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Ralph Nader > Special Features > An Unpublished Letter to the Washington Post

August 15, 2022

Letters-to-the-Editor
The Washington Post
1301 K Street NW
Washington, DC 20071

Re: your article “Historians Privately Warn Biden that America’s Democracy is Teetering” – August 10, 2022

Dear Editor:

Joe Biden is the latest in a number of presidents who have invited academics to inform about the workings, promises and perils of a democratic society. He and they would have been further enlightened in a deeper, contemporary manner were they to have invited the daily practitioners of democracy, before the three branches of government, coming from the various civic communities. They bring a reality of what it is like contending daily with vested interests in autocracy and in blocking the struggles for justice by the people.

That presidents have not done this may reflect that the candor of these civic engagers would come too close to the shortcomings of the federal government in keeping these relentless commercial interests at bay.

Sincerely,
Ralph Nader

Submitted for publication.