Democracy on the Move

Bethany Mann

Today we do an on-the-spot interview with Bethany Mann, who is running for the U.S. House of Representatives, representing the third district in Missouri. In our wide-ranging interview, we talk about the abortion, healthcare, education, voting rights and environmentalism and how all these topics affect people throughout the heartland.

Ray Reed

Meet Ray Reed, candidate for the U.S. Congress in the Second Congressional District of Missouri. Ray is ambitious; he studied political science at the University of Central Missouri, worked within the state governor’s office and has already made his rounds in Washington DC. Don’t mistake his young age for inexperience, he comes to this post with more political experience than a majority of first-time candidates. During our podcast we talk about a range of issues including social inequity, health care, education, gun regulation, immigration and more. This is an interesting hour to spend with an up-and-coming leader. 

The Harbormasters

As we sail the choppy waters in an ocean of information, we look for a safe harbor - someplace where we can surround ourselves with others of like mind. We pledge our loyalty to the harbor in exchange for comfort and security. But when the harbormasters abuse our loyalty, it may be time to head for the open ocean again.

How We Fix America

Author and U.S. Congressional candidate John Woodman stops by to talk about his campaign and his book, “How We Fix America.” The book describes how our economic system of capitalism has drifted from what he calls “American Dream Capitalism” to “Vampire Capitalism.” By John’s calculations, Vampire Capitalism steals $24,000 per year or more from the average citizen! He bases this calculation on various anti-democratic trends taking place beginning around 1980 and is now in full swing. These trends include corruption and propaganda, resulting in a nation that’s tearing itself apart as it falls further and further behind the world in economic might, healthcare, education and overall happiness.

Hugh McTavish

Independent Alliance Party candidate Hugh McTavish talks about his run for the governor of Minnesota. Hugh has an idea for a highly participatory form of democracy he calls a “Jury Democracy,” where ordinary citizens - not legislators - vote on bills. We also talk about the destructive effects that the pandemic lock-downs had on widespread depression and suicide, personal liberties, abortion, guns and the Minnesota state bird.

Abortion and Guns

In this week’s short solo podcast, I talk about the recent Supreme Court decisions on Abortion and Guns. Is Abortion really about the life of the unborn, or is it simply a politically expedient way to promote a patriarchal government? I argue the latter. Regarding guns, why does the Supreme Court ignore the first four words of the Second Amendment: “A well regulated Militia.” Based on the 2008 decision “District of Columbia v Heller,” it appears the court is reluctant to disarm folks for fear that it will result in the destruction of the militia. Meanwhile, mass shootings are committed by people who are not part of any militia. It may be a bit of irony, but I argue that to fix this problem, we turn to the complete text of the Second Amendment, not just the part that says “the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.”

Michael Sinclair

Michael Sinclair drops by to talk about his candidacy for the Missouri State Senate, Second District. This district covers much of St. Charles County, west of St. Louis. It is a heavily Republican district, whereas Michael is running as a Democrat. It may seem like an uphill battle, but Michael believes he can prevail by using his “Positive Politics” approach to bridge the divide by finding commonality in our goals and building strong alliances from that point forward. We discuss the second amendment, abortion, equality, immigration, education and healthcare. Tune in to a fascinating discussion that touches on all the big issues we face, both locally and nationally!

The Spiritual Side of Politics

Our guest today is Dennis Merritt Jones; Author, keynote speaker, spiritual leader and mentor. We talk about the spiritual and religious side of politics. Many Christians worry that we’re drifting away from God, but the deeper truth may be that our personal beliefs are being diverted toward ungodly concepts like hatred and separation, which is contrary to the teachings of Jesus. Spiritual alignment may be the glue that brings us all back together by helping us recognize that God is indeed Love, and the binding force of that love must be allowed to heal our nation.

You may find more information on Dennis and his spiritual teachings at www.dennismerrittjones.com.

Tara Anura

Tara Anura, candidate for Missouri State Senate District 16, discusses the issues that are important to the people living on the Ozark plateau. We talk about the problems rural people experience with getting proper access to healthcare, educating their children, struggling with the economy, exercising gun safety and the blight of overt racism. Despite adversities, the people of the Ozarks are proud, friendly, social and religious. They share a history of individualism and resiliency. Should she secure a win this November, Tara’s highest priorities include providing better healthcare for all of Missouri as well as fortifying public education, especially for special needs children.

Reinette Senum

Reinette Senum, independent candidate for California State Governor, drops by to discuss her campaign and California politics in general. We discuss how corruption has influenced political decisions, and what ordinary citizens can do about it. The challenges in California are numerous, from homelessness to forestry management, and it is becoming increasingly critical that we address these issues before it’s too late. Reinette runs as an independent because she feels that the two major political parties have become poisoned with unlimited donations from corporations, and the corporations do not have any interest whatsoever in the wellbeing of ordinary citizens. Tune in and listen to how Reinette plans to take on the system and make California a model government for the rest of the country.