Socialism Archives - Keeping Democracy Alive
by Burt Cohen
Would you like to know more about the backgrounds and histories behind today's news? Subscribe to keepingdemocracyalive.com to find out the whys of where we are. Also interviews with authors of new non-fiction books. From a left perspective. Entertaining and educational twice weekly one hour shows since 2004.
Episodes
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Why Mamdani May Revitalize the Democratic Party: 1911 CA Precedent
After 2024, the mainstream of the Democratic Party is in the wilderness, but Zohran Mamdani may lead a way out. This week’s guest Fred Glass, talks about what early 20th century California history can teach us about the 2025 New The post Why Mamdani May Revitalize the Democratic Party: 1911 CA...
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A Revolution in Public Power
It took a lot of persistent steady heavy lifting but New York State now has a new democratically run power authority. Instead of the traditional for-profit monopolies, the public good will determine a greener, less expensive supply of electricity. The post A Revolution in Public Power appeared...
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American Midnight: Trumpism Before Trump
Authoritarianism. Anti-Immigrant. White men fearful of losing control. Books banned, free press shut down. Widespread domestic spying. Dissent criminalized and many jailed tortured and killed. In his new book, American Midnight: The Great War, A Violent Peace, and Democracy’s The post American...
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The Prescience and Vision of Rosa Luxemburg. Who?
Pre-capitalist indigenous cultures have a lot to offer us today for a better, greener future. And socialism is not how its pictured. Neglected by the Great Men study of history, Rosa Luxemburg, a 4′ 11″ disabled young woman from what’s The post The Prescience and Vision of Rosa Luxemburg. Who?...
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The Prescience And Vision of Rosa Luxemburg. Who?
Precapitalist indigenous cultures have a lot to offer us today for a better, greener future. And socialism is not how its pictured. Neglected by the Great Men study of history, Rosa Luxemburg, a 4′ 11″ disabled young woman from what’s The post The Prescience And Vision of Rosa Luxemburg. Who?...
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The UK’s Jeremy Corbyn: What Now?
Smeared and driven from leadership of the British Labour Party. Relentlessly attacked by the uniquely powerful British tabloid media, our guest today Matt Sarb-Cousin argues there’s never been a leader like Jeremy Corbyn. Except perhaps America’s own Bernie Sanders. Trump The post The UK’s Jeremy...
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After A Right Wing Coup, Social Democracy Makes a Comeback
As Americans were dancing in the streets with the ousting of Trump, so the people of Bolivia celebrated the return of Evo Morales, first indigenous president after a coup forced him to flee. The new president is Luis Arce, former The post After A Right Wing Coup, Social Democracy Makes a Comeback...
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The Jewish Tradition of Anti-Zionism
How is it that Jewish liberals felt the State of Israel was exempt from criticism applied elsewhere? Our guest today Benjamin Balthaser, who teaches multi-ethnic literature at Indiana University, talks about a little known history: Most liberal and left Jewish The post The Jewish Tradition of...
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Rebel Cinderella: A True Story You’ve Never Heard
We’re all fascinated by Cinderella stories. This one happens to be true, with many twists. Extremely rich WASP man marries very poor Jewish immigrant in 1905. But she turns out to be the strong one. The new book by Adam The post Rebel Cinderella: A True Story You’ve Never Heard appeared first on...
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After NH, Now What for the Democratic Candidates?
Iowa and New Hampshire’s results are in. What’s the best way for Democrats to beat Trump? On this show former Oklahoma Senator DNC chair and presidential candidate Fred Harris, who embraced populism in the 1970s, talks about different approaches: going The post After NH, Now What for the…
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The Christmas Truce: Powerful, Brave, and Not So Isolated
You’ve heard of the famous Christmas Truce of 1914 between the trenches of the British and German soldiers. These were indeed brave men. But that was not the only such event: there were desertions, mutinies, and fraternizations. Today it seems The post The Christmas Truce: Powerful, Brave, and…
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The Crucial December 12th British Election Explained
Consumed with Brexit, the old upper and lower class divisions are themselves divided. According to professor Kenneth Surin, a Brit teaching at Duke, the decision made by voters in the upcoming general election will be of major importance. On one The post The Crucial December 12th British Election...
