Ralph welcomes Mark Dimondstein, president of the American Postal Workers Union. They'll discuss the crucial role that the Postal Service plays in our democratic process, and how organized labor is impacting this year's elections.
The United States postal service is one of those great American government institutions founded by old Ben Franklin,, you know the old guy that went to France and got them to caught up the money during the American revolution so we could win that war against the British..
Ben's ideas ,, along with bringing the printing presses and establishing news papers in America was delivering the written word- mail to your door or business.
Over time as corporate free enterprise developed the idea to make a buck off the government of the established United States postal service became easy pickins.
With the United States postal service the American tax payer picks up the tab for the little stuff that cost too much for the big deliver corporations,,, that don't want to touch ,, it's called skimming off the top and taking the cream ,,, you know the deals big corporations make with each other at big discounts that the little guy that goes to the post office to mail that little package ,,doesn't get ,,, it's called corporate free enterprise passing the cost-- no profit buck to the little guy ,,, it even works for corporations with rockets to the moon or Mars..
Elon told me ,, It works like this ,,Just fasly claim,, any government agency with.hard working, dedicated , loyal , career minded , employees are not getting the job done ,then call your local politicians and tell them your corporation wants in on the action ..
It's that simple and you can be a billionaire some day ,,, too
But Just remember someday there may not be a government or government agency there to skimm off . . Good or bad it's your choice.
Thanks as always for your stimulating discussions with knowledgeable guests. In my mind, Ralph Nader Radio Hour should be one of top listened to podcasts.
Which ever party ends up "controlling" the US gov't, clearly imho mass nonviolent resistance will finally become the focus, as it has always been to achieve any of America's major advances since the Civil War, Ralph's major game-changing historic achievements via Congress, legal strategies, and public pressure (Nader's Raiders and his Reform of the FTC under Nixon, direct credit for the enactment of the Freedom of Information Act, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, Clean Water Act, Consumer Product Safety Act, and Whistleblower Protection, founding of Public Citizen, etc etc), notwithstanding. So what is the name of the woman staffer on your show this week who asked Dimondstein re the use of the "General Strike," and since Ralph knows how to reach me, Gary Krane (with GetCourageNow), can I be put in touch? She is not mentioned in the "About " page which lists only Ralph, Skrovan and David Feldman. Of course, I'd love to be in touch with anyone else on the show that would like to see some major advances rapidly happen in mass nonviolent resistance, for example through an "Alternative Manhattan Project." After all, "The science of nonviolent resistance is young and the most important discoveries are yet to be made." (Gandhi). And in any case one thing for sure will be necessary: several thousand fulltime organizers, hence a project like AdoptAnOrganizer (bit.ly/AAO1p), collaborators wanted
Ralph again asks why the Democrats are not landsliding the Republicans.
If the Democrats landslided the Republicans then they would not have excuses to not do what they pretend they want to do. The Democrats job for the big money interests is to provide someone for citizens to vote for that says they want to do things people want but won't do those things.
One place where postal union members can strike is in the voting booth.
Just as workers can go on strike to demand better wages, working conditions, etc. by withholding their labor all citizens can go on strike in the voting booth to demand candidates that do not take big money by withholding our votes from candidates that do take big money.
If there is nobody on the ballot that does not take big money then as Paul Haeder suggests vote for nobody by casting a write in vote to register a vote against the big money candidates and to create and demonstrate demand for small donor candidates in future elections.
Elections in 2016, 2018, 2020, 2022 and 2024 have all passed without Ralph attempting to organize citizens to use this basic principle of democracy to rid our political process of the corrupting influence of big money since I first started asking him to explore this strategy.
Letters to congresspersons that are controlled by big money and committed to working for the big money interests are just pieces of paper with letters on them. Big money congresspersons only respond to pieces of paper with big numbers on them.
But if Ralph starts NOW to organize citizens to demand small donor candidates in 2026 then we could begin to elect some small donor candidates in 2026 and elect more in the next four election cycles reaching a point where it will be nearly impossible for a candidate that takes big money to get elected.
That's the choice, Ralph.
Ten more years of getting no where except deeper into the rabbit hole or using democracy to rid our political system of the corrupting influence of big money.
"Politicians want our votes more than big money."
-Ralph Nader
Then let's use our votes to demand that politicians do not take big money.
The voters - alot of them - are fascist. Trumps messaging is fascist. Its consistent with corporate MSM messaging and bias which is pro Empire, which dominates the country.
3 cheers for the US Mail men and women and the Ralph Nader staff -- the best podcast in America!!!
(a) junk mail is much of its revenue which doesn't help anyone--especially the planet.
