READING THE NEWSPAPER ARTICLE, the first reaction was a warm fuzzy feeling of agreement, an odd sensation these days. “Education Policy Priorities Listed,” the headline read. It quoted the Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction as saying that her top priority this year would be “student learning.” But wait, what else would it be? What have the public schools been doing all these years that makes a new, hard-charging superintendent feel it necessary to say that…

Yuval Levin is a serious guy who has written widely and intelligently on subjects of interest to conservatives. He is also a Never Trumper who plumbs the depths of his imagination to come up with new reasons why Donald Trump is a disaster for the country and an affront to right-thinking conservatives. Writing in the latest issue of National Review, whose audience now consists primarily of Never Trump diehards and nostalgic seniors who have yet…

by Dick McGowan, Ph.D. Years ago, I argued for a double standard for men and women with regard to domestic violence. I’d become familiar with a 25-year study by Gelles and Strauss, presented in “Violence in American Families,” which showed that “women assault their partners at about the same rate as men assault their partners. This applies to major and minor assault.” (162)  I also read Claire Renzetti’s “Violent Betrayal,” which said lesbians showed the same…

by Jason Arp to the American Principles Project, Nov. 29 at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C. Thank you all for having me. I can’t tell you what a thrill it is to be here today. I blather on about free enterprise and the importance of private property rights all the time back in Fort Wayne. It is so nice to have an audience (besides my dear wife) that is in agreement with me that FREE…

by Leo Morris We apparently have a housing shortage in Indiana that is about to become a crisis. The representatives and senators we elect to serve our interests in Washington seem to be on the verge of homelessness. Consider the sad case of Luke Messer, now serving as a representative and desperately seeking a senatorship. The man is 48 years old and earns $174,000 a year and yet is forced to live with his mother…

For the use of the membership only (428 words). by Craig Ladwig Despite promises during the recent Organization Day at the Indiana Legislature, those hoping for a smaller government from a GOP governor and supermajority are likely to be disappointed in the upcoming session. That is according to the findings of a research project categorizing the more than 1,000 bills introduced into a typical General Assembly. Nor did Gov. Eric Holcomb’s list of goals released…

by Leo Morris I’ve read every story – and there are a ton of them – about the excitement of a Republican lawmaker proposing to make medical marijuana legal in Indiana and the drama of the Indiana Association of Prosecuting Attorneys vehemently opposing the idea. In only a couple of the stories did I see a lone sentence, buried deep within the copy, to the effect that “federal law still considers marijuana illegal.” That was the…

by Joe Squadrito I don’t think that anyone will dispute that gun violence has become all too prevalent in this country. It matters not where you live big city or small rural community each and every American faces the same threat and has the same sense of shock and dismay each time such incidents occur. Will it be my church, my school, my shopping center or my neighborhood next? These are realistic concerns that each…

by Leo Morris The road before you diverges into two paths. You cannot go back. You can only forge ahead, choosing one path or the other. Sentinels guard both ways forward. One sentinel will let you pass only if you either pay a hefty toll or accept suitable punishment for nonpayment. The other sentinel stands aside and says you may pass through and be on your way. Which path will you choose? Not really that…

by Leo Morris Sorry, kids. If you’re in love and plan to take that final step in this state, better think again. According to a news report about the latest statistics from 24/7 Wall Street, a “financial site” on the Web, Indiana has the sixth-highest divorce rate among the 50 states. You’re headed for misery and a life of broken dreams. Just look at the numbers. Out of every 1,000 married individuals in Indiana in…