Access To Democracy

There is an organization, likely unknown to most people, with a critical mission to keep our electrical power always on and available for us.

Our guest Sara Patrick, President and Chief Executive Officer, Midwest Reliability Organization (MRO), joins host Bill Raker, to explain what that organization is and what it does to help ensure the availability and reliability of electric power in the Midwest Region.

The conversation reveals fascinating information about an interesting and important entity; and you’ll understand why the lights stay on.

The Looming End of Our American Democracy  —  This is a special 2-segment 60 minute program. In the first part, our guests, Mary Hartnett & David Schultz engage in an insightful conversation on how our US elections are being funded and the corrupting impact it has on our government.

Part two addresses possible solutions to the problems identified in the first segment.

Host Bill Raker provides the introduction for the topic and the transition between segments. For the discussion, David brings his extensive knowledge of government and politics; and Mary calls on her experience with the nonprofit, non-partisan Clean Elections Minnesota. The conversation concludes on a note of hope.

In this episode, Eagan High School principal, Dr. Polly Reikowski, joins host Steve Francisco to discuss how one of the best high schools in Minnesota prepares its students for the future.

With a current enrollment of 2211 students and a dedicated faculty, Eagan High School provides comprehensive basic courses in English, math, and science, and also offers advanced learning options for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) such as its award-winning robotics team, television production in the school’s in-house state-of-the-art TV studio, theater, music, sports, and multiple foreign languages.

Dr. Reikowski expresses her appreciation for the voters of Independent School District 196 who have approved referenda and bond issues that keep Eagan High School at the top in various rankings.

Jon Pratt, Co-Chair of the Philanthropy Project, shares with host Steve Francisco his concerns about the current state of philanthropy in America and why he believes that some reforms are urgently needed. U.S. foundations, public and private, have accumulated $1.5 trillion in assets, an eye-popping figure. Much of this money, however, sits in banks and investments and is not being used to finance and advance the public good which, is the stated goal of philanthropy, after all.

Jon explains how banks and money managers rake in large (and growing) fees for managing the unspent funds and how federal tax deductions are being granted for unspent charitable donations.

The Philanthropy Project is making the case for greater awareness of these issues as well as the need for tax reform and greater transparency in how foundations do their work.

Former Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Paul Anderson, returns to “Access to Democracy” with host Steve Francisco and explains why he believes that we are currently living through an unprecedented constitutional crisis.

Justice Anderson observes that America’s founders created a unique system of checks and balances between the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government but laments the attacks of the Trump administration’s attacks upon due process of law, on individual judges, civil liberties, and infringing on the prerogatives of Congress in attempting to unilaterally abolish entire federal departments and agencies.

Justice Anderson also critiques the US Supreme Court for its decision last year giving Trump and future president’s absolute immunity for official acts.