading the country. They are simply no longer worthy.
Did anyone else find Michael Moore's flip-flop completely nauseating? Once, I really admired the guy; now he's off my radar for good.
Gimme a break. Nader's disingenuous 2000 rallying cry that "there's not a dime's worth of difference" between Bush and Gore has been decisively disproven by history. Here's ten cents, Ralph: Iraq War vs. Nobel Peace Prize. Anyone who can't admit that Bush has been a radically worse president than Gore would have been, and that THE MAJOR DIFFERENCES BETWEEN BUSH AND GORE WERE CLEAR IN 2000, isn't being intellectually honest. Hey Nader voters: face up to the fact that you have blood on your hands.
I find it interesting to compare Ralph Nader's career with that of Jesse Jackson. Jackson often threatened a third party campaign, but ultimately settled for what he could get for his causes within the Democratic Party. Nader has not. The concrete results of Nader's efforts largely took place during Democratic administrations, primarily the Kennedy-Johnson years. Jackson, through his constant pressure for affirmative action and his economic activism has continued to rack up results regardless of the administration in Washington. When you consider all that the Bush Administration has attempted to roll back in terms of social reform in the United States, it's quite remarkable that corporate affirmative action programs continue, even while assaults on affirmative action by public institution become more intense.
Nader has never understood the value of influence as opposed to power. Indeed his rhetoric suggests that influence is a bad thing, the tool of his corporate enemies. Yet much of what reformers at either edge of the political spectrum accomplish is through their influence seeping into our political life, even if they never win specific victories. This is Nader's tragedy; he doesn't have the ability to accept the mechanisms that would give him a greater legacy. Ask yourself what the Enron scandal would have looked like if it had occurred during a Gore administration. Ask what Ralph Nader could have done to hold the feet of such an administration to the fire to make sure that the Enron collapse became a catalyst for corporate governance reform. Instead of substantive change in corporate governance, we got the Sarbanes Oxley Act, which has accomplished very little except making accounting firms wealthier and small businesses poorer. Oh yes, we also got Martha Stewart thrown in jail so the Bush Administration could show how tough it was on corporate crime. In his quest for purity of purpose and direct political power, Nader has severely curtailed his influence, and as a result diluted his legacy. We are all the poorer for that.
Gee, PBS provided Ralph with better than a paid advertisement. And any time Pat Buchanan begins throwing accolades to Ralph Nader, it's a sign that the Republicans could not be more pleased with a Nader candidacy. While I once respected this man, I now find him to be an uncompromising ego-maniac whose only interest is himself. Never will I ever consider a Nader candidacy. Just imagine how different the world we would if Nader had suppressed his ego and withdrawn in 2000. Then after knowing what happened in 2000, he runs again in 2004. What an arrogant, self-absorbed a-hole.
We Americans take for granted alots of things Ralph Nader made possible. I thank him and all that had a hand in presenting his many contributions-on pbs Independent Lens- it reminds us to be grateful that someone (Ralph Nader) worked hard to make a difference in our quality and safety of life.
Having watched "An Unreasonable Man" this evening, I found the coverage of the barring of Mr. Nader from the premises of the 2000 debate to be extremely important. Having had a similar experience in 1997 - where police officers in Edmonton Alberta prevented me from attending an Annual General Meeting of the Handicapped Housing Society of Alberta on Nov 13, 1997 [AN AGENCY THAT I WAS ELECTED BY THE MEMBERSHIP TO SERVE THAT YEAR ON THE BOARD] - at the request of two members of the executive committee who were forcing doctored minutes on the General Membership during that meeting, and where the police were intimidating every person who entered - threatening to arrest any person agreeing with Alan Blanes for "assault by trespass" - I found the example of the police being used to violate Mr. Nader's right to observe and to exercise the right to use his ticket to enter the debate proceedings - to be another example of use of police to violate democratic rights.
I am extremely interested in hearing from anyone who is interested in following up the implications of this kind of bogus functioning of police - which is a total violation of the spirit of modern policing as conceived in the Peel 1829 Metropolitan London Police Act - which holds police to be mediators of citizens' disputes, not bullies who abrogate any person's natural rights.
Has anyone within the Nader organization[s] followed up this violence against democracy as demonstrated by the municipal police the night of that 2000 debate?
Thanks for your replies,
alanblanes@canada.com
Thank you for this film. It make me cry to see how low people is. It is very sad that we, the poor and vulnerable can't have a voice in the government.Nader was that voice and people turned his back on him.Like Carlin says, THE OWNERS of America always win.
I wish I had the choice to vote for or against a candidate (a personal veto, in effect). Not knowing what Cheney-Bush were going to do with the FERC/ENRON/Energy Task Force, I used a poor substitute for a negative vote against Joe Lieberman for his work in over riding Clinton's veto of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act in 1995. (I felt it would lead to too many repeats of the S&L fiasco, future Enrons). I appreciate Nader's speaking his mind, regardless of consequences, much as John Adams did, though I seldom agreed with many of Nader's targets as the worst examples abuses. We were well served by getting fixes in motion. The world can not depend too heavily on someone as personally involved as Nader, though. He needs to find a person he can support who can move the greater mass forward. A previous example would be early Republicans like the Washburns and Hannibal Hamlin who knew they needed a more palatable, more "moderate", candidate like Abraham Lincoln to get into position actually be able to begin to make the most important changes.
I take some exception to the film's comparison of Nader with Lenin (in feeling things had to get worse before they could get better) since Nader never seemed to deliberately try to make things worse. I think careful analysis would show he was the least likely to distract attention from the real issues with personal attacks/counter attacks (though GM paid more for unfair tactics against him, than for particular safety problems compared to other manufacturers). It seems a much more apt description of my old party's friends' hypocritical propaganda campaigns such as the Cato Institute (in their own words) "Leninist" campaign to undercut Social Security while pushing private plans.
The filmmakers have done a much needed public service in clearing up the distorted picture some people have concerning Nader's effect on the last two Presidential elections. For some Democrats to single out Nader as The Single Factor causing their candidates' defeats is dishonest and flies in the face of all the other variables that contributed to the election results. The vitriol with which critics such as Todd Gitlin and Eric Alterman attack Nader is embarrassing to watch. I wonder if they have reconsidered their opinions upon seeing "An Unreasonable Man". They certainly come off as being less than logical men. Michael Moore's about-face from supporter to critic also was disheartening. I am thankful that Ralph Nader gave me someone I could vote for in 2000 and 2004. If Nader hadn't run, I would not have voted for Gore or Kerry. I will continue to vote for the next unreasonable man or woman whose vision for our society and our world makes the most sense to me. And if Democrats continue to need a scapegoat for their future losses, I can live with that.
Bravo on the Nader documentary. Air it multiple times, and not just at midnight. It deserves primetime viewing. People who are not pro-Nader are either A.) ignorant and uninformed or B.) have a vested interest in the corrupt system which is in place. There is nothing to discuss; our country is headed down a pre-determined path which increasingly undermines the middle-class American. There is a place for leaders like Ralph Nader. The place is the White House, and the time is NOW.
Thanks PBS for making such interesting and important documentaries available to the public.I voted for Ralph Nader because I believe He has values and persistence in working to improve people's lives. In becoming President,Ralph Nader could have possibly made an even greater impact.It is unfortunate that people often do not really see,examine or think about what is truth,what is valuable and how can they support it.It would seem to me,getting well-informed,identifying values,thinking carefully and taking action are far more significant than blaming.Thank you Mr.Nader for your courage, convictions,hard work and many successes that have lasting and meaningful value in the lives of many people. Anna N.
I have always considered myself a Democrat and voted for Al Gore in 2000. But I don't believe Ralph Nader was the "spoiler" the Democrats made him out to be. In 2004, while supporting Dennis Kucinich for president, I was called a "spoiler" by other Democrats and told to shut up, even though I was supporting a legitimate Democratic candidate with the record to back up his well-thought-out plans. As a Kucinich supporter once again, I haven't yet been called a "spoiler" in this year's campaign, although Kucinich is still enduring a rather pervasive corporate media blackout and has been shut out of two debates. I have great respect for Ralph Nader and have had the transcript (which I typed up) of his speech "Growing Up Corporate" on my website since 2001. I also have a lot of respect for the Green party and strongly support Instant Runoff Voting. We need that sort of system to have a democracy in the U.S.
I've vaguely known through the years what Ralph Nader's agenda has been.
Thanks to the special coverage, I realize how much he's done for me, my children and grandchildren.
