Democracy on the Move

Politics and Corruption

This week we chat again with Nathan Falcone. Our topic today? Politics and Corruption. Nathan is a lifetime resident of Cedar Hill, Missouri, a small unincorporated town of about 1700 people. He describes himself as having "an absurd love" of politics, and he believes that society is unnecessarily divided, and through discussion, we can heal the differences.

Da Hood Connect

Shavanna Spratt, Executive Director of St. Louis-based organization Da Hood Connect, drops by to talk about the organization. She emphasizes Da Hood Connect’s commitment to addressing and reducing barriers faced by Black and/or under-resourced communities through education, advocacy, and connections. Leveraging media and entertainment, including a community podcast, Da Hood Connect aims to create a world free from racism and bias, where these communities have full access to the resources needed to flourish. As the leader of this 501(c)(3) organization, Shavanna not only oversees its operations but also actively engages with her community, ensuring awareness of support, resources, and opportunities available to improve their lives.

Moving the Line

In this podcast we discuss the technique used by authoritarian and fascist leaders to erode democratic values and manipulate societies into submission by blurring the line between legal and illegal behavior. We look at how individual citizens often disengage and become cynical in the face of threats to democracy, thereby reenforcing the movement away from democracy. There is hope, however. We individuals need to unite and stand shoulder to shoulder to fight the enemies of democracy by organizing and using the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s as a blueprint for successful nonviolent resistance.

Abortion and Pronouns

In this episode we talk about how the modern controversy over abortion might lead us down a dark path where, as history has shown, our nation may end up forcing sterilization on certain people. We also talk about the modern day controversy over pronouns and the cesspool that the Arkansas legislature has inadvertently entered when trying to legislate over cultural issues.

Nathan Falcone

This week we chat with Nathan Falcone, a lifetime resident of Cedar Hill, Missouri. Nathan describes himself as having a keen interest in politics, which he describes as "an absurd love." He believes that society is unnecessarily divided, and an open discussion of major issues may help alleviate this problem of division. In this episode, we talk about ordinary stuff, but focusing mostly on how Covid has affected politics in a rural area.

Dirt Road Radio

In this episode, we discuss the danger of hyper-conservative media and its impact on American democracy. This danger is particularly noticeable by the way that extremist messaging on terrestrial radio in rural areas has poisoned political discourse in the United States. Fear and intolerance has been magnified and weaponized. So how do we fight this disturbing trend? There is a new idea emerging that will directly challenge extremism on the radio; it’s called Dirt Road Radio. By making use of new technology, Dirt Road Radio will easily broadcast its radio content nation-wide. The content won’t consist of screaming at folks from far away, but it will come from the heartland itself. Dirt Road Radio will focus on building a strong community by bringing to light many wonderful stories from the heartland - stories told by rural folks themselves.

This effort has been launched, but we still need a lot of help. Have a listen to this podcast and see if you might be interested in participating in an effort to turn the tide in American democracy!

The Common Good

In today's podcast, we explore the concept of the "common good" and its importance in shaping a just and equitable society. Throughout history, philosophers have emphasized the significance of shared values, collective responsibility, and public institutions in promoting the well-being of all individuals within a community. However, the forces of individual and collective greed, especially within a capitalist society, can pose a significant threat to the common good. We discuss the influence of corporatism, the privatization of public services, and the consequences of greed on social inequalities, democratic institutions, and the accessibility of essential services. By examining these challenges, we hope to inspire a thoughtful conversation on how we can balance individual freedom and collective responsibility to protect and promote the common good, fostering a more inclusive and sustainable society for all.

Freedom vs Harmony

In this podcast episode, we explore the complex and multifaceted controversy surrounding free speech. We examine historical events where people have freely expressed their views and opinions resulting in controversy and emotional upset. We delve into the recent phenomenon of "cancel culture" and the moral and ethical issues involved, and we discuss the "Paradox of Tolerance" and what it means for free speech. Join us as we navigate these difficult questions and strive to balance the need for free expression with the need for equality and respect for all individuals.

Dutch Farmer Protests

Why are farmers in the Netherlands protesting? Recent changes in Dutch environmental laws have put the squeeze on farmers in the Netherlands, so they've have taken their protests to their government. While it's true that our methods of farming - and living in general - must change in order to sustain a livable environment, it may be a mistake to force one group of people to bear the burden without adequate guidance and compensation. In this episode, we bring attention to the difficulties experienced by farmers in the Netherlands and suggest there are parallels with farmers in the United States.

Do We Live in a Democracy?

Folks on the extreme right say that we here in the U.S. do not live in a democracy. They say that we live in a "Constitutional Republic." This is a dangerous belief, because to say that we do not live in a democracy is to say that we are not governed by the will of the people. This mindset opens the door to tyranny, because after all, why fight for a democracy when we don't live in a democracy anyway?

In this podcast, we explore the definition of both a Constitutional Republic and a Democracy and show that indeed, we live in a representative democracy whose government is constrained by a constitution in order to prevent a "tyranny of a majority" and secure individual liberties. Essentially, we live within both a Democracy and a Constitutional Republic.