The Outstater
Let’s Hear it for Aristocracy I’M GOING TO TRY to make a case for aristocracy. Wish me luck. I will back into it by applying Thomas Sowell’s famous test, “Compared with what?” American democracy has taken a nasty turn toward identity-driven politics. At the same time, it is increasingly captured by grasping private interests, mainly corporate ones, Read the full article…
Franke: Plato’s Philosopher Kings
by Mark Franke One of my less than admirable traits is to attempt to categorize and organize everything into its simplest terms. All too often, simple devolves to simplistic as I keep trying to pound an unwilling square peg into an unreceptive round hole. Philosophy is one such recipient of my zealousness for reduction. During the Read the full article…
McGowan: Fact-Checking the Governor’s ‘Trans’ Policy
by Richard McGowan, Ph.D. The Indiana Legislature got it right. The governor did not. The issue of trans-girls and trans-women competing against natural, i.e., biological, girls and women remains unsettled. For some people and organizations, such as the ACLU, which brought suit in Indiana recently, the prefix “trans” before the words “girls” means little or nothing. On the other hand, the FDA Read the full article…
The Outstater
The Pareto of Campaign Promises I AM MAKING A LIST of campaign promises leading up to this primary election. No, this is not meant to be a cynical exercise to bash the political class. I am sincerely trying to understand, with all these promises flying around, why nothing ever happens. I may have discovered it — or Read the full article…
Schansberg: Let’s Index Indiana Income Tax
by Eric Schansberg, Ph.D. With April 15 at hand, it’s a good time to review income taxes. On the surface, the federal government has kept income taxes the same since President Donald Trump and Congress decreased marginal tax rates a bit (and simplified the tax code a lot) in 2017. Unfortunately, federal payroll (FICA) taxes on Read the full article…
McGowan: Slavery in Historical Perspective
by Richard McGowan, Ph.D. For people with an interest in history, traveling to another country is like being in an adult playground, so much that is new and different, so much to learn. Such was the case with my recent experience in Portugal. For one thing, I had little understanding of the outsized role Portugal played Read the full article…
