Keeping Democracy Alive

Burt Cohen Show - What Interests are Fighting Cannabis Legalization - 08/24/14

Public support for legalizing and regulating marijuana/cannabis is growing quickly. But most politicians remain wary of such a change. Why? Who is behind the various efforts to keep it illegal? On this show, guest is Sarah Bryner, data analyst for the Center for Responsive Politics in Washington. Aside from what you'd expect, even the drug counseling industry is in on the effort to keep it illegal.

Burt Cohen Show - Rabbi: Israel is Murdering Judaism - 08/17/14

Rabbi Michael Lerner says "Real friends don't let friends pursue a self-destructive path." Despite intense pressure, he refuses to be silent in the face of the destruction of Judaism. As the State of Israel moves away from traditional Jewish values and engages in possible war crimes, despite the immense power of the Israel lobby in Washington, he urges us all to speak up. Listen in and learn about real history and current realities.

Burt Cohen Show - What We Think We Know About Communism and Capitalism is Wrong - 08/10/14

While the left has very few electoral victories, author Michael Kazin argues it has very effectively changed the nation. The author of "A Godly Hero: William Jennings Bryan," talks about what's gone right and wrong with America's left, and ideas for where we go from here.

Burt Cohen Show - What We Think We Know About Communism and Capitalism is Wrong - 07/13/14

In the 30s, Communism meant an idealized hope for many destitute Americans. Then in the 50s, it became the Red Scare, led by the murderous Stalin. And the word Capitalism brings forth images of freedom and individuality. But there's a great deal of misunderstanding. On this show, Salon columnist Jesse Myerson sheds light into these dark mysterious corners.

Burt Cohen Show - A Left Wing Populism May Be Closer Than You Think - 07/07/14

Though American history is full of left-leaning populist movements, for the last few years, the only populism has been on the far right. That may be changing, so argues Elias Isquith, assistant editor at Salon.com.

Burt Cohen Show - America's Third Era: The Post-Constitution Era - 06/29/14

Peter Van Buren knows from personal experience. He told the truth about Iraq and was pushed out of his job at the State Department because of it. he sees three distinct eras in terms of a constitutional republic versus a police state. In the first era, the colonists lived under laws dictated by the king. Protest was not possible. Van Buren points out in this revealing interview that this new phase looks a lot like the one our founders rebelled against. Press harassment, free speech "zones," NSA spying; all have happened under the Obama Administration. And when we acquiesce, our foundation of freedom crumbles.

Burt Cohen Show - Iraq Crumbles: Was It Better Off Before Bush? What Now? - 06/22/14

Many saw it coming back in 2003: the US invasion of Iraq was an avoidable disaster. It was easy to see it could not work. Now as ISIS swarms Iraq, what can be learned? Can Iraq save itself? Is there really anything the US can do now that might actually work? Guest on this show is Patrick Smith, former bureau chief to the International Herald Tribune and author of several nonfiction books and regular contributor to Salon, the New York Times, the Nation and others. He explains that one can not see reality in Iraq without an understanding of history. There may be some positives: this can be a moment form which we can learn and change. 

The Burt Cohen Show - Orthodox Rabbi: "Zionists Bring Danger Upon Jews" - 06/15/14

Most of the world seems to think that the State of Israel and Judaism are one and the same. They are not. Where Judaism is thousands of years old and lived for peace with Muslims and Christians in what Rabbi Yisroel Dovid Weiss calls The Holy Land, Zionism is only about a hundred years old and is part of the rise of European nationalism which has caused so much trouble and bloodshed. Weiss insists "the Zionist state conflicts with the basic teachings of Judaism, and is resulting in a rise in anti-Semitism as so many confuse the two. This is one very informative discussion.

Burt Cohen Show - We're Being Fed Lies About Ukraine: Eric Zuesse - 06/08/14

If we rely on the mainstream media, the narrative about Ukraine is pretty clear. But investigative historian Eric Zuesse has instead simply used the internet to go to primary sources and found that we are being lied to. The alleged good guys Obama is backing up include some not so nice folks, actual Nazi-types, according to Zuesse. It's all part of a power play and the news reporters are acting more like stenographers for the party line. And now Obama is calling for a big increase in military involvement in the region.

Burt Cohen Show - Is Hillary Inevitable? How Strong a Candidate, Really? - 06/01/14

She looked inevitable in 2008, too. But Hillary Clinton as a presidential contender has some serious vulnerabilities. On this show Guy Saperstein, former civil rights attorney, past president of the Sierra Club Foundation, and board member of Brave New Films addresses those weaknesses head on. Not only is she exceptionally hawkish but her connections as a darling of Wall St can not be seen as electability pluses heading into 2016. And her record as secretary of state appears to be rather lacking as well. If Democrats want to win the White House, we might want to look elsewhere.