All the past issues he has fought for were important but there are bigger issues since our government has been taken over and the resident dictator has essentially cancelled the United States Constitution which he SWORE to uphold and protect. Remember what he CALLED the Constitution at one point when it was standing in the way of open human rights violations? Bush exclaimed about the United States Constitution; "It Just a G_d Damn Piece Of Paper".
Since Bush claims to have those daily, personal, conversations with God, I must wonder what God said about that.
I wonder what we'll do when the Ralph Nader's are forbidden to be dissident or even voice dissagreement to an administration that considers such persons to be "enemy combatants". You know you're either "with" us or "against" us, Bush said.
With Bush's suspension of Habeas Corpus ANY of us expressing our disatisfaction or disaproval with Bush can be jailed and declared as enemy combatants.
Our government intercepts our phone calls, reads our emails (such as THIS one) and may, at any moment, break down our door and drag us kicking and screaming off to jail, simply for voicing our opinion of the most corrupt administration in the history of the United States.
Ralph Nader, I hope you've got a few more fights in you because we DESPERATELY need you now.
With the sad state of our 'republic' I wish Mr. Nader could attack the wrongs we are being subjected to by the Bush administration.
Ralph Nader is a powerful role model for all people that think they are human beings and as such should care about other human beings rather than being selfish. As a proof of how disturbed all US citizens are recall the Los Angeles riots. What happened when the people rioted? Did they kill politicians and law enforcement? No, the people robbed and stole whatever stuff they could. This translates that the people of the US believe in materialism and not human beings. The reason that Ralph Nader was not elected was that the corporations have brainwashed US citizens to want inantimate objects instead of human beings. Killing people for their things? What is this? People hurting each other for toys? We really need role models that show human compassion. We need role models for parents. We need role models who care about other human beings regardless of race, religion, culture, or differences. The only reason we are at war is for money. Pres. Eisenhower warned the US of this when he left the office in the 1950's. Now we are paying the price for not listening to this.
Ralph Nader went out of his way and sacrificed many things (his personal life) because he cared so much for all human beings. And because we seem to care so much, we got the best government we could buy. If you disagree, take a look at the President's cabinet and seek the resumes. We are all awake but for some reason unaware or maybe just don't care?
I agree with Randy O that Ralph Nader is a statesman, and statesmen is what this country sorely needs. When I look from where I stand to the horizons of the USA, I see no other public figure that can be given that lofty label. There's not one politician of either party, one religious leader of any persuasion, or a journalist or pundit that has the character, integrity, and leadership ability necessary to be considered a statesman.
Is he perfect? Not a chance. But he is a statesman, and he has done the right thing over and over and over again for the benefit of his fellow citizens. I cn easily say that he is the only public figure I trust.
Nader is an American Treasure. Please Mr. Nader Run in 2008. We need your true honest and clear voice in the race. thank's to the PBS for this showing.
All Gore or Kerry had to do was announce that Nader would be their Attorney General...or Secretary of State, or of Commerce, of Labor, of Transportation, of Energy, of Health & Human Services, or the Interior. Nader would have taken it, he's qualified for it all. Nader voters would have instantly switched, regardless of whether Ralph was in or out of the race. They'd have won by a landslide. Blaming Nader for Democrat failures is despicable.
It was good to be reminded of Nader's extraordinary works. But his decision to remain in the 2000 race showed an ego eclipsing values. Witlessly (vs unwittingly) he left a naive American public in the hands of disastrous 'leadership.' I hope that repair and healing of America can begin soon. Also that this will not be my last remembrance of the great Ralph Nader.
The real tragedy, in my humble opinion, is that leading up to the 2000 election, Ralph Nader could find no politician that he could endorse as a third party presidential candidate. This is pure conjecture, but I imagine a man who fell somewhat reluctantly into the race for president because he was the only man he could identify with the will, the resolve and the means to lead a campaign for the white house that would remain true to the belief in the responsibility of the federal government to be of the people, by the people and for the people. His life and career had led him to a moment when he had to admit to himself, if not me, who? That he never wavered after this moment, even in the face of those whose support he lost is to his credit. It is just further evidence of his commitment to doing what is right as best he understands it, regardless of the political and personal consequences. He is one of a very few credible role models for American citizenship alive. Ideally, one would think that such a model of citizenship would make a great president. The sad truth is that model citizenship is a trait that most probably detracts from one's potential for practical effectiveness in that office. Long live the fearless citizen educated by empathy and fueled by conviction. Long live Ralph Nader.
I learned in life that in most cases if a good person successfully helped other people for a great lenght of time they will soon treat him with contempt. Why people do this is hard to explain. There are plenty of examples in human history. It seems prevalent in every culture. Is it part of human nature? Sadly this is what happened to people like Ralph Nader. I hope future evolution will be much kinder to him.
Thanks for a great documentary on a true American hero.
To blame Nader for the atrocities of Bush is yet another miscarriage of justice. I wish the interviewees stressed how both Gore and Kerry flopped over after the votes were "counted" despite huge questions surrounding election manipulation and irregularities, to put it mildly.
Rock on Ralph and Nader's Raiders. We have much work to do yet.
Hi,
Ralph is absolutely the best person as far as ethics is concerned I have EVER encountered. I wish my own father would be close to the example to me as Ralph is!! He has GUTS and backbone on top of having ethics and morality. He speaks the right language for everyone, but the sad thing is most ppl don't realize it! I hope we will see a 3, 4 aor 5 party system soon, as the current system we have now is NON DEMOCRATIC. I could not believe when I saw him get turned away for trying to get into the election debate. That WAS a crime....but noone got punished! Is that Democracy? I think NOT....We are naive if we think we live in a democracy, WE DON'T! WE as a nation need to wake up!
Ralph is a legend in his own right.... too bad we aren't ready for his thought yet! Maybe in a few hundred years from now we'll finally realize that what he preaches is correct and he will then be preaching to the choir....too bad I won't be here to see that...and who knows, with Global Warming sizzling....we may just kill ourselves before!
I hope he runs AGAIN!!! Noone FORCES themselves to vote for him....it's optional, then HOW can HE be the spoiler?? That simply makes no sense, the person who voted for him would be the spoiler....and if noone else brings this archeic 2 party system to a halt, we will NEVER win. SOMEONE had to do it, and RALPH NADER did it...my hat is off to him for his bravery and strength!! Who else will take on corporate America??
I only see wimps!! My 2 cents!!
Ralph Nader will go down in history as a legend and defender of "the little people". I will never be ashamed that I voted for the Green Party. I will vote for him again if/when he runs. The stats prove he alone was not a "spoiler". I don't believe this man is capable of misguided/misleading the public or that he has ever had "alterna1tive motives". He has devoted his entire life to others. He is the true meaning of the word HERO!!! (not these corrupt sports figures, actors, and some entertainers our kids think are heros) We, the people are the only ones responsible for what is happening to and in our nation today!!! The apathy sickens me...It will take another revolution to make any difference in the future. Unfortunately, we are so wrapped up in trying to survive in today's economy and ruthless, corrupt corporate environment, it may not happen in my lifetime.
If nothing else, please continue to support Nadar's organization by word, work or contributions. He is the "Most Reasonable Man" I know of.
I am thrilled this movie was made and I hope it is being shown in our public school history classes. Ralph - YOU ROCK!!!!!
The film Unreasonable Man hardly touched upon the subject-- but Ralph Nader ran in 2004 because neither the Democratic Party or the Republican Party was willing to say that our involvement in Iraq was wrong. We now know that Iraq had no Weapons of Mass Destruction. We now know that Hussein had no ties to al Queda. We now know that even Democrat Nancy Pelosi-- now the powerful Speaker of the House had been briefed about plans to use torture against captured prisoners of war-- which probably makes her an accessory to the lies, high crimes and misdemeanors that should have had Bush and Cheney impeached.
What the film did not explain was that the real reason why Bush "won" in 2000 was because of a coup d'etat that took place-- not a military coup-- but a coup instigated by a corrupt Supreme Court. The film did not explain either that the 2004 presidential election was also stolen-- by vote tampering in many places-- particularly in Ohio. The media-- including our public media has been complicit with these lies-- (for example) to frame a poll to ask people's opinions "True or False"-- "Ralph Nader's candidacy in 2000 is the reason why George W. Bush won the presidential election".... THAT perpetuates a lie. Bush never won!
As to the corruption of debates... we observe now that even candidates within the two-party system are excluded from debates if their message is counter to corporate interests. Amazing! The debate coordinators can look for or make up any loophole to keep people like Mike Gravel or Dennis Kucinich from speaking. Ralph Nader partly ran becasue he saw this coming. He is a great man, and a true American Patriot. I hope his influence is felt in the 2008 election-- and I wish good luck to Cynthia McKinney who has announced her presidential aspirations in the Green Party!
