Category Archives: National Politics

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

Posted on June 19, 2013 by William Timberman

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.

Posted on June 18, 2013 by Gary LaMaster

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?

Posted on May 18, 2013 by Gary LaMaster

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 →

Posted in Arizona Politics, Conservative Paranoia, Democratic Governance, Government, National Politics, Regulatory Agencies, Tax and Investment Policy | Tagged , | Comments Off on Is Our Government Really The Enemy?

Plain Talk about Taxes — Podcast May 13, 2013

Posted on May 14, 2013 by William Timberman

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.

Posted on May 10, 2013 by Gary LaMaster

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 →

Posted in Arizona Politics, Conservative Paranoia, Conspiracy Theories, Foreign Affairs, Founding Fathers, Government, International Relations, National Politics, Scandal Mongering | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Agenda 21: A Look Under The Tinfoil Hats.

Plain Talk about Government — Podcast May 6, 2013

Posted on May 7, 2013 by William Timberman

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

Posted on May 2, 2013 by William Timberman

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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U.S. Defense Spending, Part II — Podcast April 15, 2013

Posted on April 16, 2013 by William Timberman

The Downside of Defense Spending: Gary LaMaster joins Mike Cosentino, Bill Timberman, and Steve Williamson as Democratic Perspective continues its discussion of  oversized U.S. defense budgets and their unintended consequences. https://verdevalleyindependentdemocrats.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/DemPerspective-04-15-13.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS

Posted in Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, Government, Homeland Security, Military Policy, National Politics, Podcasts, U.S. Armed Forces, U.S. Budget, Veterans' Issues | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on U.S. Defense Spending, Part II — Podcast April 15, 2013

U.S. Defense Spending: Cost/Benefit Analysis.

Posted on April 14, 2013 by Gary LaMaster

April 8, 2013, Democratic Perspective’s own Bill Timberman presented a thorough cost/benefit analysis of U.S. military spending. Following are his notes for the program: 68 years ago, the U.S. stood alone in the wreckage of World War II as the … Continue reading →

Posted in Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, Government, Military, Military Policy, National Politics, U.S. Armed Forces, U.S. Budget, Veterans' Issues | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on U.S. Defense Spending: Cost/Benefit Analysis.

U.S. Defense Spending: Are We Getting What We’ve Paid For? — Podcast April 8, 2012

Posted on April 10, 2013 by William Timberman

U.S. Defense Spending: Are We Getting What We’ve Paid For? Democratic Perspective editor Bill Timberman joins co-hosts Mike Cosentino and Steve Williamson to discuss the $711 billion dollar U.S. defense budget, our 1,000-plus overseas military bases, and the distortions our increasing reliance … Continue reading →

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