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Ralph Nader is back for round three. Yesterday, the controversial candidate announced his run for President on MSNBC’s Meet the Press.
Whatever your feelings about Nader, he didn’t run on the Green Party ticket for nuthin’. This time, Nader is fighting for—and against—green. He’s wearing his hiking boots, and is ready to kick some corporate ass. Per usual, Nader is eager to throw down against corporate giants and carbon emissions.
Unlike any other presidential candidate, Nader favors a carbon tax, similar to the one proposed in the United Kingdom and insists on using solar as a source of alternative energy before exploring nuclear (or, as some would say, “nuke-u-lar”) power. A tax on carbon emissions would drastically reduce greenhouse gases and, no doubt, would put a cap on our current over-use of cars. The U.S. produces nearly 6 million metric tons of carbon dioxide every year—more than any other nation, and more than Russia, India, and Japan, combined.
Democratic Sen. Chris Dodd was the only other candidate to support a carbon tax, though he canned his campaign after poor results in the Iowa caucuses. It’s unsurprising that a carbon tax isn’t a popular favorite among voters—especially if it meant they’d have to walk or bike to the polls. (Sadly, it seems that voting is already too difficult for many Americans who opt not to cast their ballot. Just over 60 percent of Americans showed up to vote in 2004—the highest voter turnout since 1968.)
Apart from carbon emissions, Nader is back in the saddle, battling what he calls “corporate personhood.” Will he go after auto giants, like Ford and Chrysler, or will he just throw a wrench in the Democratic race?
You can find out more about Nader’s policies on his web site.
Photo via flickr by St_Stev.
Nader’s photo courtesy of votenader.org
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