Category Archives: Fiscal Policy

Oligarchy – Podcast December 7, 2025

Posted on December 13, 2025 by Gary LaMaster

The United States Of Oligarchy. Steve Williamson and Karen McClelland welcome frequent contributor Mik Jordahl to discuss oligarchy. Jordahl begins by offering a definition of oligarchy which he says means “rule by the few” in which political power is concentrated … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona Politics, Autocracy, Automation, Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Rural Economy,, Business, Campaign Finance, Capitalism, Citizens United, Class Conflict, Corporate Welfare, Corporations, Dark Money, Domestic Policy, Education, Fiscal Policy, Government, Income Inequality, inherited Wealth, Mass Media, National Politics, Oligarchy, Tax and Investment Policy, Tax Law, Tax Revenues, Taxation, Technology, Wealth Inequality | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Failures of the Democratic Party – Podcast November 16, 2025

Posted on December 1, 2025 by Gary LaMaster

Reimagining The Future Of The Democratic Party. Steve Williamson, Karen McClelland and Gary LaMaster break down what they believe are the Democratic Party’s failings that have allowed MAGA to destroy our government and put us on the path to dictatorship. … Continue reading →

Posted in Civil Rights, Class Conflict, Climate Change, Compassion, Constitutional Issues, Corporations, Corruption, Democratic Governance, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Justice, Domestic Extremism, Economic Policy, Elections, Fiscal Policy, Government, Health Care Policy, Health Insurance, Income Inequality, Inflation, Justice System, LIberals and Conservatives, National Politics, Political History, Political Parties, Political Polarization, Public Accountability, Regulation, Supreme Court, Surveillance Programs, Taxation, Tolerance | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Ruiz Interview – Podcast August 31, 2025

Posted on September 11, 2025 by Gary LaMaster

An Educational System With No Guardrails. No Accountability. Steve Williamson and Karen McClelland welcome Dr. Teresa (Terry) Leyba Ruiz, Democratic candidate for Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction. She has been an educator for 35 years in K-12 and a former … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona Politics, Community, Education, Education Funding, Education Policy, Fiscal Policy, Funding, Interviews, Political Candidacy, Privatization, Public Education, Public Policy, Race and Class | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Ruiz Interview – Podcast August 31, 2025

Consequences of Trump – Podcast August 10, 2025

Posted on August 15, 2025 by Gary LaMaster

Lasting Consequences Of The Trump Regime. Steve Williamson, Karen McClelland and Gary LaMaster examine the consequences of a president who blithely violates the Constitution, who uses tariffs (quite literally a tax on consumers) to shake down allies and other nations, … Continue reading →

Posted in Affordable Care Act, Agribusiness, Autocracy, Bigotry, Civil Liberties, Class Conflict, Climate Change, Constitutional Issues, Corporations, Corruption, Democratic Governance, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Justice, Domestic Extremism, Economic Policy, Economic Theory, Education, Education Policy, Ethics, Fiscal Policy, Foreign Affairs, Government, Health Care Policy, Human Rights, Hunger, Immigration, Inflation, International Relations, Justice System, Mass Incarceration, Mass Media, Medicaid, National Politics, National Security, Policing, Political Polarization, Propaganda, Racism, Religion, Rural Politics, Taxation, Taxes and the Deficit, Tourism, Unemployment, Voter Suppression, Women's Issues | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Consequences of Trump – Podcast August 10, 2025

Dictator’s Playbook – April 27, 2025

Posted on April 28, 2025 by Gary LaMaster

How To Destroy Democracy In Less Than A Hundred Days. Steve and Jessica Williamson along with Gary LaMaster recount the Trump regime’s first hundred days of chaos. We’ve previously established that Trump is a malignant narcissist with sociopathic tendencies. And … Continue reading →

Posted in Autocracy, Bigotry, China, Civil Liberties, Constitutional Issues, Corruption, Cultural Diversity, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Justice, Domestic Extremism, Economic Policy, Education Policy, Farm Subsidies, Fiscal Policy, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, Founding Fathers, Funding, Government, Immigration, Inflation, International Relations, Journalism, Judicial System, Mass Incarceration, National Politics, Nuclear Weapons, Political Lies, Political Polarization, Propaganda, Public Education, Public Policy, Racism, Refugees, Russia, Social Psychology, Supreme Court, Tourism, Trade Policy, U.S. Court System, Ukraine, Voter Suppression, Women's Issues | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Dictator’s Playbook – April 27, 2025

