Why does the Socialist Alternative party supports Ralph Nader?

[BIG BROTHER]

Why does the (U.S.)Socialist Alternative party supports Ralph Nader? I mean he does seem better than all the crap that there's in Washington, but Ralph is not even a socialist or at least he doesn't clame to be one.

[Niccolò Rossi]

The only reason any socialist supports a particular candidate is the view that they are a lesser evil. In the case of Nader and the Green Party, many socialists view voting for a third party can help act as a way of showing discomfort with the two-party system and trying to go about breaking it's stability.

My position personally on the matter is very mixed and I am not at all endorsing such action, something I would prefer not to talk about, I'll let others do that. However I would suggest this article from this article from the International Socialist Review on this subject: http://www.isreview.org/issues/13/marxists_elections.shtml

[Q]

There has been some discussion about this inside the Trotskyist group (http://www.revleft.com/vb/socialist-alternative-cwi-t73684/index.html) aswell.

[BIG BROTHER]

The only reason any socialist supports a particular candidate is the view that they are a lesser evil. In the case of Nader and the Green Party, many socialists view voting for a third party can help act as a way of showing discomfort with the two-party system and trying to go about breaking it's stability.

My position personally on the matter is very mixed and I am not at all endorsing such action, something I would prefer not to talk about, I'll let others do that. However I would suggest this article from this article from the International Socialist Review on this subject: http://www.isreview.org/issues/13/marxists_elections.shtml

Yeah, but in an article by the Socialist Alternative they sponsor Nader as a legimate candidate worthy of supporting, not because they're following the lesser evil point of view.

[rouchambeau]

And why do they support the electoral process?

[RedDawn]

Oh my Marx. I am so sick of defending our position in half a dozen threads. Can the moderators please start combining some of these threads? This is completely ridiculous.


Yeah, but in an article by the Socialist Alternative they sponsor Nader as a legimate candidate worthy of supporting, not because they're following the lesser evil point of view.

We do not give uncritical support to Nader. We don't think electing Nader would create socialism or anything.

Anyway, I have a flight at 6am to California to build the party. Later.

[BIG BROTHER]

Oh my Marx. I am so sick of defending our position in half a dozen threads. Can the moderators please start combining some of these threads? This is completely ridiculous.



We do not give uncritical support to Nader. We don't think electing Nader would create socialism or anything.

Anyway, I have a flight at 6am to California to build the party. Later.

Sorry Comrade it isn't my intention to be a pain in the ass, but you have to uderstand that for someone who doesn't know the party this is a question that pops right away.

Any one forgive one more time for being a pain in the ass, but if you guys don't think Nader would bring socialist, why do you guys support him? is it only to challenge the two party system in the US or what?

[Orange Juche]

Nobody thats revleft supports Nader because they think he will bring socialism, whether it be libertarian or some kind of vanguard party socialism. Its not about reforming our way to the post-capitalist society.

Its about trying to push the current system in a way that it will at least be *somewhat* better for workers, as long as this system *is* still here. Theres no denying that Naders vision would be FAR better for the working peoples, were it put in place.

It isn't the ultimate solution. But, as long as what we have is here, we should make the shit pile stink as little as possible while we work on disposing of it completely.

[BIG BROTHER]

ah...nice explication, just out of curiosity are you a member of the socialist alternative too?

[Marsella]

Why does the (U.S.)Socialist Alternative party supports Ralph Nader? I mean he does seem better than all the crap that there's in Washington, but Ralph is not even a socialist or at least he doesn't clame to be one.

The S.A has an acute level of brain damage.


Its about trying to push the current system in a way that it will at least be *somewhat* better for workers, as long as this system *is* still here. Theres no denying that Naders vision would be FAR better for the working peoples, were it put in place.

I doubt it.

Having lived under social democrats and conservatives I have noticed no change.

[Orange Juche]

I doubt it.

Having lived under social democrats and conservatives I have noticed no change.

Just on the issue of Universal Health Care alone, were it implimented, *would* have a noticeable difference on people's lives.

[Wanted Man]

But it's never going to be implemented under capitalism. Why delude people into thinking that it will? Under Nader, no less?

Or is this the idea: "We know he doesn't stand a chance to get elected. We know that he would never really want to institute anti-war and anti-corporate policies, and give everyody healthcare. We know that even if he did want to, it would be impossible under capitalism. But you should still vote for him, just to show that there is about 2% popular support for these ideas." ?

If so, that's pretty dumb.