(b) e-vehicles are not the answer; we know they kill exploited people for the materials to make the batteries.
but (c) glad RN mentioned that we have to pay for stamps while our Congressperson's postage is covered . . . BY THE PEOPLE!
Liz Cheney is the worst. I lived in Wyoming under her "reign". She would go to the Reservation for a photo-op and then vote against the very legislation that would help them tremendously (for example: VAWA—the Violence Against Women Act). Also, she and Dick fund-raised for Trump in filthy-rich Jackson Hole, WY.
Glad RN caught and mentioned Democracy Now still citing the ridiculous number of only 41,000 dead in Gaza and that RN's estimate is now up to 400,000.
RNRH should quit Twitter. Musk is at least as gross as Trump. It is quite possible to know what's going on locally and in the world without Twitter.
It's down to the final for 2024 ,,When both parties give the average joe over 8 trillion dollars in unearned doe ray me $$$_ in 8 years you got a problem.
It's like giving your kid all the candy and lollipops they never wanted until they are 18 and then asking them to pay up for all the past lollipops before he or she takes the next lick .
My two nice neighbor's gave me two potted plants for my back yard garden this year , one's a dazy , one's a cactus, how this relates to the candy story ....please stay with me on this one .
I bet you already know who the dazy is ? The cactus is a shoe in .
Which one do you like to look at ,,? which one should you not touch ,?
Steve, Hanna and Ralph - have you been able to watch Michael Moore’s free viewing this weekend of Fahrenheit 11/9? It is really well done and exposes how dangerous trump is and will be if elected. Plus it points out with video evidence about the failures of the Democratic Party that suppressed the electoral votes from 7 states that picked Bernie Sanders but were squashed by the states Democratic Party. Plus Obama’s failure to federally address the deadly lead poisoning in the water of Flint, Michigan.
The United States postal service is one of those great American government institutions founded by old Ben Franklin,, you know the old guy that went to France and got them to caught up the money during the American revolution so we could win that war against the British..
Ben's ideas ,, along with bringing the printing presses and establishing news papers in America was delivering the written word- mail to your door or business.
Over time as corporate free enterprise developed the idea to make a buck off the government of the established United States postal service became easy pickins.
With the United States postal service the American tax payer picks up the tab for the little stuff that cost too much for the big deliver corporations,,, that don't want to touch ,, it's called skimming off the top and taking the cream ,,, you know the deals big corporations make with each other at big discounts that the little guy that goes to the post office to mail that little package ,,doesn't get ,,, it's called corporate free enterprise passing the cost-- no profit buck to the little guy ,,, it even works for corporations with rockets to the moon or Mars..
Elon told me ,, It works like this ,,Just fasly claim,, any government agency with.hard working, dedicated , loyal , career minded , employees are not getting the job done ,then call your local politicians and tell them your corporation wants in on the action ..
It's that simple and you can be a billionaire some day ,,, too
But Just remember someday there may not be a government or government agency there to skimm off . . Good or bad it's your choice.
Good luck America
Have a great day my friends
Please consider an interview with Dan Kocalik author of “Titans of Capital”. An excellent and well researched book.
The author is actually Peter Phillips. Sorry…
Thanks as always for your stimulating discussions with knowledgeable guests. In my mind, Ralph Nader Radio Hour should be one of top listened to podcasts.
Which ever party ends up "controlling" the US gov't, clearly imho mass nonviolent resistance will finally become the focus, as it has always been to achieve any of America's major advances since the Civil War, Ralph's major game-changing historic achievements via Congress, legal strategies, and public pressure (Nader's Raiders and his Reform of the FTC under Nixon, direct credit for the enactment of the Freedom of Information Act, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, Clean Water Act, Consumer Product Safety Act, and Whistleblower Protection, founding of Public Citizen, etc etc), notwithstanding. So what is the name of the woman staffer on your show this week who asked Dimondstein re the use of the "General Strike," and since Ralph knows how to reach me, Gary Krane (with GetCourageNow), can I be put in touch? She is not mentioned in the "About " page which lists only Ralph, Skrovan and David Feldman. Of course, I'd love to be in touch with anyone else on the show that would like to see some major advances rapidly happen in mass nonviolent resistance, for example through an "Alternative Manhattan Project." After all, "The science of nonviolent resistance is young and the most important discoveries are yet to be made." (Gandhi). And in any case one thing for sure will be necessary: several thousand fulltime organizers, hence a project like AdoptAnOrganizer (bit.ly/AAO1p), collaborators wanted
Our producer, Hannah Feldman.
I've been meaning to ask, is Hannah related to David?
Yes, his daughter.
Ralph again asks why the Democrats are not landsliding the Republicans.
