FC NOW: The Fast Company Weblog
February 1, 2007
The Big Boys
Last night, I went to see "An Unreasonable Man," a new documentary about Ralph Nader. What, you might ask, does he have to do with Fast Company magazine? Quite a bit, actually. Nader's detractors pelt him with insults, some of his friends have distanced themselves, Democrats are still bitter, and even his admirers worry what will happen to his substantial consumer advocacy legacy. Midway through the movie, Fast Company's cofounder Bill Taylor pops up, discussing Nader's heyday. Long before the 2000 election, Taylor wrote a book with Nader, "The Big Boys," where they interviewed the heads of major US corporations. That curiosity, that questioning is still important to the magazine.
At the end of the movie, I turned to the very tall and lanky Ralph Nader, who had somehow been seated next to me, and asked him what he thought about the movie after this particular viewing. He replied that he was struck by how much we'd lost in the past 20 years. The New York Times criticized the documentary for being so focused on the past, while Al Gore's Academy Award nominated "An Inconvenient Truth" looks to the future. Perhaps. But it's tough to effect change in the future if you don't know the truth about the past. Love him or hate him, at the very least Nader forces us to ask some questions--of our government, of big business, of ourselves.
Posted by Alyssa Danigelis at February 1, 2007 2:02 PM | Category: politics + government |
6 Comments
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the country would be different today IF IT WERE NOT FOR RALPH NADER. We all know that third party candidates DO NOT win. He drew down votes from the candidates that could have affected true change.
You can yadda yadda all you want - u know it, I know it, he wasted out time and God knows lives, talent and resources just to blow his ego whistle.
Who cares.
Worst comment ever. That's the problem...we only have 2 political parties. I applaud all of the Ralph Nader's and Ross Perot's. Read our first President's Farewell Address and maybe you will rethink your comment.
What Nader did or trying to do is of paramount importance which impacts each and every humna beings everyday life.
Because of him there are so mmuch consumer protection.
Also people should realize there are alternatives other than Republican and Democrat.
America should embrace the multiparty system.
Ralph NAder is GREAT. There were 16 independents on the ballot in Florida when Gore lost (actually he won but the ballots were never counted because he agreed to let SCOTUS decide the vote). In any case, if Gore had gotten the votes of any one of those 16 independents he would have won. But he didn't. Suppressing independents and third parties is not the answer. Even if they lose they push the agenda. The Dems are getting to sound more and more like Nader as 2008 approaches. So are the Repubs. That doesn't happen by accident. Nader is out there pushing both parties to be something better than they are. To really uphold the Constitution. And he is very good at what he does. Those of us who understand love him dearly.
Too bad some many DEMOCRATS in Florida switched allegiance and voted for Bush. A number so hugh that the amount of Nader voters looks miniscule in comparison.
And then there was all the legitimate voters -- mostly African Americans -- who were struck from voter rolls.
And then there was the spineless wimpy Democratic establishment that did not fight the fraud of the election results because to roll over to the GOP was supposed to be "for the good of the country".
Unfortunately people look to blame Nader rather than do any self(party)-criticism of their actions (proactive and reactive) during and after the election.
Fortunately the Democrats have more of a spine these days.
Let us not continue to feel as we are victims. That has become a vast profession with many employers. The victim profession will NOT create the change that we want. Let us all take charge of the opportunities before us and make this country better.