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Nader calls for a 'second American revolution'

At his second of 21 campaign stops in a single day, presidential candidate and consumer activist Ralph Nader spoke at the Chicopee Public Library and displayed his latest book on politics, "The Good Fight."
Reminder Publications photo by G. Michael Dobbs
By G. Michael Dobbs

Managing Editor



CHICOPEE In political campaigning, being early for an event is a rarity. But there was independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader striding up to the entrance of the Chicopee Public Library before 9 a.m., the time he was scheduled to appear.

Stunts are also nothing new in campaigning, but Nader, whose public career has long been characterized by challenging the status quo, was doing something truly different: vying for a Guinness World record on the number of speeches given in a 24 hour period.

According to a press release on his campaign Web site (www.votenader.org), Nader did succeed in the effort and gave his 21st speech during the period at about 1 a.m. in Sheffield.

Nader had started his day in Westfield and then traveled to Chicopee. After the Chicopee stop, he went to the Federal Reserve in Boston. He then traveled back to Western Massachusetts with stops in Springfield, West Springfield, Holyoke, South Hadley and Northampton.

Nader is running for president with San Francisco, Calif.-based progressive Matt Gonzalez.

The longtime consumer rights advocate was met by several supporters, one of whom had traveled from Sunderland to hear him speak. David Resendes said, "His stances on the issues matched my stances on the issues."

Nader, who ran for president in 1996, 2000 and 2004, is campaigning on what could be described as populist platform. According to campaign literature available at his Chicopee appearance, among his positions are:

"Crackdown on corporate tax avoidance Close the offshore reincorporation tax loophole and ban government contracts and subsidies for companies that relocate their headquarters to an offshore tax haven."

"End corporate welfare stop allowing billions of our tax dollars to be used for unnecessary subsidies, tax breaks and bailouts to the biggest corporations while people are left behind."

"Provide single payer healthcare."

"Invest in a clean energy policy."

"Limit commercialism."

"Reclaim public airwaves."

Since Nader was early and the library was still locked, I was able to ask him what he would do to reverse the economic downturn the country is currently experiencing.

His answer was to undertake a "massive public works" initiative. He said there is $1.7 trillion in infrastructure repairs that would provide good-paying jobs. He would shift $100 million on public works projects so that "tax dollars go back to the taxpayers."

He would also cut the "bloated military budget," as well cut corporate subsidies.

Retrofitting buildings to solar applications would also be an immediate priority, as it would help create and strengthen small businesses, he added.

Once inside the library, he chatted with Librarian Nancy Contois and asked about the use of the library.

There was a small crowd of primarily campaign volunteers gathered for the speech as well as some library patrons who had a slight look of confusion as they walked by the gathering.

Nader, who is on the ballot in 45 states, said unlike Senators John McCain and Barack Obama he doesn't believe in neglecting any state on the belief it is an automatic win. He believes a "large number of voters" in Massachusetts will be receptive to his message.

He said he was here in Massachusetts, "the cradle of the American revolution because we need a second American revolution."

The recent bailout of Wall Street represented a "full circle from 1775 and the 13 colonies under George the Third and the 50 colonies under George the Fourth."

Nader described the bailout legislation as "taxation without representation."

Using libraries as an example of how federal spending priorities are misplaced, Nader noted the Washington Nationals baseball stadium received $650 million in federal funds for its construction. He compared that to the "crumbling" library system of the District of Columbia that only had 1.2 million of borrowings for a city of over 600,000 people. He compared those figures to Chicopee's library that has 300,000 lending of books and materials in a city of 55,000.

He maintained that both McCain and Obama have ignored the rebuilding of the nation's cities.

Mindful of his third party status, Nader said a vote for his ticket creates a stronger independent party and more leverage on Congress.

He urged people to put up Nader/Gonzalez signs on their lawns and "fight the good fight."

"The Constitution starts out with 'We the People,'" he said before being led to a waiting car, "not 'We the Corporations.'"