by Greg Walker What is crony capitalism? Why is this phrase used derogatorily of government schemes to raise capital for investment? Most would agree that governments should serve to raise funds for capital goods constructed to satisfy public interests — roads, bridges, sewers, etc. But the list is too short for some folks. What about national defense? Is that still a public asset, an investment in the public well-being? What about post-secondary universities? Libraries? Policy…

By Craig Ladwig Walking into a metropolitan newsroom in the early 1970s, you were struck by the size of the place — a full city block, or so it seemed. You could look up from the copy desk and see a hundred people at a hundred desks. It was a sociological Petri dish. In that expanse of faces, you could find fewer than a half dozen African-Americans. It was typical — they made up less…

by Bruce Ippel, M.D. Our republic is alive and well. You can tell that most recently by how many fireworks the LGBT (Lesbian-Gay-Bisexual-Transgendered) subject is causing without crashing our democracy. But might it be crashing something else? As a doc of many years, I see the consequences of how one does what’s called pair-bonding. With a few exceptions, humanity pair-bonds more intensely than any other species. I remember several decades ago hippies made the case…

by Stephen M. King, Ph.D. I am re-reading Francis Schaeffer’s “The Christian Manifesto,” and I am struck by the accuracy of his prophetic warning regarding civil and social chaos and unrest in the United States. Schaeffer clearly demonstrates how U.S. culture, education and civil government, for example, would deviate from the principles of faith and freedom set forth by the Founders. Modern society, instead of embracing a foundation of justice and morality, has established and…

by Andrea Neal Coal is to Indiana what oil is to Texas. Since the mid 1800s, it’s been the fuel that powers the Hoosier economy. “We get 85 percent of our energy from coal,” explains Indiana Coal Council President Bruce Stevens. “That’s huge because Indiana is the number one manufacturing state in the nation.” A fossil fuel millions of years in the making, coal is essentially combustible rock formed by dead plant material. Some is…

Editor’s note: The author, an adjunct scholar, is appealing for legal help in filing a pro se complaint challenging the Republican and Democrat parties. Members can review his complaint draft elsewhere on this site. by Andy Horning George Washington warned us about political parties. Andrew Jackson waged war on the “den of vipers” central bankers. Woodrow Wilson described the “worst ruled, one of the most completely controlled and dominated governments in the civilized world.” Dwight…

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF INDIANA ___________________ DIVISION) Andrew M. Horning [Pro Se] ) Plaintiff, )) Case No. vs. ) THE STATE OF INDIANA; ) THE INDIANA DEMOCRATIC PARTY; ) THE INDIANA REPUBLICAN PARTY ) Defendants. )) COMPLAINT FOR VIOLATION OF CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS A. JURISDICTION 1. This is a claim for violation of plaintiff’s civil and competitive endeavor rights as protected by the Indiana Constitution’s Article 1 Sections 23 and 25, and the Constitution and laws…

For immediate release (612 words). by Cecil Bohanon, Ph.D. It is almost becoming a summer ritual. The state of Indiana closes its books on June 30th. It reports a healthy reserve fund. Spending constituencies pop out of the woodwork clamoring for more funds, insisting the reserves are excessive and that their cause du jour is the most pressing problem the state will ever face. A couple of facts about the state’s reserve funds. The close-out…

“Just weeks away from submitting a proposal for a chance to be awarded $42 million, the Northeast Indiana Regional Development Authority is taking the final steps in completing its Regional Cities plan.” — July 15, 2015, NBC33, Fort Wayne THERE COMES A TIME, alas, when you think a lot about economics. In fact, most people of a certain age are begrudgingly good at it, which is not to be confused with being wealthy as a…

by Andrea Neal Like an heirloom jewel passed down through generations, covered bridges are Hoosiers’ most threatened inheritance. From 1835 through the 1920s, more than 600 covered bridges were built in Indiana. “Only 89 are still standing today,” according to the Indiana Covered Bridge Society, which works to preserve and restore them. Of those, some still carry traffic, others have been bypassed or relocated and five are on private property. Indiana lost most of its…