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Not Just “Bread,” To Win Democrats Must Offer “Roses Too,” A Sense of Meaning
What keeps Trump was his false version of “Roses.” An uplift from everyday dullness. Looking at the upcoming election, our guest today Professor Ed Simon argues that “those that will be the most successful will be those that speak of The post Not Just “Bread,” To Win Democrats Must Offer “Roses...
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BoJo’s Brexit Helter Skelter
He’s often said to be England’s Trump. And many hope his reign as Prime Minister of the UK will be the shortest in British history. How much damage will Boris Johnson do to formerly great Britain? The chaos is astounding. The post BoJo’s Brexit Helter Skelter appeared first on KDA Keeping…
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Making The Democratic Party Democratic
We’ve all seen it in recent years: the leadership of the DNC and the DCCC dictating policy and acceptable “centrist” positions for their chosen candidates. And how well has that worked out? Toward correcting that hierarchy’s grip on the party The post Making The Democratic Party Democratic…
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Workplaces: More Danger Than Terrorist Attacks
One of the things Trump has finally accomplished for the economy is shedding needless regulations which hold back business. Or at least that what many believe. Of course it’s not true. Health and Safety regulations build economic strength, according to The post Workplaces: More Danger Than...
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Beyond the 2020 Electoral Circus: Action
Two minutes every four years, just going into the voting booth to choose a president, is hardly a sufficient tool to leverage the changes which we both need and are possible. As author Paul Street points out, idling capital is The post Beyond the 2020 Electoral Circus: Action appeared first on…
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France’s Yellow Vest Movement Explained
Neither the traditional French Socialist Party nor the right wing National Front, the yellow vest movement sweeping across France is something new, leaving the political powers including President Macron befuddled. With about 70% public support, the people on the streets The post France’s Yellow...
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Freedom As Tested By 1968
What is freedom? Coming from a context of widespread economic security, young people across the US and Europe in 1968 drove older generations crazy with the insistence that there was more. More than the grey flanneled conformity in which we The post Freedom As Tested By 1968 appeared first on KDA...
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Socialism/New Deal: It Saved Competitive Capitalism Then. Can it Now?
When big gets too big, free market capitalism is stifled. The increased concentration of power and wealth undercuts economic freedom. The socialism of FDR’s New Deal very much helped capitalism become more competitive. A big, though lesser known, aspect of The post Socialism/New Deal: It Saved...
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Report from Violent Nicaragua: The Truth Behind the Picture
Reached somewhere he won’t specify in Nicaragua, our guest is protecting himself from killings, kidnappings, and the coordinated strategy of roadblocks.The Trump Administration and most of the mainstream press paints a picture of the Sandinista government turning against their own The post Report...
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May Day: As American as Apple Pie
It’s celebrated all over the world, except here in America where it all started. It is clear that for unjust power, history has to be erased–otherwise we might assert our democracy. On this special program, the real history of May The post May Day: As American as Apple Pie appeared first on KDA...
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Who Is Trump’s Buddy Emmanuel Macron?
The mainstream left of Europe has largely collapsed. Their national economies are trapped by the European Union. The eloquent English speaking Emmanuel Macron, president of France for just a year, on his April trip to Washington, displayed a public “bromance” The post Who Is Trump’s Buddy…
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Cuba 2018: Neither Heaven Nor Hell
Talk about great mysteries: what do you think of when you hear the name Cuba? Cigar chomping communist dictator? People yearning to breathe free and live like Americans? We get one small picture here while the rest of the world The post Cuba 2018: Neither Heaven Nor Hell appeared first on KDA...
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North Korea: Peace Is Possible//Revival of Karl Marx
Fire and fury. Crazy Kim Jong Un. Crazy Trump. Mutual threats of mass destruction. Is there a way out? Of course. Korea scholar Tim Shorrock writes in The Nation that not only did Obama make the situation worse, but that The post North Korea: Peace Is Possible//Revival of Karl Marx appeared first...