I'm beyond grateful for Nader and thankful you made this brilliant film. As for lead in the toys, we wouldn't even know about lead in toys if it weren't for him!
Mr. Nader is a patriot of the American people, whom I supported and voted for twice. Anyone who thinks otherwise does not understand what victory entails. Democrats who blame Nader for their loss in 2000 & 2004 just don't realize how pathetic they've become. Both parties have veered toward corporatism, and we must elect leaders who firmly stand against this.
It does not appear as though Mr. Nader is running for President in 2008. Will he stand up and endorse another great leader of integrity, Ron Paul?
Tired of the lesser of 2 corporate owned evil parties? Vote Nader.Ralph Nader was the most qualified person to be President of this country in both the 2000 election...Gore and Lieberman?? Gore took so much money from the pharmaceuticals that he worked AGAINST Africa getting a generic and more affordable drug for AIDS. 25 million people have died as a result in AFrica.
Liberman supports Israel above this country. Neither of those men are fit to lead. And now Lieberman supports a Republican for president. 2004...John Kerry had pit bulls after Nader and caused Peter Camejo to pay his lawyers $20,000 when he and Nader lost the bid to be on the Pennsylvania ballot. Nader has refused to pay a nickel he was charged and will eventually win his lawsuit. KERRY lost the election all by himself. against the worst president this country has ever seen.....he should have "landslided" that election. All his efforts to kill off Nader....and he still LOST the election. Did you like Kerry's campaign?
Calif. assembly just passed a horrid health care bill and democrats who take money from corporations like Lonnie Hancock passed it. It will never pass the Senate unless the democrats there $$$ell our also. It requires us all to BUY insurance and if we don't buy it, arnold will send us a bill. The insurance companies love it. brought to you by democrats for large corporations and small government that is too weak to fight for the people. We NEED Nader or kiss democracy good-bye. A Nader/Cynthia McKinney ticket would give us the presidential leadership we need to sink corporate ships and regain power for the people. Rev. Sandra Decker
Thank you, thank you, thank you! I struggled during the 2000 presidential election over Nader's candidacy, both inspired and philisophically agreeing with the concept of true democracy where multiple parties have candidates, even though this is no longer a reality in America. I felt we Americans paled in the example we originally gave to the world in democratic governing of ourselves, since so many countries, particularly those in the United Kingdom, have better achieved representation than us. This film covered all those issues, and more, with presentation of so many of the "arguments" about the "spoiler" aspects of his candidacy. I hope the legacy of this film is that Americans regain their rightful ability to utilize democracy and embrace more voices into our political process. And I hope the legacy of Ralph Nader is appropriate for the gifts that he has already given us.
I think Nader should continue to climb... and never give up. He is for the people and believes in preparing for our children and grandchildren. He isn't plastic, he is real and we need our country back. Really admire his views and can see he lives what he preaches. Keep going Ralph!
The program was excellent. It rekindles the American Spirit that is slowly drifting to a comfort zone of acceptance of undesirable integrity and values for service to others.
Ralph Nader is absolutely a crusader. For those of us that strive for wellness in consumer products and service Nader's quest reminds us of the good in providing our God given gift of service to those in need and unable to demand a difference.
The denturist profession across America is a good example of Nader's crusade of compassion working for the consumer to provide accessibility to quality and affordable denture care in spite of the white knuckled monopolistic grip that corporate ADA, the American Dental Association has on denture service.
I have never been so inspired in politics as I was during and after the rally for Nader at the coliseum in Portland. Tonights show brought some of that back. It renews my hope that our democracy will regain it's authenticity.
Thank you so much for that awesome, informative, and thought provoking film on Ralph Nader. It is rare and important to see this kind of insight into our own unique American culture. We need much more of this kind of honest relflection.
I was impressed with this documentary. I voted for Nader in 2000, and for Kerry in 2004, and if anything I would only change my 2004 vote to Nader. Honestly I think that losing the 2000 election was good for Gore - look what he's done since then. I think he may end up having a more substantial positive impact as an environmental advocate than as a president. And he himself admits this is because he was forced to look inward after his defeat. And he seems much more genuine now.
With the Dem defeats in the 2000 and 2004 elections, it opened the dems up to the possibility of a charismatic popular (as in non-corporate) candidate such as Barack Obama winning. He has a platform and philosophy and personal integrity that is much closer to Nader than was Gore's or Kerry's. This is also forcing Hillary Clinton to move (uncomfortably) toward taking positions that matter to real Americans, and not just SIGS.
Anyway, good show. very thought provoking. Yay Nader. Yay Obama. Yay America!
We need new people to pick up where Ralph Nader has led participatory and representative democracy. The early selection by the political elite, provides an opportunity for a third party to emerge that will deal with issues and not just candidate packaging and sales. The Republicans take the Libertarians for granted and the Democrats do the same to the Greens. And most people don't feel its worth the effort to vote.
Thank you Independent Lens for the courage to show An Unreasonable Man. We often hear people complain that the media is controlled or cowards to challenge corporations in this country. Your showing of this program gives hope that at least a few in the national media have not sold out.
I guess Ralph Nader is the closet thing to a Native Presidential candidate you will ever get before you destroy the earth for profit. Thinking generations ahead of your own needs is not a new concept, thinking green has been on this continent for tens of thousands of years already, too bad your so slow figuring out natural law and would turn on someone that thinks of the health of others before his own needs. Look at yourself and your history and realize Bush is a good leader for most of you; Bush represents who you have become. Who will you elect next Ronald Mc Donald (at least he could feed you) or Eminem (your kids probably listen to him more than you). Good luck suckers!
Ralph, If you ever feel lonely looking out across (and FOR!) America turn around, because there are millions and millions of us right behind you.
Excellent show about Ralph Nader presented on PBS. I was previously unaware of the serious injustice done to Ralph Nader and our nation by the Commsion on Presidential Debates. There actions in 2000 were disgraceful. The disaster of the Bush Administration has caused myself and many Americans to rethink our belief in government. I no longer identify with the Republican party. It is hard to see the Democratic party as desireable either. I am disgusted with Nancy Pelosi's blocking of the Cheney impeachment this fall and the unwillingness of the Democrats to place a candidate on the ballot for Indiana Senator in the 2006 election. Ralph Nader did not spoil the campaigns of Al Gore or John Kerry. The candidates, their lame campaigns and sheltered party leadership lost the elections. They need to support the public interest not just their lobbyists. Ralph Nader appealed to our better intincts and his courage gives us hope in the restoration of a great democracy. Thank you fighting the good fight. Our country needs more Ralph Naders. His courage is inspiring.
To understand what’s really going on in this country from the consumer point of view, you have to look down the money trail behind the corporations, you have to understand how the money is created out of “thin air” and backed only by “paper debt”, you have to understand how the market ropes are pulled by the Wall Street Investment banks who in reality are only “primary money dealers” for “monetary engineers” at Privately Owned, Unreasonably Secretive, Federal Reserve, whose founders hidden behind bank names, retain the control over the entire economy by controlling only small majority (usually 5%-6%) in the key market makers and shaker, the key corporations such as key defense contractors and media which controls consumer’s opinion, sentiment and emotions.
I saw this documentary at Sundance two years ago. At the time, we were in the middle of this current administration and all hope seemed to be lost. Ralph was an easy target and like other democrats I blamed him for Gore's loss. But this documentary was eye opening, invigorating and inspiring. I wish everyone could see it, but especially democrats. Now with Obama and Kucinich we have some straight talking democrats and I hope that their voices will not be stifled because the party has already decided that Hillary should be its nominee. She is fantastic as a senator but I cannot support her votes for the war and the patriot act. I also don't think she is going to be electable - just imagine one of the republican candidates in office. That would be horrible. As the documentary ended today, I couldn't help but imagine what the world would be like had Ralph indeed become president! A world that would truly live up to the American dream - and give everyone a fair shot at success. I almost wish more Naders ran over and over until this populace is awakened to the stagnancy of the two party system that exists right now.
This program just reminds me of how disgusted I am that Ralph Nader, one of the greatest Americans ever to exist, was denied the presidency by the same people that he has devoted his life to protect.
None of Nader's good works will be remembered. His place in history is inextricably bound with that of G.W. Bush. And it's his own damn fault.
Millions of people have died as a result of Bush's presidency. Millions. Thanks, Ralph.
