by Mark Franke I was in the checkout line at my local branch library the other day, standing behind several youngsters slowly doing their own checkouts with minimal mother assistance. One librarian caught my eye with an “I’m sorry about this” glance to which I responded, “This makes my day.” Think about it. Here were about a half dozen elementary-age students checking out books. Not reserving time to use the library’s computers. Not whining impatiently to…

by Leo Morris Is America, both as a nation and a concept, coming to the end of the road? As a firm believer in the country’s foundations of individual liberty and natural rights, I certainly think not. But I recently ran into three ideas – all in one morning’s perusal of the news, each more radical than the last – that make me wonder if that is still the majority opinion. 1. Andrew Yang, convinced…

DID THE INDY STAR meet its diversity goal this year? Don’t be silly, it and other Gannet newspapers always meet their diversity goals — even if it means passing up the most qualified person. Gasp if you will, but before you call WOKE 911 consider that the above statement is mathematical and not prejudicial. There simply are not yet enough experienced journalists of color to fill every vacancy, and the best of them would prefer to work on the coasts…

The following is an excerpt from Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn’s memoir “Between Two Millstones.” It has been such a delight to me, and I have returned to it so many time over the years, I thought it should be shared with the membership. Enjoy Solzhenitsyn’s keen observations of fundamental democracy in one of Switzerland’s smallest cantons. — tcl FOR TWO MONTHS ALREADY there had been an invitation waiting for me from the Canton of Appenzell to attend the ceremony of…

by Mark Franke Not In My Back Yard (NIMBY) demands recognition as a universal truth with claims both on natural law and natural rights. Its logic is unassailable. It must be, based on the number of people who claim Bill of Rights level protection under it. No one has offered a refutation acceptable to the NIMBY choir. Unless one appeals to common sense. But then, we are speaking of the political arena where common sense is…

By Richard Moss, M.D. With the overturning of Roe vs. Wade in the recent Dobbs vs. Jackson Women’s Health Organization opinion, the Supreme Court ended the recognition of a constitutional right to abortion and returned the matter to the states, where it has always belonged. With this, it is reasonable to reconsider the Obergefell decision of 2015, which legalized homosexual marriage throughout the land. Obergefell vs. Hodges, decided June 26, 2015, in a split 5-4 decision (Anthony Kennedy joined with the four liberal…

by Leo Morris Now that I am old enough to embody a Duke Ellington song – “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore” – I guess I should be grateful that government is willing to expend so much time, effort and money to aid my mobility. Mayor Pete, the transportation secretary who has moved to Michigan ahead of a suspected second run at the White House, seems absolutely giddy about high gasoline prices because that will speed…

IF YOU LIKED what Washington has done for health care, mail delivery and Indian reservations, you’ll love how it plans to save local journalism. First, “journalism” should be in scare quotes. What we have today has nothing to do with the more than five centuries since Martin Luther began printing pamphlets. It most resembles Izvestia, part of a propaganda system developed in the Soviet Union a hundred years ago. Izvestia was the lesser of the Soviet propaganda organs. Pravda, the other national…

by Mark Franke We are fortunate to live on a cul-de-sac in a suburban neighborhood, just on the edge of the city limits. We are quite friendly with our neighbors, most of whom have lived here for a long time. Just the other night, the wives gathered in our family room to plot their next neighborly social extravaganza so we husbands repaired to the patio to field test a new local bourbon I received for…

by Leo Morris Indiana legislators are gearing up for a special session set to begin July 25 and last at least a couple of weeks. We should urge them to reconsider and just stay home. The session will cost Hoosiers about a quarter of a million dollars, and it’s hard to see what we’ll get for the money. Two subjects are slated for consideration, and not much good is likely to come from either one.…