Are We all Baltimore Now? “Whew, Jesus. Oh, my God, you can smell the dead animals.” — Then-Mayor Catherine Pugh touring an east Baltimore neighborhood in September 2018 MY CITY, PERHAPS FOR THE FIRST TIME in its history, is facing serious problems with orderly trash disposal, not comparable with Baltimore as yet but nonetheless alarming to some of us. The trash contract negotiated by the mayor has broken down for certain neighborhoods. Garbage there is…

by Leo Morris I’m a little late in commenting on the 50th anniversary of the moon landing, deliberately. I wanted to think about it a bit, see what I could find beyond my immediate, visceral reaction: It was the greatest achievement in human history, and I have trouble understanding people who won’t acknowledge that. I’ve thought about it, and arrived at this: It was the greatest achievement in human history, but it could have been…

“I would say our country should be more fearful of white men across our country because they are actually causing most of the deaths within this country.” — Rep. Ilhan Omar quoted by U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio ARE COLLEGE ‘EDUCATED’ PERSONS IMPORTANT? That is in scare quotes because the meaning is to be questioned here; that and whether it actually is a good thing to have a lot of them in your community. Your local…

by David Penticuff Those of us with a conservative bent carried a vague image in the back of our minds of how sweet life might be with Republicans in power and able to do all they campaigned about doing. Common sense would mean something, trains and buses would run on time, divorce and child abuse would decline, prosperity would surround us, freedom would grow and simple justice would reign. I would add that the seas…

by Leo Morris The census-citizenship-question sideshow seems to have ended, and thank goodness. Now, we can concentrate on what is really important about our decennial body count. That’s not to say citizenship – particularly the illegal-immigrant component – is not an important issue. It is, but the federal government has ducked it for decades. If a solution were desired, one could have been found, especially during periods of one-party monopoly in Washington, such as in…

WE JOURNALISTS have never been known for our courage. That’s why Murray Kempton said of us that in history’s great conflicts we are the ones who ride down from the hills after the battle to shoot the wounded. It is even more true today in news organizations where the individual journalist cannot count on his corporate managers to back him up should he run afoul of the popular will. Thus there should be sympathy for…

by Leo Morris “Conservative, n: A statesman who is enamored of existing evils, as distinguished from the Liberal who wishes to replace them with others.” – Ambrose Bierce I unflinchingly claim conservatism as part of my political philosophy, and I am happy to live in a conservative state. In fact, I even wish Indiana would take the lead in trying to foster a conservative revolution in this country. And “conservative revolution” is not an oxymoron.…

by Eric Schansberg, Ph.D. My family and I saw “Shazam” in the theater a few weeks ago. It’s a fun little movie from the DC Comic universe — a combination of action, magic, some drama and a few larger themes. Maybe it’s because I’m a nerd and a labor economist, but beyond the entertainment three things struck me as particularly interesting. First, the movie was really nice on “family.” Most obviously, as Shazam, Billy Batson…

“This agenda remains focused on what will make us stronger, with practical and people-centered solutions. I look forward to working with Hoosiers, lawmakers and other stakeholders as we team up to achieve these priorities.” — Gov. Eric Holcomb explaining the strategy behind his “Next Level” economic-development program for 2019 ERIC HOLCOMB IS A NICE MAN, maybe a good man, and, for all anyone can tell given the quality of statehouse reporting, a competent public official.…

by Leo Morris This will be on the honor system, so tell the truth. Let’s have a show of hands from all those who’ve heard of the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. OK, looks like a lot of you, a solid majority, in fact. Now, how many of you have heard of the explosion of the SS Sultana? Anyone? Still waiting. Oh, there it is, one hand raised in Muncie. Such are the whims of…