Ralph Nader Anounces 2008 Bid for President.

[hrdman2luv]

Before we all start changing your Ron Paul bashing to Ralph Nader bashing, lets do a little reading on the guy. Find out what he really stands for. What his accomplishments are. And other important information. I know he is ugly, and is easy to make fun of. But, maybe the guy really is better than "they" say he is.

Here's what I found so far. (and keep in mind, I know of no facts about him yet.)

[LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This No Hillary For President Forum Link.

Here is something interesting I found @ Wiki:

Nader's first consumer safety articles appeared in the Harvard Law Record, a student publication of Harvard Law School, but he first criticized the automobile industry in an article he wrote for The Nation in 1959 called "The Safe Car You Can't Buy."[10] In 1965, Nader wrote Unsafe at Any Speed, a study that purported to demonstrate that many American automobiles were unsafe, especially the Chevrolet Corvair manufactured by General Motors. The Corvair had been involved in numerous accidents involving spins and rollovers, and there were over 100 lawsuits pending against GM in connection to accidents involving the popular car. These lawsuits provided the initial material for Nader's investigations into the safety of the car[11] GM tried to discredit Nader, hiring private detectives to tap his phones and investigate his past, and hiring prostitutes to trap him in compromising situations.[12][13] GM failed to uncover any wrongdoing, and never explained resorting to smear tactics instead of defending the car in the popular press, where the company had considerable corporate influence. GM's avoidance of technical journals makes more sense, as it was well known among auto engineers that the Corvair's swing axle suspension handled miserably.[14][15] Upon learning of GM's actions, Nader successfully sued the company for invasion of privacy, forced it to publicly apologize, and used much of his $284,000 net settlement to expand his consumer rights efforts. Nader's lawsuit against GM was ultimately decided by the New York Court of Appeals, whose opinion in the case expanded tort law to cover "overzealous surveillance".[16]

[Corvair]

Originally Posted by hrdman2luv

...In 1965, Nader wrote Unsafe at Any Speed, a study that purported to demonstrate that many American automobiles were unsafe, especially the Chevrolet Corvair manufactured by General Motors...

You could have guessed that I'd have a strong opinion on Nader and his campaign against a car I really like! His crusade against the Corvair was discredited through other, less-publicized independent tests on the car. Any handling "quirks" were cured with the addition of a sway bar on the '64 model. I've had a Corvair for over ten years and still haven't managed to roll it. The truth is that other cars spin out and roll over, too, and no less frequently than the 'Vair.

Court Jester Ralph was, to my mind, an early version of what warm-monger Al Gore is today: a self-appointed public know-it-all, but in reality, a clown and a pest. Most of us don't need to do any more research to know he's a fruitcake.

[Herb Schaffler]

I've never cared much for him either. He is so anticapitalist and anti-corporate. He's an environmental extremist and a socialist. He is also anti-nuclear energy which I find curious if he is really concerned about our carbon footprint. Nuclear energy seems the way to go for generating electricity. Solar, which he supports, and wind just don't have the potential to to generate the electricity we need.

I've always felt Corvairs and Volkswagens are unsafe because their engines are in the back and subject to going out of control when hit by an unexpected crosswind. I know, because I used to own a Volkswagen fastback. But regardless, that's our business, not his or the government's.

[hrdman2luv]

I don't think the free market, especially in the auto industry would put so much money and effort into new safety features if it wasn't for people like Nader. Seriously. Things like safety glass and seat belts. ( I konw, those are debatable subjects, but they do save lives)

As far as solar and wind power goes. Sure there is enough wind and solar to take us off of foreign oil. There is also enough sun and wind, to take many people off their electric companies grid. No more electric bills..WOO HOO..........My last one was over $400.... I'm getting a wind turbine soon. Installed for less than $14,000. It's not enough to keep everything going at once. But, I don't use everything at once. And plus, when I'm gone out on the truck, and that baby is turning, it's putting electricity into my electric savings account. So when I get home, and it's 100 degrees outside, I'm chillin in doors, and it aint costing me a dime..........

How do you like them apples.

You know guys, there's a good side to everything. You just have to look for it. (except for Hillary)

[Herb Schaffler]

Yes, they do save lives, but is is a legitimate constitutional function of the government to be a nanny state and protect us from ourselves?

[hrdman2luv]

Originally Posted by Herb Schaffler

Yes, they do save lives, but is is a legitimate constitutional function of the government to be a nanny state and protect us from ourselves?

Absolutely not. The free market will drive and keep prices down... I'm a firm believer in the free market. But, i don't think the automotive companies would even think seriously about the safety devises if there wasn't someone to make them.
We wouldn't have safety glass or air bags or other important things like that today. We wouldn't even know what they were.
But, of course, we might all drive a little slower or more careful if we didn't have those things.............Naaaaaaaa, there would still be crazy drivers out there.

Thats a tough question.

Without seat belts resrtictions alot more folks would be dead. But, the federal government shouldn't be able to make us safe.