The Outstater
Restoring the Family Farm IF YOU HEADED OUT into the Indiana countryside over the holidays you witnessed the dearth of family farms. As we noted in “Indiana Mandate: A Return to Founding Principles,” George Washington and James Madison, farmers both, would be shocked to learn that farm and ranch families comprise less than 2 percent of the American Read the full article…
Franke: 2026 — a ‘Declaration’ Year
2026: A ‘Declaration’ Year by Mark Franke This year I will not make any New Year’s resolutions. It’s not that I don’t have a need for personal improvement in many areas of my life. I do. Instead, my focus is at the macro level. What should American society resolve to improve in 2026? What is Read the full article…
The Outstater
The Mystery of Property, 2026 “Everything has already been said, but since no one listens, it is necessary to say it again.” — Andre Gide NEW YEAR’S IS the appropriate time to review lost lessons — resolutions unkept, certainly, but also those truths related by an earlier generation, a father or grandfather maybe, that were never fully incorporated into your Read the full article…
Schansberg: Tariffs on Santa Claus?
by Eric Schansberg, Ph.D. Following in the footsteps of President Donald Trump, I have a modest policy proposal that is extravagant in style and would hurt the economy — a petition to eliminate competition from Santa Claus through tariffs and other trade barriers. From a Trumpian perspective, Santa’s enterprise is clearly an unfair and harmful Read the full article…
Franke: Farm Subsidies — A Better Way
by Mark Franke One of the reasons I look forward to our monthly Socratic discussion group is the opportunity to learn something new. Regardless of what knowledge I have of the designated topic going in, two hours of rigorous discussion later and I leave knowing much more. Last month the topic was agricultural subsidies and Read the full article…
Franke: Reapportionment
by Mark Franke The Indiana General Assembly’s special session appears to be over, having voted down a mid-decade congressional reapportionment proposal. The legislature is required to reapportion after each decennial census but not more often, although nothing prevents more frequent efforts other than their fiscal and political costs. Despite the heavy-handed involvement of Donald Trump Read the full article…
