Wednesday, July 17, 2002

"Of the power brokers, by the power brokers, and for the power brokers" QUOTE OF THE DAY "Our political system has degenerated into a government of the power brokers, by the power brokers, and for the power brokers, and is far beyond the control or accountability of the citizens. It is an arrogant and distant caricature of Jeffersonian democracy." - - Ralph Nader, June 5, 2002 Rhino here: There have been a lot of unkind words spoken about Ralph Nader since the last election (and I use the term election loosely). Whatever the merits of those unkind words (and that can be subjects for another day) it's obvious that Mr. Nader's long term preachings of the dangers of corporate greed are playing out in a big way the last few weeks in front of the nation & the world. I believe his decades long record on a wide range of concerns that directly effect the citizenry is exemplary. The 2 news articles excerpted below tell about his recent trip to Cuba attempting to improve the ways we treat infectious diseases; another concern he's decided to tackle. The quote above is taken from an essay entitled "The Concord Principles - An Agenda for a New Democracy". It's one page which highlights "The Concord Principles", a document written in 1992 which sets forth ten arguments of how democracy has been abused, and the constructive tools that citizens can use to regain their rightful participation in their own destiny. TO READ THE 1 PAGE DOCUMENT, "The Concord Principles", GO TO: http://www.RALPHNADER.COM/releases/06062002.html 7:57:38 AM    comment

Nader Meets Castro, Backs Trade with Cuba CNN World, Tues, July 9, 2002 HAVANA, Cuba (AP) -- Ralph Nader attended a dinner with Cuban leader Fidel Castro as the consumer advocate began a three-day visit to the communist nation. Nader, who says he is visiting to learn more about Cuba's disease-fighting efforts, met with Castro on Sunday and was planning to attend another dinner with him. He was invited by National Assembly President Ricardo Alarcon. Nader said he also would meet with the political opposition but he provided no details. The visit comes as communist leaders are giving renewed attention to Americans who can influence public debate over decades-old U.S. restrictions on trade with -- and travel to -- the island. "I think there should be trade between the United States and Cuba, just as there is between the United States and China," Nader said when he arrived Sunday... TO SEE THE ENTIRE ARTICLE, GO TO: http://www.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/americas/07/09/cuba.ralphnader.ap/index.html 7:55:50 AM    comment

Former U.S. Presidential Candidate in Cuba Granma International, Mon, July 8, 2002 ...Moments after his arrival at José Martí International Airport, where he was received by National Assembly President Ricardo Alarcón de Quesada, the former Green Party presidential candidate made a brief statement to the press. He said that his visit has various aims, highlighting that his main priority is to find out first-hand about conditions in Cuba, a country he last visited in 1959. Nader indicated that the second important aspect was to discuss potential cooperation projects to deal with tropical diseases. In this sense, he affirmed that the United States has sufficient financial resources to fight diseases affecting the world, but does not have the available personnel to do so. Cuba however, has a large number of trained medical and paramedical personnel to treat those types of illnesses. He stressed the benefit of future cooperation in Latin America and Africa in the fight against tuberculosis, malaria and other diseases, adding that he and his delegation will take note of existing opportunities. Such diseases, which cause the death of almost four million Third World inhabitants, are becoming resistant to medication. Cuba[not equal]s experience could be very important in fighting them, he added... TO SEE THE ENTIRE ARTICLE, GO TO: http://www.granma.cu/ingles/julio02-2/28encuba-i.html Reprinted under the Fair Use doctrine of international copyright law ( http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.html ). All copyrights belong to original publisher. Rhino's Weblog is the responsibility of The Rhino. Gary Rhine rhino@kifaru.com http://www.kifaru.com http://www.dreamcatchers.org http://radio.weblogs.com/0103207/ 7:52:21 AM    comment

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