Deep Green Perspective: Recent Episodes
Martin Holsinger
These podcasts are my monthly broadcasts as part of a team of Green Party activists who put on a weekly radio program on WRFN-LP, 103.7 and 107.1 FM, and on line at RadioFreeNashvilledotcom. The texts of these talks, with plenty of links, can be found at The Deep Green Perspective blog on Wordpress.
Reflections on the recent FEC decision that the Stein for President organization misused federal campaign funds in 2916, and their demand that the allegedly "misused" money be returned to the government.
A musical commentary that takes its cues from the spoken word portion of the program. Featured artists: Richard Thompson, The Jerry Garcia Band, The Grateful Dead, Bunny Wailer, The Paul Winter Consort, and Eliza Gilkyson
It's a crime to reveal the crimes of the US government, and they're making an example out of Assange, so nobody will ever do what he did again. What could possibly go wrong?
Some considerations on the sometimes dangerous combination of juveniles and firearms, and on how clumsily our society deals with what happens when things go wrong.
A review of a lightly fictionalized memoir about a guerilla theater troupe in San Francisco in 1970, and what happened afterwards. One of the characters in the book is based on me!
A look at why a great many debts, public and private, are unlikely to ever be paid off.
A power elite that has lied to us repeatedly swears that this time, they're really, really telling the truth, and they just don't understand why some people don't believe them. Should we? "It's complicated."
A review of the history of the women's rights movement in Afghanistan, and whether the US and other western countries have generally been supportive of it, plus a look at other reasons why the US military spent 20years there.
A look at what the Democrats demand in exchange for being the party that works to keep abortion legal, and at the things they'd do if they really supported women's rights. Music by Iris DeMent.
Brief comments on both a meteorological hurricane and a propaganda hurricane, with some thoughts on The Meaning Of It All. Musical commentary by Dr. John and David Rovics.
An account of a strange, but not that uncommon, encounter on Facebook, and what it might mean, finishing with a roundup of Democratic Party delusions and some kick-ass music..
In the first section of this podcast, we examine some delusions that the Democrats and Republicans (sort of) have in common.
In the first section we examine the ways in which our educational system and our capitalist economic system have combined to disappoint Americans and cloud their ability to understand the source of their discontent.
In part two, we look deeper into the societal processes that create the Republican mindset, and also examine why the right has become the only political alternative to the corporate-friendly Democratic Party.
In part two of this podcast, I continue to look at the ways profit-seeking can skew science, and conclude by examining the psychological effects of widespread cell phone usage, including their addictive nature, and play some cool music.
In the first segment of this month's podcast, I admit to all the great things that have only happened because people had cell phones with video cameras and an internet connection, but then go on to note that those who own cell phones are thus also under a level of constant surveillance, even as they record various levels of official misconduct and cute cat antics..
I then look at the ecology of cell phone creation, which is highly polluting, and possibly not sustainable for very long, concluding by getting into the way cell phone regulation and research have been "captured" by the industry that profits from them. This portion concludes with a creepily prescient 80's pop song.
In this episode, I discuss the differences between left populism and right populism, including the philosophical bases for capitalism and socialism, using the example of "The Nashville Taxpayer Protection Act."
In the light of last month's discussion of the similarities and differences between right wing and left wing populism, we examine the "Nashville Taxpayer Protection Act," a local movement that has proposed some charter amendments that would give voters a more active role in city government.
In part one of this month's podcast, I take an in-depth look at some of the economic factors that impact Trump supporters and lower-income Democrats alike, as well as some extraordinary economic statistics about the Capitol rioters..
The second half of this podcast focuses on the social unrest in our country as exemplified by the many commonalities between Black Lives Matter and the Trump supporters who rioted at the Capitol in January, as well as by their significant differences.
An overview of the political spectrum, pointing out that, while The Green Party is a genuinely left-wing party, the Democrats are a conservative party posing as a left-wing party.
For Joe Biden to be President now is the equivalent of the 1932 Democrats snubbing FDR and nominating Herbert Hoover instead--who gets elected because the Republican who usurped him as the GOP's 1932 nominee was a batshit crazy fascist.
Howie Hawkins, the Green Party's 2020 Presidential candidate, shares some thoughts on how it went and what it meant. Read by Martin Holsinger
Some reflections on the results of the 2020 election from a non-bipolar perspective....
Observations on the meaning, and lack of meaning, of the current political campaign season, a Presidential election in which, once again, the bad news will be that whoever wins, wins, and the good news will be that whoever loses, loses.
A guest post, written by Caitlin Johnstone and read by yours truly, in which Ms. Johnstone expounds on "the 21 ways supporting the establishment is worse than voting third party." The podcast concludes with some kick-ass music.
Nashville narrowly avoided a Brianna Taylor-level tragedy when police pulled a dawn no-knock raid on the wrong apartment rifles in hand. They didn't just have the wrong address--considering the nature of the allegations against the teenager they were looking for, they had the wrong response.
What are the "abstract principles" The Green Party is based on? How do they affect peoples' lives? How do they differ from the abstract principles of the Democrats, who seem to think that all Greens should be Democrats? And how do the "abstract principles" of the Democratic Party impact peoples' lives?
Although the pressure to "defund the police" has died down, it's important to keep reminding local officials of what it means, and that we, the people, still want the changes it involves. I share my sample letter and report on the responses it received.
A common thread links most of the stories that dominate the daily news these days. It's....
In 1994, Seymour Hersch wrote extensively about post-Soviet Russia and the influence of both organized crime and the United States in that country. This podcast revisits the article in light of what has happened since, and shows how events then influenced the rises of Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump, and resulted in Russia's determination to chart a course largely independent of US influence
The opening half of the podcast examines the "Nashville People's Budget" proposal and its introduction to Nashville's Metro Council.
My discussion of the movement to defund the police gets into some of the deeper implications of the idea.
In this episode we disprove the "Green Party spoiler" myth, which is disproved by the low turnout of US elections, and talk about all the ways the Democrats and Republicans manipulate the laws to keep Greens, and other alternative parties, from being competitive.
In light of the "black swan" nature of the covid pandemic--i.e., in retrospect, everybody could see it coming--I examine three other "black swans" that seem to have some likelihood of taking place. I have to confess that I did not include the "black swan" of the uprising against our militarized police state that is now ongoing!
The Covid pandemic fits the definition of a "black swan" event: something unforseen, that, in hindsight, we should have expected. In this April 2020 podcast, I scan the skies and spot three other black swans that could be landing on The Great American Pond soon. I have to confess, however, that I did not consider the possibility that there would be a national uprising against police violence.
a commentary on our ongoing national uprising, including noting who the real thieves are, and that they are rarely in the streets. This half of the podcast ends on a rather jazzy note.
A musical meditation on the subject....the first song of which is at the conclusion of pt. 1
In the second half of the podcast, we (an editorial "we"!) continue our comments on what the film said, and failed to say, and turn some critical attention on the criticism it has received.