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

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

When the uniform comes off, the mission doesn’t end.

In this episode of Evergreen Perspective, host Ben Christly, Navy veteran, flight nurse, and former nurse care manager at the VA dives into the real-life challenges veterans face after service. From navigating a broken VA system to battling trauma, addiction, and housing instability, this episode pulls back the curtain on what "supporting our troops" really means.

We trace the history of how America has treated its veterans, from Revolutionary War pension promises to modern-day staffing cuts under the Trump administration. You’ll hear the story of “Tony,” a veteran struggling to access mental health care, and learn how local heroes in Washington’s 3rd District are stepping up to help.

We also tackle tough truths: why privatizing veteran care doesn’t save money, why some veterans feel judged by their peers, and why slogans aren’t enough without policy to back them up.

Key Topics:

• VA staffing cuts in 2024–2025 and the push toward privatization
• The Bonus Army March and its violent fallout
• Veteran homelessness and the role of HUD-VASH
• The emotional toll of transitioning to civilian life
• What real accountability for elected officials looks like

Resources for Veterans:

• VA Crisis Line: Dial 988, then press 1
• National Coalition for Homeless Veterans: nchv.org
• Washington State VA: dva.wa.gov
• WorkSource & Hire Heroes USA job programs

17 th LD Democrats’ General Meeting - https://www.17thdems.org
49th LD Republican Caucus Meeting - https://clarkrepublicans.org/ld-49-
meetings/ld-49th-caucus-meeting-04-26
Repair & Sustainability Fair -
https://lewiscountywa.gov/media/documents/Repair_Fair_flyer_Spring25_CC_Ce
ntralia_4-26-25.pdf

Adopt-A-Park Event at LeRoy Haagen -
https://www.cityofvancouver.us/events/adopt-a-park-event-at-leroy-haagen-20/

What happens when one of the most important promises we’ve made as a country, the promise of a secure retirement, starts to unravel?

In this episode of Evergreen Perspective, we’re diving deep into the past, present, and future of Social Security: the program that provides stability for over 70 million Americans, including retirees, people with disabilities, and children who’ve lost a parent.

We’ll explore how Social Security began as part of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal during the Great Depression and how it was born out of a time when growing old often meant falling into poverty. You'll hear the story of Dolores, a retired nurse’s aide who, like millions of Americans, depends on her Social Security check each month just to get by.

We break down:

How the system actually works - where the money comes from, how benefits are calculated, and what the trust funds do.

The political attacks: from Donald Trump’s proposed cuts to the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, which has made headlines with claims of fraud, including 150-year-olds receiving checks and 9-year-olds getting loans.

What’s real and what’s not debunking the myths around fraud and so-called “abuse” of disability and survivor benefits.

The solutions on the table : from lifting the payroll tax cap to expanding benefits, and why the burden should not fall on the working and middle class.

This isn’t just about policy. It’s about people. About promises. And about whether we still believe that after a lifetime of hard work, no one should be left behind.

Subscribe for deep dives, real conversations, and perspectives that matter.

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.


Longview Spring Dark Market -
https://www.facebook.com/events/1148587806888595
Clark County Republican Quarterly Meeting - https://clarkrepublicans.org/ccrp-
meetings/ccrcc-2nd-quarter-2025
20th LD Democrats General Meeting -
https://www.facebook.com/20thLegislativeDistrictDemocratsWA/
South Pacific County Humane Society - https://beachpets.com/long-beach-wa-
shelter/help-needed-list/


#socialsecurity #EvergreenPerspective #PublicPolicy #MythBusting #SocialWelfare#SocialSecurity #Medicare #EvergreenPerspective #RetirementSecurity #SocialSafetyNet #Politics #DisabilityRights #FDR #ElonMusk #DOGE

In this Sapling Edition of Evergreen Perspective, we take a sharp, clear-eyed look at how the right to vote is being restricted in 2025, and why it matters more than ever.

We break down the history of voting in America, the real impact of modern voter suppression, and expose the truth behind the SAVE Act, legislation that claims to protect elections but could silence millions of eligible voters, especially women, minorities, and low-income Americans.

We also highlight the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and why protecting access to the ballot box is not a partisan issue, it’s a democratic one.

In this episode of Evergreen Perspective, we take a hard look at Medicare, where it came from, what it was meant to do, and why it’s under threat today.
We walk through the origins of the program, the political battles that shaped it, and how the private insurance industry continues to chip away at a system designed to protect working Americans in their most vulnerable years.
From the rising costs facing seniors to the influence of billion-dollar corporations and the ultra-wealthy, this episode is about more than policy. It’s about priorities. About who gets care, who gets left out, and who profits from the gaps in between.
If you care about healthcare, economic fairness, and protecting the people who built this country, this episode is for you.

