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Political activist and author Ralph Nader tells Alan why he dislikes both major party presidential candidates.
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And Allen county was named by the Atlantis is one of the 100 most influential figures in American history.
When only for a living.
The seventeenth solutions new ideas for our American future Ralph welcome back to show -- -- -- on -- own -- -- very much.
I don't think would you look at -- sort of like -- the election but tell me about this book in the seventeenth solutions like seventeen.
And what are you really want people to take from this.
Well there long overdue re directions that are Portland majority American people there's a fundamental tax reform.
Getting out of Afghans -- and are getting rid of corporate welfare.
We're reducing our bloated military budget the current contract -- -- ripping people off -- And -- cracking down on corporate crime that includes taking so much money unlawfully from Medicare Medicaid -- total list.
And you put it into public works -- real jobs repairing my modernizing schools public.
Transit systems public buildings and -- water systems.
And creating jobs that they are in every community cannot be exported to China now.
You heard the presidential candidates talk about and you blow off the table.
And so this seventy solution book which is published tomorrow you're the first program.
By harpercollins.
Is going to be all over the country it's an inexpensive paperback.
It gives people a sense.
Excitement.
Above all the solutions we have in this country that are kept on the shelf and not put on the ground in in communities all over the country.
Because we're not organized and up as people.
And there's too much power in too few corporate and who keep the government from becoming one of by the people instead of the government of the -- by the General Motors for the DuPont.
I'd like to see.
Some of what you're saying come into being and I think some of that you're talking about like public works -- present -- -- -- -- like but he can't get.
A Republican congress to work than he could barely get done what he got down I think if remarkably already got done the things he did get done.
-- so far.
If you if you really push these solutions and excited people.
-- mainstream -- street all over the country there wouldn't have been a Republican.
Victory in 2010.
You've got to be a transforming leader when you're president got the bully pulpit because all of -- you want.
And you can completely overcome.
Political forces who want to go backwards into the future the way this.
Craven Republican extremists who book made up of people who have told me on Capitol Hill that would -- -- Ronald Reagan -- Reagan was too liberal.
Well he -- by today's.
World.
He he probably -- Richard Nixon too liberal -- Reagan would never make any today's Republican Party when you have -- people like Mitch McConnell say my number one political goals to get him out of office when given convening even as he's being inaugurated saying we're not gonna help them win anything.
-- -- and possibly get done.
Well no because -- it Democrats don't know how to defeat the -- Republican Party in the party's history going back to 1858.
If you look at what.
Eric Cantor and John Boehner have gotten through good -- -- the lasted two years or have proposed that they would they wouldn't.
They wouldn't be supported by 20% of the people in this country I mean it's crazy -- anti children's stuff anti health and safety -- clean air.
Anti consumer protection.
And tight clean water cutting party but it's okay to give corporations.
All those tax breaks in Bermuda and and the other tax havens abroad.
Does so that a bunch of major corporations property taxes.
But General Electric Verizon Honeywell for years they don't pay any taxes they actually get money back from the -- You don't have a lot of -- and whether Democrat or Republicans elected we're gonna solve these problems.
-- unless people get behind these kinds of solutions.
And -- been built in every congressional district has sort of more like that congress watchdog -- And if we change congress around and it's made up -- only 535.
Men and women put their shoes on like you and I do every day.
And if we don't organize if we don't turn congress around because congress has the taxing and spending war making.
Oversight.
Powers is the most part for branch of government under constitution.
We're not gonna turn the government around we're not gonna make -- -- government that serves the people instead of -- big business and Wall Street.
Are you more favorably inclined toward Obama -- Romney.
No I think what people want I think because of the the country deserves a lot better and I can get a lot better.
If they organize back home and when you have half the people don't even vote.
A lot of the people who vote hereditary you know their grandparents were Republicans -- Democrats -- just look no matter who the candidate is.
Other people hold their nose and go to the -- who -- and vote for the least worst.
They don't have a chance.
-- to be given greater choice by third parties like libertarian green.
Justice.
Party and constitution party because -- two parties not only rig the presidential debates that are coming up well.
Let the debate commission -- a private corporation created 1987 by the two parties to make sure nobody gets on but them.
And they pick their own reporters they picked the wrong format and he signed a secret agreement which opened debates dot org George -- has meant to be released.
