Nader runs to set records, make history

Ralph Nader is a lawyer, author and independent presidential candidate. Nader is currently in the midst of his third major presidential campaign, but many people still don't know a lot about him or his running mate, Matt Gonzalez. Marc Abizeid, a spokesperson for Nader said during a phone interview, that he hopes people of Illinois see through the promises being made by one of their own. “People are misled by Obama,” he said of Democratic candidate Barack Obama of Chicago. “He is supported by gun lobbyists just like McCain and his plan to leave Iraq doesn't set a timetable.” John McCain is the Republican candidate for president. Abizeid went on to say that Obama's plan includes keeping mercenary forces on the ground after military personnel are removed. “He states there will be no permanent bases in Iraq,” Abizeid said. “Technically, there are no permanent bases anywhere - permanent being the key word.” He hopes people will realize there are more than two people running for the office of president and said his candidate, Nader, represents views of progressiveness. Nader isn't just running for president, he's setting world records on the way,” Abizeid said. According to press releases, Nader set out Saturday morning to set a Guinness World Record for the most speeches in 24 hours. He had to meet the Guinness threshold of a minimum of 15 spontaneous speeches on different topics at least 10 minutes in length and with at least 10 people in attendance at different venues. Abizeid is hoping that won't be the only record he is breaking during this campaign. “If we can get our message to the many people giving blind support and taking voting for granted, we can make a difference,” he said. He said most of the unions throughout the country support Obama and endorse him, but when you talk to them about issues like healthcare, they oppose what his views represent. Nader's key issues include adopting a single-payer national health insurance, cutting the military budget, adopting a carbon pollution tax, repealing the Taft - Hartley anti-union law, and adopting a national initiative. In addition to those issues, Nader would like to say no to nuclear power, which could effect many of the nuclear power plants in the Grundy County area. He hopes to replace nuclear power with solar power. Here is where Ralph Nader stands on several key issues:

Education Nader is against the No Child Left Behind Act and opposes what he calls the over-reliance on high-stakes standardized tests. He also feels the government should have a role in keeping negative and depleting influences from the public schools, including commercialism and private tax-funded voucher programs. He feels the federal government must work with states to provide immediate full funding for Head Start, guarantee pre-school education for all children, adequately fund nutrition programs in the schools, and ensure the nation's crumbling schools are repaired within three years.

Healthcare Nader supports a single-payer healthcare plan that replaces for-profit investor-owned healthcare and removes the private health insurance agency. “Full Medicare for all,” Nader has been quoted as saying.

Taxes Nader believes in Fair Tax, where the wealthiest individuals and corporations pay their share. On his Website, Nader states that corporate tax contributions as a percent of the overall federal reserve stream have been declining for 50 years, and now stand at 7.4 percent. In his tax-activities-we-dislike-more-than-necessities plan, Nader states we should have a fundamental reappraisal of tax laws and should start with the principle that taxes should apply first to behavior and conditions we favor least and be less stringent on necessities. In keeping with this plan, he feels clearly addictive industries, such as alcohol and tobacco, along with pollution, gambling and extreme luxuries, should be carrying the higher taxes rather than taxing 5 to 7 percent in sales tax on food, furniture, clothing or books.

Federal Budget Nader states the United States needs a redirected federal budget that adequately funds infrastructure, transit, public works, schools, clinics, libraries, forests, parks and sustainable energy. According to his Web site, he feels the budget should move away from the “deeply documented and criticized wasteful, redundant military industrial complex, as well as corporate welfare and tax cuts for the wealthy that expand the divide between the luxuries of the rich and necessities of the poor and middle class.”