Why are so many Americans juggling multiple jobs just to survive? In this episode of Evergreen Perspective, host Ben Christly digs deep into the realities behind the rise of the gig economy, side hustles, and self-employment and asks the hard question: Is the American Dream still achievable?

We explore:

Why a 9–5 paycheck no longer covers the basics
How billion-dollar corporations exploit gig labor while posting record profits

The risks faced by freelancers and solo entrepreneurs

How wage stagnation and corporate greed are driving inequality

What Washington State is doing and where it still falls short

Real solutions that support workers and small businesses

Whether you’re a rideshare driver, a small business owner, or just someone trying to get ahead in today’s economy this episode breaks down what’s broken and how we can fix it.


Like & Subscribe : If this episode resonated with you, hit that like button and subscribe for more deep dives into the policies shaping our world.

Follow Evergreen Perspective on Social Media: Stay up to date with behind-the-scenes content, upcoming topics, and ways to take action.

Find Us On:
Spotify, Apple Podcasts, & Google Podcasts
Instagram: @evergreenperspective1
Facebook: Evergreen Perspective
Bluesky: @evergreenpodcast.bsky.social

Evergreen Perspective is about cutting through the noise, staying grounded in facts, and fostering real conversations. This isn’t about left vs. right , it’s about people vs. power. Let’s reclaim the conversation.

Share : Knowledge is power. Send this episode to a friend, co-worker, or family member who’s ever questioned the system.

Clark County Council Meeting - https://clark.wa.gov/councilors/council-meeting-information


Cowlitz County Republican Central Committee Meeting - https://www.cowlitzgop.com/events


20th Legislative District Democrats - https://www.facebook.com/20thLegislativeDistrictDemocratsWA


Washington Gorge Action Programs - https://www.wagap.org/volunteer

Student Debt in America: Why Are We Paying for Education Forever?
Why is an entire generation still paying for college decades later?

In this episode of Evergreen Perspective, We break down the history of student debt in America, how we got here, why it’s gotten so out of control, and what it says about our national priorities.

We dig into:

The origins of the student loan system and its broken promises

How Ronald Reagan helped shift education from a public good to a personal burden

Why college used to be affordable and what changed

Whether degrees are still worth it in today’s economy

The rise of trade schools, apprenticeships, and online alternatives

The predatory nature of interest, debt traps, and federal profit-making

Why we bailed out banks, airlines, and automakers but punish students for seeking an education

What solutions exist and why forgiveness isn’t just fair, but necessary

We call out the hypocrisy of a system that profits off young people trying to get ahead, and makes a strong case for why education in the richest country in the world should never be a life sentence of debt.

If you’ve ever taken out a loan, paid into a system that failed to return the promise, or wondered how we fix this, this episode is for you.


Like & Subscribe : If this episode resonated with you, hit that like button and subscribe for more deep dives into the policies shaping our world.

Follow Evergreen Perspective on Social Media: Stay up to date with behind-the-scenes content, upcoming topics, and ways to take action.

Find Us On:
Spotify, Apple Podcasts, & Google Podcasts
Instagram: @evergreenperspective1
Facebook: Evergreen Perspective
Bluesky: @evergreenpodcast.bsky.social

Evergreen Perspective is about cutting through the noise, staying grounded in facts, and fostering real conversations. This isn’t about left vs. right , it’s about people vs. power. Let’s reclaim the conversation.

Share : Knowledge is power. Send this episode to a friend, co-worker, or family member who’s ever questioned the system.

Vancouver Pride Block Party - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/vancouver-pride-block-party-tickets-1358105844139

Young Dems of Clark County - https://ydclarkco.org/events/

Clark County Food Bank - https://www.clarkcountyfoodbank.org/volunteer

In this episode of Evergreen Perspective - Behind the Credit Curtain: Debt, Discrimination, and the Fight for Fairness - host Ben Christly pulls back the curtain on the American credit system, revealing the hidden history, the rigged rules, and the real-world impact on millions of people’s lives.

Why does avoiding debt hurt your credit score?
Why can a single hard inquiry drop your number?
Why are entire communities locked out of financial opportunity before they even begin?

We trace the system’s roots from biased, handwritten credit files in the 1900s… to the creation of FICO in 1989… to today’s secretive, profit-driven scoring models that punish the poor and reward the already wealthy.

You’ll learn:
The racist and sexist origins of credit scoring
How the Big Three credit bureaus came to dominate the system
Why good behavior—like paying off debt—can actually lower your score
What reforms could create a fairer, more transparent system
And why you are more than your credit score.

This isn’t just about numbers. It’s about access, dignity, and the kind of financial future we want to build.

Hit play, and let’s break it down together.

Like & Subscribe : If this episode resonated with you, hit that like button and subscribe for more deep dives into the policies shaping our world.

Follow Evergreen Perspective on Social Media: Stay up to date with behind-the-scenes content, upcoming topics, and ways to take action.

