The Theater of Public Policy

The Theater of Public Policy from Kevin McKeever on Vimeo.

See the entire "Whose Economy Is It Anyway?" show by clicking on the videos tab above.

T2P2 shows take place Thursday evenings, 7 p.m. @ Huge Theater.

Coming up in February & March 2012…

February 2: Immigration and Higher Education
Guests: Annie Levenson-Falk of the Citizens League and Juventino (Juve) Meza of NAVIGATE.
We know that in the next century, Minnesota will need a larger, better-educated workforce, and the number of students from immigrant families in the state is growing. Are we doing enough to prepare this key part of our population to become future leaders?

February 9: MN Legislature 2012
Guest: Lori Sturdevant, columnist/writer with the Star Tribune.
The 2011 session of the Minnesota Legislature was historic, and for few good reasons. Gridlock, a special session, and ultimately a deal “we can all be disappointed in,” was the result following party reversals in both houses of the legislature and the governorship. Will 2012 be any better?

February 16: Teachers and Bullying
Guest: Julie Blaha, President of Anoka-Hennepin Education Minnesota
The district’s neutrality policy on issues of homosexuality has drawn the attention and ire of LGBT rights advocates from across the country. The rules leave many teachers wondering what they can or can’t say when a gay student is being bullied or harassed.

February 23: The economics of inequality
Guest: Dr. Jay Coggins of the University of Minnesota
The rise of Occupy Wallstreet has given new life to questions of economic inequality in America. Economists across the political spectrum agree that the rich are getting richer, while the middle class is shrinking. Dr. Jay Coggins of the University of Minnesota has written extensively on the growing gap between rich and poor and coined the term, “inequality deniers.” We’ll ask him what’s going on and what can be done about it.

March 1: Energy Infrastructure
Guest: Maggie Koerth-Baker of Boing Boing
Our homes are powered by massive power plants connected through interstate networks. Maggie Koerth-Baker talks to us about the current state of electrical infrastructure and why we need to change how we produce electricity to be smaller in scale while using locally available renewable resources.

March 8: Vikings Stadium
Guest: Cory Merrifeld, founder of SaveTheVikes.org
This session, the Minnesota Legislature will have to decide whether to support a new Vikings Stadium. There are currently at least four serious proposals on the table. Proponents say the Vikings will leave without a new stadium, and take jobs and state pride with them. But when the state is having to delay payments to teachers, can we really afford a publicly-subsidized stadium?

March 15: Farm to Chef
Guest: Lee Ergstrom of Minnesota 2020
In just the past year, both Macalster and St. Thomas began offering in-season, local produce at their Twin Cities campuses. These are just a few examples of the major in-roads the locavore moment has made in popularizing and promoting local, small-scale farms. We’ll ask Minnesota 2020′s Lee Ergstrom what’s next for this movement–why local is better.

March 22: Politics in Minnesota
Guest: Sarah Janacek, former editor of Politics in Minnesota
2010 was an incredible year for Minnesota Republicans. For the first time in nearly 40 years, they took control of both the Minnesota House and Senate. The year started with a stand-off between DFL Governor Mark Dayton resulting in a record-setting government shutdown and ended with the resignations of several party leaders. What’s happening with the Republican Party in 2012 and what’s the outlook for the fall election?

March 29: Water
Guest: Peggy Knapp of the Freshwater Society
In the land of 10,000 Lakes, what do we have to worry about when it comes to water issues? Lots. The health and sustainability of our lakes and rivers will have profound effects on our state’s tourism industry, economy, and ultimately our health. We’ll talk to Peggy Knapp about what we need to know about water in Minnesota, what helps and hurts water quality.