If the Democrats landslided the Republicans then they would not have excuses to not do what they pretend they want to do. The Democrats job for the big money interests is to provide someone for citizens to vote for that says they want to do things people want but won't do those things.
One place where postal union members can strike is in the voting booth.
Just as workers can go on strike to demand better wages, working conditions, etc. by withholding their labor all citizens can go on strike in the voting booth to demand candidates that do not take big money by withholding our votes from candidates that do take big money.
If there is nobody on the ballot that does not take big money then as Paul Haeder suggests vote for nobody by casting a write in vote to register a vote against the big money candidates and to create and demonstrate demand for small donor candidates in future elections.
Elections in 2016, 2018, 2020, 2022 and 2024 have all passed without Ralph attempting to organize citizens to use this basic principle of democracy to rid our political process of the corrupting influence of big money since I first started asking him to explore this strategy.
Letters to congresspersons that are controlled by big money and committed to working for the big money interests are just pieces of paper with letters on them. Big money congresspersons only respond to pieces of paper with big numbers on them.
But if Ralph starts NOW to organize citizens to demand small donor candidates in 2026 then we could begin to elect some small donor candidates in 2026 and elect more in the next four election cycles reaching a point where it will be nearly impossible for a candidate that takes big money to get elected.
That's the choice, Ralph.
Ten more years of getting no where except deeper into the rabbit hole or using democracy to rid our political system of the corrupting influence of big money.
"Politicians want our votes more than big money."
-Ralph Nader
Then let's use our votes to demand that politicians do not take big money.
I voted Jill Stein.
RN asks Why isnt this a landslide for Harris?
The voters - alot of them - are fascist. Trumps messaging is fascist. Its consistent with corporate MSM messaging and bias which is pro Empire, which dominates the country.
3 cheers for the US Mail men and women and the Ralph Nader staff -- the best podcast in America!!!
Trump and Water Don't Mix!!! Stamp Creek, White Ga. 2025!!!!!! Pine Log Mtn.!!!!
Trump and Water Don't Mix!!! Stamp Creek, White Ga. 2025!!!!!! Pine Log Mtn.!!!!
thanks, ralph for all the latest dirt. davpi3.314
There's 1 group I know is VERY interested in the USPS... private equity! They're drooling about all that tasty real estate.....
I spoke with Democrats on election day at a number of their booths in town, high school, junior high school, etc..
I mentioned how Blumenthal, Murphy and Himes were not holding town meetings to address citizen concerns.
Their literature features how they will advance abortion as a primary "health care" option.
Tone deaf on perceptions and men's needs. They really are out of touch on priorities. What are they so afraid of to not meet with constituents?
My concerns about the post office are:
(a) junk mail is much of its revenue which doesn't help anyone--especially the planet.
(b) e-vehicles are not the answer; we know they kill exploited people for the materials to make the batteries.
but (c) glad RN mentioned that we have to pay for stamps while our Congressperson's postage is covered . . . BY THE PEOPLE!
Liz Cheney is the worst. I lived in Wyoming under her "reign". She would go to the Reservation for a photo-op and then vote against the very legislation that would help them tremendously (for example: VAWA—the Violence Against Women Act). Also, she and Dick fund-raised for Trump in filthy-rich Jackson Hole, WY.
Glad RN caught and mentioned Democracy Now still citing the ridiculous number of only 41,000 dead in Gaza and that RN's estimate is now up to 400,000.
RNRH should quit Twitter. Musk is at least as gross as Trump. It is quite possible to know what's going on locally and in the world without Twitter.
It's down to the final for 2024 ,,When both parties give the average joe over 8 trillion dollars in unearned doe ray me $$$_ in 8 years you got a problem.
It's like giving your kid all the candy and lollipops they never wanted until they are 18 and then asking them to pay up for all the past lollipops before he or she takes the next lick .
My two nice neighbor's gave me two potted plants for my back yard garden this year , one's a dazy , one's a cactus, how this relates to the candy story ....please stay with me on this one .
I bet you already know who the dazy is ? The cactus is a shoe in .
Which one do you like to look at ,,? which one should you not touch ,?
Both are made of candy .
Which one would you lick first ?
It's your choice America
Have a great day my friends.
Steve, Hanna and Ralph - have you been able to watch Michael Moore’s free viewing this weekend of Fahrenheit 11/9? It is really well done and exposes how dangerous trump is and will be if elected. Plus it points out with video evidence about the failures of the Democratic Party that suppressed the electoral votes from 7 states that picked Bernie Sanders but were squashed by the states Democratic Party. Plus Obama’s failure to federally address the deadly lead poisoning in the water of Flint, Michigan.