“Ralph Nader was prevented from not only participating in, but even attending the presidential debates, physically barred by the private security firm hired by the Commission on Presidential Debates”. This is in violation of the “Article I of the Constitution of the United States of America”. It states, “The Congress shall make no law.... of the right of the people [citizen] to peaceably assemble...”! We witness a courages man that stood for his right, the truth, his “freedom – justice”, was denied to peaceably assemble! He correctly states, “two-party elected dictatorship has turned politics into such a dirty word”!
I am a mid-twenty something that has been feed up with our current political system. I don't trust any person in office; corporate or civic.
We need trustworthy people running our country and could only be so lucky to have him fight for our individual rights from the White House.
Common sense, straight talk and integrity do not exist in politics today.
Please run again Mr. Nader. I need someone to vote for.....
Watching this evening's telecast about Ralph Nader begs the question: Who came up with the title, "...an unreasonable man."? It occurs to me that most of those interviewed, including and especially his detractors, could find no fault with his preponderences or his logic. I believe he is a dinasaur inasmuch as he represents a dying breed of courageous and civic minded Americans.
Nader did do and was responsible for many improvements in our country. Thanks. But the election was a disastrous idea and I hold him responsible for the election our Charlie McCarthy Dummy dishonest president and his evil vice president. Yes, the Supreme Court decided on Bush. Yes, dishonest practices on the part of the Republicans in Florida, made Bush's presidency a fact but Nader took votes away from the Democrtic party and that was a historic mistake which cost us dearly, deaths, dislocation of people, enormous expenses and the disrespect of the world. I would not be sorry if he were hanged in public for his role in making it possible for Bush to win. I understand why people respected is opinions and I would agree with some if not all he said. But that didn't mean that he should run for the Presidency. Well, all you who voted for him, are you happy with the results. Take credit then for the further loss of democracy in our great land and the many lies that were fed us. My profound sorrow for Mr Bush senior, who was a great patriot and served our country throughout his life, that he has such a son put into office by the egotistical Nader.
"Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel" as Dwight D. Eisenhower said in his farewell address to the nation in 1961. That is what Ralph Nader has done with his life's work. Compel the government to look out for it's citizen's, present and future. We are all more alert and knowledgeable because of Mr. Nader.
If we as citizen's can salvage the remnant's of democracy that are left in this country, then Ralph Nader will be recorded as one of the nation's greatest citizen's.
Thank you PBS and the producers of the Independent lens for airing this show. But most of all,
THANK YOU MR NADER!!
I appreciated Harvard University Professor of Government Barry Burden's data analysis of Mr. Nader's 2000 presidential campaign. His findings provided factual color around Mr. Nader's role in the election. In my mind, here's the BLUF (bottom line up front) as others have pointed out: Nader didn't cost the Democrats the election; he was too busy running his campaign. We as Americans voted, and we got the President we elected, through our political and judicial process that certified the election results.
Another thoughtful question the documentary asks us to ponder is whether and how we would have gone to war in 2003 with a Democrat in office. A review of congressional votes suggests perhaps we still would have gone. Maybe we as Americans can hope for and expect, even demand more moral courage from our elected representatives.
I sense that Mr. Nader continues in his work because he believes in holding his fellow Americans accountable, even when difficult. It is sad that all too often as Americans, we see the challenge to live up to our society's ideals and do not step up.
As an immigrant, a naturalized citizen, and a former Marine, I have witnessed America's greatness through fellow Marines' and citizens' amazing generosity. I've also been disappointed by our sometimes selfish, close-minded behavior, particularly from our national leaders when it mattered most.
Yet other posts on this page provide encouragement that while we all want our side to win in the upcoming elections, many of us are rediscovering the opportunity to be both victorious and "pure", as Hollywood film director Michael Moore discounted in 2004.
Thank you for providing a program that reminds us all of our civic duties.
Ralph Nader had been a hero to many Americans since the 1960s, so when he told us that Al Gore was just one more corrupt political pawn of big corporations, essentially no different from Bush, it had an effect: it poisoned the well for the left. Nader may have brought some new voters out to the polls, but will we ever know how many stayed home, disgusted with the whole process? How many moderate Democrats voted Republican? And how many potential Gore voters pulled another third party lever just to avoid voting for either an evil Republocrat or for the guy who said such awful things about the two front runners? The question is far more complex than just: How many Gore voters did Nader capture for himself?
Watching this film re-invigorated by commitment to vote my mind in 2008 and thereafter. It also erased any feelings of unease about my vote in 2000.
These days my mantra is "Enough is enough". I am sick of only "horse race" coverage of politics in the media, I am sick of the consistent coronation of candidates before they even are vetted by our(sham)primary process simply because of their proported "great campaign teams" or overflowing coffers. I am sick of the issues that I care about, issues that have the support of the majority of Americans but are distasteful to the corporate class never seeing the light of a camera, newspaper copy or microphone.
Enough with tactical voting! We are given a vote FOR someone, not AGAINST someone. We all need to stat using it as such.
I glad there is a Ralph Nader out there fighting the good fight. Its sad to see that so many of your colleagues and supporters have cast you aside over your bid for the presidency in 2000 and 2004. Hindsight is 20/20 as they say and I think the current Congress and the cast of characters running for president bears out your stance.
Thank you Ralph for your service, integrity, stubbornness and tenacity. Wish there were more of you in this world.
This was an articulate film. I follow international politics pretty closely but feel that much of domestic political new is hype and, unfortunatly, I was unaware of most of Mr. Nader's legislative initiatives. I think many people in the South would have voted for him if he had debated. Gore's genteel Deep South lifestyle kept voters away from a democrat that year; interesting that, since Mr. Nader ran for President, Mr. Gore made big environmental productions and some energy-efficient lifestyle changes. As for Mr. Kerry's election, well, HE is married to a corporation that uses cheap high fructose corn syrup to sell expensive, all-American ketchup, right--as well as wriggling out of taxes? I think Mr. Nader's candidacy got some movement on the environmental issues as well as corporate responsibility. I don't know if Mr. Nader's family pushed him to run for President when he was a child; however, it would seem that, if so, it was for the betterment of other people that he served.
Ralph Nader is truly outstanding, America needs him. In this time when political parties are deadlocked in a one-upmanship cycle that has nothing to do with "for the people" America needs a Ralph in every community. This country is loosing what made it what it is today. God has been expelled, found in contempt, and even been given a nick name or two just to avoid the truth in all facts of american life simply to make a few so called Americans more comfortable an politically corect. If we should accept people and their diversity how about recognizing the existing americans and their rights as well. If the democrats cannot agree that they have a majority of losers that are to self centered to get a majority vote they will continue to loose. Ralph Nader did not take anything away from Gore or Kerry. He did not help Bush either. He did on a small scale what needs to hapen in a big way. THIS COUNTRY NEEDS A LEADER BY THE PEOPLE FOR THE PEOLPE NOT BY THE PARTIES FOR THE PARTIES OR THE CORPORATIONS.
Thank you for presenting this story Of Ralph Nader. I have admired him for so many years for his ability to speak out against these "city hall" factors in our lives and actually accomplish changes in the balance of our lives. I am not ashamed to say I did vote for him and would again. My family said it would waste a vote, but it is not a waste, even when your candidate doesn't take office, because it is a vote for a "third choice" which should be available to voters. Consumers and working people need a voice. Corporate interests tell the main parties what to do, resulting in big business having control of laws and policies ruling the lives of Americans, with little concern for the well being of citizens, who theoretically rule in a democracy. A Texan who did not vote for Bush at any level.
Ralph Nader has fought valiantly to make a safer and less corrupt society with clear purpose and sustained effort to bring about change and he deserves admiration. I do feel that whatever it would have taken NOT to elect someone like George Bush would have been a good thing. If Ralph Nader could have helped in the fight to elect Gore or Kerry who are both very qualified to be president that would have made such a difference for this country. The difference between Al Gore and John Kerry and George Bush is that Gore and Kerry both have qualifications that a president needs to have while George Bush does not. George Bush has no legal background which should be a minimum qualification, he is not a negotiator and apparently he is the one who has no principles. I feel that there is something seriously wrong with a country that would elect and then re-elect someone like George Bush. George Bush as president has taken this country in a negative direction and has cost many lives and many millions of dollars with the invasion of Iraq and basically devastated this country and that will be hard to overcome. For what perverse reason was the invasion of Iraq allowed to happen? and then there was an attempt to actually spread the idea to suppress anyone who opposed this along with numerous violations of human rights and abuses some of which have come out. Bush also proved his incompetence and general lack of concern in other events that happened, one being the New Orleans debacle. It should be totally clear by now that invading Iraq was very wrong. Why do many Republicans still support the Iraq debacle? and also why do the republicans generally oppose anything that benefit most of society in favor of large business and then claim they are against big government. The whole position of the republican party does not make sense. At this point I feel the only way for this country to move forward is to abolish the republican party and replace it with an independent party and maybe that would allow this country to move forward in the direction it needs to go. Even if that does not happen, in the upcoming election we have some good democratic candidates in Hillary Clinton and John Edwards. Sincerely, Janice Pitts
Ralph Nader has done something singular and historically very important as he himself said "You can fight city hall." He has showed us all what it is to fight for your democracy. That it is not just a piece of paper but a viable force that needs to be defended and nourished by the will of the people. He was representative of "the common person," dedicating his life defending the rights of us all.
