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Title: Ron Paul, Ralph Nader agree on ‘progressive-libertarian alliance’
Source:
rawstory.com
URL Source: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/01/ ... gressive-libertarian-alliance/
Published: Jan 22, 2011
Author: Nathan Diebenow
Post Date: 2011-01-23 14:48:28 by Godwinson
Keywords: None
Views: 3151
Comments: 9
Ron Paul, Ralph Nader agree on ‘progressive-libertarian alliance’ By Nathan Diebenow Saturday, January 22nd, 2011 -- 2:48 pm In this corner, a libertarian, tea party hero who ran several campaigns as a candidate for US president on the Republican ticket. And in that corner, a progressive icon of the left who also ran several campaigns for the US presidency but on the Green Party ticket. One might think the two men, seemingly ideologically opposed to one another, would rather argue than help one another. However, on Wednesday's broadcast of Freedom Watch on the Fox Business channel, Judge Napolitano sat down for an amiable interview with Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) and Ralph Nader to discuss a progressive-libertarian alliance in the 112th session of respective chambers in Congress. Nader, who has recently called this coalition "the most exciting new political dynamic" in the US today, explained that it works well because both groups stand against corporatists who believe government should be run in the interests of corporations. "I believe in coalitions," Rep. Paul echoed. "They talk about we need more bipartisanship, and I say we have too much bipartisanship because the bipartisanship we have here in Washington endorses corporatism." Paul added that he agreed with Nader on a host of issues, such as cutting the US military's budget, ending undeclared US wars overseas, restoring civil liberties and civil rights by dumping from the Patriot Act, and withdrawing from the NAFTA and World Trade Organization agreements. "I think we should come together and work together, and I think we can," he said, noting that the coalition had previously worked on deficit financing solutions. Rep. Paul and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), the most conservative and most liberal members of their respective chambers, joined forces last session to fight for an audit of the Federal Reserve, a private institution that handles America's monetary policy, which Nader explained is under no legal control of Congress. "The banks fund the Fed," Nader said. "It doesn't go through the congressional appropriations process as it should under our constitution." Paul is the current chairman of a congressional subcommittee that would conduct oversight on the US Federal Reserve bank He explained, however, that he would not have the subpoena power to force Tim Geithner, US Treasury Secretary, and Ben Bernanke, the chairman of the Federal Reserve, to testify under oath about the Fed's policies. That power is in the hands of the chairman of the full committee, he said. "But that doesn't mean we'll go lightly on digging up for this information because Ralph is absolutely right on this thing," Paul said. When asked, Nader stopped short of endorsing a full repeal of the Federal Reserve. "The Fed, whatever it does, should be a cabinet-level, accountable institution," he proposed instead. Paul also reiterated his stance that spending on overseas bases in US military's budget should be cut and that US troops should be brought home. This video is from FoxNews' Freedom Watch, broadcast Jan. 19, 2011, as snipped by Mox News. With reporting by Stephen C. Webster.
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#1. To: Godwinson (#0)
(Edited)
It's funny because I voted for Ron Paul in 1988 and Ralph Nader in 2004. There is some common ground on foreign military adventures, corporate subsidies, managed trade, and civil liberties. However, on other areas the differences couldn't be more profound with the Nader supporting cap and trade, single payer healthcare, affirmative action, etc. So it's great that they can work together on common interests, but this does not in anyway represent some sort of electoral coalition.
In Europe, they operate on this principal calling it "social market" advocated by social-democrats or Christian-democrats, a political philosophy which I find superior to today's American parties of Democrat or Republican.
"Keep Your Goddamn Government Hands Off My Medicare!" - Various Tea Party signs.
If you think libertarians are for a European-style "social market" then you are even less informed than I thought.
No, please work on your reading comprehension. A progressive-libertarian alliance means they will co-operate on things they do have in common. In practice, Christian democracy is often considered conservative on cultural, social and moral issues (social conservatism) and progressive on fiscal and economic issues (note that "liberalism" below referes to classical liberalism of the enlightenment not the modern day "liberal" the American right labels on big "D" Democrats.) In common with conservatism, traditional moral values (on marriage, abortion, etc.), opposition to secularization, a view of the evolutionary (as opposed to revolutionary) development of society, an emphasis on law and order, and a rejection of communism. In contrast to conservatism, open to change (for example, in the structure of society) and not necessarily supportive of the social status quo. In common with liberalism, an emphasis on human rights and individual initiative. In contrast to liberalism, a rejection of secularism, and an emphasis on the fact that the individual is part of a community and has duties towards it. In common with socialism, an emphasis on the community, social solidarity, support for a welfare state, and support for some regulation of market forces. In contrast to socialism, supports a market economy and, with the exception of those influenced by liberation theology, does not adhere to the doctrine of class struggle.
"Keep Your Goddamn Government Hands Off My Medicare!" - Various Tea Party signs.
This is like Europe in what way? Europeans have parliamentary systems where one party, or a coalition of parties, gets to control everything and completely lock the opposition out of the decision making process. There will be more cooperation this year between the GOP and Dems with split government in the U.S. than there will be in the U.K. between the Tories and Labour.
It's like European Christian democracy where the ideology is a mix of left and right.
"Keep Your Goddamn Government Hands Off My Medicare!" - Various Tea Party signs.
Bring along Dennis Kucinich and Bernie Sanders and you've got a good start on the Kook Party.
They also want to restore civil liberties and civil rights by repealing the Patriot Act.
In a move that will get the globalizers and free traders frothing with anger they also want withdraaw from NAFTA and the WTO
Let the neo-con wailing and gnashing of teeth begin! 6 percenters, k00ks, etc...
#2. To: hondo68 (#1)
"It's very important to remember the law is not simply what powerful people would want others to believe it is." -- Julian Assange
#3. To: hondo68, jwpegler (#1)
a progressive-libertarian alliance
#4. To: Godwinson (#3)
"It's very important to remember the law is not simply what powerful people would want others to believe it is." -- Julian Assange
#5. To: jwpegler (#4)
(Edited)
If you think libertarians are for a European-style "social market" then you are even less informed than I thought.
#6. To: Godwinson (#5)
A progressive-libertarian alliance means they will co-operate on things they do have in common.
"It's very important to remember the law is not simply what powerful people would want others to believe it is." -- Julian Assange
#7. To: jwpegler (#6)
This is like Europe in what way?
#8. To: Godwinson (#0)
#9. To: no gnu taxes (#8)
the Kook Party
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