For the use of the membership only (609 words) Have you ever wanted to run for office? Ever wanted to convince a friend to run for office? Let’s conduct a reality check to test the political waters: Are you running against an incumbent especially liked by old Republican regulars? Are you going door-to-door rather than relying on big-media advertising buys? Have you refused an invitation to participate in a rigged debate sponsored by a local…

by Andy Horning Nearly all of what we call “issues” — the unraveling economy, a ridiculous healthcare system, rising prices, even militarized police and the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria — are just symptoms and side effects of a much worse problem. It makes all our talk of ideology, libertarian versus authoritarian, or even “left” versus “right,” whatever those mean anymore, not just irrelevant but a costly distraction. The problem is corruption; we have…

by Andrea Neal Study a map from the late 19th century and it’s easy to see how Indiana became known as the Crossroads of America. Like spokes on a bicycle wheel, railroad lines extended from Indianapolis in 12 directions. Tracks crossed the state from Lake Michigan to the Ohio River, Terre Haute to Richmond and everywhere in between. “By 1880, the steam railroad had triumphed over all other forms of transportation in Indiana,” said the…

by Stephen M. King, Ph.D. The lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community (LGBT) and its supporters are looking with anticipation to the Supreme Court’s expected favorable ruling on the constitutionality of same-sex marriage sometime in late June. Previous court rulings have danced around the issue of the constitutionality of same-sex marriage. The upcoming ruling is expected to address it directly. U.S. society and culture are more favorably disposed toward acceptance of same-sex marriage and the…

“Be thankful we’re not getting all the government we’re paying for.” — Will Rogers MEMBERS OF THE COFFEE GROUP are discouraged by the announcement that their senator will retire after only a single undistinguished term. The members, several of whom worked hard on this guy’s earlier campaigns, are searching for a better way to manage political succession. They all agree that the system is broken. We don’t have public servants who are provided pensions but…

“Even though I made (donations to the Clinton Global Foundation) strictly to support work done to stop the spread of AIDS, help children and protect the environment in poor countries, I should have gone the extra mile to avoid even the appearance of a conflict.” — George Stephanopoulos on “Good Morning America” IT IS OBVIOUS to the fully awake that they can no longer depend on the national media to keep them informed or even…

by Tom Huston Indiana has developed a two-tier tax structure that reflects a political ingenuity that only money could buy and only George F. Babbitt could rationalize (from the book “Babbitt” by Sinclair Lewis). The word “Babbitt” means a “person and especially a business or professional man who conforms unthinkingly to prevailing middle-class standards.” The first tier is the traditional tax scheme pursuant to which residents pay income, sales, property and other taxes for the purpose of…

by Andrea Neal Upon the death of Lew Wallace, The New York Times struggled to sum up — in a single headline — the 77-year-old Hoosier’s accomplishments. “Won fame in many ways,” it declared. Wallace, his 1905 obituary noted, “achieved widespread distinction as a lawyer, legislator, soldier, author and diplomat” and was a man of “exceptionally refined manner, broad culture and imposing personal appearance.” It was quite a resume for someone who lost his mother…

by Bruce Ippel, M.D. The word “can’t” in the catchphrase “you can’t tell a book by its cover” not only can mean beyond difficult but also illegal or nearly so — at least here in these Newnited States where it’s now called profiling and is prohibited. For example, even though the “sex industry” is illegal most places, a seductively dressed gal struttin’ her stuff on certain street corners is not to be arrested or even…

For the use of the membership only (608 words) “Ultimately the question Pence needs to answer: Is he willing to do what it takes to push himself to be bolder, to be more inclusive, to build bridges with people who have different worldviews, to show passion for the state and for the people he serves?” — Tim Swarens, editorial page editor of the Indianapolis Star WITH AN INDIANAPOLIS STAR columnist openly advising him on how…