"Corporations and Democracy" looks at disarmament and the defense industry

On the July 9 edition of "Corporations and Democracy" radio, hosts Steve Scalmanini and Annie Esposito talked about nuclear disarmament with Jacqueline Cabasso, executive director of the Western States Legal Foundation in Oakland, and an internationally-known expert on nuclear disarmament. Jacqueline deconstructed Obama's recent statements on nuclear weapons, discussed the corporatization of nukes and warned that while progress has been made on reducing numbers of weapons, there are still more than enough of them out there to destroy civilization.

You can listen or download the show on our radio page, here.

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What's wrong with privatization?

The audio from Tuesday's edition of "Corporation's and Democracy" is now up on our radio page. The show, as promised, features two takes on privatization, both from speakers at this year's Public Banking Institute national conference.

Steve and Annie's first guest, Darwin BondGraham, is a sociologist and journalist (and occasional "Corporations and Democracy" listener) who now covers political economy for print and web publications. He explains some of the history and thinking behind his conference talk, titled "Public-Private Partnerships--Highway to Ruin." He's followed by chief of staff of the National Association of Letter Carriers, Jim Sauber. There are lots of privatization pressures on the US Postal Service, but Jim discusses ways that the post office could add services that would benefit workers and the public alike.

Callers give their points of view, and Steve's look at the headlines features some good news on the fight against GMOs.

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"Corporations and Democracy" focuses on consumer issues and the right to sue

The September 9 edition of "Corporations and Democracy" is online on AfD's radio page. In this show, Annie Esposito and Steve Scalmanini discuss product safety and the right of individuals to sue for redress with Christine Hines, consumer and civil justice counsel at Congress Watch, an arm of Public Citizen, founded by Ralph Nader.

Listen and learn how recent court cases are helping corporations evade accountability and responsibility to their employers and clients, and actions you can take to push legislation to help level the playing field. Mendocino county callers provide lively comments.

Thanks to KZYX&Z-FM, Mendocino County Public Broadcasting in Philo for broadcasting and streaming the show, and making the programs available. To inquire about rebroadcasting the show in your area, please email afd@thealliancefordemocracy.org.

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"Corporations and Democracy" interviews Wisconsin democracy activist Ben Manski

Ben Manski, executive director of Liberty Tree Foundation for the Democratic Revolution and spokesperson for the Wisconsin Wave, talks to Steve Scalmanini and Annie Esposito, hosts of the August 19 edition of Corporations and Democracy, heard on KZYX&Z-FM, Mendocino County Public Broadcasting in Philo, California.

Ben, Steve, and Annie discuss heartland progressive populism and resistance to attacks on local government in Benton Harbor and other Michigan towns, to the results of the recent Wisconsin recall elections, including allegations of pro-GOP election fraud in a well-to-do county (not the first time this has happened!). Ben reviews the history of home rule provisions and the need to strengthen them today to provide a democratic bulwark against corporate personhood and corporate rule.

Listen online here!

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"Corporations and Democracy": The state of health care reform with Dr. John Geyman

The latest installment of the Corporations and Democracy radio show explores the current status of health care reform. Download or listen to the .mp3 here. This week, Dr. John Geyman, past president of Physicians for a National Healthcare Program, offers his assessment of pending legislation, the public option, and single payer. Dr. Geyman is professor emeritus of family medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle and author of several books, including Do Not Resuscitate: Why the Health Insurance Industry is Dying and How We Must Replace It, and The Corrosion of Medicine: Can the Profession Reclaim its Moral Legacy? He also blogs at the PNHP site. Toni Rizzo conducts the interview, with call-ins from listeners.

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"Corporations and Democracy" radio show now archived on the web

We're going to be posting audio .mp3 files of the radio show "Corporations and Democracy," hosted by AfD'ers Steve Scalmanini and Annie Esposito on KZYX&Z, Mendocino County public radio. This first installment can be downloaded here. It aired last month and features an interview with John Foster of the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center, an educational non-profit focusing on progressive ballot initiative campaigns nationwide. He discusses the center's project on ballot initiative integrity, especially in relation to a petition for a major mall development in Mendocino County. You can learn more about how the ballot initiative process is being mis-used at www.stopballotfraud.org.

Please leave a comment to let us know if transcripts of the show would be useful to you!

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