Lenze Interview – Podcast March 14, 2022

Posted on March 15, 2022 by Gary LaMaster

Assessing Putin’s War. Steve Williamson welcomes Paul Lenze, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Politics & International Affairs at Northern Arizona University, to discuss Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Asked about the news coverage of the invasion, Lenze responds, “They’ve done a good job of showing what is happening in various cities. But it’s a war zone, so there are a lot of areas where they cannot go, and so I think there’s a lot that we’re not seeing in western news coverage. But, he says, “it’s more than is being shown in Russia,” noting that Putin’s government is blocking a lot of what’s happening and using propaganda to try to win over Russian support for his efforts. “But right now, it seems that the Russian people are not supporting him. There are thousands that are going out into the streets protesting what Putin has done,” says Lenze. But he adds, “they just announced that if you speak out against the war and what the Russian military is doing, that you could face 15 years in jail.”

Lenze says he would not have predicted the Russian invasion. But he believes that the limited response by numerous American presidents over the last twelve years led Putin to say, “Hmm…let’s see how far I can escalate this.”

Nevertheless, Lenze thinks it was a miscalculation on Putin’s part. “I don’t think Russia will win at all because the United States has led the coalition of NATO forces to supply military aid to the Ukrainian government. There are reports coming out of Ukraine that the Russian troops are demoralized. Many are trying to flee.” Lenze also believes the economic sanctions could have a huge influence. And even though Russia has $630 billion in reserves, they can’t spend that money because the West is going to make it difficult to spend the money in the global market.

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Posted in Afghanistan, Civil Liberties, Democratic Governance, European Union, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, Human Rights, Immigration, International Relations, International Terrorism, Interviews, Mass Migration, Middle East, Military, Military Policy, Nuclear Weapons, Political History, Refugees, U.S. Armed Forces | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Lenze Interview – Podcast March 14, 2022

Fultz, Furman, Thompson Interview – Podcast March 7, 2022

Posted on March 7, 2022 by Gary LaMaster

Identifying And Addressing The Issues Facing Sedona. Steve Williamson welcomes three candidates for Sedona City Council: Brian Fultz, Pete Furman, and incumbent John (JT) Thompson. Steve leads the candidates in a wide-ranging discussion that addresses many of the most important issues facing the city. All three offer their takes on the need for workforce housing, traffic, off-road vehicles, short-term rentals, water supply, fire risks, the area’s fragile environment, and more – almost all of the issues created by the city’s status as one of the world’s premier tourist destinations.

The candidates agree that there is little the city can do, or would want to do, to curtail tourism. As Furman says, “Sedona will always have people coming. Every photo ever taken of Sedona is an advertisement for people to come to Sedona.”

Indeed, Thompson explains, “It’s in our official statement of our vision for the community that we’re welcoming to visitors and future residents alike.” But, he says, “There are always lots of things we can do to manage it.”

Fultz notes that, with 3.4 million visitors annually, Sedona would rank as the eighth-busiest national park. He suggests that the city could look at the type of access programs that the national parks have put in place. “I think there’s a misnomer that, in the desert, you can’t really cause any damage. But this is a sensitive, ecological environment.” He says that Sedona needs to educate tourists and continue to ramp up messaging as part of its sustainable tourism plan.

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Posted in Arizona Politics, Climate Change, Community, Development, Elections, Environment, Government, Growth, Health Care, Housing, Infrastructure, Interviews, Local Politics, Political Candidacy, Public Lands, Public Private Collaboration, Public Service, Small Business, Sustainable Development, Tourism, U.S. Forest Service, Water Policy | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Fultz, Furman, Thompson Interview – Podcast March 7, 2022

Reimer, Castagno, Ononuju Interview – Podcast February 28, 2022

Posted on March 1, 2022 by Gary LaMaster

Critical Race Theory According To The People Who Teach It. Steve Williamson and Sedona City Councilor Holli Ploog welcome Dr. Francis Reimer, Prof. Angelina Elizabeth Castagno, and Dr. Ijeoma Ononuju, all of Northern Arizona University to discuss the now controversial topic of Critical Race Theory (CRT).

For those unfamiliar with CRT, Ploog notes that it emerged from a book published in 1973. To be clear, it has never been taught in K-12 schools. It is only taught in law schools and in graduate level education. But, as Reimer points out, “It’s a very loud manufactured concern that has gained traction. But just because it’s manufactured, doesn’t mean it’s not a concern,” she warns. “We have to remember that it has stirred up a lot of parents.”

