Ralph Nader and the Democratic Party

I gather that one of Ralph Nader’s main goals is to persuade the Democratic Party to move leftward, to positions more in line with those of the Greens (interview, Opinion, May 6). He seems to be longing for a return to the “good old days” when the Democrats ran progressive presidential candidates such as George McGovern and were rewarded for their trouble by years in the political wilderness.

The Democratic Party spent many of the post-Johnson years figuring out that the political center is where they must stay to win presidential elections, for better or worse. I appreciate Nader’s desire to “fight the good fight.” However, until the two-party system is dismantled in this country, his third-party approach is wrongheaded and ultimately damaging to his own cause.

Jeff Klein

Irvine

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Nader has become the William F. Buckley of the left: an articulate storyteller who is bound to impress college students as he makes the rounds of the university lecture circuit. If he had guts, the courage of his convictions and an honest commitment to seek the presidency he would have entered the Democratic Party primaries. In that forum his beliefs would have been tested by the voters. Instead, Nader joined the Greens and chose to have a party. No commitment or honesty required, as winning was not possible. Now, after the hats and horns have been put away, Nader and his friends have facilitated the election of a man whose goals are quite simple: depreciate the environment, restart the Cold War and shut down California.

Frank Ferrone

El Cajon

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The most depressing thing about your interview with Nader is that on one point he is absolutely right. The Democrats did not have to roll over and give President Bush the $1.3-trillion tax cut he had bargained for ($1.6 trillion plainly was his “asking price”). The Democrats did not drive home forcefully enough the negative effect the Bush agenda will have on our future quality of life, nor are they fighting very hard for what half of the country--their constituency--feels is right.

Verena F. Sabl

Los Angeles