Ralph Nader Quotes

Lobbynomics

The idea of allowing corporations to have unlimited influence on our democracy is very dangerous, obviously.

Our form of democracy is bribery, on the highest scale.

Historians, studying us, will say that we allowed corporations to become the government.

Corporations write the legislation. They vote on the legislation. And they give advice on how to pass their bills.

From drug companies to health insurers to Wall Street banks, big corporations are spending millions to buy influence in Washington and drown out the voices of regular people.

Very big business is in bed with very big government in Washington, and has more to do with what the average person sees, hears and reads than most people know.

The corporations have become our government. They're not just influential. Department by department, you name it, they put their people in high government positions, they have 10,000 PACs and 35,000 lobbyists, so there's no more opening to be heard.

The problem is not that you can buy a congressman for $10000 but that you can buy a Washington lawyer for $100000.

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.

That's one of the things about the Tea Party people. They think corporations have too much influence in American life and they do.

The average American doesn't realize how much of the laws are written by lobbyists.

Both the Democratic and Republican parties are bought and paid for by corporate America and cater to the needs of the highest bidder as opposed to the people they claim to represent. I cannot be bought.

There's one political party in this country, and that's the corporate party.

A large majority of Americans believe that corporations exert too much influence on our daily lives and our political process.

If there are men in this country big enough to own the government of the United States, they are going to own it.

Five years ago, the Supreme Court, by a 5-4 decision in the Citizens United case told the richest people in America, "You already control the economy of the country. We are now going to let you control the political system as well".

The corporate flacks, hacks, lobbyists, and influence peddlers, the practitioners of modern PR ... have become a kind of occupation army in our democracy.

It's obscene how money is driving politics.

The lobbyists have erected a brick wall around Washington DC—a wall that keeps them in and keeps you out.

I do not allow hirelings of Standard Oil to define my democracy.

Unfortunately, public officials are largely controlled by the very corporations against which they should proceed.

Corporate power in the political process is a reality.... Why violate the law by bribing public officials when there are legal and more traditional methods of persuasion that are more effective? Among these methods are campaign contributions, advertising, lobbying, and government-business job exchanges.

… the unholy alliance between corrupt business and corrupt politics

Washington is rigged to favor people who have an army of lobbyists.