- Community organizer in Chicago,
- University lecturer,
- Civil Rights Attorney ,
- Served in Illinois Senate 1997-2004,
Ralph Nader
Ralph Nader is a Consumer Advocate, Lawyer, Author, and one of the 100 Most Influential Americans of the 20th Century (Time Magazine). He has helped improve the quality of life for two generations of Americans. He was instrumental in enacting:
- Mandatory seat belts and airbags,
- Nutritional facts on food,
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA),
- Environmental Protection Act (EPA),
- Safe Drinking Water Act.
- Wholesome Meat Act,
- National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act,
- Freedom of Information Act (FOIA),
- Public Interest Research Groups (PIRGs),
- Public Citizen,
- Disability Rights Center,
- Pension Rights Center.
Because of Ralph Nader, we drive safer cars, eat healthier food, breathe better air, drink cleaner water, and work in safer environments.
Q. In light of escalating home foreclosures, a credit crunch and a possible recession, what role, if any, should the federal government play in strengthening the nation's economy?
***all answer are quoted from the respective candidate website***
Barack Obama Answers:
“As president, Barack Obama will implement a 21st century economic agenda to help ensure that America can compete in a global economy, and ensure the middle class is thriving and growing. He will increase investments in infrastructure, energy independence, education, and research and development; modernize and simplify our tax code so it provides greater opportunity and relief to more Americans; and implement trade policies that benefit American workers and increase the export of American goods.”
Thoughtcancer says: "vague doublespeak."
Ralph Nader Answers:
"Ralph Nader has a 10-point plan to cool off the financial markets meltdown:
- No bailouts without conditions and reciprocity in the form of stock warrants.
- No more lobbying for any company that is bailed out.
- No golden parachutes and get out of jail free cards for guilty executives.
- No bailouts without public hearings.
- Reduce the moral hazard in U.S. mortgage markets by introducing covered bonds for the majority of mortgage products as they do in Western Europe. That gives institutions that finance mortgages an incentive to be prudent, because they cannot just unload them and wipe their hands clean of the liability, but are instead on the hook if the homeowner defaults.
- Maintain neighborhood stability and housing security by passing a law with a sunset clause allowing below median-value homeowners facing foreclosure the right to rent-to-own their homes at fair market value rates.
- Avoid future housing bubbles by removing implicit government guarantees for new mortgages that exceed thresholds of greater than 15-20 times the annual fair market rent value of the home.
- Make the Federal Reserve a Cabinet Position, so it is accountable to Congress, as well as making sure all Federal Reserve Bank presidents are appointed by the President and answerable to congress.
- Reduce conflicts of interest by taking away power for auditor and rating agency selection from companies and placing it in the hands of the SEC to be administered on random assignment.
- Implement a securities speculation tax, starting with derivatives to deter casino-style capitalism."