He's got the last time.
He got nineteen million votes in 1990 do they kept the -- in 1996.
I called my places.
-- -- appealed to be a multi billionaire.
You -- nineteen million votes for years ago and you can't get on the debates which is the only way to reach tens of millions of people on the rigged system we have.
So these solutions.
I think we're really grab people it's clearly -- is not a bunch of fine print there we go after the contracts fine print that we all have to.
Side and give proper rights when we.
Buy insurance or so ago credit he -- which we know law last.
But it also gives.
Solutions that are tools to get these changes under way the just say here's the bright future folks we can get there.
It answers the question how people get the power in order to turn to the bureaucrats in the -- purchases around -- they serve America purchase.
We're -- and Ralph Nader the seventeen solutions his new book bold ideas for our American future Howard to reform the tax system.
Well there's several ways when he get rid of the tax -- the -- that big corporations.
Chartered by the US getting all the benefits of being in the US -- public services and corporate welfare.
Can go to these tax -- and -- overseas like the Bahamas they'd end up paying zero tax or 3% tax like General Electric.
And run for example before collapsing at 800 subsidiaries in these offshore tax -- would be ignorant therefore that's one.
The second really appeals to people why don't we -- first.
That which society like released or dislikes the -- before we -- labor which most people like.
Work OK so you've -- Wall Street speculation.
People going to stores that they except per cent sales tax on this sensitive life all over America tomorrow.
Some of them by a hundred million dollars worth.
-- derivatives and pays -- -- half a percent tax.
And stocks and derivatives and Turkey derivatives who produced 300 billion dollars.
We do increase a tax rates for the wealthy is Obama want to do.
It's called restore detection rate restore the thanks largely.
-- to the level they were under Eisenhower and under Nixon restore the tax rates.
And a -- and it's important.
-- what we don't like tax pollution before -- -- labor.
Actually things that we don't like first like speculation Wall Street and pollution the carbon tax.
As you'll see the tax burden on working people lighten up.
I never say to him go vote for.
You OK but is -- I mean.
You have -- -- -- what I've read believe that Romney is the worst of the two evils -- -- conversely Obama as the lesser of two evils but that -- -- agree with -- Yeah but they're both bad because they're -- this is Serbian that the government and our power.
Up to the corporations they're giving our power which we have given -- in Washington.
And then turning around.
-- giving the part of corporation to dominate the government departments and agencies in the congress.
Which -- -- the government against us so we can do a lot better than someone who comes in with an -- and someone else comes in with a B minus.
What.
What do you plan to do.
Again politically youth do you feel -- sitting this one -- and will you -- run again.
Well I don't feel bad I think you know we've run a good campaign we've documented that two party duopoly which excludes competition from third parties.
The third parties in the nineteenth century Davis the first push.
To abolish slavery given when -- -- -- in the right to -- give labor and farmers decent standards of protection.
Against banks insurance companies in the factories.
But we've closed them out in the night in the twentieth and 21 -- very very hard.
And that's why people don't have a clear choice and as voters so you'll -- -- in on now is this presidential debates.
They're totally -- -- You know the subjects in advance they're not debate they're parallel interviews between Romney and Obama.
And it's a private corporation created.
By the two major parties.
Stood their own -- -- to -- and they -- the American people think we did -- debate.
-- I'm -- -- -- legendary Ralph Nader is with us is new but -- -- the seventeenth solutions.
Bold ideas for our American future.
Fund -- regular phone calls here -- You -- would you have any advice for either Romney or Obama in the upcoming debate.
-- not really important issues have not been discussed in the presidential campaign over the last year.
I mean who listen to what the people want to have discussed.
-- help make our communities more self reliant.
-- restoring some of -- civil liberties.
How about creating more jobs by putting the money not an Afghan man blowing up bridges and and highways -- putting it.
In the Ohio in.
In Missouri and the rest of the country.
-- in America everybody knows.
There's so much dictate not just highways and bridges is public transit public bill means it's what's underneath the -- the pipelines.
Schools but that's what makes life better.
Better jobs.
Better economic.
Owned.
And better public.
What's your biggest.
Concern -- criticism of Obama.
Yeah well the biggest one is dead he doesn't connect with the people who support him he takes them for granted there.