That is only because a rightwing activist searching for a political wedge issue used it to get the attention of a Fox News host and, eventually, the former president. “It’s all, I think we can argue, part of a campaign to erode the public schools,” says Reimer.

Castagno notes that it is one of multiple explanations for why inequality exists. “Critical Race Theory says that racism is everywhere. And that makes people uncomfortable. When we’re faced with a set of ideas that say, maybe your success is not just because of your hard work, maybe it’s also because laws, policies, systems have also made the starting line not even. That makes us uncomfortable. Because then I start to think maybe it was not just my hard work.”

Ononuju cuts to the heart of the controversy. “It’s the same thing we saw in Tucson ten years ago. Right? We don’t want our minority students to learn more about themselves and their relationship that is not in line with the Disney everything-is-rosy-and-beautiful understanding of our relationship with America. And that’s where a lot of this sentiment is coming from.”

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Posted in Bigotry, Civil Rights, Civil Society, Community, Conservative Paranoia, Conspiracy Theories, Continuing Education, Cultural Change, Cultural Diversity, Disinformation, Education, Education Policy, Ethics, Genocide, Human Rights, Interviews, National Politics, Political History, Political Lies, Political Theory, Public Education, Race and Class, Racial Discrimination, Racism, Slavery | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Reimer, Castagno, Ononuju Interview – Podcast February 28, 2022

Kinsella Interview – Podcast February 21, 2022

Posted on February 21, 2022 by Gary LaMaster

On Becoming A Candidate For Public Office. Steve Williamson and Karen McClelland welcome Sedona City Councilor Kathy Kinsella to discuss how to become a candidate for public office and run a successful campaign. Before moving to Arizona, Kinsella was elected to five two-year terms as highway superintendent in Reinbeck, New York. And, since arriving in Sedona, she served on the Planning and Zoning Commission before running for City Council.

Kinsella says the biggest obstacle in running for office is the decision-making process: Which office do I want to run for? What qualifies me to run? What skills are needed? What can I bring to the office? How much time will it require? She recommends that you make a list and really find your fit. “There should be a dating app – I want to run for office. Here’s my profile,” she wryly suggests.

As for the frustrations of serving in a public office, she lists misinformation as the biggest one. “For all the people who are out there posting on Facebook or Next Door or have lots of opinions, well, opinions are great. But you need to sort of step up and put your money where your mouth is and run for office because that’s where decisions are made.”

Perhaps one of Kinsella’s best bits of advice is to remember the distinction between running a political campaign and serving in office. “Campaigns are competitive,” she says. “Governing should not be.”

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Babaa, Jordahl Interview – Podcast February 14, 2022

Posted on February 15, 2022 by Gary LaMaster

GOP Assault On Free Speech. “You must pledge allegiance to Israel and to the corporations for which we stand.” That’s the message given to state contractors by Republican legislatures in the more than 30 states that have passed draconian laws in reaction to the BDS (Boycott, Divest, and Sanction) movement, a movement designed to pressure Israel into ending human rights violations against Palestinians.

To discuss the issue, Steve Williamson and Karen McClelland welcome Mik Jordahl and Suhad Babaa. Jordahl is an attorney who has pursued lawsuits against states that have passed such laws. Babaa is the executive director of Just Vision and the producer of Boycott, a 2021 documentary film that chronicles the experiences of people who have refused to sign away their rights.

“We are in the midst of one of the most consequential First Amendment battles this country has seen in decades,” says Babaa in explaining what led her to create the film. “When we saw that there were laws being passed in states across the United States that were aiming to suppress the ability of Americans to express their political dissatisfaction with Israeli policies toward Palestinians, and that Americans like Mik were being asked to sign a pledge that they would not engage in boycotts of Israel if they wanted to maintain public contracts with their state, we knew it was a really important story to follow.”

Jordahl expresses his attitude toward the laws this way: “They’re talking about my own money. If I want to boycott Walmart or Chicken McNuggets that’s up to me. But I am sure as hell not going to give away my constitutional rights to a foreign government.”

