Category Archives: National Politics

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

2015: Democratic Perspective’s Year in Review — Podcast January 4, 2015

The More Things Change, the More They Stay the Same: Democratic Perspective’s 2015 in Review. Democratic Perspective looks back at the state of the nation in 2015, and isn’t exactly thrilled with what the record of events reveals. The prospects for 2016 don’t look a whole lot … Continue reading

Posted in Anti-Federalism, Arizona Politics, Bigotry, Capital Accumulation, Capitalism, Civil Rights, Class Conflict, Climate Change, Constitutional Issues, Corruption, Democratic Governance, Digital Revolution, Domestic Extremism, Domestic Terrorism, Economic Policy, Elections, Energy Policy, Environmental Issues, European Union, Eurozone, Federal Lands, Foreign Policy, Global Warming, Gun Control, Immigration, Income Inequality, inherited Wealth, International Terrorism, Middle East Policy, National Politics, National Security, Podcasts, Public Lands, Racism, Technology, Unemployment | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on 2015: Democratic Perspective’s Year in Review — Podcast January 4, 2015

Roger Clark Interview — Podcast December 21, 2015

Preserving the Grand Canyon and Its Watershed: a Textbook Example of the Continuing Struggle Between Public and Private Interests Over the Future of Federally Protected Lands. Roger Clark, Grand Canyon Program Director of the Grand Canyon Trust, joins Democratic Perspective’s Mike Cosentino, Gary LaMaster, … Continue reading

Posted in Environmental Issues, Federal Lands, Interviews, National Politics, Podcasts, Public Lands, Public Policy | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Roger Clark Interview — Podcast December 21, 2015

Sheila Healy Interview — Podcast November 23, 2015

The Arizona Democratic Party: the Battle for the Nation’s Future. Democratic Perspective interviews Sheila Healy, new Executive Director of the Arizona Democratic Party, about the party organization in Arizona, the crucial issues facing the state and the nation, and the upcoming 2016 elections. https://verdevalleyindependentdemocrats.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/DemPerspective-11-23-15.mp3Podcast: Play … Continue reading

Posted in Arizona Politics, Elections, Interviews, National Politics, Podcasts, Political Action Committees, Political Parties, Political Polarization | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Sheila Healy Interview — Podcast November 23, 2015

Benghazi, Benghazi, Benghazi: Was There Ever Really Any There There? — Podcast October 26th, 2015

Eight Investigations, Fifty-Plus Meetings, and More Than Fourteen Million Dollars Later, What Do We Know? Democratic Perspective’s Mike Cosentino, Gary LaMaster, and Steve Williamson report on the outcome of the Benghazi frenzy in Congress. Was there ever any point to it other than to … Continue reading

Posted in Conspiracy Theories, Corruption, Democratic Governance, Disinformation, Elections, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, Intelligence Agencies, International Terrorism, Middle East, Middle East Policy, National Politics, Podcasts, Political Polarization | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Benghazi, Benghazi, Benghazi: Was There Ever Really Any There There? — Podcast October 26th, 2015

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

Politics and the Environment: a Review — Podcast October 5, 2015

Are We There Yet? Opinions May Be Changing, But Meaningful Action Seems As Far Away As Ever, Democratic Perspective’s Mike Cosentino and Gary LaMaster look at the politics of planetary stewardship. Can the gridlock of conflicting interests be broken in time to save what’s left … Continue reading

Posted in Climate Change, Cultural Change, Democratic Governance, Energy Policy, Environment, Environmental Issues, Environmentalism, Global Warming, National Politics, Podcasts | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Politics and the Environment: a Review — Podcast October 5, 2015

Labor Day: The Diminished Remnant of a Proud History of Struggle — Podcast September 7, 2015

Paid For In Blood: the Forgotten History of the Labor Movement in The U.S. Democratic Perspective looks at the history of our second Civil War — the struggle of the American Labor Movement for decent wages, working conditions, and the political influence crucial … Continue reading

Posted in American Jobs Act, Class Conflict, Income Inequality, Jobs and Employment, Labor Movement, Labor Unions, Minimum Wage, National Politics, Podcasts, Poverty, Unemployment | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Labor Day: The Diminished Remnant of a Proud History of Struggle — Podcast September 7, 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