His run for the Presidency was a test that we can if we want to clean up congress. The "one party system with two heads," blames Nadar for the loss of the Presidency of Al Gore. But it wasn't Nadar that took the election away from Gore, it was the democrats fighting among themselves and trying to distance themselves from Clinton, playing into the republican strategy. I was surprised with the elections, flabbergasted that Bush could beat any one. That tells us how ignorant and gullible the electorate is.
I'm glad that Nader ran. I'm glad that he caused Gore to lose. Why? Well, mostly just to show you that you are helpless. You stood by and watched as they stole the election twice. They break the law left and right everywhere you look. Scooter Libby will never go to jail. He's a traitor, a liar, and above the law. They did all this to you, right in your face, and you can do nothing about it. Do you even really realize how powerless you are...? You don't matter, you never have, and the whole thing is rigged. No matter who wins, we always lose. It's not Nader's fault. It's our fault. Why do you want to blame him for proving that? He just helped prove that we don't matter, we're just along for the ride, and they're going to do whatever they want whether we like it or not. Now you think about that when you vote this time. When you mark that ballot, say it to yourself, "I don't matter to them". He proved it. Once they've got your vote, you won't hear another thing from them for four more years, then it's back to all this balogna. Most people know this... that's why they don't vote. Truly, it is a waste of time. Do yourself a favor this election... Don't vote! You don't matter! It's not your world, you're just living in it. Does that make you feel like you're in control? Voting? He just proved to us that it is not enough. Voting is not enough, especially when you are given options, but not an actual choice. They're going to run all over you, mostly because you are dumb and keep allowing them to divide you. You have no unity. You have no real care for one another. You don't. If you did, nobody would be homeless. So see, this world is really, really, not in your control at all. You have very little say in it. You're followers, most of you, and it's because you are not qualified to lead. You're about as easily manipulated as a dog. You listen for the bell, you salivate on cue, whether there is actually a meal in it for you or not. You're trained. You're under control. Have a merry Christmas and a happy new year worms. When I see a crowd of people, I see a big ball of worms. That's all you are... worms. LOL! Highly trained and conditioned worms that salivate when they hear the bell. Maybe dogs, but you don't have that kind of loyalty, so yeah, it's worms. Wag your tails in 08 and vote for one of the pre-selected candidates! Or, just save the gas that you really can't even afford to drive there. Then, go to work the next day and babble mindlessly about an election that will mean nothing. It's not going to get better, it's going to get worse. You're not ready. You won't know the difference though, because everyone around you will be saying it's better and you'll believe it. So, let's all jump on Nader here, let's get together and beat up on someone who was whipped since the day he was born because of the class of people he comes from... This is a class system people, get used to it. Your life, most likely, will mean NOTHING in the greater scheme of things. Does messing about with this web page make you feel like you're doing something? You're not... other than giving a hit to the page, you're not changing anything. You'll feel like you are though. That's the genius of the machine, right there. That's what they're running on you. You fall for it every four years. PALEEEEZ!
This film was awesome. Ralph Nader is an American hero. Anyone who uses a car in this country has already benefited from his great work and so his impact cannot be denied by ANY party. This film also made me angry at the two-party, "duopoly" I'm forced to engage in as part of the latest presidential election dance. After 2004, I promised myself I would never be bullied into a lesser of two vote ever again. Because of this film I'm more re-committed to this stance. There is little significant difference between the democrats and republicans. Democrats absolutely ignore their supporters until it is perceived they will vote elsewhere, and where are they going to go. This was clear when Gore went to a black church in Harlem when a poll showed that his black support had decreased. Of course Bush went on to receive more black votes than previous republican candidates and I haven't voted democratic since.
What a remarkable man, If there were more Americans just a bit like him we would not be in the situation we are now. How sad to know that some democrats still blame Nader for their party not winning the last two election, when in reality the only ones to blame are the leaders of the democrat party for not taking on the real issues that affect us every day.
Early 2000
Florida, on orders of Secretary of State Katherine Harris, contracts Choicepoint to create and update a "Felons List" to be used to prevent convicted felons from voting in the Florida 2000 presidential elections. Their $4 million contract calls for that company to telephone verify that the list is correct. On directions of the Secretary of State, that part never occurs.
Few knew of Enron's shaky finances at the time it became number one contributor to the George Bush campaign. Earlier, Jeb Bush had Florida state employee pension fund invest heavily in Enron stock, a move which helped finance his brother's run to the White House, but later cost thousands to lose their savings. In effect, Florida retirees paid for the distrorted results of the 2000 election, which, for many, has since taken on the dimensions and results of a coup d'etat.
November 2000.
For the first time in US history, no presidential decision is announced after Election Day. The nation is in paralysis.
Counts. Recounts, the answer changes. Pregnant chads, hanging chads, butterfly ballots, a new vocabulary to describe flawed election practices rules the news. Still no decision.
In the midst of heavy pre-election presidential campaigning, then Miami-Dade county mayor, Alex Penelas flies off to Spain, never once appearing on behalf of "his party's" candidate, Gore.
Tens of thousands of Floridians, mostly black, go to the polls only to be told they cannot vote because they are not registered: their names appear on the "Felons List." Ninety percent of that list is false. No one defends them. No one even finds out this has happened for months. Ballots show up in dumpsters in Central Florida. The recount in Miami-Dade is stopped by "angry citizens" who really are Republican operatives flown in for the event.
Even with tens of thousands of citizens claiming unlawful disenfranchisement, along with thousands of questionable ballots, Katherine Harris, Florida Secretary of State and Bush Campaign chair, declares George Bush winner of all Florida electors with 537 vote margin.
December 2000.
Florida Supreme Court orders recount of all votes. US Supreme Courts stops recount, giving victory to George Bush. Black Congressional representatives question the seating of Florida's delegates. Gore blocks their efforts.
Dismayed, angry Democrats blame...Ralph Nader for putting a determined, yet ill-prepared, inarticulate demagogue into the White House.
Nader, who for more than forty years contributed to the betterment of law and life in the US, becomes the scapegoat for a fixed election and badly flawed campaign in a race where both major parties conspired to keep his candidacy and important thoughts out of the presidential debates and politics.
2007.
The Film "An Unreasonable Man" examines the life and actions of Ralph Nader, which led him to become one of America's "most trusted" men, and those conditions which eventually led him to run for the presidency. Get to know the selfless and dedicated life of a man many came to call an "egoist" and the cause of our current ills.
Advocates and critics both contribute to this unique story of a unique and highly principled man, who seeks nothing less that an aware, active citizenry prepared to bring about a re-birth of democracy in this land by taking political power back into the citizens' hands, away from corrosive and all-consuming corporate control. The Corporate super-concentration of the media in this land make this task and this message all the harder.
It is in fact, the colluded silencing of Nader and of the popular and Green movement who he represented, that has led us to the present impasse in Congress today. We have today representatives that can look the highest crimes in our history in the eye and not bat an eyelid. It is precisely this current scenario of a Congress incapable of saying "No!" to its corporate funders to the point of taking the US to the brink of permanent war, torture and potential dictatorship, that the Nader/Green candicacy and campaign efforts attempted to forewarn and forestall.
Those who today express deep concern and distress about the nature and direction of our current government, with its lack of representation, accountability and backbone and the deteriorating state of our rights, should have seen and heeded the warning signs in Boston when Massachussetes state police, on orders for the Republican and Democratic Parties "running" the Debates, physically removed Green Party presidential candidate Ralph Nader from the location of the Debateswhere he was intending to merely watch so he could give later commentary to the networks.
It is a scene of police power enforcing the corporate decision about Who Gets To Speak (or even Watch). The police would not allow Ralph to speak or defend himself, threatening him with arrest. This scandalous, illegal, immoral, and antidemocratic act should have shocked the nation. Instead, this story was barely mentioned in the so-called "mainstream" press.
