Crashing the Party: Taking on the Corporate Government in an Age of Surrender (Hardcover)

by Ralph Nader (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
Crashing the Party is Ralph Nader's raucous and righteously indignant account of his Green Party candidacy in the 2000 American presidential election. Nader weaves an anecdotal recounting--virtually speech-by-speech--of his exhausting, 50-state campaign with impassioned summaries of his political opinions. Primarily, Nader sees the current political structure as ominously flawed: a two-party system, he says, exists in a "drowsy equilibrium," and the parties--both in thrall to corporate interests--are concerned less with the people's needs than their own self-perpetuation. An equal-opportunity critic, he slings arrows not only at what he sees as a myopic, lazy media and Republicans (he calls former New Jersey Governor Christine Todd Whitman a "latter-day Marie Antoinette"), but organized labor, prominent Democrats, and certain fair-weather Hollywood friends as well.

Though overly strident at times, Crashing the Party is a noteworthy, thoughtful addition to the literature of muckraking. --H. O'Billovitch

From Publishers Weekly
This jaunty, provocative and entertaining on-the-road memoir/manifesto maps out Nader's political philosophy and provides the Nader take on the contemporary U.S. political scene. Whether it is what he sees as the corruption of the national media "I can't overemphasize the influence of The New York Times and Washington Post in setting the scene for the rest of the media" or the need to resuscitate the town meeting as he did repeatedly during his campaign tour, Nader presents a strong case that national politics is run more by money than issues and that there is a "democracy gap" that "discourages people from shaping the future for our country." Like a plucky protagonist in a Frank Capra film, Nader insists on speaking up for the little people and backs his arguments and decent sentiments with hard facts: an appendix of stats on affordable housing needs, "corporate welfare," personal bankruptcies, uneven distribution of wealth and the current minimum wage (which, adjusted for inflation, is lower than it was in 1979) is an impressive indictment of the state of the national economy. Holding up last November's squalid election bickering as the end result of a fatigued system "To tell you the truth, I think they [the people] never really liked either one of them," he quotes Gore's own campaign manager as saying Nader, ever optimistic, ends his book with a pragmatic 10-point "First Stage Goals for a Better America." (Jan.)Forecast: Despite the general shift of interest away from last year's election, Nader's faithful and other opponents of two-party domination will undoubtedly seek this out. It should do well in areas where he has strong support.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press; First Edition edition (January 17, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312284330
• ISBN-13: 978-0312284336
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 6.3 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (74 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,008,539 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Must Read" Indictment of Both Major Parties, July 31, 2002

By	Robert D. Steele (Oakton, VA United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

I was among those who thought Ralph Nader was a "spoiler" and deprived Al Gore of the election. After reading this book, I now realize that Nader is correct-the major premise of his book is that both the Democratic and Republican parties have become so corrupt and so removed from citizen interests as to be identically disqualified from putting forward viable candidates for the future. He puts forth a vision for a new democracy in which the citizens take back the power and demand that third party candidates be allowed to join the Presidential debates and be heard by America.

Some will accuse Nader of name-dropping and self-aggrandizing in this book, but that is an unfair charge. He has dedicated 40 years of his life to a quest for fairness in American life. As I went through the book and reflected on his very early efforts on everything from women's rights to product safety to the environment I could not help thinking that the breadth and substance of his accomplishments make the Democratic and Republican candidates look like Johnny-come-latelys who are also bluffing snake oil salesmen. This guy is "the real deal."

I recommend that two books be read prior to reading this one: Halstead & Lind's "The Radical Center: The Future of American Politics" and Ray & Anderson's "The Cultural Creatives: How 50 Million People are Changing the World". Two other books could add useful underpinnings to the points Nader makes that I summarize below: Lewis' "LOSERS: The Road to Everyplace but the White House" which immortalizes citizen-businessman Morry Taylor (the "Grizz"); and Williamson's "IMAGINE: What America Could be in the 21st Century."

A few points about Nader's book that I hope will dispel all the negative reviews and demonstrate that this is required reading:

1) This is the only book that addresses the totality of the challenges and threats to America in a sensible balanced way, without platitudes and upon a foundation of fact.

