Category: Indiana Writers Group

by Andrea Neal Indianapolis taxpayers are out millions for the city’s relentless effort to force motorists to give up their automobiles. The demise of electric car-sharing service Blue Indy, announced with a whimper on Dec. 20, comes as no surprise to anyone who has studied the urban transit landscape. Give the equally-trumpeted Red Line Rapid…

by Norman Van Cott, Ph.D. Among economists’ insights over the last almost 250 years, one of the keenest is that one can do good while doing well. The idea traces to Adam Smith. It means capitalists’ and entrepreneurs’ pursuit of profit can have favorable consequences for the community at large — and not just for…

“(Gov. Eric Holcomb) isn’t too concerned heading into a re-election year, saying that maintaining momentum is just as important as starting it. ‘Here in Indiana, whether it’s bold or not or controversial or shiny, I’m fine not being part of the food fight,’ he said.” — “Holcomb Confident in Bid for Second Term,” Niki Kelly…

by Leo Morris I’m such a cynic sometimes. The superintendent of our school district is retiring, and local education officials are making a big deal about considering public input in the naming of her replacement. I hate myself for it, but I find myself doubting their sincerity. For one thing, they’re using a prestigious firm…

by Eric Schansberg, Ph.D. My wife and I have a friend who has worked at a large retail store as an elf with Santa. She has told us some great stories about the wide variety of Santas and customers she has experienced. She has nicknamed some of the Santas she encountered. I had heard of…

WHY WOULD ANYONE spend an estimated $100,000 to win a district council election, especially when the incumbent was heavily outvoted at the council table? Yes, that’s a district council race in a midsized Indiana city, and that $100,000 is said to be a state record. Clearly, it was important to keep the incumbent from using…

WE WERE CHALLENGED recently to name one Indiana city council with a majority of members committed to smaller government. We could not. Indeed, we couldn’t remember one — ever. It is attestation that we’re losing the battle and the war. It’s time to change the strategy For starters, we have to stop . . . doing what we’re…

by Mark Franke I have an obsession, no doubt an unhealthy one since it controls me and not I it. I love to read . . . all the time. It is so bad that I never go anywhere without reading material just in case I have to wait for a few minutes. I actually…

I AM SUSPICIOUS of downtown economic development plans and their related public-private partnerships. That’s not because I know much about economics or even business generally. They simply don’t pass my grandfather test.  That is, my grandfather would be asking a question: If all you have to do to create a wealthy downtown is slap together a…

by Mark Franke A recent column in the Washington Examiner magazine focused on a congressional candidate in Michigan running as a conservative Republican in a Republican district. No big news there except for the fact that the candidate comes from a low income, Latino, union family. This is Michael J. Fox and “Family Ties” in…