What is American politics coming to? I just watched a joint interview with Ralph Nader and Rep. Ron Paul — and they were mostly on the same side! Nader has spent his life promoting government intervention in the economy. Paul has spent his life promoting the free market and minimal government. For the two of them to discuss making common cause is something extraordinary. And yet it makes total sense. What’s so exciting is that their common cause shines the spotlight right where it’s needed: on corporatism — the constellation of government policies that primarily benefit wealthy and well-connected business and banking interests at the expense of the rest of us.Here's the op-ed.
Proudly delegitimizing the state since 2005
"Aye, free! Free as a tethered ass!" —W.S. Gilbert
"All the affairs of men should be managed by individuals or voluntary associations, and . . . the State should be abolished." —Benjamin Tucker
"You must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself." —James Madison
"Fat chance." —Sheldon Richman
Their op-ed may seem like great words, but I'm still pretty cynical about the whole thing. Nader and Paul are still working within the same authoritarian system. Regardless of what they do, it still plays into that capitalist-statist farce known as politics.
ReplyDeleteDynamic duos like Paul/Nader make me wonder if some conservative (I don't know about conservatives - Pat Buchanan?) could join this dance and, as it were, complete the circle?
ReplyDeleteOr is three a crowd? Anyway, I hope Paul and Nader's shared agenda will advance, with them together, separate, or even left out. It's the agenda that counts!