This was a direct attack on the people's rights to be represented or to have opinions which differ from the corporate agenda. We suffer from it to this day, and it is only getting worse.
This opening salvo in the War on America was not considered "newsworthy." You can now witness live footage of this shameful event, which until now has never reached American TV screens, in "An Unreasonable Man" this week in an Independent Lens production on PBS. Seven years late.
America has come to a troubling historic crossroads through decades of machinations and power-grabs, where the power of people and its democratic institutions has been consistently diluted or ignored and the power of corporations ever-increased, too often through fraud or deceit, to the point of privatizing nearly everything, including our military. During this there have been hundreds, if not thousands of warning signs along the way.
There is indeed, something very disturbing about a society which can miss ALL the signs of trouble, and yet seek to place blame for these ills precisely upon an individual and a movement attempting to warn us and to show us how to change directions before it is too late. We need to get grounded in our reality to find a vision and work together to find a way out.
This week.
A very painful irony. On this December 18th, on the very day the FCC is poised to give corporate print media outlets further unprecedented access to TV and radio -- against the wishes of the majority of American people and the Congress -- PBS presents a film on the life and struggle of Ralph Nader, "An Unreasonable Man."
Everyone should have watched.
No man has loomed larger and transformed life more for John Q. Public AND received less credit for that change than Ralph Nader. One of, if not the greatest consumer advocate of all time.
I am no expert on Nader in particular but I thought this program was extremely well done and riveting. Great great interviews from people in Nader's universe. I probably admire Nader for all of his career accomplishments, and for running in both 2000 and 2004, though I'm surprised he wasn't more effective at running.
I voted for Clinton, Gore, and then Kerry and now see them all as big losers. I blame both Gore and Kerry for their utter incompetence in not being able to win against Bush. To blame or whine about Nader is pathetic, and to be honest I thought even the former Nader Raiders sounded basically unprincipled in their reasoning for not supporting him. For me none of their reasons rose above the shallow one about protecting his legacy, which is lunatic. In retrospect I'm surprised I didn't vote for Nader, and wished I had.
I also found Eric Alterman's comments to be amazingly juvenile if not strangely bitter. Perhaps Alterman ought to reaccess whether the Dems really stand for anything of value anymore and learn something from Nader. Then again he writes for the KoolAid-drinking Nation. For example, if the Dems are not also bought and sold, then why did 8 yrs. of Clinton/Gore get us basically nothing in the way of typical Nader gains?
Anyway, based on a show like this I'm very tempted to discover the lifelong virtues of Nader and probably to be more suspicious of the many apparant power sellouts that have abandoned his prime mission. Thanks for your good work.
Mr Gitlin of Columbia University criticizes Ralph Nader as an egomaniac, etc. Gitlin is so bitter in his attack on Nader, because he represents a prestigious school of journalism (at Columbia University). The journalism his school and others have produced has played into the hands of the Bush adminstration in misleading our country into the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. If the media had questioned the assertions of Bush in 2002-3, Congress would not have passed the war powers act of October, 2002.
It is the professors of journalism, people like Gitlin, who should be held up for condemnation for the sort of journalists they have produced.
My thanks to the filmmakers for the wonderful documentary and to PBS for Independent Lens. I never thought Nader was a spoiler in the election nor do I today. Unfortunately, his legacy is probably unknown to too many Americans. Hopefully, this film will help correct that. My hope is a grassroots movement, based on many of Ralph's principals, that will someday either become the third party that we so desperately need or at least force changes in both political parties.
Georgia
HELP HELP I live on less than $7000.00 a year. I'm 67 I went back to School and got my BA in 1995. I get so down with the hopelessness of our govermnet. I watched this show tonight and I felt alive and hopeful. Please Ralph don't give up. I would do anything I could to help you, but I have no MONEY. It seems MONEY runs our world.
karen sheaffer makes a good point, but if roe is overturned, isn't the abortion decision kicked back to the states? apologies if i have that wrong.
why are venomous democrats reluctant to acknowledge the 90,000 or so democratic votes in florida alone that were thrown in the garbage, despite repeated warnings? "armed madhouse" by greg palast has the figures. mcauliffe and gore didn't seem to need any help losing the whitehouse, even though they won the election.
in any case, instant run-off elections would be a civilized, partial remedy.
Thanks to PBS and ITVS for this show about a great American hero. Let me just point out one thing. Isn't it obvious (???) that the same powers that excluded Ralph Nader from the Presidential debates later destroyed him with this "spoiler" label, turning his supporters against him, and obscuring the fact that millions of people who "should have" voted Democrat did not vote for Gore or Nader. DIVIDE AND CONQUER always works on spineless people who don't know what they stand for. Let's quit being so spineless, blaming our loss on a guy who was fighting for something "democratic". If we're going to blame Bush's unelected presidency on one person, how about Katherine Harris.
Comming from a Libertarian, I feel that Ralph Nader is a great American. The government was designed to serve the citizens of the country, not visa versa. Ralph promotes this idea each and every time he calls for reform. The idea of limited government doesn't mean "no government. The main duties of gov. is to protect it's citizens from the aggression of other countries, it's shore's from individual predators, and since the dawn of the industrial age, the aggression of corporate predators (child labor, unsafe products, etc.). Anytime you have a powerful few with extremely large amounts of financial clout, you have the potential for mis-use and corruption. Through gov. regulation and the judicial system we have the means to hold the corporations accountable for their actions. None of this is an indictment on big business as long as they play by the rules. Ralph Nader has been the catalyst for many of the most influential "rules" during the last 50 years. Name one politician who can hold a candle to the man. His running for president in 2000 & 2004 were the actions of a passionate American making another attempt to wake up his country and demand political reform against the establishment. In a way, an argument could be made that the current political system is "unsafe" for the average American and if not reformed, could be fatal. Our forefathers founded this country on the idea of individual freedom without servitude to any entity whether it be the big government or big business. We should be protected from both (in my humble opinion). Ralph took on big business first and added big gov. when he joined the political arena. We owe a great debt to RN and should never take his accomplishments for granted. It is his modesty that truly exemplifies his patriotism and will become the foundation upon which his legacy will rest.
Thank you for airing this expose' of Ralph Nader's great legacy of service to principle. He will be looked upon in future as being one of the greatest of all Americans. Ralph clearly has had no peers in any of the elections, as each of his opponents abandoned the principles for the common good, in order to pander for votes. People who voted for Ralph can live with a clear conscious, that we put principle for the common good above politics. Gore and Kerry lost their respective elections by selling out to the corportocracy. Ralph has inspired people in the future to act on principles for the common good and construct a better world. We of the babyboom generation have time left to follow principle and lead the way, though the sands of the hourglass are mostly given to gravity.
Simply stunning. I was at first amazed by the anger of the democrats and their talking heads (poor Eric). But what else is to be expected? Those who accuse Nader and those who voted for him of spoiling have sold their souls to the notion of electability. "Sure, I agree with everything Nader fights for," they likely say. But did they vote for him? No. Why? Because Gore was more electable. Nader exposed, and continues to expose, the absolute absurdity of such foolishness. One teling line was that of Donahue, that the democrats raged because Nader said there was not much difference between them and the republicans, and then they spent the next four years (7 now) proving him right. Indeed. Thank you, Independent Lens, and PBS, for broadcasting this excellent program. Spoilers? The democrats should be ashamed.
VERY proud to say I voted for Nader and I will be voting for Ron Paul in 2008!
Ralph has my respect. Even if Ralph did not run for president in 2000 and 2004, the democratic party would have lost the elections anyway. We know both elections have been stolen. The elections would have been stolen regardless. Gore and Kerry simply gave up instead of fighting for what they have earned. Why blame Ralph? I voted for Ralph for reasons; I would not have voted for anybody.
Crusader - I'm an independence democrats - need more people like you! I wished I had voted for you! - I didn't know much about you in 2000 & 2004 - PS. I'm sorry for you & every one of us that love America, we are in deep do do! King Bush & his cowboys are killing the United States of America at every stop. The American people had better wake up.
I hope Ralph Nadir runs for President in 2008. We need to get corporations out of our government and they need to follow the rule of law...not make it. The corporations are going to destroy this nation...if they have not already. I think they will destroy this world. Only Ralph Nadir can put them in their place. Forget about the republicans or the democrats. They represent a disaster and disaster capitalism. This world was made for critters and humans...not for governments run by corporations.