According to Babaa, Republicans are using similar laws to prevent Americans from expressing their views against other entities. “This isn’t just about Israel/Palestine. In recent months, in the last year in particular, several states including Texas, Oklahoma, West Virginia, Indiana and beyond, have introduced or passed bills that punish companies for boycotting the fossil fuels industry as well as the weapons and ammunitions industries. You’ve already seen these bills pass in Texas and they went into effect, actually, on September 1 of 2021 in Texas,” she warns.

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Posted in Bigotry, Business, Civil Liberties, Civil Rights, Constitutional Issues, Domestic Extremism, Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, International Relations, Interviews, Justice System, Legal Issues, Middle East, Middle East Policy, Palestinian/Israeli Conflict, Political Polarization, Religion | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Babaa, Jordahl Interview – Podcast February 14, 2022

Singal Interview – Podcast January 31, 2022

Posted on January 31, 2022 by Gary LaMaster

Making Sense Of Presidential Elections. Steve and Karen welcome back author and historian, Dan Singal, to discuss Critical Election Theory. If you are unfamiliar with the theory, it holds that, approximately every 36 years, a political realignment occurs in which the prevailing party loses power and is replaced with a new political coalition based on changes in ideology, issues, leadership or demographics. These realignments result in what political scientists call Critical Elections.

Singal explains that the theory applies only to presidential elections and has held true since the election of Thomas Jefferson in 1800. Within each cycle of 36 years, the dominant party will typically win seven times and the other party will win twice. “It’s incredibly regular,” says Singal. “There are so few exceptions to this in our history, it’s astounding.”

He notes that the election of 1968 was a perfect example of a Critical Election. The Vietnam War and the passing of Civil Rights legislation in Congress led to the movement of large blocks of voters, especially in the South where southern Democrats switched affiliations to the Republican Party. Similarly, another Critical Election occurred in 2008 when Obama was able to put together a coalition consisting largely of white liberals, black voters, and suburban women.

When asked how the theory applies to today, Singal responds, “My best guess is that we are in a Democratic era that was ushered in by Obama during the Great Recession of 2008. And, as a result, Democrats are going to win the presidency for the next 20 years.” But he reminds us, if the theory holds true, we’ll get two more Republican presidents within that same time period.

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Help Keep Us On The Air.

Posted on January 30, 2022 by Gary LaMaster

We began this show 10 years ago to counter the many falsehoods circulated by rightwing media. By interviewing experts on a wide range of topics, including civil rights, community affairs, economics, history, justice and, yes, politics, our goal is to provide factual information and to generate discussion. But though the hosts and guests are unpaid, and the podcasts are free to listeners, we must pay for the airtime on AM radio. Therefore, we rely on donations to make the show possible.

If you have enjoyed any of our shows and podcasts, please consider clicking on the donate button to the right of the screen to give whatever you can. Any amount will help. Thank you! We appreciate your support!

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Singal Interview – Podcast January 24, 2022

Posted on January 24, 2022 by Gary LaMaster

The History Of Trump’s Paranoid Style Of Politics. Friend of the show, author Dan Singal, joins Steve Williamson and Karen McClelland to discuss the rural/urban divide and how Trumpism came about. He explains the phenomenon by referencing Richard Hofstadter, perhaps America’s greatest historian.

Singal explains that Hofstadter found that this form of populism is a fairly unique to the United States – “This notion that you see in rural America, people in small towns mostly, imagining that there is some grand conspiracy afoot that is out there trying to destroy them. And that they, in turn, must destroy it.”

He notes that Hofstadter traces it back to the 1840s when there was an enormous uproar over Catholic immigrants arriving in the country. And that it has resurfaced numerous times: In the 1890s over something called the Gold Trust, in the 1920s with fundamentalist religion and the Ku Klux Klan, in the fifties with McCarthyism, and in the sixties with the Goldwater movement.

Singal then quotes Hofstadter who described the phenomenon this way: “The Goldwater movement is a revolt against the whole modern condition as the old-fashioned American sees it. Against the world of organization and bureaucracy, the welfare state, our urban disorders, secularism, and the emergence of unwelcome international burdens. Their basic feeling is a hatred of what America has become. And a fierce and uncompromising insistence that it be made into what they think it once was.” Hofstadter also noted: “The word conservatism is precious to them because it conceals the wild utopianism that emerges out of their nostalgia. When in all our history has anyone with ideas so bizarre, so archaic, so self-confounding, so remote from the basic America consensus ever gone so far?”

Is that not Make America Great Again?

