For release June 3 and thereafter (463 words) by CRAIG LADWIG It is easy to find observers of Indiana politics with secular concerns about the number of individual candidates, even party factions, seeking office as "Christian."There is the obvious problem of single-issue politics; that is, a constituency is activated to elect a candidate for his position on issue "A" only to find out too late that he opposes it on issues "B" and "C" and…

Last of Five Columns; for release May 28 and thereafter. (Editors: Note reference in graf 8 to June 12-13 meeting date). 900 words by ANDREA NEAL  The higher education financing system is dysfunctional and in need of reform. So declared the federal Commission on the Future of Higher Education in 2006.Indiana students no doubt agree. At our public residential universities, tuition doubles every 10 years, twice the rate of inflation. As long as demand stays…

Fourth of five columnsFor release May 21 and thereafter990 words (Editors: Note length) By Andrea Neal Cory Barker, who just finished his sophomore year at Indiana University in Bloomington, has never used the campus bus system but still has to chip in $110 a year for its operation. “I don’t ride the bus. I will never ride the bus,” Barker says. Like every full-time student at IU, Barker must pay that and other mandatory charges,…

Third of five articlesFor release May 14 and thereafter (900 words)By Andrea Neal Despite the economic downturn affecting the housing market, construction continues apace on Indiana’s college campuses. It’s little wonder. Public universities have little incentive to stop building. That’s because most projects are paid for through debt financing: a buy now, pay later approach that spreads out costs over time and thus minimizes the impact on taxpayers and students. It also masks long-term effects…

Second of five columnsFor release May 7 and thereafter765 words By Andrea Neal   In 2004, economist Richard Vedder created a mini-sensation with his book Going Broke by Degree: Why College Costs Too Much. In a nutshell, the book argued that financial aid causes tuition to rise. “The evidence is pretty persuasive that massive governmental infusions of funds . . . have contributed to the upsurge in higher education costs,” he said. The term financial…

Indiana Writers Group column for April 23 and thereafter (696 words) by JEFF ABBOTT, J.D., Ph.D. The hard-hitting series in the Indianapolis Star exposing the problems of the Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) was thoughtful and poignant. This writer has known the IPS superintendent for over 20 years on a professional and personal basis. He has achieved national distinction and is widely hailed for his many professional accomplishments. He is a man of great vision, courage,…

Indiana Writers Group column for release Wednesday April 16 (782 words) Editors: The author testified on consolidation before the Indiana Legislature and edited a special edition of the Indiana Policy Review on the topic. That edition can be accessed here (free registration required). A version of this article appeared in the March 23 Indianapolis Star. by SAM STALEY, Ph.D. Suppose Indiana government convened a commission on improving the state’s economic competitiveness. And suppose one of…

by Robert Yadon, Ph.D. Two years ago the Digital Policy Institute (DPI) at Ball State University issued a report entitled, "The Economic Impact of Telecom Reform in Indiana: 2006," that documented changes in the competitive landscape across voice, data and video in the United States since 1996. The report recommended that the Indiana Legislature pass reform measures that would rapidly promote new competition among services, increase investment in new infrastructure and services, create new jobs,…

Indiana Writers Group column for release April 2 and thereafter (668 words) by Craig Ladwig We note with admiration how easily Bill and Hillary Clinton (with native son Evan Bayh jetting in from Washington) found connections in the Hoosier crowds during their campaign stops. It was almost as if they . . . well, as if they lived here. Truly, politicians are global citizens now. They don't have hometowns anymore in the traditional sense. And…