TWO-time failed presidential candidate Ralph Nader has joined the ranks of politicians taking swipes at Bermuda and its tax haven status.

An opinion piece by Mr. Nader decried what he referred to as "the triumph of the oligarchs" ? US corporations' successful manipulation of the American tax system and its loopholes.

Mr. Nader, who ran in the US election earlier this month, cited two resources to back his theory ? the Centre for Public Integrity and a little-known author, James Dale Davidson.

"The Centre for Public Integrity puts it this way: 'Because of exploding technologies and their inability to regulate cyberspace, governments today find themselves impotent to tax trillions of dollars in potential new revenue from electronic commerce'," wrote Mr. Nader.

"A book titled by James Dale Davidson, calls cyberspace 'the ultimate off-shore jurisdiction. An economy with no taxes. Bermuda in the sky with diamonds'."

According to Mr. Nader, the article was written "in the public interest". It appears in billed as a public interest newsletter and policy information service which seeks to "engage individuals and promote groups" who are committed to common agendas; among them, "transparency in government and corporations", "analysis and critique of those who promote the interests of capital at the expense of the general public" and "analysis and critique of corporate and capital influence on the US political process".