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Posted in Anti-Federalism, Arizona History, Arizona Politics, Bigotry, Class Conflict, Conservative Paranoia, Conservatives and Reactionaries, Conspiracy Theories, Constitutional Issues, Cultural Change, Domestic Extremism, Economic Policy, Immigration, Interviews, LIberals and Conservatives, Movement Conservatism, National Politics, Political History, Political Polarization, Race and Class, Refugees, Religion | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Singal Interview – Podcast January 24, 2022

Gordon Interview – Podcast January 17, 2022

Posted on January 17, 2022 by Gary LaMaster

The Importance Of Enacting Voting Rights Legislation. On Martin Luther King Day, Democratic Perspective welcomes Mark Robert Gordon to discuss the ongoing struggle for equal access to voting. Gordon is an attorney who specializes in election law and represents Arizona as an elected member of the Democratic National Committee (DNC).

Gordon begins by noting that the issue of equal access to voting rights didn’t end in the Sixties. “We’re still fighting for these things we thought were the goals we accomplished of making us a more perfect union…and now here we are again. Fighting the same battles.” Asked why anyone would fight against voting rights, he responds, “They’re seeking power.”  He says it’s more important to them than our ideals.

As to why Senator Sinema would not vote to change the filibuster in order to pass voting rights legislation, Gordon says, “Our senior senator’s viewpoint is she believes the filibuster is important as a tool because one day we will be in the minority in the Senate. And there are things that we will need to be able to have our stance against.” But Gordon believes there’s a growing dissatisfaction with the ways of old, saying “…the idea of supporting something that stalls democracy and stalls progress is anathema. It’s a blockage to what we believe should be happening. And that’s why we’re getting pushback within our own Party.”

He notes that there have been carveouts of the filibuster that have been made for different purposes by the Republicans. “There should be one thing that both parties unite about,” he says. “And that’s making sure that the system is sound. And to make sure the electoral system and the confidence of the American people in that system is sound. We’ve got to enact some of this voting rights legislation.”

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Posted in Arizona Politics, Budget Negotiations, Civil Rights, Constitutional Issues, Democratic Governance, Disinformation, Domestic Policy, Elections, Fiscal Policy, Government, Infrastructure, Infrastructure Investment, Interviews, LIberals and Conservatives, Mass Media, National Politics, Pandemic, Political Candidacy, Political Contributions, Political Lies, Political Parties, Political Polarization, Poverty, Presidential Elections, Public Policy, Racial Discrimination, Voter Suppression, Voting | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Gordon Interview – Podcast January 17, 2022

Hodge Interview – Podcast January 10, 2022

Posted on January 10, 2022 by Gary LaMaster

An Enthusiastic Voice For Change.

Karen McClelland and Steve Williamson welcome Jevin Hodge, former vice-chair of the AZ Democratic Party and candidate for the congressional seat currently held by the ethically challenged Rep. David Schweikert. He says, “When elected, I will be Arizona’s first African American congressman and the second youngest at 28.”

Asked about his opponent, Hodge notes that Schweikert has 11 ethical violations that he admitted to. “He has taken money from us and put it in his own pocket,” says Hodge. “He is someone who doesn’t look out for anyone but himself.”

Nevertheless, rather than dwell on the negatives of his opponent, Hodge would much prefer to focus on the positive, saying, “We’re not running against David Schweigert. We’re running for the people of Arizona,” adding that negatives don’t get you votes. To that point, he wants to talk about things like the Child Tax Credit, which was passed by the Democratic majority, that will lift families out of poverty and put our communities on the right track. He stresses that putting money into families and people is an investment. Not and expense.

As for why he’s running for office, he says, “I love people. That’s really what it comes down to. Service is a big part of it.” He continues, “I did a lot of study of Ronald Reagan. If there’s anything I borrowed from him it’s that for you to get involved. That’s the least we can do. We owe it to the next generation because the previous generation did it for us.”

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Posted in Arizona Politics, Community, Community Activism, Corruption, Disinformation, Domestic Policy, Economic Policy, Economic Theory, Education, Elections, Energy Policy, Ethics, Government, Health Care, Infrastructure Investment, Innovation, Interviews, Jobs and Employment, National Politics, Political Candidacy, Political Polarization, Poverty, Public Accountability, Public Education, Small Business, Tax Law, Voting | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Hodge Interview – Podcast January 10, 2022