Author Archives: Gary LaMaster

Growing Apart: Income Inequality In The US.

Posted on January 13, 2014 by Gary LaMaster

On January 13, 2014, Democratic Perspective co-hosts, Mike Cosentino and Steve Williamson, examined the widening gap in incomes between ordinary Americans and the wealthy. It’s an issue that has been labeled the most significant problem of our time by both President … Continue reading →

Posted in Capitalism, Class Conflict, Corporate Welfare, Economic Policy, Economic Theory, Fiscal Policy, Income Inequality, Jobs and Employment, National Politics, Tax and Investment Policy, Tax Law | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Growing Apart: Income Inequality In The US.

2013 In Review. What The Mainstream Media Didn’t Tell You.

Posted on January 10, 2014 by Gary LaMaster

For our year-end show, on December 30, 2013, Gary LaMaster and Dick Searle joined Democratic Perspective co-hosts Mike Cosentino and Steve Williamson to discuss the stories that were unreported, under-reported or misreported in 2013. There were an abundance of candidates: … Continue reading →

Posted in Agribusiness, Agricultural Policy, Climate Change, Cultural Change, Disinformation, Economic Policy, Energy Policy, Environment, Environmentalism, Food Insecurity, Genetically Modified Organisms, Global Warming, GMOs, Government, Journalism, Mass Media, Renewable Energy, Sustainable Development | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on 2013 In Review. What The Mainstream Media Didn’t Tell You.

Making Wall Street Pay.

Posted on January 9, 2014 by Gary LaMaster

On January 6, 2014, investor and financial consultant, John O’Donnell joined Mike Cosentino on Democratic Perspective to discuss the Financial Transaction Tax (FTT). The Financial Transaction Tax is also known by the misnomer, Robin Hood Tax. Although various forms of … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona Economy, Business, Capitalism, Deficit Reduction, Economic Policy, Economic Stimulus, Financial Crisis, Financial Sector, Fiscal Policy, Government, Investment Banking, Monetary Policy, National Politics, Tax and Investment Policy, Tax Law, Taxes and the Deficit, U.S. Budget | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Making Wall Street Pay.

Food For Thought.

Posted on December 30, 2013 by Gary LaMaster

Note: Having fallen behind on blog posts and listings of resources, I’ll try to catch up beginning with our October 7, 2013, interview with Wenonah Hauter. Wenonah Hauter is author of Foodopoly: The Battle Over the Future of Food and … Continue reading →

Posted in Agribusiness, Agricultural Policy, Business, Farm Subsidies, Food Insecurity, Government, Interviews | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Food For Thought.

Turning Prisoners Into Profits.

Posted on December 17, 2013 by Gary LaMaster

On December 9, 2013, Democratic Perspective aired an interview with Dianne Post. Post is an attorney and leader of the Arizona Justice Alliance, a statewide coalition dedicated to exposing the problems with prisons. According to Post, 23 percent of Arizona … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona Law Enforcement, Arizona Politics, Corrections Policy, Criminology, Government, Interviews, Justice System, LGBT Issues, Private Prisons, Privatization | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Turning Prisoners Into Profits.

The All-Too-Real Hunger Games.

Posted on November 4, 2013 by Gary LaMaster

As the result of a CBS documentary in 1968, our nation focused on reducing hunger through a variety of federal programs, including food stamps. By 1979, hunger in the US had been all but eliminated. Now it’s back with a … Continue reading →

Posted in Agricultural Policy, Arizona Politics, Economic Policy, Economic Stimulus, Food Insecurity, Jobs and Employment, Minimum Wage, National Politics, Welfare | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on The All-Too-Real Hunger Games.

Pride And Prejudice In The Verde Valley.

Posted on September 10, 2013 by Gary LaMaster

On September 2, 2013, Democratic Perspective hosted gay rights activist, Mark Luckey. Luckey is president of Sedona Pride, representing the LBGT community for the entire Verde Valley of Northern Arizona. Our co-hosts, Steve Williamson and Mike Cosentino, began the interview … Continue reading →

Posted in Anti-Gay Discrimination, Arizona Politics, Bigotry, Government, Interviews, Legal Issues, LGBT Community, LGBT Issues, Local Politics, Marriage Equality, National Politics | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Pride And Prejudice In The Verde Valley.

Extreme Representation.

Posted on August 29, 2013 by Gary LaMaster

Arizona’s Legislative District 6 (LD6) is populated by mostly moderate, sensible people. So Democratic Perspective asked, “Why is it represented in the state legislature by a trio of right wing extremists, otherwise known as Rep. Brenda Barton, Rep. Bob Thorpe … Continue reading →

Posted in Anti-Federalism, Arizona Law Enforcement, Arizona Politics, Bigotry, Conservative Paranoia, Conservatives and Reactionaries, Constitutional Issues, Environment, Firearms Legislation, Government, Gun Control, Health Care, Local Politics, Sustainable Development | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Extreme Representation.

What You Should Know About Health Care And The Affordable Care Act.

Posted on August 15, 2013 by Gary LaMaster

On August 5 and August 12, Democratic Perspective tackled the very complicated subject of health care. We began by listing some statistics about the U.S. health care system. They’re anything but reassuring. For example: In the U.S. we spend more … Continue reading →

Posted in Affordable Care Act, Economic Policy, Government, Health Care, Jobs and Employment, Medicare, National Politics | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on What You Should Know About Health Care And The Affordable Care Act.

A Realistic View Of US Foreign Policy In The Middle East.

Posted on August 6, 2013 by Gary LaMaster

On July 29, 2013, Democratic Perspective hosted Stephen M. Walt, professor of international affairs at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. Professor Walt is an author, a widely respected expert on foreign policy and a leading proponent of … Continue reading →

Posted in Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, Government, International Relations, Middle East, Middle East Policy, Palestinian/Israeli Conflict | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on A Realistic View Of US Foreign Policy In The Middle East.