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PUBLIC CITIZEN’S 45TH ANNIVERSARY National Press Club | PHOTOS BY PHOTOS BY TONY POWELL SENTINELS OF OUR DEMOCRACY Several decades ago, Ralph Nader had a novel idea: What if professionals — lawyers, doctors, lobbyists, researchers — served as institutional counterweights to corporations by working for the public interest, rather than corporate interests? From that vision, Public Citizen was born. The nonprofit organization, now celebrating its 45th anniversary, is unique from other public interest groups because of its multi-pronged approach. It lobbies, does research, mobilizes activists, files petitions and goes to court to achieve its goals. Its fierce independence and focus on curbing excessive power enable it to take on some of the country’s most well-known corporate lobbies – and win. It has helped get dangerous drugs pulled from the market, put air bags in vehicles, ensure citizen access to courts and government records and tighten restrictions on lobbyists. Because of Public Citizen, the Nixon Watergate tapes were made public, Red Dye No. 2 was taken off the market and SUVs are less prone to rolling over. As it looks to the next 45 years, Public Citizen will continue to champion the public interest and defend democracy against corporate power.
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