Nader ’55 Examines a Left-Right Political Alliance

Unstoppable: The Emerging Left-Right Alliance to Dismantle the Corporate State, by Ralph Nader ’55 (Nation Books)

The Author: An attorney and political activist, Nader is particularly concerned with consumer and worker protection, humanitarianism, environmentalism, democratic government, and dismantling the corporate state. Nader came to prominence in 1965 with his bookUnsafe at Any Speed, and has since published many bestsellers, including The Good Fight andSeventeen Traditions. He is a four-time candidate for president of the United States, and has been named by Time and Life magazines as one of the most influential Americans of the 20th century.

The Book: In Unstoppable, Nader demonstrates that there is an emerging alliance between the Left and the Right on Capital Hill, as well as in state and local governments, that he believes has the power to dismantle the corporate-government tyranny. Nader argues that it is time to use this budding alliance to expand the power of American citizens and demand a more accountable government. He provides a blueprint for this fight, with 25 potential reforms that can be accomplished through a Left-Right alliance. The book also includes a historical record of Left-Right convergence that demonstrates that this strategy can be successful.

Opening Lines:  “When thinking about the genesis of this book, I remember the days working in my family’s restaurant. The premises were spacious: a long lunch counter and many booths filled with townspeople and jurors from the local county courthouse, summer residents at the local lakes and camps, salespeople and travelers driving along busy Route 44 in Connecticut. In those non-fast food days, family restaurants were conveners of talkers, not just eaters. There was much ado about local and larger politics, and lots of free associative talk about the Yankees–Red Sox rivalry or what was going on in the many factories lining the town’s street.”

Review: Nader “lists reforms with which many lawmakers would agree, including breaking up too-big-to-fail banks, protecting children from commercialism, and ending corporate personhood,” writesKirkus Reviews.