by Lisa Kapps
Utica Observer-Dispatch

The line began snaking through the Information and Technology building at Mohawk Valley Community College long before the doors were scheduled to open at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday.

When the doors did finally open at about noon, more than 100 people had gathered in the lobby to hear 76-year-old consumer advocate and three-time third-party presidential candidate Ralph Nader speak.

"When a national icon calls and says he wants to come to Utica… (you find a way)," said John Zogby, local pollster and founder of Zogby International Research, who helped organize the event.

Zogby said it was exciting to see so many young people attend speech.

"He's developed a ‘Nader 2.0.' (following) … He's retro-cool," Zogby said.

Nader begins his newest book — "Only the Super-Rich Can Save Us!: New Ways to Empower Ourselves for Overdue Changes in Our Communities" — with the premise of 17 older, super-rich Americans who join together to make significant changes American society.

"It's not technically a novel," Nader said. "It's a work of political imagination."

While the events in the book are fictional, Nader said the message is realistic.

Those who read it, he said, can learn a lot about power in America and will "feel stronger as a citizen."

And, he added, "you'll never again be as inhibited about asking people in your community for money."

Nader emphasized the difference between asking the wealthy in society to contribute to issues of justice — which will prevent social ills, – and not just donate to charities — which treat the result of social problems.

Nader also discussed civic responsibility and the importance of developing "civic skills," such as knowing how to submit a FOIL request, develop a voting record and how to get information from city hall officials.

Nader briefly addressed New York politics, including the $9.2 billion deficit, and proposed that revenue created by reinstating the stock transfer tax could make up the difference.

Green Party Gubernatorial candidate Howie Hawkins is running – in part – on reinstating the stock transfer tax. Nader left soon after the lecture to join Hawkins in Buffalo for a campaign stop.

After taking a few questions from the crowd, Nader signed copies of his books.

Lee Edelblute, 59, of Cassville, said he's admired the advocate and politician for many years.

"He didn't let me down," Edelblute said. "It just seemed like vintage Ralph Nader to me."

Café Domenico and The Bagel Grove also were involved in organizing the event.