Category Archives: Government

Art Babbott Interview — Podcast February 29, 2016

The Open and Honest Coalition: Equal Representation In the Electoral Process Regardless of Party Affiliation. Democratic Perspective’s co-hosts, Mike Cosentino and Steve Williamson interview Art Babbott, Coconino County District 1 Supervisor, and supporter of the Open and Honest Coalition, about the Coalition’s sponsorship of two proposed amendments … Continue reading

Posted in Arizona Politics, Campaign Finance, Citizens United, Constitutional Issues, Dark Money, Democratic Governance, Elections, Government, Interviews, National Politics, Podcasts, Political Parties, Political Polarization | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Art Babbott Interview — Podcast February 29, 2016

The Supreme Court, Political Polarization, and the Republican Meltdown — Podcast February 15, 2016

Justice Scalia R.I.P.: On a Scale of 1-10, the Crazy Hits 11. Democratic Perspective’s Gary LaMaster and Steve Williamson put on their welding goggles and look straight into the flaming looniness of the upcoming fight over Antonin Scalia’s replacement on the Supreme … Continue reading

Posted in Citizens United, Constitutional Issues, Dark Money, Government, Judicial System, Jurisprudence, LIberals and Conservatives, Media Campaigns, National Politics, Podcasts, Political Action Committees, Political Contributions, Political Lies, Political Parties, Political Polarization, Supreme Court | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on The Supreme Court, Political Polarization, and the Republican Meltdown — Podcast February 15, 2016

Rosemary Papa Interview — Podcast February 8, 2016

The State of Education in Arizona: Ground Zero Is Not the Goal. Democratic Perspective talks to Dr. Rosemary Papa about the woeful state of public education funding in the state of Arizona. Dr. Papa currently serves as The Del and Jewel Lewis Endowed Chair in … Continue reading

Posted in Arizona Budget, Arizona Politics, Budget Negotiations, Constitutional Issues, Democratic Governance, Education, Education Policy, Government, Interviews, Local Politics, Podcasts, Public Education, Public Policy, Social Contract, Tax Revenues | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Rosemary Papa Interview — Podcast February 8, 2016

David R. Berman Interview — Podcast February 1, 2016

The Mother’s Milk of Politics, or a Threat To Our Democracy: Dark Money and Its Consequences. On today’s Democratic Perspective, Dr. David R. Berman, Professor Emeritus of Political Science at Arizona State University, and Senior Research Fellow at the Morrison Institute for Public … Continue reading

Posted in Campaign Finance, Citizens United, Class Conflict, Constitutional Issues, Corruption, Dark Money, Democratic Governance, Elections, Front Organizations, Government, Interviews, Media Campaigns, National Politics, Podcasts, Political Action Committees, Special Interest Legislation | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on David R. Berman Interview — Podcast February 1, 2016

Nikki Bagley Interview — Podcast January 25, 2016

Leadership for Arizona’s Future (And Lord Knows We Need It): Democratic Perspective’s Mike Cosentino, Gary LaMaster, and Steve Williamson, welcome Nikki Bagley, Director of the Yavapai College Viticulture and Enology Program and former mayor of Jerome, to discuss her candidacy for the Arizona … Continue reading

Posted in Agricultural Policy, Arizona Economy, Arizona Politics, Continuing Education, Democratic Governance, Education Policy, Elections, Environmental Issues, Government, Growth, Interviews, Jobs and Employment, Local Politics, Oenology, Podcasts, Public Education, Public Policy, Small Business, Unemployment, Viticulture | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Nikki Bagley Interview — Podcast January 25, 2016

The State of the Union: A Study in Contrasts — Podcast January 18, 2016

President Obama vs. the Republican Mud-Wrestlers: Who’s Actually Worthy of Our Trust? Democratic Perspective reviews the state of the nation, and of our national politics. President Obama, in his State of the Union address, asks the American people to take seriously the issues … Continue reading