Find Us On:
Spotify, Apple Podcasts, & Google Podcasts
Instagram: @evergreenperspective1
Facebook: Evergreen Perspective
Bluesky: @evergreenpodcast.bsky.social

Evergreen Perspective is about cutting through the noise, staying grounded in facts, and fostering real conversations. This isn’t about left vs. right , it’s about people vs. power. Let’s reclaim the conversation.

Share : Knowledge is power. Send this episode to a friend, co-worker, or family member who’s ever questioned the system.

Vancouver Pride Block Party - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/vancouver-pride-block-party-tickets-1358105844139

Young Dems of Clark County - https://ydclarkco.org/events/

Clark County Food Bank - https://www.clarkcountyfoodbank.org/volunteer

In Part 2 of Why Are We Broke? | Part 2: Housing, Inflation, and the Price of Survival, we dives into the everyday costs that make life unaffordable, even for Americans working full-time.

We move beyond wages and into the real, grinding pressure of trying to afford housing, groceries, gas, healthcare, and childcare in today’s economy.

We unpack:

Why rent and home prices exploded after COVID and why they’re staying high

How grocery chains and big corporations used inflation as an excuse to raise prices and pad profits (“greedflation”)

How Wall Street and corporate landlords turned housing into an investment game

Why basic human needs like food and shelter should never be driven by shareholder profit

If you’ve ever wondered why your paycheck disappears by the first of the month, why rent is swallowing half your income, or why corporate profits are setting records while you struggle to keep up this episode breaks it all down.

This isn’t just an economic issue, it’s a survival issue.

This is Evergreen Perspective.
Let’s talk about it.

Like & Subscribe : If this episode resonated with you, hit that like button and subscribe for more deep dives into the policies shaping our world.

Follow Evergreen Perspective on Social Media: Stay up to date with behind-the-scenes content, upcoming topics, and ways to take action.

Find Us On:
Spotify, Apple Podcasts, & Google Podcasts
Instagram: @evergreenperspective1
Facebook: Evergreen Perspective
Bluesky: @evergreenpodcast.bsky.social

Evergreen Perspective is about cutting through the noise, staying grounded in facts, and fostering real conversations. This isn’t about left vs. right , it’s about people vs. power. Let’s reclaim the conversation.
Share : Knowledge is power. Send this episode to a friend, co-worker, or family member who’s ever questioned the system.

Clark County Republicans - https://clarkrepublicans.org/ccrp-meetings/volunteer-meet-greet-open-house


Battleground School Board Meeting - https://www.battlegroundps.org/events?start_date=2025-06-01&end_date=2025-06-30&view=cal-month


Ogden Dinner - https://clarkcountydems.com/2025/03/ogden-dinner-tickets-on-sale/



Martha’s Pantry - https://marthaspantry.org

In Part 1 of “Why Are We Broke?”, we break down the real reasons why so many Americans even those working full-time are living paycheck to paycheck.

This isn’t about laziness. It’s not about bad budgeting.
It’s about a system that stopped rewarding work and started hoarding wealth at the top.

From the history of the federal minimum wage to the rise of corporate profiteering, this episode walks through how the rules were rewritten over the last 40 years to benefit billionaires, freeze wages, and blame the working class for struggling.

We’ll talk about:

• What the minimum wage was actually created for
• Why it hasn’t kept pace with inflation or productivity
• How corporations offload labor costs onto taxpayers
• And why defending billionaires is hurting the very people doing the work

This is the story of how the American economy got rigged from the top down and what it will take to fix it.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing everything right and still falling behind you’re not alone.

This is Evergreen Perspective.
Let’s talk about it.

17th LD Democrats General Meeting - https://www.17thdems.org

Washougal City Council Meeting - https://www.cityofwashougal.us/382/Mayor-City-Council

Cowlitz County Republican Central Committee Meeting - https://www.cowlitzgop.com/events

Lower Columbia River Estuary Partnership - https://www.estuarypartnership.org/get-involved/volunteering

Discussing Wealth Psychology in today's Evergreen Perspective: Sapling Edition!

What Can We Do?
It’s easy to feel powerless in the face of billionaire dominance, but history shows that real change happens when we demand accountability. From labor unions to tax reform to campaign finance transparency, there are concrete steps we can take to challenge the wealth gap and level the playing field.
Get Involved!
Like & Subscribe : If this episode resonated with you, hit that like button and subscribe for more deep dives into the policies shaping our world.
Share : Knowledge is power. Send this episode to a friend, co-worker, or family member who’s ever questioned the system.
Join the Conversation : What are your thoughts on billionaires and economic inequality? Drop a comment below; we read and respond!

