Take Action Archives - KDA Keeping Democracy Alive Podcast & Radio Show

You’ve seen the ads on network TV:Huge data centers bringing life to hollowed out communities. But the reality is these huge projects suck electricity and water and provide virtually no lasting jobs. Not just people on the left but people The post Risings All Over The Country Against Data Centers appeared first on KDA Keeping Democracy Alive Podcast & Radio Show .

What we’re seeing today is a far cry from justice. Today’s policy of cruelty toward immigrants is an abject failure, yet it’s impractical to have a totally open border with Mexico. As with most solutions, the answer has to involve The post Immigration Justice: Is it Even Possible? appeared first on KDA Keeping Democracy Alive Podcast & Radio Show .

As Americans, we want what we want right now. But it doesn’t work that way to make real political change. As with any mechanism, there are certain things that must be learned to make it work and achieve our goals. The post Nuts and Bolts: What Needs to be Learned to Make Our Agenda Reality appeared first on KDA Keeping Democracy Alive Podcast & Radio Show .

We all know there are powers determined to destroy democracy. The ubiquity of hand held video cameras has the unique power to disrupt the narrative of power. On this show author Phil Allen talks about his new book The Prophetic The post The Cellphone Camera: The Power of Truth that Can’t Be Stopped appeared first on KDA Keeping Democracy Alive Podcast & Radio Show .

It’s not the way it’s supposed to work. Our founders fought for self-government to replace the distant authoritarian system. As Justice Brandeis said; states are the laboratories of democracy. But they are withering from lack of public awareness of their The post Who’s Your State Legislator? It Matters More Than You Think. appeared first on KDA Keeping Democracy Alive Podcast &am...

We finally get that can’t have infinite growth on our finite planet. The dominant western approach of treating the earth as our playground isn’t working anymore. It’s late but there are still real opportunities for a partnership between humans and The post I Want a Better Catastrophe! appeared first on KDA Keeping Democracy Alive Podcast & Radio Show .

Fun attracts people but let’s face it: environmentalists tend to be a dour bunch. Saving the planet is after all serious stuff. Average working people can get turned off. But what about dark comedy? We’ve seen where it works. On The post Comedy To Fight Climate Change? appeared first on KDA Keeping Democracy Alive Podcast & Radio Show .

Is the US is merely a procedural, but not a substantive democracy? On part one, Franklin and Marshall history professor Van Gosse asks: what are the factors why we lack more actual democracy? And on part two, The Nation’s national The post Two Topics: 1) How Real Our Democracy? 2) Who is This Ruben Gallego appeared first on KDA Keeping Democracy Alive Podcast & Radio Show .

Divide and rule. It’s worked quite well for many decades. When sectors of America are made invisible, behind walls, it takes away the power of democracy. In their new book Standing Up, Tales of Struggle, authors Ellen Bravo and Larry The post The Unique Success From Undoing Intentional Invisibility appeared first on KDA Keeping Democracy Alive Podcast & Radio Show .

We barely pulled democracy back from the ledge. Now there’s work to be done to make democracy work even better. On this show Kristen Eberhard talks about steps described in her new book “Becoming a Democracy: How We Can Fix The post Now’s the Time to Make Democracy Better appeared first on KDA Keeping Democracy Alive Podcast & Radio Show .

Even if it never makes it on TV, progressive action does make a difference. There’s a place for all activists, forcing hidden problems and opportunities to the fore. Our guest Dinah Yessne has a new book called Politically Defined. There’s The post Unknown Activist: Challenges, Successes, and Rewards appeared first on KDA Keeping Democracy Alive Podcast & Radio Show .

The Electoral College was born in a hasty compromise in the 18th century. Could it finally be about to change and enable more democracy? Though you probably haven’t heard of it, the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact is moving steadily The post We Can Make the Popular Vote Rule appeared first on KDA Keeping Democracy Alive Podcast & Radio Show .

We barely pulled democracy back from the ledge. Now there’s work to be done to make democracy work even better. On this show Kristen Eberhard talks about steps described in her new book “Becoming a Democracy: How We Can Fix The post Now’s the Time to Make Democracy Better appeared first on KDA Keeping Democracy Alive Podcast & Radio Show .

The right wing Republicans outsmarted Democrats. Starting in 2008, they understood the path to grabbing and holding power goes through state legislatures. They could see that their white older male base is eroding and that they don’t need to compete The post Restoring Democracy: It’s a Tough But Do-Able Fight appeared first on KDA Keeping Democracy Alive Podcast & Radio Show .

Trump’s experiment failed. His TV ads trying to gin up fear of protesters backfired. According to George Lakey, long time activist, retired Swarthmore professor, and author of many books, the center is now even more likely to defend against invasions The post Lessons from Portland: Notice What Our Power Is appeared first on KDA Keeping Democracy Alive Podcast & Radio Show .

The novel coronavirus is forcing us to see that the very economic structure of America itself is in ill health. We know more poor Americans are dying, they can’t work from home and stay safe. All of us depend on The post The System is Sick, More than the Coronavirus appeared first on KDA Keeping Democracy Alive Podcast & Radio Show .

Trump as usual: kicking something when it’s down. The Republicans saddled the USPS with a $72 billion burden, now they are going full steam to just eliminate the postal service. After all, if it doesn’t make money, what good can The post It’s True: Trump Is Making War on the US Postal Service appeared first on KDA Keeping Democracy Alive Podcast & Radio Show .

Sure the super rich and powerful want us to accept our powerlessness. But we are not! Since the rule of white male aristocrats, the struggle to tamp down voting has been consistent and largely successful. The are determined to hold The post Realistic Optimism for Actual Democracy appeared first on KDA Keeping Democracy Alive Podcast & Radio Show .

Populism is defined as “a political approach that strives to appeal to ordinary people who feel that their concerns are disregarded by established elite groups.” We never hear of the grassroots Tea Party any more because they won. The took The post From The Bottom Up: Real Change, Right and Left appeared first on KDA Keeping Democracy Alive Podcast & Radio Show .

We’re in a different moment. The idea of Medicare for All has been around a long time. But as the 2020 campaigns kick in, there is clear momentum. Disappointed by the insurance industry role in the ACA, more and more The post Heartland Momentum for Medicare For All appeared first on KDA Keeping Democracy Alive Podcast & Radio Show .

Remember your not-so-great high school days? Remember wanting to be respected while being consistently treated as less-than? According to author Eric David Dawson, “the system is set up to be destructive of everybody.” His new book, Putting Peace First: Seven The post High School Kids Leading Us All, Not Waiting to “Grow Up” appeared first on KDA Keeping Democracy Alive Pod...

Blood in the streets. Chaos at the convention. The establishment Democrats won and then they lost. From the vantage point of 50 years later, it may surprise some how less has changed and been learned than we might have thought. The post Chicago Plus 50: Positive Lessons for 2018 appeared first on KDA Keeping Democracy Alive Podcast & Radio Show .

On the first part, we try to talk with author Dilip Hiro in London about his new article “Donald Trump Offers a Helping Hand to Russia and China,” but the connection most regrettable. If you can bear with the poor The post America First Means China First//Trump’s “Infrastructure Plan” a Gift to Polluters appeared first on KDA Keeping Democracy Alive Podcast & Radi...

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 The post Breaking the Cycle of Cynicism: It Can Be Fun appeared first on KDA Keeping Democracy Alive Podcast & Radio Show .

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 The post 16 Year Old Girl Takes on Israeli Military appeared first on KDA Keeping Democracy Alive Podcast & Radio Show .