Keeping Democracy Alive with Burt Cohen

Keeping Democracy Alive with Burt Cohen

By Burt CohenSociety & CultureNewsPolitics
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Keeping Democracy Alive with Burt Cohen episodes

  • Sowing Chaos: Good Strategy?
    Since September 11, American citizens have yearned for safety and security from further attacks. But instead of reducing violence and terrorism, there’s no question our policy has been very effective at sowing chaos everywhere. Our policies actually serve to recruit many more what had been average, nonpolitical people to join the fight against American sponsored violence. Diplomacy is rejected and everything is seen as a nail because all we seem to have is a hammer.  Guest Nicolas J.S. Davies writes that this “National Defense Strategy of Sowing Global Chaos” is achieving the opposite of  our stated goals. Though not as simple as just “killing all the bad guys,” in fact diplomacy is the only thing that actually works.
    1 hr
  • Heartland Dems to Washington: You’re Killing Us!
    It used to be that everyone in the Midwest knew “FDR is for people like us” and they voted solid Democrat. Not any more. On Part One, conventional wisdom is that Democrats will most likely make gains in congress in 2018. But is most likely is good enough? Being risk-averse weakens our chances. Author of The Great Divide: Story of the 2016 US Presidential Race Howard Harrison argues it’s like sports: when you are down, you have to play harder. He argues it’s time for Democrats to “play less cautiously.” And on Part Two POLITICO senior staff writer Michael Kruse reports on good old Democrats in Indiana and other heartland areas who know why Democrats lost in 2016 and the common sense that could fix that in 2018. Economic issues! Show they are on the side of midwesterners as they used to be! Will Washington get it?
    1 hr
  • Breaking the Cycle of Cynicism: It Can Be Fun
    Americas founders intended us to enjoy real power. Yet powers that be have convinced many of us that we are powerless.  From many years of community organizing Gordon Whitman’s new book shares what he’s learned can work to empower average citizens.It’s called Stand Up! How to Get Involved, Speak Out and Win in a World on Fire.When people are invited and stories are shared, the process of real effective action begins. Releasing creativity, it feels good to win!
    1 hr
  • Trump Was Set Up By Putin
    Russia aims to weaken America. Putin was determined to stop Hillary Clinton who was exceptionally hawkish toward Russia. He found a perfect candidate in Trump. Incredibly enough, a similar story was written as as a political thriller novel by well respected McClatchy journalist James Rosen who worked for years in Moscow and has a great understanding of realpolitik there. His new book is called High Hand (nom de plume Curtis J. James) and it predicts Putin picking a billionaire to become US president. The discussion addresses the oligarchy, Russian banks and the NRA, and Russia’s aims for its place in the 21st century world. Trump is undoubtedly being used.
    1 hr
  • Weapons Industry on AutoPilot Under Trump
    What actually works to make us safer? Much of recent military policy has actually worked to strengthen our 21st century enemies. Why is it that the defense industry is so effective at convincing members of both parties that we really need The Big New Thing, when those systems are ineffective against any current threat? William Hartung, director of the Arms and Security Project at the Center for International Policy knows what actually works to make us safer. And though most of us are paying attention to other bizarre Trump actions, sooner or later we’re going to take a stand against wasteful military policies. And we do have power.
    1 hr
  • 16 Year Old Girl Takes on Israeli Military
    If you are a sixteen year old girl, standing up to the men of the Israeli military is highly risky. You may not have heard of Ahed Tamimi. She is being held in an Israeli jail for slapping an Israeli soldier. Yes, they are threatened by the power of children and hold many in jails in quite poor conditions. One might think a sophisticated government like that of Israel would know better. But this girl, who turns 17 on January 31, is widely despised throughout Israel and is being threatened with rape. CODEPINK Coordinator for Middle East Campaigns Ariel Gold tells this amazing and truly shocking story. And tells of a bill in congress to help Palestinians get fair treatment.
    1 hr
  • Cuba 2018: Neither Heaven Nor Hell
    Talk about great mysteries: what do you think of when you hear the name Cuba? Cigar chomping communist dictator? People yearning to breathe free and live like Americans? We get one small picture here while the rest of the world sees a different Cuba. Guests Diane Stradling and Gretchen Smith have tales to tell about what life is really like in Cuba. Why does so much of the world look to Cuba as an example? How much difference did Trump’s reversal of Obama’s new Cuban policies mean? What explains the government’s lasting power?
     
     
    1 hr
  • Disobedience: Democracy Depends on It
    “Just following orders” is no defense. In a democracy we assume that individuals in society will take personal responsibility and disobey immoral commands. But as many experiments have shown, people rarely question orders from authorities. Our guest on this show is Ira Chaleff whose new book is: Intelligent Disobedience: Doing Right When What You’re Told to Do is Wrong. As he explains, even guide dogs will disobey a wrong command.
    1 hr
  • Democrats: A Party in Need of Reboot
    Democrats have gone from a state of shock to one of denial. It’s time to face up to what needs to be done to win in 2018. On this show, former Congressman Paul Hodes discusses how we blew it and ways to revitalize and win again. In recognizing the Republicans superior messaging, Hodes argues we need a Kennedy-style moonshot, to bring us together and inspire Americans. Where Hillary Clinton came across as elitist and out of touch, we need to go where people are, not talk down to them. We need to listen and connect. Our government can once again be OUR government: of, by, and for the average person. In short, we need to reboot and replace some of our uninspiring standard bearers with new younger leaders, of which there is no lack.
    1 hr
  • The Real Pre-Christian Meaning of Christmas
    While some argue Christmas is really an international religious Christian holiday, that is just not the case. On this show, Burt’s guest is the Reverend Selena Fox, a Wiccan priestess, interfaith minister, Pagan elder, author, and lecturer in the fields of Pagan studies and comparative religion. Rev. Fox has been leading public education about Paganism since 1973. Listen in and learn the surprising origins of many of our current beliefs about Christmas. We guarantee you’ll be surprised. Its roots are more universal than one might think. What has come to be known as Christmas really is a holiday for everyone to enjoy and celebrate!  Listen in to this fun show.
    58 min

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