2) This is the only book representing the new political paradigm in which the citizen-voters take back the power by wiping out the ability of corporations to buy politicians.

3) This is the only book that thoughtfully and convincingly demonstrates that the Democrats have morphed into shadow Republicans, and both parties have completely lost their ethical and popular foundation.

4) This is the only book that bluntly confronts the fact that we get the government we deserve--democracy is hard work and demands citizen time and thought.

5) Among the useful details that should outrage and mobilize citizens, and all according to Nader:

a) the Commission on Presidential Debates is a fraud perpetrated upon the public--it is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Democratic and Republic parties created explicitly to displace the more honest League of Women Voters and to bar third party candidates from being visible to America in the crucial Presidential debates.

b) there is an incestuous relationship between the media, the polls (most funded by the media) and the Presidential debate and public policy process.

c) global threats are not well-understood by Americans, and a major effort spanning the next generation must be undertaken to restore global or foreign affairs and foreign trade understanding to the public.

d) public budgets are neither public nor honest. They are massively distorted with a "proliferating array of taxpayer subsidies, giveaways, and bailouts (known as corporate welfare) to corporations." A recurring theme in Nader's book, based on factual legally-viable documentation, is the manner in which corporations are looting the commonwealth with the active connivance of our elected officials. The people need to wise up.

e) the Internet has *not* has the anticipated leveling effect of bringing out citizen-voters to take back the power and stop corporate socialism.

f) the non-profit organizations and popular organizations (e.g. the Sierra Club, the AFL-CIO) consistently misrepresent their members by choosing the "lesser of two evils" in the two traditionalist corporate candidates, not realizing that a) a lesser evil is still evil and b) their members are smart enough to consider third party alternatives and could--if enough such organizations banded together, cause a third party to be instantly visible as a mainstream alternative.

g) the public commonwealth (the airwaves, land, water, etc.) has been taken away from the people. It is time to get it back and demand, as one small example, that those using the airwaves granted by the public provide for free political time for all viable candidates, ending the advertising rip-off that also deprives the people of clear access to all competing views.

h) community building from the neighborhood up is the place to start. We need to focus on empowering and exciting the young people and building a cadre of volunteer civic activists that will sustain progressive public interests for the decades to come.

I would make one personal observation that was inspired by reading this book: I do not believe that any one President, from any party, is viable as a "one click" choice for leading America. In my view, the next President should not be elected without two fundamental changes in how we elect Presidents: 1) instant run-off voting must be enacted, allowing second choice votes to play a role if a third party candidate is not elected (while qualifying the third party for funding in future elections based on the first choice vote); and 2) Cabinets must be announced in advance of the election and be the focus of at least one Presidential debate including at least three but ideally four parties. It is time for a third party candidate to pull together a Cabinet that includes the best choice for key posts irrespective of parties, and specifically including the Pat Buchanan's, Sam Nunns, Colin Powells, and key others like Ross Perot, Morry Taylor, even Jello Biafra (as new Minister of Culture!).

This is really a superb book, in the tradition the Committees of Correspondence that helped bring about the American revolution, and I recommend it to all.

49 of 53 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars MUST READ, February 10, 2002

By A Customer

Everyone needs to read this book! Ralph Nader describes the corruption of our political system and describes in great detail what really happened in the Presidential Campaign of 2000--it is chilling to find out how the media blacked out newsworthy information about Nader's campaign. It doesn't matter whether you are a Democrat, Republican, Green , or other---the information contained in this book transcends party lines--it is information that is vital to our democracy.

Nader attracted crowds of 10,000 plus at his super rallies in Boston, Portland, New York, Washington, DC, etc. He attracted more people than Gore or Bush at their stump speeches---10,000 people is an amazing number for a third party candidate. The media had a responsibility to cover these rallies!

Nader was also illegally barred from viewing the debates in Boston. He had a ticket to attend the viewing room, and he was illegally escorted out by police sent by the Debate Commission. He has filed a lawsuit against the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD). The CPD tried to have the case thrown out, but the judge felt that something was terribly amiss--the case is still pending.

