15 Ralph Nader Quotes on Politics

Ralph Nader quotes on politics

1. ...the Democratic and Republican parties, two apparently distinct political entities feeding at the same corporate trough.

2. Up against the corporate government, voters find themselves asked to choose between look-alike candidates from two parties vying to see who takes the marching orders from their campaign paymasters and their future employers. The money of vested interest nullifies genuine voter choice and trust.

4. Like knowing hostages, the AFL-CIO and its unions march in tandem to endorse the Democratic presidential nominees early in the primary season. They have given up their capacity for negotiation, so frightened are they of the Republicans. Meanwhile, the rank-and-file workers suffer their dwindling status in silence.

5. ...organized labor...rushes to support the party without demanding a turn away from corporatism toward workers' needs. This is the logic of the lesser of two evils. It tethers labor to a relentless slide deeper into the corporate power pits year after year.

6. ...the Democrats know that no matter how many GATTs, NAFTAs, empty OSHAs, and other betrayals...they heap on those labor leaders, they can be had because, once again, the Republicans are deemed worse.

7. The tired whine of 'But the Republicans are worse' will fall flat as more young Americans take charge of their future and move, with their reenergized elders, toward the Green Party and parallel civic and political movements.

9. The shortcomings of America's political leaders do not stop at our borders.

10. Unlike members of Congress, Big Business knew what the WTO agreements contained. That's because corporate lobbyists helped draft them.

19. To the youth of America, I say, beware of being trivialized by the commercial culture that tempts you daily. I hear you saying often that you're not turned on to politics. The lessons of history are clear and portentous. If you do not turn on to politics, politics will turn on you.

33. The corporate lobby in Washington is basically designed to stifle all legislative activity on behalf of consumers.

34. The liberal intelligentsia has allowed its party to become a captive of corporate interests.

36. The only difference between the Republican and Democratic parties is the velocities with which their knees hit the floor when corporations knock on their door. That's the only difference.

39. This administration is not sympathetic to corporations, it is indentured to corporations.

42. This country has far more problems than it deserves and far more solutions than it applies.

43. Our founders did not oust George III in order for us to crown Richard I.