Sergio Sandoval

Ralph Nader spoke at the inaugural “Dining with Democracy Speaker Series” event on Oct. 25 at Bridges Auditorium at the Claremont Colleges. The event was created by Pitzer College senior Nick Kinslinger to inspire future leaders. Nader is recognized as one of the 100 most important people of the 21st Century by Time Magazine and spoke on the importance of having a third political party as well as the power of corporations.

Telon Weathington
Staff Writer

Two-time presidential candidate and consumer advocate Ralph Nader gave a speech for the “Dining for Democracy Speaker Series” on Oct. 25 at the Claremont Colleges in Bridges Auditorium.

In the dimly lit auditorium filled with about 350 people sitting in the red plush seats, Nader encouraged people to look at students as citizens full of ideas and not citizens that are just waiting in line.

Students have the resources to make changes. Most students have access to libraries, experts, cable networks, radio stations, newspapers, etc. Many people don’t have the access to these things.

Nader said United States citizens have personal freedom and not civic freedom. We have to vote to get the civic freedom we think we already have.

Most citizens don’t vote and there are people in other countries who are willing to die just to vote.

Nader said in Australia you are required to vote and if you do not, you have to pay a $25 fee.

In America, how come we aren’t just required? If we were required there would be a larger voter turnout.

Nader suggested the government doesn’t want us all to vote.

Nader talked about the state of the American duopoly, promoting civic skills, the power of corporations, crime and violence and other political issues.

The topic on civic skills seemed to be the most popular among the audience.

Having civic skills can change your life because you won’t feel powerless because you will be equipped with civic skill confidence, Nader said.

“I agreed that it is really important that we are active with civic affairs,” said Tom Clifford, a freshman government major at Claremont McKenna College.

 “It is important that we focus on justice and improving the world rather than giving in to idle pleasures which don’t have any deeper meaning,” he added.

Nader talked about how our two-party system is converging and it is becoming bad for the United States.

Candidates that come in second can actually win elections and citizens are less able to challenge courts about different issues.

“We are tutored to see ourselves as powerless,” Nader said.

Nader used some of his campaign experiences to prove his point.

He said that when he ran for president he had to campaign in all 50 states. Republicans and Democrats campaign in the states that they know are more Republican or Democrat.

Nader talked about how there should be new tax systems that tax stocks, addictions, pollution and gambling.

He thinks people shouldn’t be taxed on necessities like food, clothing, furniture and labor.

The audience had people of all ages but the majority of the people were college students.

Nick Kislinger, a senior at Pitzer College, was the director of the event.

He wanted to establish an event where faculty, staff and a select group of students could discuss politics over dinner with the invited speakers and then hold an event for the general crowd to hear the speaker.           

Kislinger wanted the speakers to be well-known politicians at local and state levels.

“Mr. Nader is a builder and that’s what this series is built on,” Kislinger said.

The event was a success because it gave students a chance to see and hear a politician that they read and study about.

The president of Pitzer College was the first speaker of the night. He told audience members that the event was a tribute to Kislinger and his vision.

Kislinger was then welcomed to the stage and he gave a short introduction about how Nader spent $5,000 on his presidential election campaign and Nader was recently named one of the 100 most important people of the twenty first century in Time magazine.

“Before I came to college I lived in Shanghai and in my government class I studied the 2000 presidential election,” said Harrison Chiu, a freshman management engineering major from CMC.

“I was sort of angry at him because he is an independent and he threw the Democrats off. He represents important issues that aren’t represented by the two major parties so it’s not like he is insignificant,” he added.

At the end of the speech Nader supporters lined up so they can get a copy of Nader’s autographed book, “The Good Fight.”

For information on Nader visit www.votenader.com.

Telon Weathington can be reached at tweathington@ulv.edu.