Category Archives: Political Theory

Podcast – November 18, 2019

Posted on November 18, 2019 by Gary LaMaster

The Case For Ranked Choice Voting. New York recently adopted a system to replace the traditional plurality-based system. In the plurality system, the candidate with the most votes wins even if the winning candidate has received less than half the … Continue reading →

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Podcast – October 21, 2019

Posted on October 22, 2019 by Gary LaMaster

Voting, Presidential Politics And Impeachment: A Conversation. Democratic Perspective co-hosts Steve Williamson and Mike Cosentino, along with regular contributors Klaus von Stutterheim and Gary LaMaster, discuss Democratic presidential candidates and the issues of the day. https://verdevalleyindependentdemocrats.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Dem-Perspective-10-21-19.mp3Podcast: Play in new window … Continue reading →

Posted in Congressional Oversight, Constitutional Issues, Domestic Policy, Elections, Government, International Relations, National Politics, Political Candidacy, Political Parties, Political Theory, Presidential Elections, Social Democracy | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Podcast – October 21, 2019

Erik Olin Wright Interview Revisited – Podcast January 28, 2019

Posted on January 29, 2019 by Gary LaMaster

One Of The Great Thinkers Of Our Time, RIP. Steve Williamson and Klaus von Stutterheim introduce a show with Erik Olin Wright that was broadcast more than five-and-a-half years ago. Wright, who recently died of cancer, was a professor of … Continue reading →

Posted in Capitalism, Economic Policy, Economic Theory, Government, Income Inequality, Innovation, Interviews, Political Theory, Religion, Social Democracy, Socialism | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Erik Olin Wright Interview Revisited – Podcast January 28, 2019

Jeff Biggers Interview – Podcast July 2, 2018

Posted on July 3, 2018 by Gary LaMaster

Resistance, Reclaiming an American Tradition. That’s the title of a new book written by this week’s guest. Jeff Biggers is an author, journalist, historian and playwright. During a conversation with Democratic Perspective co-hosts, Steve Williamson and Mike Cosentino, he explains … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona History, Arizona Politics, Civic Renewal, Civil Liberties, Community Activism, Education, Elections, Environmental Issues, Founding Fathers, Government, Human Rights, Immigration, Interviews, Local Politics, National Politics, Political History, Political Theory, Public Education | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Jeff Biggers Interview – Podcast July 2, 2018

Samantha Parsons and Matt Garcia Interview – Podcast April 23, 2018

Posted on April 24, 2018 by Gary LaMaster

Fighting For Academic Freedom Against The Koch Brothers’ Billions. Democratic Perspective host Steve Williamson welcomes Samantha Parsons, co-founder of Un-Koch My Campus, and Dartmouth Professor Matt Garcia, author of A World of its Own: Race, Water and Citrus In The … Continue reading →

Posted in Dark Money, Education, Education Funding, Education Policy, Front Organizations, Interviews, LIberals and Conservatives, Movement Conservatism, Political Contributions, Political Polarization, Political Theory, Privatization, Public Education | Tagged , | Comments Off on Samantha Parsons and Matt Garcia Interview – Podcast April 23, 2018

Nancy MacLean Interview — Podcast October 23, 2017

Posted on October 25, 2017 by William Timberman

The Leninist Libertarian: James McGill Buchanan and the Subversion of Representative Democracy.  Nancy MacLean, William H. Chafe Professor of History and Public Policy at Duke University, talks with Democratic Perspective’s Mike Cosentino and Steve Williamson about the origin and methodology of her new … Continue reading →

Posted in Bigotry, Capitalism, Citizens United, Civil Society, Class Conflict, Climate Change, Conservatives and Reactionaries, Corruption, Dark Money, Democratic Governance, Demographic Trends, Disinformation, Domestic Extremism, Elections, Entitlements, Ethics, Federal Lands, Health Insurance, Income Inequality, inherited Wealth, Interviews, National Politics, Podcasts, Political History, Political Lies, Political Parties, Political Polarization, Political Theory, Privatization, Propaganda, Public Accountability, Race and Class, Regulatory Agencies, Social Contract, Taxation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Nancy MacLean Interview — Podcast October 23, 2017

Is There a “New” New Left Emerging? — Podcast August 7, 2017

Posted on August 8, 2017 by William Timberman

They’re Baaack! Why Socialism Is Again a Topic of Serious Discussion Among the Young. Host Steve Williamson and Bill Timberman, Democratic Perspective’s webmaster, discuss what appears to be a growing reluctance on the part of young people to accept at face value the … Continue reading →

Posted in Capitalism, Civil Rights, Class Conflict, Democratic Governance, Economic Theory, European Union, Global Warming, Human Rights, Hunger, Income Inequality, Labor Movement, Labor Unions, National Politics, Podcasts, Political History, Political Theory, Public Policy, Social Democracy, Socialism | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Is There a “New” New Left Emerging? — Podcast August 7, 2017

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

Posted on January 13, 2016 by William Timberman

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

The Republican Presidential Candidates, All 17 of Them: Podcast August 3, 2015

Posted on August 5, 2015 by William Timberman

The Greatest Clown Show On Earth: The Republican Presidential Lineup for 2016. Democratic Perspective takes a long, flabbergasted look at the list of seventeen Republican presidential hopefuls for 2016. Should we laugh, cry, or, like Madame Defarge, go quietly back to our knitting? We … Continue reading →

Posted in Campaign Finance, Citizens United, Conservatives and Reactionaries, Dark Money, Democratic Governance, Elections, Foreign Policy, International Relations, Mass Media, Movement Conservatism, National Politics, Podcasts, Political Action Committees, Political Contributions, Political Theory, Polling, Propaganda, Racism | Tagged , | Comments Off on The Republican Presidential Candidates, All 17 of Them: Podcast August 3, 2015

Capital In the Twenty-First Century — Podcast May 5, 2014

Posted on May 7, 2014 by William Timberman

Capital In the Twenty-First Century: A French Economist With a Lesson For Americans: Democratic Perspective’s Mike Cosentino, Gary LaMaster, and Steve Williamson take a look at Thomas Piketty’s new best-seller Capital in the Twenty-First Century. What they find is sobering: unless we make … Continue reading →

Posted in Capital Accumulation, Capitalism, Class Conflict, Cultural Change, Democratic Governance, Economic Policy, Economic Theory, Growth, Immigration, Income Inequality, inherited Wealth, National Politics, Podcasts, Political Theory, Social Contract, Taxation | Tagged , | Comments Off on Capital In the Twenty-First Century — Podcast May 5, 2014