WOW!!! Because of ONE MANS' concern for my (and countless others) safety reguarding seatbelts, my life has been spared TWICE!!! Along with making it possible to make better choices reguarding what I eat, the meds. I take, the place I chose to work. I had no idea that ONE MAN, and his "Band of Raiders" did soooooo much!
Without any childern to carry on his legacy....he should donate some of his little swimmers, some people SHOULD reproduce. WE NEED A LOT MORE FOLKS LIKE
MR. RALPH NADER
I voted for Ralph Nader twice for president, including 2004, and would vote for him again if he wins the Green Party nomination for president. The more I hear the vicious attacks on his character by democratic party apologists, the more sure I am that I did the right thing. But if we want to save this world for our children and grandchildren, it will take more than one Ralph Nader, no matter how great his accomplishments have been. It will take millions of Ralph Naders, all over the world, to stop the corporate fascism and selfish greed that currently rules much of the planet.
Ralph Nader is doing for Political Rights the same thing he has been doing for Consumer Rights. To those on the Left I say, stop believing in the "Myth" of the Democratic Party. The Democratic Party and the Republican Party feed at the same trough and literally control the debate. We the People are nothing more than a means to an end to them, they need our vote to maintain their power not to further ours! Thank you Ralph Nader for standing true to your convictions.
According to an account attributed to U.S. author Bob Helt, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) ran a series of comparative tests, in 1971, studying the handling of the 1963 Corvair against four contemporary cars, a Ford Falcon, Plymouth Valiant, Volkswagen Beetle, Renault Dauphine and also a later 1967 Corvair (with a revised suspension design) was included for comparison. The account goes on to describe some of the test details, which included a review of national accident data, and a review of GM internal files and documents, and quotes parts of the original NHTSA report (the very agency Nader's book brought into existence) and concludes thus: The 1960-63 Corvair compares favorably with contemporary vehicles used in the tests,
The handling and stability performance of the 1960-63 Corvair does not result in an abnormal potential for loss of control or rollover, and it is at least as good as the performance of some contemporary vehicles both foreign and domestic.
I would add from Tony Fiore's "The Corvair Decade" : The most outstanding engineering improvement in the 1965 model (which was continued through 1969) was in the rear suspension. Borrowing directly from the Corvette, the old semi-swing axle suspension (1960-1963) was changed to a true fully independent four-link type rear suspension... The rear wheels stay nearly vertical in all bounce and jounce situations as well as in cornering. Rear roll center was drastically reduced from the near 13 inches on the early models (1960-1964) to about five inches... Except for the Corvette, this made the Corvair the finest handling U.S. stock car on the road. Other important engineering changes abounded in the 1965 (through 1969) Corvair...
A great documentary, and long overdue. "Unreasonable" seems a bit negative. "Uncompromising" would have been more the reality. I always thought democracy means having choices. Democracy should not be about "voting for the lesser of two evils" or having to vote against someone. Thank you.
Thank you for airing this show. It was one of the most fascinating programs I've seen in a long time. Americans have much to thank Ralph Nader for. In my mind he is the ultimate American.
A great show. Had me thinking both sies of the 2000 election issue. Interestingly (to me) I came out on the other side that I've held for the pat seven years. One thing is for sure. Nader is a different breed than the major political parties offer (still).
Excellent journalistic work about the truest American, Mr. Ralph Nader. His passion, perseverence and courage for fairness and justice has benefited this country and its citizens. Those who call him a "spoiler" are gutless wonders.
i was disappointed by the folks in the film who were so angry with mr. nader. surely, they must realize, what he was doing and what he continues to do.he's Ralph Nader. and all that has befallen this country since has happened because you were not Ralph Nader.
Thank you, Ralph. And thanks PBS for showing Unreasonable Man.
I voted for Ralph Nader in 2000 and am proud of it. I wish he would team up with Dennis Kucinich.
I am sick that, to this day, Nader still catches the blame for what happened in 2000. The Dems have spent far too much time scapegoating instead of really inspecting what it is about them that turned so many on the Left toward Nader in the first place. I refused to give my vote to the Gore/Lieberman combo (ESPECIALLY Lieberman) for many reasons, and to this day I do not regret that. What makes me sad is that the Democratic party has continued its myopia, and still does not recognize how their pandering to corporate interests is losing even more who would love to support them. Stop whining and start changing, and perhaps you will deserve the votes you get.
"Unreasonable Man" was one great show! It provided clear view of the awesome power of lobbyists, the incredible range of revisionist historical accounts by pundits, and most of all, the very best reasons to be an idealist as opposed to a political pragmatist. Naders concluding statement was a masterpiece. Thanks again, PBS for TV -The Way It Ought To Be.
I am sorry to say that I bought the Democratic line and did not vote my conscience in the last two elections. I am now a Lou Dobb's Independent and am waiting for our candidate to reveal him or herself.
How can you produce a two hour program and not even mention the reason Nader was determined to see that Al Gore did not get elected--NAFTA? It was a good program but Nader's central reason was completely ignored!!
I just wanted to say thank you. "An unreasonable man" gave me internal tears of joy and heartbreak. I knew Ralph Nader was so influential but had no idea how much. I'm young and in my 20's so I haven't been exposed to all of the political background and detail you provided. Although I have read "Unsafe at Any Speed" you have helped me explore the reasons I vote, engage and push ahead in my own community...and of course the reason I have loved Ralph Nader since I discovered him. I appreciate your inspiration to research on my own and follow my heart no matter what others may think. Thanks again. It was truly remarkable.
Ralph Nader has been a hero for justice in a time of great political/corporate injustices.
I'm glad some people are unreasonable and stand for something other than the dollar.
The fact that Ralph Nader could "spoil" any election speaks volumes about the "major" candidates and their popularity.
Ralph Nader has every right to follow his beliefs. Contrary to Eric Alterman's statement, 52% of the people didn't even vote, let alone vote for one candidate. Why not just blame them? Watching Bill Moyers and Michael Moore beg on their knees for the democrats made me sick. Is that what democracy is about?
Democrats blame Nader for Gore's losing the election when they should blame the democratic party for creating the climate that permitted Nader's message to resonate with so many people.
The gap between Ralph Nader (and other non-partisan independents), Washington (London!) and possible public scrutiny is still controlled by corporate America's information-terror based on the cheap-oil energy fundamentals and ruled by global public-private partnerships(P3).
Consumers and corporate citizens are not that far apart in being the real cause of world-wide confusion: "what you seek, is what you get".
For the root-cause of post-war cases, please compare The Real Deal of 1963:
www.complexxon.org
If anybody thinks that Nader is a scapegoat think again. He's the most egotistical man that I ever seen. Everybody that he cost Al Gore the election in 2000, and John Kerry in 2004. Those who are narrowminded are those that think that Nader was going anywhere running for president as an independent. And he thought that he could beat the two-party system, I Don'think so
it would be kinda extra ok ( if ) some were to encourage others to develop ways to have radical-pollution-reduction of the gasoline engine. for some who like original-thinking the physical-laws-of-the crankshaft need to be changed.in about 12 to 14 months the prototype should be done . i guess it is ok to say that ( if ) all vehicles like cars and busses and trucks and trains and lawn mowers were to average ( 43 ) miles per gallon using gasoline there would be ( no ) need for the usa to import 1 drop of oil , for real-er-est
The main problem with democracy in the US today is consolidation of corporate media. With too few hands controlling TV and newspapers the electorate is getting mostly filtered news that favors the multi-national corporations. How can you make an educated decision? Then, the huge sums of money it takes to run (supplied by corporations), keeps the best ideas out of the debate. Break up the monopolies and get the big money out of politics. Let what is in the common good drive the agenda. Thats why crRalph has been demonized to his own constituency - Good trick!
* Review
RALPH NADERS FILM "UNRESONABLEMAN" WOULD MAKE A GREAT GIFT FOR THE HOLIDAYS OR A BIRTHDAY GIFT FOR A FRIEND OR FAMILY MEMBER YOU MIGHT ALSO CONSIDER ONE OF RALPH NADERS BOOKS AS A GIFT FOR ONE OF YOUR FRIENDS OR FAMILY MEMBERS:
THEY ARE AVALIBLE ON WWW.AMAZON.COM OR WWW.BN.COM
CRASHING THE PARTY BY RALPH NADER
THE SEVENTEEN TRADITIONS BY RALPH NADER
THE GOOD FIGHT BY RALPH NADER
THE RALPH NADER READER BY RALPH NADER
(PLEASE CONSIDER DOING A BOOK REVIEW FOR ONE OF THESE FINE BOOKS ON AMAZON OR BN.COM
i voted for the best man and that was Ralph Nadar, end of story.