Shouldn't the media be telling us that a lawsuit has been filed against the Debate Commission??!!

The League of Women Voters (the former sponsors of the debates) withdrew their sponsorship from the debates when the CPD stepped in, saying that the debates were a fraud and that they didn't want to be part of the hoodwinking of the american public.

What's left of our Democracy is slowly dying. It is up to us as citizens, regardless of political party affiliation, to get involved and take back our government.

This book is very disturbing, but what is more disturbing is the fact that the majority of Americans don't even know what is happening---corruption thrives in the dark--- everyone must read this book!

As Nader said , "If you don't turn on to politics, politics will turn on you."

30 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Take Back America, August 13, 2002

By A Customer

One is probably not surprised that large corporations and big money are running our country as Ralph Nader documents in his book "Crashing the Party". The Democrats and the Republicans both receive large financial contributions from the corporations thereby ensuring corporations that they have access to the White House regardless of which party wins the election. To appease these corporations and to ensure a continual flow of campaign money both parties support legislation favorable to the corporations. Nader points out the Democrats have "morphed" into the Republican Party resulting in very little differences between the two parties.

When third party candidates run for office the giant media conglomerates do not provide national news coverage if the candidates no not have a respectable showing in the polls. If the candidates are not getting coverage their polls don't have a chance to improve. To increase their standing in the polls, third party candidates need exposure. The best way for them to get exposure is to be included in the debates.

The Commission on Presidential Debates now controls the debates. The Commission is comprised of the former National Democratic Committee Chairman and the former National Republican Committee Chairman and their appointees. The Commission rules on all decisions regarding the debates including which candidates to include, what questions to ask and who will monitor the discussion. The Commission requires a candidate to be registered and on the ballot in enough states to theoretically be able to obtain the required number of electoral votes necessary to become President to be included in the debates. Congress (Democrats and Republicans) has passed legislation requiring candidates to have a 15% rating in the polls to be included in the debates. For a candidate to be included on the states ballot the states impose their own requirements ranging from obtaining a certain number of signatures to meeting their fee requirements, for example in North Carolina it requires 51,324 signatures and $4,000.

How can we brake the cycle and take back our country? The two existing parties will only pay attention if third party candidates begin to make some encroachment on their votes at all levels of politics. A third party candidate may not win the election, but the average and below average American lost the 2000 election anyway, regardless of the Gore/Bush results. Nader is building a long-term reform movement and as the strength of that party grows the Democrats and the Republicans will be forced to change or they will continue to decay as a political party.

Are third party candidates (Nader) qualified? Nader's years of experience as a citizens advocate for consumers results in his being extremely knowledgeable beyond the depth of most candidates in a wide range of topics. Throughout his book "Crashing the Party" he constantly shows an understanding of situations and an in depth comprehension of details.

Nader also adequately and knowledgeable addresses the issues of foreign affairs although this book was written before September 11th, which of course has a baring on these matters. Does 9/11 and the war on terrorism meaning that we must be loyal to the President regardless of other issues? Circumstances of this nature and how to approach these issues are items that are decided by many advisors regardless of who is President and war should be decided by congress. Everyone is supportive of Presidents during crisis, but that does not imply a blind obligation to support future actions regardless of who is President.

During the 2000 presidential election, many people either did not vote for lack of interest and disgust in the system or voted for the lesser of two evils. I voted for Gore in hopes of keeping the Republicans out of office. Today I realize, thanks in large part to Naders book "Crashing the Party" that neither of the DemRep parties have an interest in the average citizen. I lose with either party. Any qualified third party candidate in future elections will likely receive my vote.

Quoting from the book, "wealth inequality is greater than at any time since World War II. The top 1 percent of the wealthiest people have more financial wealth than the bottom 90 percent of Americans combined, the worst inequality among large Western nations".

In the last pages Nader states that it is "time for people to ask how badly they want a democracy" and based on his fact filled book I would suggest that one give serious consideration to voting "Green" next election.

It is time for the people to take back America. Go Green!