Category: Indiana Writers Group

For release Sept. 16 and thereafter (588 words) I’m not a big fan of the National Football League (NFL) — I don’t bleed Colts blue — but I do catch a game here and there, and I’ll admit I’m glad the season started on time this year. But according to a recent article in the…

For release Aug. 31 and thereafter (765 words) Keynesian economists, especially Alan Blinder and Nobel Laureate Paul Krugman, have been stridently outspoken recently about the notion that federal stimulus could destroy jobs. They are most concerned that this view is a threat to sound policy-making and that public opinion is swinging rapidly and heavily toward…

For release Aug. 24 and thereafter (737 words) “Cursive handwriting has been omitted from the Common Core State Standards, the new curriculum standard that more than 40 states adopted last summer.” ~ the Associated Press Beginning this fall, Indiana’s State Department of Education will no longer require public schools to teach cursive writing. Instead, students…

(Richmond, Ind.) – When their city got the nickname “dropout factory” a few years back, retired businessmen Vic Jose and Rick Ahaus decided to do something about it. Four years later, the Third Grade Academy — an intensive summer program for struggling readers — is nudging ISTEP scores higher. It’s also inspired the National Civic…

For release Aug. 10 and thereafter (682 words) Low wages, earned part-time, are often ridiculed by those who do not have to justify their employment week by week. Most part-timers, though, maintain their skills, work legitimately, report taxable income and contribute payroll taxes. Their meager earnings buy groceries and pay for utilities. For many, part-time…

For release Aug. 3 and thereafter (680 words) It doesn’t take an economist to spot the common thread in these recent economic development headlines: Chattanooga, Tenn.: “Volkswagen hires 2,000th employee.” July 29 Shreveport, La.: “NJ-based bag manufacturer to build Louisiana plant.” July 28 Decatur, Ala.: “Polyplex to build $185 million plant.” July 21 West Point,…

Time sensitive; for immediate release (838 words) The Congress is playing a dangerous political game with the lives of all Americans. Many in Congress will protest that that this is no game and that our children’s future is at stake. But the costs will ramp up well before the burden falls upon our children.  Indeed,…

Time sensitive copy; for immediate release (660 words) In 1995 Congress came within one vote of passing a balanced budget amendment. Dan Coats and Dick Lugar voted in favor of the amendment and to this day lament the missed opportunity. “If this amendment had passed and been ratified by three-fourths of our states, we would…

For release July 21 and thereafter (664 words) In this Great Recession it is sad to travel through this country and see the ranks of the unemployed crowded with so many youth. I think we can all agree that this is deplorable — and that we should endeavor to find an equitable and efficient method…

For release July 13 and thereafter (881 words) Two questions come to mind when considering recent public debt accumulation by Indiana state and local governments and the federal government: How did we get ourselves into this situation? How do we get out? Here we first consider the short-run alternatives to dealing with existing debt and…