Nader on Physicians for a National Health Program & Cable De-regulation

[The Sushi Bandit]

http://www.ralphnader.com/interest/081503.html

Dr. Marcia Angell of the Harvard Medical School said "In the current economic climate, we can no longer afford to waste the vast resources we do on the administrative costs, executive salaries and profiteering of the private insurance system." A factual predicate for her statement was given by Dr. Steffie Woolhandler, also of Harvard, who stated that "we are already spending enough to provide every American with superb medical care - $5,775 per person this year. That's 42% higher than in Switzerland, which has the world's second most expensive health care system, and 83% higher than in Canada."

and...................

Remember the promises of the cable industry? In the Fifties and Sixties, a small cable industry promised no advertisements and vibrant local programming in return for a modest monthly fee. Then, it was composed of many small firms which were indeed locally rooted -- community cable, it was called. Now three giant cable conglomerates control 56% of the entire national marketplace. De-regulation was a set-up for a spate of mergers slouching toward wider monopolization.

[eablair3]

1. thanks

thanks for posting this. I like Nader. He makes a lot of sense.

[Ardee]

2. GASP

what have you said,eablair, do you not realise that Nader singlehandedly doomed the democrats to impotency and failure? Do you not understand that Nader is a GOP plant? He is ,after all, the antichrist, did you not know this?

Never mind that almost every speech he writes, every insight he shares, every truth he utters about the stupidity of the democratic leaderships decisions is truth itself........Nader is the scapegoat that these right wing neodemocrats need as they have to blame someone outside of the leadership or their whole political philosophy falls apart......

[eablair3]

3. oh, ... the horror of it all

I thought I might have gotten more replies. Maybe they are "Nadered out"?

I thought for sure I'd get some vitriolic personal attacks, at least on Nader. It's funny how you never see anyone take him on on the merits of what he has to say. It's almost always some type of ad hominem attack.

If it's not a personal attack, it's usually the standard LIE that Nader said "there is no difference between the Democrats and the Republicans." And, then they go out and "prove" in their minds how Nader was wrong with that statement, by citing examples of the differences in the treatment of the environment and the appointment of judges. The trouble with that whole approach is that Nader never said what they say he said. They LIE about what he said. I've looked for where Nader supposedly said "there is no difference." I've even looked at so-called "Nader hate" sites that have all his quotes. But, I have yet to see where Nader said that. I have seen where he said words to the effect that "There is not enough difference between the Dems and the Repubs,." and then he backs it up. I challenged many of the Nader bashers that say this LIE to tell me or show me where he said "there is no difference," but not one has been able to show me.

I like Ralph Nader. The country would be a hell of a lot better with him as President. We might even have a chance of coming out of the Dark Ages.

[Ardee]

4. perhaps they are too busy

adopting new tactics, such as that silly thread with (pseudo)greens acting like they are in an AA meeting, Hi I used to be a green but now Im voting democrat........well I used to be a democrat but when the party left me I decided to vote my conscience and my political beliefs, and that means green.

[Skittles]

5. I don't give a flying F*** what Nader has to say NOW

GOT THAT? Is THAT what you are looking for????????????

[Terwilliger]

6. Ardee

I no longer desire to confront those who lay blame to Nader for their problems. Let the debate go to their rigid strictures of what's real and right according to their narrow views.

[Ardee]

7. but Terwilliger

Just as the right wing has adopted the tactic of oft repeated falsehoods becoming more credible with repitition so does the vichy democrat seek to make credible the most egregious of falsehoods, both wrt Nader and the supposed rightward movement of the american public.
I feel that this tactic must be countered, if only to reach those who abrogate their responsibility to this nation by their failure to think for themselves, do their own research and draw their own conclusions....

[Terwilliger]

8. there is nothing but conflict here

people intransigent in their certitude

for all the fighting I've done here, I don't know that I've changed anyone's mind, and it's not worth the anger and frustration

These people must make their own way. They will not learn anything from us.

[Ardee]

9. there are people and there are people

while I strongly agreee that many, especially those who foster and abet these myths and slanders about Nader, are beyond convincing, it is the lie itself which must,imo, always be countered,always!

[The Zanti Regent]

13. oh, please! That liar nade a lot of ¢ent$ for his GOP buddies!

Nader is the biggest god-damn phony of ALL TIME.

http://www.realchange.org/nader.htm

[John_H]

10. You guys notice

that while you're here having a dialogue with yourselves that there's a thread chock full of dozend of former Greens coming home to the Democratic Party? Tell you something? They're all idots and you're real smart, right?

I wonder if that has anything do with the fact that, while ol' ralph sure says the right things, (most) people aren't as dumb as he thinks they are.

Case in point: he rails about cable and health care while owning hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of a fund which lists Merk and Viacom in its top ten holdings. If these industries are so bad (and they are) what the fuck is he doing profiteering from them?

Top Ten Holdings 4 as of 06/30/2003
CITIGROUP INC
GENERAL ELECTRIC CO
VIACOM INC CL B NON-VTG
AMER INTL GROUP INC
MICROSOFT CORP
PFIZER INC
MERCK & CO INC
EXXON MOBIL CORP
BANK OF AMERICA CORPORATION
FANNIE MAE
28.60% of the portfolio
Total Holdings 222

http://personaldcc.fidelity.com/products/funds/mfl_frame.shtml?316184100

The whole sordid truth about Fidelity Ralph can be found at www.realchange.org/nader.htm

All I can say is.....nice try. Next!

[Terwilliger]

11. John H

may the love of Jah shine on you, and keep you from harm

[Ardee]

12. I would bet you have no stocks or bonds

not even a clue as to the holdings of Dean,Kucinich, Clark or any other politico either. In this reality holding a fund means that you have no voting stock, or at least no say in the content of that fund, in the individual companies comprising that fund. In this reality speaking out against a corporate policy that is benefitting companies you are making money with is courageous and self sacrificing...
Now run along back to Carlos and tell him that you failed miserably to make any reasonable mature point.....by the by, that point about Greens coming "home" is just more of your silliness and immature political opinion, based upon registration numbers Green membership is slowly and steadily growing larger as democratic registration is going the other way....I wonder why that might be?

Lastly, anyone can say anything here, some of those who prattle about having been green once but have come running back to the DLC led abomination that you seem to embrace, are simply full of it......you know ,sort of like you are!