Upstream Ideas
Summary: "He who seeks to improve conditions must propagate a new mentality, not merely a new institution." — Ludwig von Mises Our aim at Upstream Ideas is to do just as Mises suggested by turning the dial on how you look at the political and policy issues facing Illinois, Chicago and our nation. We present new ideas that inform salient policy decisions, start new conversations and move beyond partisan politics all while challenging the status quo. Dan Proft along with distinguished guests and contributors lay out in-depth issues in a digestible way to better understand why conditions are what they are and how they could be improved. We produce content in a variety of formats including long-form interviews, multiple segment radio shows and mini-monologues. We arm you with new information and fresh perspectives with the goal of making Illinois and the United States of America a bit more free, a bit more just and a bit more civilized.
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- Artist: Upstream Ideas
- Copyright: Copyright 2018 Upstream Ideas
Podcasts:
What would the President's tax reform plan mean for entrepreneurial capitalists? When it comes to the tax reform debate, what is most frustrating for job creators? How significant is the President's support for vocational training to the future of American manufacturing? Tom Click, President and CEO of Patriot Aluminum, joins Dan and Amy to discuss why small businesses need tax reform.
On this edition of “Illinois Rising”, Dan Proft and John Tillman, CEO of the Illinois Policy Institute, discuss the public sector unions’ attempt to oversee their own contract negotiations, union controls they want placed on home caregivers and how the teachers union in Palatine passed a ridiculously long 10 year contract deal with the district causing outrage among local officials and taxpayers.
On this edition of Illinois Rising, Dan Proft & Cole Lauterbach, Illinois Network News Reporter, discuss tax proposals from the Chicago Teachers Union designed to take more of your money including a Corp. ‘Head Tax’, increased ‘Gas Tax’ and ‘Rental Car Tax’, reducing the state’s prison population, IL dems. gaming on the House floor during critical budget debates and much more.
On this edition of Illinois Rising, Dan Proft and Cole Lauterbach, reporter with The Illinois News Network, are joined by Steve Rauschenberger, President of The Technology & Manufacturing Association. Steve gives a step-by-step rundown of how Madigan controls legislation from the House Rules Committee to the moment politicians vote on it. Dan & Cole also discuss Rahm’s proposed plan for the Chicago laborers’ pension fund.
On this edition of Illinois Rising, Dan Proft and John Kass, Chicago Tribune Columnist, discuss how the legislative session has ended without a budget, how Mike Madigan is becoming more-and-more like a White Walker from Game of Thrones, a proposal to eliminate East St. Louis Township and more.
On this edition of Illinois Rising, Dan Proft and John Tillman, President & CEO of the Illinois Policy Institute, discuss Chicago’s newest rules for rideshare drivers (Uber, Lyft etc), how the Mt. Sterling City Council voted against discontinuing water services to the Western ILL Correctional Center - which could affect more than 400 jobs - and more.
On this edition of Illinois Rising, Pat Hughes, Co-Founder, Illinois Opportunity Project (http://illinoisopportunity.org/), and Austin Berg, Illinois Policy (http://illinoispolicy.org/) Institute and Illinois News Network Columnist, discuss the budget impasse between Gov. Rauner and AFSCME, the stopgap budget that will keep Illinois afloat for six more months, how Mike Madigan rose to power and more.
On this edition of Illinois Rising, Dan Proft and Pat Hughes, co-founder Illinois Opportunity Project (https://illinoisopportunity.org/), discuss why Illinois has the fifth-highest paid lawmakers (though only working part-time) in the country, Crain’s Custom Media’s, Greg Hinz, piece with the absurd headline “Pay to play politics is bad, but it works: business survey.” and more.
On this edition of Illinois Rising, Dan Proft and Austin Berg, Writer, Illinois Policy Institute; Columnist, Illinois News Network, discuss the marijuana decriminalization bill that Gov. Rauner signed into law this week, the issue with lack of term limits in Illinois, the rising number of middle class families on food stamps and more.
On this episode of ATC, Dan Proft sits down with Emily Zender, Executive Director of Illinois Right to Life (http://illinoisrighttolife.org/), who has emerged as one of the pro-life movement’s important young leaders. Zender’s group focuses on millennials and educating them on the science of life. Zender also notes a change in the pro-life, pro-choice debate in that the pro-choice side has withdrawn debate all together instead focusing on using their partners in the media and academia to stifle the pro-life viewpoint. Zender also explains how the Planned Parenthood undercover videos have changed the policy landscape and the available mission field. All of this and how abortion hurts women with Illinois Right to Life’s Emily Zender.
On this installment of Against The Current (ATC), Dan Proft sits down with State Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton) and Chicago Tribune Editorial Board member Kristen McQueary to discuss the state budget (lack thereof), schools opening on time and the politics of it all. If no progress is made before the November election, will voters cast a pox on all houses or will one party bear more of the blame? Can Rauner recover? And McQueary explains why she is a Democrat that Illinois Democrats lost. All of this and more on this edition of ATC.
On this edition of ATC, Heritage Foundation (http://upstream-ideas.com/upstream-ideas/ideas/atc-steve-moore-talks-trumpnomics-dismisses-nevertrump#) Senior Economist Steve Moore, who also serves as an economic policy adviser to the Trump campaign, sat down with Dan Proft to discuss the Trump economic policy which he believes will be central to a Trump victory. Moore also explains his criticism of his conservative colleagues in the #NeverTrump camp. And Moore discusses his new book about U.S. energy policy, "Fueling Freedom".
In a state with $8 billion in unpaid bills trending to $10 billion in unpaid bills, the Comptroller turns out to have a critically important (and exceedingly difficult) job. The woman with that job, Leslie Munger, sits down with Dan Proft on this edition of Against The Current. Munger translates the state's finances to your household so Illinois families and state vendors alike understand what she's up against in trying to navigate the impossible: the creative math of Illinois' Ruling Class politicians. Munger also discusses a number of her reform proposals including a soon-to-launch transparency play that connects state contracts with campaign donations.
On this edition of Against The Current (ATC), Dan Proft sits down with former New York City Inspector General (under both Mayors Giuliani and Bloomberg) and Legislative Inspector General of the City of Chicago Faisal Khan. Khan, who spent four years with the City of Chicago, made the mistake of taking his position clearly not recognizing initially that Mayor Emanuel and the City Council intended him only to serve as window-dressing to give the appearance they were interested in reform. Despite this disconnect, Khan discusses the many investigations he initiated and subsequently turned over to the FBI upon his departure which he expects will produce criminal prosecutions of current city officeholders. Khan's elucidates Chicago culture of corruption wherein politicians' arrogance breeds disdain which opens the door to corrupt dealing. Khan discusses the lessons learned from his experience at the city and how they inform the project he has now embarked upon, Project Six. Learn about Faisal Khan and his ongoing efforts to help Chicago shed its feudal system of governance on this episode of ATC.
On a special edition of "Against The Current", Salem Radio Network Dennis Prager was in Chicago for a "Cigar Night" with AM 560 listeners at which Dan Proft did a 90-minute one-on-one with Prager for the makeshift studio audience. Prager explained how conservatives should look at the choice between Trump and Hillary, gave his take on the most important fact of the last 100 years, opined on social conservatism, and offered a most compelling treatise on the joy of cigar smoking. One of the great minds of conservatism and one of the most important voices on radio, Dennis Prager, on this special edition of ATC.
