By Meagan Hansen
Cracking down on corporate crime, the importance of democracy and students getting involved with civics was the focus of a speech given by former Green Party Presidential candidate, Ralf Nader.
“We all have to do our part as citizens,” Nader said. “If we see an injustice and ignore it, then we abandon democracy. Democracy is as strong as all its people.”
Corporate American is running the government and setting the agenda in Congress, Nader said.
“The government is supposed to support the people, instead they support corporations,” Nader said.
“Corporate crime doesn”t usually get prosecuted and many executives never go to jail,” Nader said. “In all of the cases of corporate crime we have seen this last year, no one has gone to jail.”
Nader spoke at UVSC Friday morning to over 400 hundred students and professors.
“I am aware of corporate crime but I never realized the impact corporations have on America,” said Shane Scott, a senior majoring in Philosophy from St. George.
Those in the crowd applauded and cheered Nader”s sarcastic comments directed toward congress and President Bush.
“People spend more time looking in the mirror than they do looking at congress,” Nader said. “They control 25% of our income and set the political agenda, we should be looking to them.”
Nader attacked Bush”s policy on Iraq and said that bush is ignoring the nations real problems.
“I think Bush is obsessively complused with Hussein,” said Nader.
With the Cold War over and problems with China seemingly resolved, Nader said in reference to Iraq, “The U.S. has no major enemies, but we sure seem to be looking for one.”
“Hussein is a survivor,” he said. “He likes himself more than he dislikes [the United States].”
After his criticism of Corporate America and the president, Nader shifted his remarks to encourage students to get involved in government.
“The fruits of citizen action are what make this country what it is,” Nader said. “Nothing was handed to us.”
Nader began getting involved in civics in 1965 when he saw how car “crumble and crash” during automobile accidents.
His actions against carmakers lead to legislation that demanded safer, stronger automobiles. This legislation saves more that 250,000 lives each year, Nader said.
Nader used this example to tell students they can make a difference and that getting involved is easy.
“Do things at a young age when you will be as idealistic as you will ever be,” Nader said to the students. “You can get things done.”
Student involvement does not take “superhero”s”, it only takes people wanting to get involved, Nader said.
“We can grow up civically or we can grow up looking though corporate eye glasses, seeing what they want us to see,” Nader said. “We have to decide which we will do.”
Nader concluded his remarks by telling the crowd that they could “go through life standing tall instead of on your needs.”
“I feel an obligation to look closely at my political beliefs, at what”s going on in America, and how I can get involved,” Scott said after the speech.
Teaching students civics is just as important as teaching them a skill, said Brian Biron, acting director of the Center for the Study of Ethics at UVSC.
“It is very important for students to hear this because it helps them understand the importance of citizenship,” he said.
Nader, who ran for president in the 2000 elections for the Green Party has not yet decided whether he will run again in 2004.
Regardless to his presidential aspirations, Nader will continue to be a “professional citizen.”