Follow Evergreen Perspective on Social Media: Stay up to date with behind-the-scenes content, upcoming topics, and ways to take action.
Find Us On:
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Instagram: @evergreenperspective1
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Bluesky: @evergreenpodcast.bsky.social
Evergreen Perspective is about cutting through the noise, staying grounded in facts, and fostering real conversations. This isn’t about left vs. right , it’s about people vs. power. Let’s reclaim the conversation.
#Billionaires #WealthInequality #EvergreenPerspective #Monopolies #Economics #Politics #FairWages #SmallBusiness #JeffBezos #ElonMusk #TaxTheRich #ClassWar #PodcastLaunch

For much of the 20th century, American manufacturing was the engine of the middle class. Union jobs, pensions, and paychecks you could build a life on. But over time through trade deals, offshoring, automation, and corporate greed , that engine was dismantled.

In this episode of Evergreen Perspective, we take a hard look at how it happened. From the golden age of industry to the quiet collapse of factory towns like Canton, North Carolina, we unpack the real reasons American manufacturing disappeared—and whether it can ever truly come back.

We break down:

The historical rise of U.S. manufacturing and the promises it held.

How NAFTA and China’s entry into the WTO accelerated job loss.

The role of Walmart, Wall Street, and Congress in offshoring American jobs.

What tariffs do—and what they don’t.

Why a real comeback would require more than slogans.

What we can do now to rebuild an economy that values work again.

This isn’t just about economics. It’s about identity. Community. Dignity.
And it’s about whether we’re finally ready to stop repeating the same mistakes.

Subscribe, listen, and join the conversation.

#MadeInAmerica #Manufacturing #EvergreenPerspective #LaborRights #NAFTA #Tariffs #WTO #WorkingClass #EconJustice #UnionStrong #CantonNC #FactoryJobs #AmericanEconomy #Globalization

Like & Subscribe : If this episode resonated with you, hit that like button and subscribe for more deep dives into the policies shaping our world.

Follow Evergreen Perspective on Social Media: Stay up to date with behind-the-scenes content, upcoming topics, and ways to take action.
Find Us On:
Spotify, Apple Podcasts, & Google Podcasts
Instagram: @evergreenperspective1
Facebook: Evergreen Perspective
Bluesky: @evergreenpodcast.bsky.social

Evergreen Perspective is about cutting through the noise, staying grounded in facts, and fostering real conversations. This isn’t about left vs. right , it’s about people vs. power. Let’s reclaim the conversation.
Share : Knowledge is power. Send this episode to a friend, co-worker, or family member who’s ever questioned the system.

Lewis County Democrats General Meeting - https://lewiscountydemocrats.org/meetings/


Cowlitz County GOP Community Action Night - https://www.facebook.com/events/1834383033405314/?_rdr


Wahkiakum Board of County Commissioners Meeting - https://www.co.wahkiakum.wa.us/257/Board-of-County-Commissioners


Grays Harbor National Wildlife Refuge - https://www.fws.gov/refuge/grays-harbor/get-involved

What does freedom really mean in America today?

In this episode of Evergreen Perspective, we dig deep into the complicated, often contradictory history of freedom in the United States: from its selective beginnings at the founding, to the way politicians, billionaires, and media have weaponized the word for their own gain.

We’ll explore how different political sides frame freedom today, the rise of alternative facts, the devastating impact of disinformation, and why both major parties are guilty of manipulating outrage and division. We’ll talk about how corporate greed, religious overreach, and cultural fear-mongering are sold to us as “freedom” while true liberty slips further away for ordinary people.

This is not just a history lesson. It is a wake-up call.
Because real freedom is not about domination, deregulation, or control over others.
It is about dignity, safety, opportunity, and the right to exist fully as yourself without fear.

Freedom is not a slogan. It is a promise.
And right now, that promise is under threat.

Join me as we cut through the noise and ask:
Whose freedom are we really talking about? And how do we take it back?

Like & Subscribe : If this episode resonated with you, hit that like button and subscribe for more deep dives into the policies shaping our world.

Follow Evergreen Perspective on Social Media: Stay up to date with behind-the-scenes content, upcoming topics, and ways to take action.
Find Us On:
Spotify, Apple Podcasts, & Google Podcasts
Instagram: @evergreenperspective1
Facebook: Evergreen Perspective
Bluesky: @evergreenpodcast.bsky.social

Evergreen Perspective is about cutting through the noise, staying grounded in facts, and fostering real conversations. This isn’t about left vs. right , it’s about people vs. power. Let’s reclaim the conversation.
Share : Knowledge is power. Send this episode to a friend, co-worker, or family member who’s ever questioned the system.

Lewis County Democrats General Meeting - https://lewiscountydemocrats.org/meetings/

Cowlitz County GOP Community Action Night - https://www.facebook.com/events/1834383033405314/?_rdr

Wahkiakum Board of County Commissioners Meeting - https://www.co.wahkiakum.wa.us/257/Board-of-County-Commissioners

Grays Harbor National Wildlife Refuge - https://www.fws.gov/refuge/grays-harbor/get-involved