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What America’s Left/Populists Have Won
While the left has had very few actual electoral victories, author Michael Kazin argues it has very effectively changed the nation. The author of “A Godly Hero: William Jennings Bryan,” talks about his book “American Dreamers.” What’s gone right and The post What America’s Left/Populists Have Won...
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Truth as an Effective Political Weapon: Corbyn//Use Public Money to Fund Public Projects
Is truth still the first casualty of politics? Not in the UK, where Labour’s Jeremy Corbyn stunned PM Teresa May. He dared to tell the truth; authenticity works. So says Marc Weisbrot of the Economic and Policy Research Center. And The post Truth as an Effective Political Weapon: Corbyn//Use…
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LePen Lost But Is Far From Defeat
How much did the election of Trump turn French voters away from the right wing populist Marine LePen in the May 7th election? To what degree is her party, the National Front, still racist? What is the danger of normalizing The post LePen Lost But Is Far From Defeat appeared first on KDA Keeping...
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Traitors or Prophets: Americans Who Fought A War Against WWI
They were real conservatives. They worried that our republican form of government was at grave risk if America joined the first world war over there. Michael Kazin’s timely new book is “War Against War: The American Fight for Peace 1914-1918.” The post Traitors or Prophets: Americans Who Fought A...
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Right and Left Solution to Trumpism: Municipalization
People are asking: what can we do to fight the new authoritarianism? Our guest argues: “People power need not be confined to a chant.” Keeping decision making close to home is something both right and left can agree on; municipalization The post Right and Left Solution to Trumpism…
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“Right to Work” a Disguised Assault on Freedom
Most of us thought Right to Work was a 20th century scheme to destroy collective bargaining rights. According to Cedric DeLeon, author of The Origins of Right To Work: AntiLabor Democracy in 19th Century Chicago, it started out as a The post “Right to Work” a Disguised Assault on Freedom appeared...
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Scandinavia Got it Right, So Can We
The Vikings were brave explorers and they found wondrous new things. Today Scandinavia holds promise of how America can become happier and more free. George Lakey, author of the new book Viking Economics, talks about struggling toward something rather than The post Scandinavia Got it Right, So…
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Saving Our Cities: Transforming Urban America
Generally American cites are dumped on: Budgets cut, services eliminated, schools ignored. But 80% of us live in cities and despite the pressure from uncaring financial interests and their politicians, we are close to a tipping point where an urban The post Saving Our Cities: Transforming Urban...
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The Danger of Trump Increases After Nov 8th
We’ve already seen the propensity of the angry, pumped up Trumpist mobs to violence. In his final debate performance, Donald Trump warned that his supporters might not abide by the results. Would the defeat of Trump be the end of The post The Danger of Trump Increases After Nov 8th appeared first...
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Political Disarray: Not the GOP, Spain
You think the Republicans are in a mess, look at Spain. They have been without a working government for years. The right is divided, the left is divided. Corruption is rampant. Catalonia wants to break off altogether. There are a The post Political Disarray: Not the GOP, Spain appeared first on…
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“Humanitarian Intervention:” A New Cover Story
It just sounds so bad: wars for domination. The new and improved justification is “humanitarian intervention” or Responsibility to Protect (R2P). It’s prime advocate is US Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power, likely to get a prime spot in a The post “Humanitarian Intervention:” A New Cover Story...
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Born On Third Base
Oscar Meyer was Chuck Collins’ great grandfather. At age 26, he turned aside his inherited fortune. Why would anybody do that? His new book is called Born on Third Base; A One Percenter Makes the Case for Tackling Inequality, Bringing The post Born On Third Base appeared first on KDA Keeping...
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Kurdish Women Beat ISIS
We’ve all heard of ISIS, we know Iraqi forces flee from them. But have you heard of the Kurdish women warriors of Rojava? ISIS is scared of them. And nation/state powers like Turkey also fear them. Who are these new The post Kurdish Women Beat ISIS appeared first on KDA Keeping Democracy Alive...
