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
By Ralph Nader January 17, 2025 The rise of Donald Trump from a widely publicized, if failed, business boss to a two-term President has taught us a great deal about our society. He will teach us even more as his dictatorial regime, starting January 20th, 2025, further unravels what is left of the civilized norms, … Read more
Jimmy Carter was my last president. I believe that is true for progressive civic groups, too. He actively opened up the federal government to engagement and participation from long politically excluded American activists. When he was campaigning in 1976, he would say that he wanted to be more of a consumer advocate than I am, … 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
December 30, 2024 Jimmy Carter was the last president to actively open the government for engagement by citizen groups. Right after his November 1976 election, he agreed to address a huge hotel ballroom in D.C. full of local and national citizen advocates. It was a great success never again repeated by succeeding president-elects. Mr. Carter … Read more
By Ralph Nader December 23, 2024 Have you heard of the Capitol Hill Citizen newspaper – a quarterly 40-page print newspaper? We have been publishing it since the spring of 2022. It goes beyond “official source journalism” about Congress – the 535 Senators and Representatives – to whom “we the people” have delegated far too … Read more
Holiday greetings. Time for special generosity. These are the very worthy, effective, honest groups–all 501(c)(3)s–that I have contributed to over the years. You may wish to do the same to those that you think are of particular interest for your sense of justice, health and safety. You can check out their websites. Alternative Radio: alternativeradio.org … Read more
By Ralph Nader December 13, 2024 Now is the time to prepare anticipatory strategies against what the vengeful, avaricious, lawless Trump and his Trumpsters have boasted out loud about daily. Don’t wait until Trump’s inauguration. A short list of suggestions follows: The civil servants and their unions better organize a personal presentation to their new … Read more
December 19, 2024 at the National Press Club in Washington DC Breakfast 8:30 am Moderator: Theresa Amato Principal, Amato PLLC; Director of the Freedom of Information Clearinghouse and staff attorney, Public Citizen Litigation Group, 1991-1993. Founder, Citizen Advocacy Center. Ralph Nader 9:00 am TOPIC: The Importance of the Freedom of Information Act How it can … Read more
By Ralph Nader November 22, 2024 Let’s look at the political scene from Trump’s viewpoint. Sitting in his luxurious Mar-a-Lago palace receiving the daily obeisant supplicants eager to heed his every word and praise exuberantly his megalomania, Donald J. Trump can hardly believe his good fortune. Starting in the 2015 presidential race against 16 GOP … Read more
By Ralph Nader November 15, 2024 Biden’s executive agencies, like the EPA and the NLRB, are racing to complete important work before the Trumpster gang of Der Führer Donald takes office on January 20. What is the Democratic majority in the Senate racing to do, other than getting some two dozen federal judgeships confirmed? True … Read more