In this interview, Tyler Cowen speaks with Ralph Nader about his book, “Unstoppable: The Emerging Left-Right Alliance to Dismantle the Corporate State.” Nader discusses his long-standing support for a Left/Right alliance on corporate issues, highlighting how the convergence of corporate power and politics hinders progress and neglects areas of agreement between the two sides. He also addresses the influence of corporations on taxation, the need for countervailing forces against the corporate state, and the importance of community engagement and participatory sports in combating corporatization.
Key points:
- Ralph Nader advocates for a Left/Right alliance on corporate issues, emphasizing the neglect of convergent areas where the two sides share concerns and the influence of corporate power in shaping politics.
- Nader highlights the insidious infiltration of corporatism into various government agencies, undermining the ability of government to protect the well-being of the American people.
- The interview explores the manipulation of the U.S. corporate income tax system by corporations, enabling them to avoid paying their fair share of taxes through loopholes, write-offs, and offshore tax shelters.
- Nader points to Scandinavian countries, particularly Sweden, as examples where countervailing forces have challenged corporate power and prioritized the well-being of workers and consumers through cooperative movements, trade unions, and social democratic policies.
- The interview also delves into the need for communitarian culture, community engagement, and participatory sports as a means to push back against corporatization, combat sedentary lifestyles, and build social cohesion. Nader criticizes the excessive reliance on screens and virtual reality, emphasizing the importance of human connection and physical activity.
Continue reading at http://www.the-american-interest.com/2014/06/24/a-conversation-with-ralph-nader/
