Attacks don’t deter Nader’s fiery anti-military message

Associated Press

WALLA WALLA — Consumer activist Ralph Nader did not specifically address the recent terrorist attacks during a weekend appearance here, but he criticized the two major political parties and encouraged his audience to fight for civil justice.

Nader, 67, said the Democrat and Republican parties support higher military budgets, are expanding corporate welfare and ignoring corporate crimes.

"We have enough weapons to blow the world up several times, and then make the rubble bounce," Nader told an eager, standing-room-only crowd of more than 1,000 community members and Whitman College students Saturday night.

Nader, the Green Party’s presidential candidate last year, urged students to support populist, progressive movements to improve the country. He pointed to accomplishments of forebears who eliminated slavery and battled for women’s rights.

He received a standing ovation after the 80-minute speech.

While the government spends billions on military response after the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., Nader emphasized there are people living in poverty, without enough to eat and nowhere to live.

"Democracy is so weak because it cannot pick up these disclosures … and correct these abuses," he said.

Nader believes corporations are to blame — holding an iron grip over the populace. For example, he said U.S. officials allow the country’s defense system to be run by arms manufacturers and the Food and Drug Administration to be controlled by commercial companies.

Political parties are "indentured to special interests" for funding, Nader said. He maintains the government gives away billions of dollars in taxpayer subsidies that could be used to make improvements, such as bettering schools or water systems.

Citizens must view the world through civic, not corporate eyes, he said.

"We don’t spend a lot of time on civic values," Nader said. "But we spend a lot of time shopping and thinking about shopping."

In 1965, Nader challenged the auto industry for building unsafe cars, specifically the Chevrolet Corvair. He later helped create the Environmental Protection Agency and the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Nader asked the audience not to "shut up." By not shutting up, a stronger democracy can exist, he said.

By fighting injustice, he said, "You can look your grandchildren in the eyes, without averting your gaze, before you hand this world over to them."