Ralph Nader : In Pursuit of Justice

“Ralph Nader is our indispensible voice of outrage against corporate corruption, greed, invasion of privacy, and abuse of power.”

James K. Galbraith


Ralph Nader is one of America’s most controversial—and uncompromising— public figures. He is a man on a mission who believes that taking on the powers that be involves more than just talking about it—it also means taking action.
 

  From car safety in the 1960s to opposition to the World Trade Organization in the 1990s, Nader’s work has increased government responsiveness to citizens, served as a check against the abuse of power by big business, and shaped the political consciousness of a nation. Nader’s sense of mission is infused in all of his work, especially his weekly columns.

n Pursuit of Justice, a collection of Nader’s most recent, trenchant articles written since the publication of The Ralph Nader Reader, Nader addresses a broad array of issues, among them: corporate crime and power, government accountability, media control, consumer rights, healthcare, congressional reform, nuclear power and energy, racial discrimination, poverty, food and drug safety, air and water pollution, fair taxation, product liability protection, union democracy, living family wage, unfair lending practices, community radio, industrial hemp, banking, pension law, telecommunications and the importance of character. Nader has even sponsored consumer initiatives to reform university governance, educational testing, daily newspapers, women's health care, legal services, and professional sports—all of which are reflected in these sharp and sometimes humorous essays.

As informative as it is pleasurable to read, section after section of In Pursuit of Justice slices through government and corporate propaganda and reveals the corruption, bias and injustice that all too often connect politics with big business, thereby impeding the pursuit of justice. Collecting more than one hundred of his most recent writings, In Pursuit of Justice conveys Nader's inimitable sense of both the global political economy and our nation's democratic promise.

ABOUT RALPH NADER

For more than four decades, Ralph Nader has saved lives, opened minds, implemented solutions, and inspired citizens everywhere to participate in building a better, more democratic world. He has founded or organized more than 100 civic organizations, authored countless books and publications, and perhaps more than any other person has defined our modern understanding of the American ideals of democracy, civic duty, and participation for the public good, rather than dominance by the corporate powers. Known for his ethics, integrity and independence, Ralph Nader is recognized world-wide for putting democracy to work.

What is less well known is that in his 2000 bid for President of the United States, Ralph Nader earned the votes of citizens across the political spectrum. Under the banner “Not for Sale,”millions responded to Nader's message to the American people calling for greater accountability for corporations and an end to corporate-controlled government. According to the exit polls conducted by Democratic pollster Stanley Greenberg, fully 25% of his votes came from Republicans, 38% from Democrats, and the remainder from people who would not have voted. No other American leader can be credited with such broad appeal across the divides of our polarized nation. No other American leader can claim such unfettered independence from the ethically bankrupt quagmire of insider politics where the lives of ordinary Americans are regularly sacrificed to commercial interests.

To his credit, Ralph Nader does more than just talk. As the New York Times said, “What sets Nader apart is that he has moved beyond social criticism to effective political action.” Unsafe At Any Speed, his 1965 book that changed the face of automobile corporations and initiated federal regulations, made Ralph Nader a household name. As a result of his efforts, cars are safer, and the food we buy is required to meet stricter standards before reaching the consumer. One of his greatest achievements was the 1974 amendment to the Freedom of Information Act that gave the public access to government documents and files. This brought freedom of press to a new level, resulting in increased access for journalists and the public. Presidential candidate in 2000 and 2004, Ralph Nader continues to be a relentless force for grassroots activism and the pursuit of justice in the United States.

"One of the 100 most influential Americans in the twentieth century." -Time

"From auto and airline safety to 'the insurance game,' Nader wins praise as consumer crusader..." - Booklist