Dec 11, 2022 – The Burlington Railroad Strike of 1888 – Arsenal For Democracy Ep. 452

Bill and Rachel examine the relatively minor failed Burlington railroad engineers and firemen strike in 1888, which had a profound effect on Eugene V. Debs.

Links and notes for ep. 452 (PDF): http://arsenalfordemocracy.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/AFD-Ep-452-Links-and-Notes-Burlington-railroad-strike-of-1888.pdf

Theme music by Stunt Bird.

Nov 20, 2022 – The Great Southwest Railroad Strike of 1886 – Arsenal For Democracy Ep. 449

Bill and Rachel explore the disappointments of the Great Southwest Railroad strike of 1886 and reflect on potential lessons for present-day railroad labor relations. (Note: After we recorded this episode, the results were released for the 2022 rail worker votes on tentative agreements. The engineers narrowly approved the proposed contract, while the conductors narrowly rejected it.)

Links and notes for ep. 449 (PDF): http://arsenalfordemocracy.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/AFD-Ep-449-Links-and-Notes-Great-Southwest-Railroad-Strike-of-1886.pdf

Theme music by Stunt Bird.

July 5, 2020 – The Great Railroad Strike of 1877 and the Long Depression – Arsenal For Democracy Ep. 315

Description: Bill, Rachel, and Kelley discuss the legacy of the Great Railroad Strike of 1877 and the stagnant U.S. economic conditions of 1873-1893 during the Second Industrial Revolution.

Links and notes for ep. 315 (PDF): http://arsenalfordemocracy.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/AFD-Ep-315-Links-and-Notes-The-Great-Railroad-Strike-of-1877-and-the-Long-Depression.pdf

Theme music by Stunt Bird.

June 28, 2020 – The Planned Economy – Arsenal For Democracy Ep. 314

Description: From Covid to Climate, planned economies are the future, but who will do the planning and who will benefit? We go back to the 1870s and the rise of corporate bureaucracy. Bill, Rachel, Kelley.

Links and notes for ep. 314 (PDF): http://arsenalfordemocracy.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/AFD-Ep-314-Links-and-Notes-The-Planned-Economy.pdf

Theme music by Stunt Bird.

May 24, 2020 – The Early US Oil Industry, Part 5 (Modern Tech Industry Parallels) – Arsenal For Democracy Ep. 309

Description: It’s the Second Gilded Age and the technology monopolies are back in full force. What is to be done? Kelley returns to the show to join Bill and Rachel for a discussion.

Links and notes for ep. 309 (PDF): http://arsenalfordemocracy.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/AFD-Ep-309-Links-and-Notes-Part-5_-The-Early-US-Oil-Industry-Modern-Parallels-to-the-Rise-of-Gilded-Age-Monopolism.pdf

Theme music by Stunt Bird.

See also: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4.

May 17, 2020 – The Early US Oil Industry, Part 4 (Are Monopolies Bad?) – Arsenal For Democracy Ep. 308

Description: Beyond “natural monopolies,” the second industrial revolution beginning in the 1870s probably required the formation of monopolies like Standard Oil, but did those monopolies have to be in private hands? Bill and Rachel investigate.

Links and notes for ep. 308 (PDF): http://arsenalfordemocracy.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/AFD-308-Links-Notes-Part-4_-The-Early-US-Oil-Industry-Part-4-Are-Monopolies-Bad_.pdf

Theme music by Stunt Bird.

See also: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3.

May 10, 2020 – The Early US Oil Industry, Part 3 (Rail Rate Wars) – Arsenal For Democracy Ep. 307

Description: Rachel and Bill discuss the railroad shipping rate discount wars of the 1870s northeastern United States and their role in the rise of Standard Oil. (See also part 1 and part 2.)

Links and notes for ep. 307 (PDF): http://arsenalfordemocracy.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/AFD-307-Links-and-Notes-Part-3_-Understanding-Rail-Price-Wars.pdf

Theme music by Stunt Bird.