Sovereignty of the People
Sovereignty: the preeminence of the people, self-rule. The framers of the Constitution, having lived under the tyranny of King George the Third, were fully aware of the corrupting nature of absolute power. And the need for the citizenry to exercise independence and control. But under the contemporary doctrine of neoliberalism, there has been a steady erosion of sovereignty, a transfer from popular control to powerful and largely unaccountable transnational institutions. So-called free trade agreements, negotiated behind closed doors, have fast-track provisions and special panels and tribunals that do an end-run around sovereignty. Most of our putative representatives, wooed by corporations, do their bidding. The people are marginalized and rendered to the sidelines. Well, not entirely. You can turn out and vote then you can go home and watch a Law & Order rerun or something truly profound like Keeping up with the Kardashians.
Keynote address of the Breaking Through Power Conference.
Recorded at Constitution Hall.
Speaker

Ralph Nader
Ralph Nader, a legendary figure, has spent a lifetime fighting on behalf of ordinary people. Life magazine ranked him as one of the most influential Americans of the twentieth century. The Atlantic named him one of the hundred most influential figures in U.S. history. Founder of Public Citizen, he is a long-time advocate for consumer safety and workers’ rights. He rose to fame in the 1960s when he took on General Motors and its unsafe Corvair car. His 1965 book Unsafe At Any Speed not only created a sensation but also was instrumental in the enactment of the Motor Vehicle Safety Act. His efforts helped create the Environmental Protection Agency. He has exposed the misdeeds of the corporate sector as well as of the political system. In recent years he has led the struggles around NAFTA, the WTO, corporate welfare, and single-payer health care. He is the author of numerous books including Return to Sender, Unstoppable, To the Ramparts, Breaking Through Power, The Rebellious CEO and Let’s Start the Revolution. At 90, Citizen Nader is as active as ever.
Conrad –
What a wonderful interview and what a wonderful high class resource Mr Nader is. Sycophant Hillary comes from a long history of subterfuge and dishonesty. Trump, though crass in his demeanor, seems ultimately the more honest as well as the most dangerous to the oligarchy. Luckily, those who really control the machinations of government and policy maybe a bit more level-headed, interested in preserving their own well-being.
Ralph’s boundless energy and optimism is something our children need to be exposed to.