Category Archives: National Politics

Darrell Issa’s Phony Scandal du Jour — Podcast July 1, 2013

IRS Targeting of Conservative 501(c)4 Groups: Much Ado About Very Little. Gary LaMaster joins Democratic Perspective co-hosts Mike Cosentino and Steve Williamson with the lowdown on Darrell Issa and the Republican Party’s latest phony scandal. Was the IRS really targeting only Republican Super PACs? … Continue reading

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The Surveillance State: Who’s Got Our Data, and What Are They Doing With It? — Podcast June 24, 2013

The Questions We Should Be Asking about Telecommunications Data Mining by Government and  Business: In the wake of Edward Snowden’s recent revelations, Democratic Perspective‘s Mike Cosentino, Chuck Williamson, and Steve Williamson discuss some of the broader implications of data mining operations by … Continue reading

Posted in Constitutional Issues, Domestic Terrorism, Foreign Affairs, Government, Legal Issues, Mass Media, National Politics, National Security, Podcasts, Surveillance Programs | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on The Surveillance State: Who’s Got Our Data, and What Are They Doing With It? — Podcast June 24, 2013

More Questions About Edward Snowden And The NSA.

Now that NSA (National Security Agency) snitch, Edward Snowden, is on the run from Hawaii to Hong Kong to Moscow and parts yet to be determined, his actions have raised even more questions. Democratic Perspective addressed many of these on … Continue reading

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Surveillance, National Security, and Civil Liberties: What We Know and Don’t Know — Podcast June 17, 2013

What Do We Really Know About Government Surveillance Programs? Democratic Perspective co-hosts Mike Cosentino and Steve Williamson are joined by Bill Timberman to review the significance of Edward Snowden’s recent revelations about the NSA’s surveillance programs. What do we really know about … Continue reading

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Real Utopias. Real Democracy.

On June 10, 2013, Democratic Perspective hosted University of Wisconsin Sociology Professor, Erik Olin Wright about his book, Envisioning Real Utopias. Asked to define the term “utopia” Wright said, “It’s meant to be a provocative oxymoron. The Greek roots mean … Continue reading

Posted in Capitalism, Democratic Governance, Economic Policy, Economic Theory, Government, Interviews, Jobs and Employment, National Politics, Political Theory, Tax and Investment Policy | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Real Utopias. Real Democracy.

Is Our Government Really The Enemy?

The Tea Party would like you to think so, but ordinary citizens would be at the mercy of corporations and other economic forces without it. On successive weeks, Democratic Perspective examined the benefits of government in our lives and what … Continue reading

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Plain Talk about Taxes — Podcast May 13, 2013

Taxes: The Price We Pay for a Civilized Society. Democratic Perspective’s Mike Cosentino, Steve Williamson, and Bill Timberman discuss the Right’s vilification of government and the taxes which support it. Who benefits — and who suffers — when government is deprived … Continue reading

Posted in Democratic Governance, Entitlements, Government, Health Care, Income Inequality, Medicare, Military, National Politics, Podcasts, Privatization, Regulatory Agencies, Special Interest Legislation, Tax and Investment Policy, U.S. Budget | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Plain Talk about Taxes — Podcast May 13, 2013

Agenda 21: A Look Under The Tinfoil Hats.

Over the past 40 years, the right wing has created a variety of conspiracy theories as proof that the federal government is out to get you. Many in the Tea Party believe that the Freemasons, beginning with our Founding Fathers, … Continue reading

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Plain Talk about Government — Podcast May 6, 2013

What Government Is Good for: More Than the Government-Bashers Would Have You Believe. Sedona City Councilor Jessica Williamson and Democratic Perspective editor Gary LaMaster join co-hosts Mike Cosentino and Steve Williamson for a discussion of the benefits of government. Right-wing Republicans never miss an … Continue reading

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Agenda 21: U.N. Conspiracy, or Conservative Paranoia? — Podcast April 29, 2013

Agenda 21 and the Right-Wing Tinfoil Hat Brigade: Angela LeFevre and Gary LaMaster join Democratic Perspective co-hosts Mike Cosentino and Steve Williamson to discuss Agenda 21, a report with recommendations on sustainable development from the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment & Development in Rio … Continue reading

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