Caters to people who oppose him whether it's fight -- the drug companies or their health insurance companies or more people to the right -- better.
So I don't like politicians who turned her back on those who brought him to the White House and that.
Creates a very serious problem so instead of getting what he believes and -- Medicare for all everybody in nobody out.
Rejoice the doctor hospital we get -- overly come.
Obama -- which it caters to the profit -- musician -- drug and health insurance companies so.
But you gotta ask yourself at.
Do you take your power from the necessities and about concerns -- people -- do you take it by an -- -- directed to Wall Street.
You went so far and politicos are calling him a war criminal do you believe that.
You know he's clearly violated the constitution he goes to war in the engages in drone attacks all over.
The world without any declaration of war I -- -- is an example.
Which nose into and it spilled over -- tomorrow leading killer could cause another attack and other terrorist statement.
You know the whole -- -- Stuff that the CIA talks about.
The -- he violates federal statutes.
Statutes against -- wireless and you know -- wiretapping.
He still does extraordinary rendition.
And the bubble he violates international treaties like the Geneva convention but to me just quietly in the constitution.
Turning it is back on congress is if he's the emperor and he doesn't have to take appropriation authority and war declaration authority is enough to be.
Abilities are impeachable offenses.
This series we're talking political legal.
Scrutiny here being an important way and bush continued that this same thing.
Every every new president pushing the envelope and to concentrate you know unlawfully.
Power in the White House at the expense of the congress and the.
Didn't we in any president you can recall who did not.
Every -- have impeachable offenses Gary Carter.
You're regarded as the most underestimated maligned president he was -- peace advocate he's clearly our greatest ex president look what he's done all over the world.
Right now.
We should ask questions we never quite they're twenty debates -- three debates.
There -- people organizations from Portland Oregon Pittsburgh and District Columbia just written letters to the presidential candidates -- Come to our communities will sponsor you will power will be hospitable.
And we'll discuss the regional issues that you never talk about.
There -- people have to -- your expectations around because if they have cynical low expectations for politicians.
The politicians will be very happy to oblige them.
Ralph -- against the book -- -- seventeen solution Stephen Ford Wayne Indiana I'm glad state.
-- I really appreciate the way your take in this tonight you're really handle on the well.
Mr.
Nader I was gonna bring up -- ghosts.
-- national monetary system -- But reserve lost it there are you can trying matters that just kind of off the record book -- quality.
It's funded by banks not by congressional appropriations.
That makes it bankers government inside our government.
And obviously it's going to favor creditors against the others they guess -- -- numbers -- OK that's one the second used to secretly.
It is not publicly accountable.
And in other who -- western countries -- they have a Central Bank has really accountable ministry to the parliament so we we should have.
The Federal Reserve pulled it into.
A gripped that department that is accountable.
And more open and then we have to talk about monetary policy something Ron -- Price talk about.
And other people running for office like to roller -- in and -- a -- All right Steve thank you -- Well so -- run line Robin San Jose California -- Yet like that -- -- when everybody talked about acting like pollution and you don't do -- we have.
Cap and trade -- out there.
-- wouldn't discount it when you start fact that they'll like it is always -- wrote down the consumer in support of higher price for utilities.
What -- -- -- Blog here keep water advocate that that it happened because anytime any.
I think -- -- the -- the upper and two more they always roll it down to the complete.
Well that's -- you got attacked at the point of origin.
Where the oil chemical in the nuclear.
Are produced.
And then you've got to make sure that they have to use those costs and a competitive way.
Oh against each other and then you can everybody's for poor people.
It's far far better less -- Then.
Cap and trade categories too complex is easily game.
But there's nothing simpler than in effect this sales tax -- anyway up.
Whereas the energy is is.
Thank you very much -- -- new book is called the seventeen solutions.
Bold ideas for our American future thank you -- -- a stellar debut the book Aaron the show or else appreciate haven't -- as always thank you very much for your time.
Yeah look now this -- more in the book protecting the family unit getting science and technology back to the people liked.
Getting rid of 200000 American deaths a year from hospital induced infections.
So there are a lot of things -- but the most important thing is it shows how you compute power in your own hands.
To -- -- beloved country of ours around so it serves the people thank you very much.
