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.

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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.

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.
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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

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