I’ve wondered often why people who go to “town meetings” held by campaigning politicians rarely ask fundamental questions.

Here is one that should have been asked of presidential candidate Barack Obama: “If you get to the White House, will you appoint to top positions Americans who have a track record of making the right decisions in their respective fields?”

“Of course, I will,” Obama would have undoubtedly replied.

Continue reading "Ignoring Propethic Predictors"

It’s good that Barack Obama is an agile basketball player because on financial regulatory reform he’s having to straddle an ever widening chasm between his words and his deeds.

Obama said: “Millions of Americans who have worked hard and behaved responsibility have seen their life dreams eroded by the irresponsibility of others and by the failure of their government to provide adequate oversight. Our entire economy has been undermined by that failure.” Continue reading "Financial Reform, Words and Deeds"

At twelve noon on June 12, 2009, the end of analog television’s era was also when I let my set go dark. The last declaration I saw was that there were about three million of us disconnected but, no worry, we can still order the “converter box” to bring all those programs back to our living rooms. Continue reading "Is TV Worth the Transition?"

Although his classic self-designed and hand-built furniture found its way to the White House, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Smithsonian, Sam Maloof, who passed away recently at 93, preferred to describe himself simply as a “Woodworker.” Continue reading "Working With His Hands"

Dear President Obama and GM Chairman Henderson,

The hour is late. You seem bent on an orchestrated bankruptcy for General Motors on June 1, 2009. Before any irreversible moves are made-- the GM/task force reorganization plan should be submitted to Congress for deliberative review and decision. There are several major concerns with a precipitous bankruptcy declaration that have emerged over the last several days. Continue reading "Blundering Into Bankruptcy"

Dear President Obama and Mr. Henderson,

We are writing to follow up on our letter of May 26. We wish to reiterate our overriding message: Before any irreversible moves are made -- including, especially, entrance into voluntary bankruptcy -- the GM/task force reorganization plan should be submitted to Congress for deliberative review and decision. We also wish to highlight several major concerns with a precipitous bankruptcy declaration that have emerged over the last several days. Continue reading "Nader On GM Bankruptcy"

Once upon a time early in the 19th century, corporations came into existence by state legislatures approving charters, which were granted for a limited period of time and for limited purposes. These corporations – producing textiles and other products in New England – raised capital in part because their investors had limited liability. That meant they could not lose any more than their investment if things went wrong.

Since corporations were artificial legal entities and not human, these lawmakers feared that without some strong leashes, they could be creating Frankensteins.

Continue reading "Avoiding Corporate Liability"

May 26, 2009

President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Fax: 202-456-2461

Mr. Frederick Henderson
General Motors Corporation
300 Renaissance Center
Detroit, MI 48243
Fax: 815-282-6156

Dear President Obama and Mr. Henderson,
Continue reading "Letter to President Obama and GM CEO"

MEMORANDUM

GM DEAL REQUIRES CONGRESSIONAL REVIEW
BEFORE BANKRUPTCY FILING

TO: Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Majority Leader Harry Reid, House Minority Leader John Boehner, Sen. Mitch McConnell, Rep. John Conyers, Rep. Lamar S. Smith, Rep. William Delahunt Continue reading "GM Deal Requires Congressional Review Before Bankruptcy Filing"

May 18, 2009

Senator Chris Dodd
U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs
448 Russell Building
Washington, DC 20510

Congressman Barney Frank
House Committee on Financial Services
2252 Rayburn H.O.B.
Washington, DC 20515


Dear Senator Dodd and Congressman Frank:

The government-led restructuring of Chrysler and General Motors has been twice delegated -- first by Congress to the Executive, and then by the President to a task force. Formally made up of cabinet officials and high-level political appointees, control over the process has in fact been delegated, without adequate standards, to a handful of special advisers. Thus has the future of a centerpiece of American manufacturing capacity been delegated to a small unelected and largely unaccountable group arranged to avoid the Federal Advisory Committee Act. The Congress must, at the least, reclaim its oversight role in this process, and subject the Auto Task Force's proposals and plans to careful scrutiny before irreversible measures -- such as a GM bankruptcy filing -- are undertaken.

Continue reading "Letter to Chairmen Dodd and Frank Regarding the GM Bankruptcy"

After years of opposing or ridiculing renewable energy, the giant oil companies are using a new approach. A recent ExxonMobil advertising campaign puts it this way:

“Oil, gas, coal, biofuels, nuclear, wind, solar….to fuel the future we need them all.” Continue reading "Time For Renewable Energy"

Among the giant taboos afflicting Congress these days is the proposal to create a single payer health insurance system (often called full Medicare for everyone).

How can this be? Don’t the elected politicians represent the people? Don’t they always have their finger to the wind?

Continue reading "Stop the Single Payer Shut-out!"

“There can be no daily democracy without daily citizenship.” – Ralph Nader

Ralph Nader is one of America's most effective social critics. Named by The Atlantic as one of the 100 most influential figures in American history, and by Time and Life magazines as one of the hundred most influential Americans of the twentieth century, his documented criticism of government and industry has had widespread effect on public awareness and bureaucratic power. He is the "U.S.'s toughest customer" says Time magazine. His inspiration and example have galvanized a whole population of consumer advocates, citizen activists, and public interest lawyers who in turn have established their own organizations throughout the country.

For over four decades, Nader has exposed problems and organized millions of citizens into more than 100 public interest groups to advocate for solutions. His efforts have helped create a framework of laws, regulatory agencies, and federal standards that have improved the quality of life for two generations of Americans. Because of Ralph Nader we drive safer cars, eat healthier food, breathe better air, drink cleaner water, and work in safer environments.

The crusading attorney first made headlines in 1965 with his book Unsafe at Any Speed, a scathing indictment that lambasted the auto industry for producing unsafe vehicles. The book led to congressional hearings and a series of automobile safety laws passed in 1966, including the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.

Continue reading "The Essential Nader"

The Swine Flu (or H1N1 virus) is in the air. The public health authorities are acting “in excess of caution” to curb its spread from Mexico into this country. Already, however, this virus and the publicity around it is providing another occasion to question our nation’s priorities. Continue reading "The Lethargy Virus"

“No more fine print; no more confusing terms and conditions.” This is what Barack Obama told a White House gathering of leading credit card issuers this week.

Right afterward, President Obama told the press that “there has to be strong and reliable protections for consumers, protections that ban unfair rate increases and forbid abusive fees and penalties.” Continue reading "Where's My Change?"