While I agree that corporations drive both parties and that Clinton was unwilling to cut "corporate welfare", the huge difference between the two parties is about a woman's right to control her own body. The Bush era will live on through his dreadful supreme court appointments for many years to come, even after his stupid immoral war and disastrous foreign policy have been reversed. Ralph Nader, not once, mentions women's rights. When he decries the decline of democracy, he does not acknowledge that women have become second class citizens under the current supreme court.
Ralph Nader holds corporate America up to the scutiny of public opinion. He is many times a potent element toward the needed change and regulation which have kept companies increasingly ethical in their practices. I want to see Nader become a stronger voice in our federal government. I support the best things he brings and I am thankful for his hard work.
I saw this terrific documentary at our local independent theatre. It's a must for young people, who won't know about Ralph Nader if all they�ve been exposed to is corporate-controlled news and corporate school textbooks. It tells how the most qualified candidate in US history � one might say, overqualified! - was scapegoated by the Democrats and labeled a "spoiler." Are the Democrat and Republican parties the true spoilers, happily handing over the public's interests to corrupt corporations? Is it amy surprise they try to marginalize America�s top corporate crime buster?
My new book about my adventures as Nader's 2004 campaign photographer, "What Was Ralph Nader Thinking?"
Ralph Nader is a CRUSADER!!! Today's CEO's are yesterdays Monarch's. All large bureaucracy's (Corporations, Government, education, medicine, etc) Care more about the survival of the Bureaucracy and not playing fair with the people. The rich are getting richer disproportionately compared to the working and middle classes. When life is good people are not senstized to see how they are being exploited and laws that are being passed.
I share Nader's passion about consumer advocacy due to my life experiences. My life experiences: Dated the grandson of one of the GM presidents in Flint Michigan in the 1960's, became the first female model maker at AC Spark Plug and when I read the book my John DeLorean "On a Clear Day You Can See General Motors" thought it described the GM working experience. Wanted to quit working at GM so while working 50-60 hour work weeks and raising two sons, went back to college, moved to Boston and completed my degree. While living in Connecticut my son was in a catastrophic automobile accident and now has a severe traumatic head injury.
Although I graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BS in accounting, I have not been able to make more than $37,000/year. I have more knowledge than is being utilized but opportunities for career advancement have not opened up for me. Perhaps because of not graduating until 50 years old, being a single parent and having to miss work when caregivers do not show up to care for my disabled son. AM EXTREMELY frustrated that I have done all I can to have a decent living but feel I have been prevented from advancement and also am well aware of the enormous inequities of how the people are exploited and exponential disparity of the income gap getting bigger and bigger.
Am currently reading, RIgged and Assault on Reason by Al Gore and have ordered "THe brotherhood of oil". I loved Ralphs book FIghting the good FIght. Was present in the audience the night Ralph spoke live over video conferencing to questions from people at the Drexel Theater in Columbus,Ohio.
AM retiring April 2008 at the age of 61 and want to get involved and become one of Nader's Raiders. I share Ralphs passion for the inequities the people are experiencing but don't know how to put that energy to good constructive use. LET ME KNOW HOW I CAN GET INVOLVED!!!
THANKS RALPH FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE AND FOR NOT SELLING OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I think he is a great personality, yet will never be a president since he, because of his calling in life, has all the time placed himself in the opposition of whosoever would be at the helm of the government. We need people like him as bad as we need a president and the fact that somebody can do this shows we are still living in a democratic society. Once that is no longer possible and his voice deems down I do not know, I would wonder whether our freedom of speech is disappearing. It is just like with some organs. If we do not use it we loose it.
Those who believe that Ralph Nader cost Al Gore the 2000 Election have a very myopic view of our political process. Al Gore cost Al Gore the election. Those who wanted Ralph Nader to step aside are the goose-stepping fascists of the left, who, paradoxically, want to promote democracy by stifling it. I voted my principles in 2000 and 2004 when I voted for Nader and am proud that I did. Voting for one who closest represents one's principles is more satisfying than accepting the lesser of two evils. I'd relish seeing the duopoly of the Republicans and Democrats being breeched by a serious third party and candidate. Hopefully Ron Paul will seek the Presidency as a Libertarian in 2008 and make it a true three-way race. The more attractive alternatives there are to the Republicans and Democrats the better. Even Pat Buchanan offered a very thoughtful intellectual alternative. We need more voices not less. Ralph Nader is one of those voices that we still need to hear.
Ralph Nader was a great advocate for auto safety and we need someone like that now. We wouldn't be worrying about lead in our toys etc.. if we did. He made a big mistake running for President in 2000 since he did not gain leverage for consumer safety by doing so and was not a serious contender. Worst of all, his mistake gave us George Bush and a relaxing of desperately needed consumer safety regulations.
If Ralph Nader is the person responsible for electing Bush in 2000 the who deserves all the credit for re-electing him in 2004? Nader is a convenient scapegoat for the muddled policy positions of the Democrats. There were 2.78 million voters out there who's concerns were not being addressed by the Dems and 7 years later, little has changed.
Ralph Nader will never make it as a successful American politician because he appears to completely lack the necessary ability to bend, compromise or abandon his principles to achieve moderate political "gains". Lacking the charm of an Abraham Lincoln, what is left is a giant of courage and conviction that will never reach the mountaintop.
But that mountaintop is no longer important. It's become a cesspool and the power of good people to do good things must be found elsewhere. Thank God for Ralph Nader. He is a lousy politician, but a true Statesman. What a great country this would be if we only had a few more like him.
Ralph Nader is not to blame for the election of George W. Bush.
The Electoral College and the two-party system are to blame, because the former allows election of a president without the majority of the popular vote; the latter dilutes the voting strength of people with similar outlooks and results in an advantage to the other side.
What we need is to switch to direct election of the president; the Electoral College was an anti-democratic, elitist institution from the beginning.
Then, to ensure a majority in multi-party elections, we need to employ "instant runoff voting" [IRV] in our presidential elections. It is used in many jurisdictions around the world. Following is a description of this system quoted from Wikipedia: "Instant-runoff voting (IRV) is a voting system used for single-winner elections in which voters have one vote, but can rank candidates in order of preference. In an IRV election, if no candidate receives a majority of first choices, the candidate with the fewest number of votes is eliminated, and ballots cast for that candidate are redistributed to the surviving candidates according to the voters' indicated preference. This process is repeated until one candidate obtains a majority."
Immediately after stopping Republican apparatchiks inside and outside the Justice Department from rigging all elections for the foreseeable future, the Electoral College, with appropriate provisions for runoffs (instant or otherwise) must be the next step towards ensuring democracy in the U.S. selection of presidents.
Terry Sparks
I strongly disagree that Nader has had a disastrous effect on the United States. I believe he has helped make it a better place to live, and he relentlessly continues this even when the people he has helped can't stand them. It is in my opinion, too bad that Bush is president, but that is not Nader's fault. I believe that the importance of Nader's run for president will have long lasting, positive impacts that go unnoticed in the short-term, but will be far reaching and profound in the long-term, like so many of his accomplishments we take for granted. I think people are becoming more aware of how important it is for them take part in their own government if they want to effect change. If Gore had become president, he likely would not have had congressional support to enact significant environmental change, but his impact as a Nobel Peace Prize winner has dramatically affected popular views on global warming which is pressuring companies to become greener. That's just one example I see right now. I think Ralph Nader will unfortunately only truly be appreciated after he (and we) are long gone.
The documentary was excellent, I was very happy that the filmmakers cared enough to show all he has done for us as American citizens. Thanks to PBS for airing great and important documentaries.
Nader deserves credit for all the good he has done. However, he is not simply "unreasonable" � he is a person with no vision other than his own, who put his personal ambition above the greater good, and we are paying for his intransigence.
Like most Americans I have mixed views of Ralph Nader -- mostly as a hero, but his presidential ambitions did not begin in the 1990s.
As a teenager in Washington in the 1960s, I recall an article in the Sunday supplement (probably not called Parade at the time) featuring Ralph Nader and indicating that a run for the presidency had been seriously envisioned by his family even in his boyhood. So when the greenest politician ever to be nominated by a major political party, i.e., Al Gore by the Democrats, it was extremely disappointing but not terribly surprising, given my memory of that article, that he did not withdraw his own candidacy and fully support Gore. The consequences of his stubbornness and ambition have had and will continue to have a disastrous impact on the United States, possibly negating many, very many, of his early accomplishments.
