The Outstater
Urban Life: Shoplifting HOW ARE THINGS GOING? Well, few venture out after dusk on our multi-million-dollar trail system; there are stabbings at Promenade Park, if that tells you anything; shootings threaten to become routine on the streets below our majestic new downtown constructions; and there is shoplifting and theft throughout. At some point we are going to have to face a sad fact, that is, there Read the full article…

Franke: Population Worries
by Mark Franke During the 50 plus years of my adult lifetime, world population has been an issue but with a change in perspective. In the 1960s the concern was uncontrolled and unsupportable growth especially in the poorer parts of the globe. The doomsayers predicted mass starvation and other unpleasant outcomes unless the rate of Read the full article…

The Outstater
We’re All Greta Thunberg Now SOME OF US no longer pay attention to opinion surveys. We assume, politics and media being what they are, that the public is too ill-informed to have anything useful to say. One recent poll, though, begs analysis. It finds that a good majority of young Americans are not proud to be Americans. Now, it is wise Read the full article…

The Outstater
Meet the New IEDC Board (Yawn) A FRIEND, a former submarine commander now a troubleshooter for a regional manufacturer, shared a management technique: Cancel the company picnic. Please, stick with me; this will explain why Gov. Mike Braun missed a golden eco-devo opportunity. My friend’s experience told him that nobody coming to his office to complain would be Read the full article…

Franke: America and Dante’s Inferno
by Mark Franke I am grateful these days for the time I can devote to reading. I have always loved to read, with eclectic tastes as to subject matter. Sometimes my reading choices land on disciplines I never took the opportunity to study while in school. Theology is one such subject area. Having been granted Read the full article…

The Outstater
Auditing Good Intentions FOR ONCE, my mid-sized Indiana city is ahead of New York City fashion — policy fashion, at least. The Democratic nominee for mayor there is promising to build municipal-run grocery stores. Heck, we’ve had one of those for more than two years. It was a political promise of our mayor as well. In both Read the full article…

