Dark Horses

Anyone who has much experience of politics should be familiar with the Law of Inverse Ratios— the rule of thumb that says the people who get the most publicity for their alleged service to the public turn out, on close inspection, to do the least.

There could be no better illustration of this perverse principle than the cause of “consumerism,” along with its alleged prophet, Ralph Nader. The Nader conception of helping the consumer involves intensive regulation of American business by government, supposedly to protect the average dull-witted person from the connivings of unscrupulous corporations. As Professor Benjamin A. Rogge demonstrates in Can Capitalism Survive? (Liberty Press, 7440 North Shadeland, Indianapolis, Ind. 46250; $9), nothing could be further from authentic service to consumers.

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M. Stanton Evans

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Anyone who has much experience of politics should be familiar with the Law of Inverse Ratios— the rule of thumb that says the people who get the most publicity for their alleged service to the public turn out, on close inspection, to do the least.

There could be no better illustration of this perverse principle than the cause of “consumerism,” along with its alleged prophet, Ralph Nader. The Nader conception of helping the consumer involves intensive regulation of American business by government, supposedly to protect the average dull-witted person from the connivings of unscrupulous corporations. As Professor Benjamin A. Rogge demonstrates in Can Capitalism Survive? (Liberty Press, 7440 North Shadeland, Indianapolis, Ind. 46250; $9), nothing could be further from authentic service to consumers.