Nader will most likely get my vote because he is the only one who talks about real issues that affect those in my demographic (the working class consumer).
Issues which affect the working class consumer.
1. Military Budget
Nader/Gonzalez would cut the bloated, wasteful military budget.
Earlier this year, President Bush announced a military budget of over $600 billion.
And that's not counting the full cost of the war in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The proposed military budget represents 58 cents out of every dollar spent by the U.S. government on discretionary programs - the items that Congress gets to vote up or down on an annual basis.
The Democrats and Republicans have been silent about this rapid escalation in military expenditures, despite many critical reports by the Government Accountability Office and Pentagon auditors.
In fact, they want to increase them.
Barack Obama, for example, has said that he wants to "bump up" the military budget.
Hillary Clinton and Obama have committed themselves to increasing the armed forces by tens of thousands of troops.
John McCain would outdo them both.
As budget analyst William Hartung points out "
the United States is already spending more for defense than all the other nations in the world combined."
This is wasteful spending which does not increase our security. We need a new mindset in Washington.
2. Single Payer Health Care
Nader/Gonzalez favors a Canadian-style, private delivery, free choice of hospital and doctor, public health insurance system.
Right now, the United States spends $7,129 per capita on health care—more than twice as much per capita as the rest of the industrialized world.
And yet, the United States performs poorly in comparison on major health indicators such as life expectancy and infant mortality
While other industrialized nations like Canada and Sweden provide comprehensive coverage to their entire populations,
the United States leaves 47 million completely uninsured and tens of millions more inadequately covered.
According to an Institute of Medicine report,
18,000 Americans die each year because they cannot afford health care.
And inability to pay for medical bills is the leading cause of bankruptcies – they currently contribute to about half the bankruptcies in the United States.
3.
Ballot Access
Nader/Gonzalez favor one federal standard for federal ballot access in all of the states.
Right now, each state sets its own standards and third party and independent candidates must spend hundreds of thousands of dollars and thousands of hours for a chance to get on the ballots of the various states.
In some states, it is fairly simple to get on the ballot.
For example, in Louisiana, Nader/Gonzalez writes a check for $500, line up electors—and we’re on the ballot.
But that’s the exception.
Check out the requirements in these nightmare states: (And remember, we need to collect double the number required in each state because many are arbitrarily invalidated.)
Texas, requires 74,108 valid signatures between March 5 and May 8. Deplorably, anyone who has voted in the primary cannot sign the petition.
Oklahoma, requires 43,913 by July 15.
North Carolina requires 69,743 by June 12. In 2000, it cost Pat Buchanan $250,000 to collect enough signatures for ballot access in that state.
Indiana requires 32,742 by June 20.
Georgia requires 42,489 by July 8th
How can we have a choice if certain people are excluded? There are more pertinent issues as well but I don't feel like having a four page long post.
Ralph Nader for President in 2008
It will be very dangerous to have a Dem pres and Dem Congress. Very little xperience for Obama in any aspect.
