Category Archives: Government

Turning Prisoners Into Profits.

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.

Sasha Abramsky Interview — Podcast November 25, 2013

Throwing Away the Key: Mass Incarceration As a Substitute for Effective Social Policy. Author and journalist Sasha Abramsky returns to Democratic Perspective to discuss his research on the Prison Industrial Complex. How the justice system in the United States has become a one-way … Continue reading

Posted in Corrections Policy, Criminology, Drug Trafficking, Education, Education Policy, Government, Gun Control, Income Inequality, Interviews, Law Enforcement, Legal Issues, Mass Shootings, National Politics, Penology, Podcasts, Privatization, Unemployment | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Sasha Abramsky Interview — Podcast November 25, 2013

Benghazi: A Year of Propaganda, Lies, and Media Incompetence — Podcast November 11, 2013

Benghazi: Why It’s Still a Story, and Why We Still Can’t Get It Right.  Democratic Perspective’s Steve Williamson, Mike Cosentino, and Gary LaMaster discuss the September 11, 2012 attack on the American Diplomatic Mission in Benghazi, Libya, and its lingering effects … Continue reading

Posted in Conspiracy Theories, Disinformation, Foreign Affairs, Government, Intelligence Agencies, Journalism, Mass Media, Middle East, Military, National Politics, National Security, Podcasts, Political Lies, Propaganda | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Benghazi: A Year of Propaganda, Lies, and Media Incompetence — Podcast November 11, 2013

Old Town Renaissance: Cooperative Development in Cottonwood, Arizona — Podcast October 14, 2013

Imagination, Hard Work, and a Little TLC From Local Government: How One Town in Arizona Turned Itself Around. Democratic Perspective’s Mike Cosentino and Steve Williamson interview some of the business and government leaders responsible for the remarkably successful re-development of Old Town … Continue reading

Posted in Business, Civic Renewal, Cultural Change, Entrepreneurship, Government, Interviews, Local Politics, Podcasts, Small Business | Tagged , | Comments Off on Old Town Renaissance: Cooperative Development in Cottonwood, Arizona — Podcast October 14, 2013

Pride And Prejudice In The Verde Valley.

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.

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.

Arizona LD6: Are Republicans Really Getting What They Voted For? — Podcast August 19, 2013

Conservative Extremism in Arizona’s Legislative District 6: Democratic Perspective’s Mike Cosentino, Gary LaMaster and Steve Williamson examine the legislative records and public statements of the Republican state legislators representing LD6: State Senator Chester Crandell, and State Representatives Brenda Barton and Bob Thorpe. … Continue reading

Posted in Anti-Federalism, Arizona Law Enforcement, Bigotry, Conservative Paranoia, Conservatives and Reactionaries, Conspiracy Theories, Constitutional Issues, Firearms Legislation, Founding Fathers, Government, Nullification, Podcasts, Political Gaffes, Political Lies | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Arizona LD6: Are Republicans Really Getting What They Voted For? — Podcast August 19, 2013

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

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.

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.

Immigration Nation.

On July 22, 2013, Democratic Perspective took on the politically-charged subject of immigration policy and Senate Bill 744, the Immigration Reform Bill that recently passed the US Senate. It seems almost everybody has an opinion about immigration. But many lack … Continue reading

Posted in Arizona Politics, Department of Homeland Security, Drug Trafficking, Government, Immigration, Law Enforcement, Legal Issues, National Politics, National Security | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Immigration Nation.