This episode isn’t just about healthcare. It’s about what kind of country we want to be. It’s about whether we believe in the idea of “We the People,” and whether we believe that access to care should be a human right, not a luxury. We’re talking about Medicare, what it was meant to be, what it’s become, and what’s at stake as corporate influence and political pressure threaten to pull it apart.

Hosted by Ben Christly, Evergreen Perspective offers clear, compassionate storytelling rooted in fact and focused on reform. Whether you're a healthcare worker, a policymaker, or just someone trying to understand the truth about America's healthcare safety net, you're in the right place.

Subscribe for deep dives, real conversations, and perspectives that matter.

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.

#Medicare #ProtectMedicare #MedicareForAll #MedicareExplained #HealthcareJustice #HealthcareIsAHumanRight #PeopleOverProfits #EconomicJustice #HealthEquity #AmericanHealthcare #ProgressivePolitics #PublicHealth #WorkingClassVoices #SeniorsDeserveBetter #ElderCare #VeteransHealthcare #HealthcarePolicy #SocialSafetyNet #MedicareAdvantage #FightForMedicare #Medigap #PrescriptionCosts #HealthcareCosts #EvergreenPerspective #BenChristly #WeDeserveBetter #CareNotCuts #FundMedicare #CorporateGreed


Indivisible Greater Vancouver Meeting - https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible-greater-vancouver/event/762367/
Ivy Removal at Behrens Woods in Vancouver -
https://www.cityofvancouver.us/events/ivy-removal-at-behrens-woods-34/
Lewis County Democrats General Meeting -
https://lewiscountydemocrats.org/meetings/
Yakima County GOP Monthly E-Board Meeting - https://wagop.org/wagop-events/

In this episode of Evergreen Perspective, we explore the truth about Medicaid, what it is, who it helps, and why it matters to every single American, whether you use it or not. Through personal stories, historical context, and current policy battles, we reveal how Medicaid has become a vital lifeline for millions of working-class families, children, seniors, and people with disabilities.

We walk through what healthcare looked like before Medicaid existed and how the program came to be. We examine how it’s managed today, who qualifies, and why some states have chosen to expand coverage while others have refused, often with devastating consequences. We also break down the latest budget proposals that aim to gut the program, and how misinformation and political spin are being used to justify cuts that would hurt the most vulnerable among us.

This episode isn’t just about healthcare. It’s about what kind of country we want to be. It’s about whether we believe in the idea of “We the People,” and whether we believe that access to care should be a human right, not a luxury. If you’ve ever had a job, a family, or a medical bill you weren’t sure you could pay, this episode is for you.

Hosted by Ben Christly, Evergreen Perspective offers clear, compassionate storytelling rooted in fact and focused on reform. Whether you're a healthcare worker, a policymaker, or just someone trying to understand the truth about America's healthcare safety net, you're in the right place.

Subscribe for deep dives, real conversations, and perspectives that matter.

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.

Klickitat County Republican Central Committee Meeting- https://wagop.org/wagop-events/

Indivisible Greater Vancouver Meeting - https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible-greater-vancouver/event/762367/

49th Legislative District Democrats Meeting - https://49thdemocrats.org/calendar

Lewis County Master Recycler Composter- https://lewiscountywa.gov/departments/solid-waste/volunteer/wsu-lewis-county-master-recycler-composter-volunteers/

Welcome to Evergreen Perspective, a podcast that takes a thoughtful, honest look at the systems shaping our lives and communities. In this episode, we dive deep into the American prison system - from its colonial roots to the rise of private prisons, and from sentencing disparities to the real human impact of mass incarceration.
We explore the harsh realities faced by non-violent offenders still serving time for cannabis-related crimes, the financial and ethical costs of privatized incarceration, and the systemic corruption that continues to plague our justice system. Through real stories like that of Edwin Rubis, we shed light on how outdated policies are still destroying lives, even as laws change around them.

Hosted by Ben Christly, Evergreen Perspective offers clear, compassionate storytelling rooted in fact and focused on reform. Whether you're an advocate, a student, or just curious about the truth behind America's prison-industrial complex, you're in the right place.

Subscribe for deep dives, real conversations, and perspectives that matter.

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.

Washington State Democratic Party virtual meeting on Issue Advocacy -
https://secure.ngpvan.com/T-wyxJt7ekOTjru59sPo3Q2
Ridgefield City Council Meeting - https://ridgefieldwa.us/163/City-Council
Clark County Republican Lincoln Day Dinner - https://clarkrepublicans.org/event-
calendar/lincoln-day-dinner
Wahkiakum Board of County Commissioners’ Meeting -
https://www.co.wahkiakum.wa.us/257/Board-of-County-Commissioners
Pacific County Immigrant Support - https://www.pcisupport.org/get-involved/