Category Archives: National Politics

The Financial Transaction Tax: a Way To Guarantee That Wall Street Pays Its Fair Share? — Podcast January 6, 2014

The Financial Transaction Tax: An Idea Whose Time Has Come, or an Unfair Burden on the Financial Services Industry? Democratic Perspective‘s Mike Cosentino is joined by John O’Donnell, investor and financial consultant, in a discussion of the Financial Transaction Tax — … Continue reading

Posted in Business, Capitalism, Class Conflict, Financial Sector, Government, National Politics, Podcasts, Tax and Investment Policy, Tax Law | Tagged , , | Comments Off on The Financial Transaction Tax: a Way To Guarantee That Wall Street Pays Its Fair Share? — Podcast January 6, 2014

Corporate Welfare — Podcast December 16, 2013

The Welfare Programs You Never Hear About: Are Government Benefits Payments Going To the Wrong People?  Democratic Perspective’s Steve Williamson, Chuck Williamson, and Bill Timberman take a look at the Federal Government’s subsidies to private industry. Why do they dwarf benefits … Continue reading

Posted in Capitalism, Class Conflict, Corporate Welfare, Corruption, Deficit Reduction, Investment Banking, Medicaid, Medicare, National Politics, Podcasts, Special Interest Legislation, Tax and Investment Policy, Welfare | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Corporate Welfare — Podcast December 16, 2013

The Affordable Care Act: On the Ground in Arizona — Podcast December 2, 2013

Obamacare: Problems, Promises and the Experience to Date. Democratic Perspective’s Mike Cosentino, and Steve Williamson are joined by Verde Valley Attorney Jim Ledbetter in a discussion of the nuts and bolts of the Affordable Care Act in Arizona — its impact on the extent … Continue reading

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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

The All-Too-Real Hunger Games.

As the result of a CBS documentary in 1968, our nation focused on reducing hunger through a variety of federal programs, including food stamps. By 1979, hunger in the US had been all but eliminated. Now it’s back with a … Continue reading

Posted in Agricultural Policy, Arizona Politics, Economic Policy, Economic Stimulus, Food Insecurity, Jobs and Employment, Minimum Wage, National Politics, Welfare | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on The All-Too-Real Hunger Games.

Hunger in America — Podcast October 28, 2013

Hunger in America and in Arizona: Who It Affects, What Causes It, and What We Should Do About It.  Following up on our last program on poverty, Democratic Perspective’s Steve Williamson and Gary LaMaster discuss the statistics which reveal the shocking number … Continue reading

Posted in Agribusiness, Agricultural Policy, Capitalism, Economic Policy, Food Insecurity, Hunger, Income Inequality, Jobs and Employment, Minimum Wage, National Politics, Podcasts, Social Contract, Unemployment, Welfare | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Hunger in America — Podcast October 28, 2013

Obamacare and the Republican Assault on Government — Podcast September 30, 2013

Sequestration, Government Shutdown, and the Debt Ceiling Impasse: The Republicans’ Last Stand? With the federal government on the eve of shutdown, Democratic Perspective’s Mike Cosentino, Steve Williamson, and Bill Timberman discuss the origins, evolution, and consequences of Republican Tea Party radicalism as revealed … Continue reading

Posted in Affordable Care Act, Anti-Federalism, Budget Negotiations, Constitutional Issues, Deficit Reduction, Economic Policy, Health Care, Medicaid, Medicare, National Politics, Nullification, Podcasts | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Obamacare and the Republican Assault on Government — Podcast September 30, 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.

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

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