Trump Chaos – Podcast March 9, 2025

Posted on March 10, 2025 by Gary LaMaster

The Sociopath Continues His Assault On Government. The co-hosts assess the latest actions of the new Trump administration, including its destruction of government institutions and the resulting impact on the economy. In his attempts to justify a $4.5 trillion tax … Continue reading →

Posted in Agribusiness, Autocracy, China, Class Conflict, Congressional Oversight, Conservatives and Reactionaries, Constitutional Issues, Corruption, De-regulation, Deficit Reduction, Department of Justice, Department of Veterans Affairs, Domestic Extremism, Domestic Policy, Domestic Terrorism, Economic Policy, Education, Energy Policy, Environmental Issues, Federal Lands, Fiscal Policy, Foreign Policy, Government, Health Care, Human Rights, Immigration, Income Inequality, Inflation, Legal Issues, Medicaid, Medicare, Morality, National Politics, Privatization, Public Accountability, Public Education, Refugees, Regulatory Agencies, Resistance, Russia, Taxes and the Deficit, Trade Policy, U.S. Forest Service, Ukraine, Unemployment, Veterans' Issues | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Trump Chaos – Podcast March 9, 2025

The Trump Effect – Podcast March 2, 2025

Posted on March 10, 2025 by Gary LaMaster

Switching Sides. On this episode of Democratic Perspective, the co-hosts along with frequent guest Mik Jordahl discuss the Trump administration’s impact on foreign relations. In the first few weeks of Trump’s second term, we have seen Trump shutter USAID, threaten … Continue reading →

Posted in Autocracy, Bigotry, China, Congressional Oversight, Conservatives and Reactionaries, Constitutional Issues, Corruption, Cultural Change, Democratic Governance, Economic Policy, European Union, Fiscal Policy, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, Funding, Government, Homeland Security, Human Rights, Immigration, Intelligence Agencies, International Relations, International Terrorism, Israel, Middle East, Middle East Policy, National Politics, Palestinian/Israeli Conflict, Political History, Public Health Policy, Russia, Trade Policy | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The Trump Effect – Podcast March 2, 2025

Epstein Interview – Podcast January 5, 2025

Posted on January 10, 2025 by Gary LaMaster

Taking The Fight To Billionaires And Big Corporations. Steve Williamson and Karen McClelland welcome Mitzi Epstein, Arizona State Senator, computer analyst and education activist. Asked to explain the results of the 2024 election, Epstein notes that the Arizona House and … Continue reading →

Posted in Agribusiness, Arizona Politics, Big Oil, Capitalism, Corporate Welfare, Corporations, Corruption, Department of Justice, Disinformation, Domestic Policy, Economic Policy, Education, Elections, Fiscal Policy, Government, Health Insurance, Housing, Inflation, Interviews, Misinformation, National Politics, Political Parties, Presidential Elections, Regulatory Agencies, Technology | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Epstein Interview – Podcast January 5, 2025

Ploog Interview – Podcast November 24, 2024

Posted on December 5, 2024 by Gary LaMaster

Planning Sedona’s Future. Karen McClelland welcomes Holli Ploog, Sedona Vice Mayor and City Council member to discuss results of the recent election and many of the issues facing the City. Ploog says Sedona has hired a Development Consultant to help … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona Politics, Community, Democratic Governance, Development, Federal Lands, Fiscal Policy, Government, Housing, Infrastructure, Interviews, Local Politics, Public Accountability, Public Lands, Public Service | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Ploog Interview – Podcast November 24, 2024

Check Interview – Podcast March 3, 2024

Posted on March 4, 2024 by Gary LaMaster

A Promise To Listen And Be Available To County Residents. Co-hosts Steve Williamson and Karen McClelland welcome Nikki Check, District 3 candidate for the Yavapai County Board of Supervisors. She is running against incumbent Donna Michaels, a fellow Democrat. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Agricultural Policy, Arizona Politics, Community, Democratic Governance, Development, Elections, Environmental Issues, Fiscal Policy, Government, Housing, Infrastructure, Interviews, Local Politics, Oenology, Policing, Political Candidacy, Public Accountability, Public Lands, Public Policy, Public Service, Taxation, Tourism, Viticulture, Water Policy | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Check Interview – Podcast March 3, 2024