One hell of a debate

NPR : Dean, Nader Debate Role of Third Parties

*Click the "Hear Dean and Nader's 'Justice Talking' Debate in Full" link, it will doanload an audio file that will work with either Real Player or Windows Media*

Howard Dean laid it on the line, toe-to-toe against Ralph Nader, in a well-spoken and mostly (but not exclusively!) civil discussion on third parties, and the effect of Nader's bid for the presidency. Dean, being a champion of democracy, never said Nader shouldn't run or shouldn't be able to run, but he stressed to Nader that this election is too important, that the most important goal this fall is to get Bush out of office. As he said, "don't let the perfect become the enemy of the good." Wise words, I say. He also stresses that Nader has the right to run, but he just doesn't want you to vote for him.

My favorite point of Dean's, who obviously has studied U.S. political history, was to counter Nader's support for popular referendum in voting (at about the 53:00 minute mark). Dean quoted Thomas Jefferson on the matter, who called it a "tyranny of the majority." Dean points out that over the last four years civil rights of gays and lesbians have been recognized, yet in referendum voting they would [possibly] have been denied because a majority of Americans don't hold very flattering views on that group [especially in more rural western and southern states]. It's a good illustration that legislating what is just, and enforcing this country's ideals about civil rights and freedom are more beneficial than governing by popular, direct democracy. Referendums can deny minorities (any minority, not just racial or sexual) civil rights if the voting majority sees fit (or happens to be bigoted), and that is a mockery of the ideals this country was founded on, and a mockery of what the Founding Fathers and revolutionaries risked and laid down their lives for... whether the majority realizes it or not.

Time for me to step off my soap-box and go to bed.