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Fall 80 Years Ago: Young Americans Went to Spain to Fight Fascists
They mostly came from big cities on the coasts. But why did fourteen young men came from rural New Hampshire in the Fall of 1936 to risk their lives in a foreign war? It was illegal for them to go The post Fall 80 Years Ago: Young Americans Went to Spain to Fight Fascists appeared first on KDA...
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Populism: Where To Now?
Populism has been part of our country’s identity since before the Constitution. It looked like there was a great populist uprising this year. Now, with the scare of Bernie Sanders behind them the corporate-serving Democrats are back to their “happy The post Populism: Where To Now? appeared first…
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Under and Over 70: The Israel Divide
Is the dream over? The socialist democratic Israel our parents generation dreamed of is not the right wing Israel we see today.What’s happening with Jewish Americans who are under 70? Why does the right wing Israel lobby still have so The post Under and Over 70: The Israel Divide appeared first…
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Serfs on a Debt Plantation//Palestine at the Democratic Convention
How do you like paying interest to use your own money? According to Mike Krauss of the Public Banking Institute, it doesn’t have to be that way. We can replace the privately held Federal Reserve system and use the treasury The post Serfs on a Debt Plantation//Palestine at the Democratic…
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Disruption of Establishment Politics: The Meaning of Brexit
This changes everything. “Britons may have made a short term tactical mistake, but the true error is Europe’s” according to Patrick Lawrence, Salon’s foreign affairs columnist. He adds that Bernie Sanders got it right in saying, “Let’s be clear. the The post Disruption of Establishment Politics:...
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The Coming Democratic Crack Up
Are we watching a train wreck in progress? Journalist Robert Parry, who broke many of the Iran-Contra stories, offers his insight into how the 2016 Democratic Party may have ignored important lessons from the 1968 crack up. There will be The post The Coming Democratic Crack Up appeared first on…
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The War Left Out of Your History Books
Adam Hochschild has written best selling books about a Belgian King’s holocaust in the Congo and another about the brave British women who fought against the insanity of the first world war. His new book is Spain in Our Hearts: The post The War Left Out of Your History Books appeared first on KDA...
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Nuit Debout: Say What?//Clinton Erodes Habeas Corpus
Hundreds of thousands of people in France and elsewhere in Europe gather nightly. It is huge, but you probably have never heard of it. The blackout has been intentional. It’s more than a protest, it’s a serious movement. As Sorbonne The post Nuit Debout: Say What?//Clinton Erodes Habeas Corpus...
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Is Obama a Black Leader?
He’s a mirror of our culture, the question is: will America look in the mirror? Guest on this show is Erin Aubry Kaplan, author of the new book “I (heart) Obama,” and a long time writer about the black experience The post Is Obama a Black Leader? appeared first on KDA Keeping Democracy Alive...
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This Populist Moment
Throughout American history there have been times, rare moments in which the political establishment’s movers and shakers quiver as their best laid plans have gone awry. Their too-often successful efforts to keep citizens believing that we are powerless are on The post This Populist Moment…
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The NH Primary From Media Optic
The 2016 New Hampshire Presidential Primary is history. No one predicted a 22 point blowout for Bernie Sanders. The establishment of both parties was flattened by the results. What the heck happened? Media talent trainer and consultant John Kosinski puts The post The NH Primary From Media Optic...
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Cowboy Socialism?
The myth of the rugged individualist settling the west is just that: a myth. The work needed to tame the wild and vast open spaces was not done with a lasso. The white people who populated the massive west needed The post Cowboy Socialism? appeared first on KDA Keeping Democracy Alive Podcast &...
About this show
Would you like to know more about the backgrounds and histories behind today's news? Subscribe to keepingdemocracyalive.com to find out the whys of where we are. Also interviews with authors of new non-fiction books. From a left perspective. Entertaining and educational twice weekly one hour shows since 2004.
Hosted by
Burt Cohen