Posted in Civil Rights, Climate Change, Conservative Paranoia, Conspiracy Theories, Cultural Change, Democratic Governance, Digital Revolution, Economic Policy, Education Policy, Elections, Energy Policy, Environmental Issues, Fiscal Policy, Foreign Policy, Global Warming, Government, Gun Control, Health Care, Industrial Policy, International Relations, International Terrorism, Iran, Islamic Republic, Labor Unions, LIberals and Conservatives, Mass Incarceration, Mass Shootings, Minimum Wage, National Politics, National Security, Podcasts, Policing, Political Lies, Political Polarization, Poverty, Propaganda, Public Education, Renewable Energy, Social Contract, Sustainable Development, Unemployment | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The State of the Union: A Study in Contrasts — Podcast January 18, 2016

The Failure of Ideologically-Driven Public Policies: Minnesota vs. Arizona — Podcast January 11, 2016

Red States and Blue States: Ideology vs. Service to the People. Democratic Perspective looks at why the ideological preoccupations of the Republican right have proven so disastrous for the people who live in red states. Mike Cosentino and Gary LaMaster compare unemployment, wealth distribution, health … Continue reading

Posted in Anti-Federalism, Arizona Budget, Arizona Economy, Arizona Politics, Democratic Governance, Economic Policy, Education Policy, Federal Lands, Government, Income Inequality, Jobs and Employment, Movement Conservatism, Podcasts, Political Theory, Private Prisons, Public Education, Public Lands, Public Policy, Special Interest Legislation, States' Rights, Tax Law, Taxation, Unemployment, Women's Rights | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The Failure of Ideologically-Driven Public Policies: Minnesota vs. Arizona — Podcast January 11, 2016

Who Are These Lunatics, and Why Are They Running Things? The Freedom Caucus and the Demise of the Republican Party in the House — Podcast October 19, 2015

Rage, Ignorance, and Obstructionism in the House of Representatives: If Hating the Government Is the Only Qualification a Politician Needs to Get Elected to Congress, Maybe We’re in More Trouble Than We Thought. Paul Schwartz, publisher and democratic activist, pulls up … Continue reading

Posted in Anti-Federalism, Conservatives and Reactionaries, Constitutional Issues, Democratic Governance, Economic Policy, Government, LIberals and Conservatives, Movement Conservatism, National Debt Ceiling, National Politics, Podcasts, Political Polarization, Scandal Mongering, Taxes and the Deficit, U.S. Budget | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Who Are These Lunatics, and Why Are They Running Things? The Freedom Caucus and the Demise of the Republican Party in the House — Podcast October 19, 2015

The New Gilded Age: History Doesn’t Repeat Itself, But It Does Rhyme — Podcast August 17, 2015

Oligarchs Then and Now: Democracy and the Distribution of Wealth. Democratic Perspective goes another round with the oligarchs. Mike Cosentino, Gary LaMaster, and Steve Williamson discuss what’s driving the increased concentration of wealth in the United States today, and why it poses … Continue reading

Posted in Business, Campaign Finance, Capital Accumulation, Capitalism, Citizens United, Class Conflict, Corruption, Dark Money, De-regulation, Democratic Governance, Economic Policy, Entitlements, Government, Income Inequality, Journalism, Mass Media, Minimum Wage, National Politics, Podcasts, Propaganda, Regulatory Agencies, Social Contract, Social Security, Taxation, Unemployment | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The New Gilded Age: History Doesn’t Repeat Itself, But It Does Rhyme — Podcast August 17, 2015

Oligarchy: A Greek Name for an American Tragedy in the Making — Podcast August 10, 2015

If Government By the People Is For Sale, Shouldn’t the People Be Getting a Higher Price? President Jimmy Carter said recently that the United States has become “an oligarchy, with unlimited political bribery being the essence of getting the nominations for president … Continue reading

Posted in Campaign Finance, Capital Accumulation, Citizens United, Constitutional Issues, Corruption, Dark Money, Democratic Governance, Elections, Ethics, Front Organizations, Government, Income Inequality, Media Campaigns, National Politics, Podcasts, Political Action Committees, Political Contributions, Taxation | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Oligarchy: A Greek Name for an American Tragedy in the Making — Podcast August 10, 2015