The Citizens’ Utility Board, or CUB, is a model approach for bringing together large numbers of diffuse consumers into a voluntary organization, which can then pursue a common citizen/consumer agenda in banking, insurance, housing or dozens of other arenas. I call it the “silicon chip” for the citizen movement because it is a low-cost, high … Read more
With the passing of Dr. Sidney M. Wolfe at the age of 86, our country has lost one of the greatest “extra-ordinary” physicians of the past half century. There have been physicians who developed great life-saving vaccines and medications (e.g., smallpox, polio, HIV/AIDS). But because of Sid’s endurance and the range of his work as … Read more
By Ralph Nader January 3, 2025 Three years ago, I wrote an article titled, “Eight New Year’s Resolutions for NPR to Consider Now.” Since NPR has done little with these suggestions, I’m reissuing the 2022 column for listeners to review and react accordingly. After all, NPR is using the public’s airwaves. Last year we released … Read more
November 30, 2023 Dear Nikki Haley: You served lucratively on the Board of Directors of the Boeing Corporation from April 2019 to April 2020. This unusually abbreviated tenure immediately followed the Boeing 737 MAX crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia. They were perceived as caused by Boeing’s criminal negligence. You justified your departure by opposition to … Read more
November 28, 2023 RE: Hamas-Israel-Gaza-Genocide We are writing to exercise our First Amendment to petition Congress for redress of grievances. We are urging Congress to end the United States’ unconditional, close, and continual military and intelligence support of Israel in its ongoing physical destruction of 2.3 million Palestinians residing in Gaza. The United States is … Read more
By Ralph Nader November 13, 2023 John (Jack) Fitzgerald is no ordinary auto dealer. He communicates with consumer advocates. He started in the dealership business in 1956 and presently has 25 Fitzgerald Auto Mall dealerships in Maryland, Pennsylvania and Florida. He knows about automobiles. Mr. Fitzgerald called me in August with worries about electric vehicles. … Read more
Congressional Surrender PDF
By Ralph Nader October 6, 2023 If only canes, walkers, railings and banisters were sentient, what would their message be to humans on Earth? “Prevention is the Priority, Dummies,” they would exclaim. “Look at how many trips and falls we prevent for our users compared to the enormous costs in pain, suffering, family disarray and … Read more
By Ralph Nader September 29, 2023 In the midst of so much bad news in the media, it is always good to be alert to rays of sunlight that civic action can build upon. First, let’s start with the sun, which is receiving increased respect these days by Earthlings. Various forms of solar energy – … Read more
By Ralph Nader September 21, 2023 For nearly thirty-five years, a small nonprofit organization in Washington, D.C. has been having an outsized impact on highway and auto safety. It is Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (saferoads.org) and it is funded by a dozen or more property-casualty insurance companies; with a board composed of consumer … Read more
By Ralph Nader September 15, 2023 Corporate law firms have taught their wayward corporate clients how to use accretions of privileges and immunities to ward off or wait out the most devastating books, documentaries and media exposés. Corporate P.R. firms know that the media doesn’t follow the efforts of civic advocacy groups as a regular … Read more