by Mark Franke Politicians used to “encourage” favorable votes from citizens by tapping kegs of whiskey at the polling sites. The stakes are higher these days as our representatives in Washington D.C. think much bigger both in dollars and constituents. The other difference is that those kegs of whiskey came out of the candidates’ pockets while their twenty-first successors have the federal treasury on call. President Biden’s determination to forgive billions in college student loans…

If you haven’t already donated this year, please click HERE to update your membership and receive advance copies of the quarterly journal. Your support makes possible the journal, policy seminars and our weekly backgrounders and columns. The fall journal (previewed below) will begin regular distribution Sept. 22. ‘HOW DID undermining local government’s tax base come to be viewed as an essential tool in local government’s economic development toolkit? In essence, that’s what happened in the case we examined. Redevelopment commissions…

The Warts of Democracy by Mark Franke Is the United States a democracy? According to a strict definition of the term, the answer is “no.” Citizens don’t vote on proposed legislation, with the exception of infrequent ballot initiatives and perhaps in some small New England towns. We vote for people to represent us when they vote on legislation. That makes America a republic or, and I concede this point, a representative democracy. So most of…

WE ARE PUTTING TOGETHER a group to think about campaigning, both political and civic. We call it “Foothold,” and your participation in an upcoming Zoom meeting is important. As you know, the electorate is roiling, especially at the local level and within the Republican Party. There is doubt that the old campaign rules apply. The consultants we know seem to be stuck a couple of election cycles back. The foundation has retained Dr. Dennis Ganahl to help us…

Argument by Emotion REGULAR READERS KNOW that last year this page banned the use of “hypocrisy,” a perfectly innocent word of the most respectable Greek origin. Why? This generation of politicians has rendered it meaningless. Our work, however, is not done. We on the copy desk of life are trying mightily to eliminate what grammarians call “modal verbs.” These are verbs used to express modality (properties such as possibility, obligation, etc.) They are used to tell others what…

by Leo Morris All this mindless partisan taunting across the political divide really is becoming  tiresome, isn’t it? If there is a hint of fresh air in the garbage heap known as social media, it is the occasional sign that the snarkers themselves might wearying of the game. Consider the recent Big Lie goof by hapless Republican State Rep. Jim Lucas. He thought it would be a hoot to take a swipe at Democrats about…

Squaring the Roundabout THE ROUNDABOUT, a traffic design to control intersections, is being used more frequently here these days. Yes, they are stylish. Paris has had roundabouts for a long time but they were originally incorporated into the city’s spoke-and-wheel street design so that Napoleon could better position his cannons to level any crowds of unhappy citizens — a different but not unrelated matter. For roundabouts still have a political element if not a military one. Some see…

by Eric Schansberg, Ph.D. Ball State economist Michael Hicks recently wrote an op-ed expressing concern about the economic impact of Indiana’s new restrictions on abortion — particularly on colleges and businesses. He predicts “far fewer” students from a “substantial decline” in out-of-state students and a reduction of in-state students — as well as “fraught disadvantages” for businesses. People make decisions based on the perceived benefits and costs of those choices. When the benefits or costs…

by Mark Franke “Democracy is a device that ensures we shall be governed no better than we deserve.” These words of George Bernard Shaw, not someone I am in the habit of quoting, certainly fit the travesty that is our national political scene today. Consider the most recent headlines. We have an ex-President on a crusade to punish every Republican officeholder who fails to show proper obeisance to his mania about having his reelection stolen.…

An Army of One PEOPLE WHO WORK IN powerful places —  metropolitan newsrooms, Capitol Hill offices, etc. — will tell you that when three or four letters arrive complimenting a story or complaining about a vote, it is noticed. Most of us aim too high in our civic involvement. We can make a big difference way below what the consultants tell us is critical mass. Eighteen years ago a friend emerged from a coma. He had been there for…