Ralph Nader's Blog, page 23

Re: “Justice Thomas Should Take a Long Look in the Mirror” NY Times, May 15, 2022

To the Editor: Re: “Justice Thomas Should Take a Long Look in the Mirror”. Maybe the Democrats should take a look in the mirror. They confirmed Thomas’s nomination in 1991 by a vote of 52-48 which included 11 Democratic Senators crossing over in a Democratically-controlled Senate under Majority Leader George Mitchell. They gave the country…

U.S. Senate – From Partisan (GOP) Swamp to a Bipartisan Graveyard for Democracy

By Ralph Nader June 16, 2022 Since January 2021, the U.S. House of Representatives has passed 412 bills (See: Congress.gov) and sent them to the Senate. Unfortunately, the Senate hasn’t acted. “What?” you say, “don’t the Democrats control both Chambers of Congress?” Sure, by the barest of margins. Handcuffed by the filibuster, a Senate rule…

Time for a Taxpayer Revolt Against Rich Corporate Welfarists

By Ralph Nader June 10, 2022 It is time for an unusual but long overdue revolt by the 150 million tax-with-held taxpayers. I’m not speaking of rates of taxation that the rich and corporations largely avoid because of the gigantic tax escapes, which they grease through Congress. Today I’m hoping to get your dander up…

A Public Request for Nick Hanauer to Swing into Action

By Ralph Nader June 3, 2022 Nick Hanauer NickHanauer.com Seattle, WA Dear Nick, Since our meeting at your office in the Fall of 2014, I have tried several times to reach you about a number of civic projects that seem to be right up your alley. As others have noted, it is near impossible to…

Is Corporate Criminal Law Heading for Extinction?

By Ralph Nader May 27, 2022 Crimes without criminals was not a subject for study when I was in law school. The two were seen as part of the same illegal package. That was before notorious corporate lawyers and a cash register Congress combined to separate economic, health and safety crimes from corporate accountability, incarceration…

Donald K. Ross (1943-2022) – Activist and Builder of Democratic Institutions Extraordinaire!

By Ralph Nader May 20, 2022 It was a marathon day of thirty-minute interviews in 1970. Little did I think we were selecting recent law school graduates who would become, over a lifetime, civic leaders of historical significance in producing major changes for a more just and safe society. Ten minutes into my interview with…

The New Corporate Dictators – Super-Rich & Super-Immune

By Ralph Nader May 13, 2022 Ever since the heads of East India Trading Company (1600) and Hudson Bay Company (1670), were incorporated by English Royal charters, there have been corporate dictators. Their range and actions, have varied widely however. Today’s new corporate dictators shatter past restraints. John D. Rockefeller ruled the Standard Oil Company…

“Public Justice” – Standing Forty Years Against Brutish Corporate Power

By Ralph Nader May 6, 2022 It is not often that one speech urging the creation of a national public interest law firm, driven by seasoned trial lawyers, would move from words to deeds, from oratory to action. That is just what happened following my address in June 1980 to the Michigan Trial Lawyers Association.…

Against the Trumpian GOP Onslaught – The Dems are Like Deer in the Headlights

By Ralph Nader April 29, 2022 There is something about entrenched bureaucracies that transcend nations and cultures. When bureaucracies are confronted with unanticipated or new challenges, they freeze – like a deer facing headlights. Sears, Roebuck and Company saw Walmart coming out of Arkansas for years and spreading all over the country, but the Sears…

Dishonoring Earth Day 2022 with An Oil, Gas, Coal & Nuclear Heyday

By Ralph Nader April 22, 2022 Instead of championing solar, wind and conservation energy, the GOP (Greedy Old Party) is championing the skyrocketing profits and prices for the omnicidal fossil fuel and atomic power companies. Surging gasoline prices at the pump are not met with excess profits taxes on profit-glutted Big Oil. Rather the GOP…