by Eric Schansberg, Ph.D. It’s always more fun to spend money than to make it. And it can be tempting to borrow or steal money, instead of earning it. What’s true in our private lives is true with the government as well. Politicians are known for exaggerating the benefits and downplaying the costs of public policy. Spending and debt are great examples. Enjoy the benefits now; get the media to trumpet them in the news;…

by Richard McGowan, Ph.D. The central question for beginning of life and end of life controversies is moral standing, also called “moral status” and “moral consideration,” the concept refers to the duties owed by moral agents to another entity or, conversely, an entity’s claims that can be made on moral agents. Most philosophers agree that human beings have full moral standing, meaning that each individual human being is owed all duties — and owed those duties…

by Leo Morris “Not you, Leo.” For a few years, I heard that so much that I proudly adopted the nickname Not You Leo. That was during my tenure as editorial page editor of the News-Sentinel. I was also one of the girls in the credit department of Fort Wayne Newspapers, parent company of that newspaper and the Journal Gazette. I know some of you are cringing right now at my use of “girls.” But, really, a label…

We’re All RINOs Now THE CHAIRMAN of the Indiana Republican Party used his address to the state convention this weekend to tell us that “the word RINO has got to go.” He was referring of course to the disparagement, “Republican in Name Only.” A similar warning regarding “infighting” was delivered by the leading GOP candidate for state treasurer. It is interesting that their reception was described by WIBC-FM as “respectful but not universal.” Maybe the reticence had to do with…

THINGS ARE changing at the Indianapolis Star — dramatically and, to some of us, terrifyingly. They want us to accept it as “reimagining.” Our Leo Morris has expertly alerted the membership to this latest and perhaps saddest reincarnation. I urge you to read his column. It explains how the Gannett Company’s historic decision to downgrade editorial pages is not as it might first appear, abject stupidity, but to hide an embarrassing dissonance. That is, how could a newspaper be trusted…

Opinion Moves to Page One by Leo Morris I just came across a statement so indefensibly foolish that it is hard to fathom how it showed up in print.  “Readers don’t want us to tell them what to think. They don’t believe we have the expertise to tell anyone what to think on most issues. They perceive us as having a biased agenda.” That was a statement from a committee of editors at Gannett Co., publisher…

A Bollix of Good Intentions The millionaire virtue-signaler in our city — every city has one — has a plan to save those stuck in the poorer part of town. He is going to do this, as close as the uninitiated can tell, by making it look pretty much like the better part of town. I hope it works — I just have questions, that’s all. To evaluate the $15-million project — a virtual campus of…

This is a plea for money — a heartfelt one, the first such plea in our more than three decades as a tax-exempt Indiana nonprofit corporation. The foundation has a historic disadvantage in fundraising. That is, it has no fundraisers. The minimalist staff is fully engaged in publishing and distributing the work of an intrepid group of scholars and essayists. It is not possible to launch expensive, broad-based campaigns. This month and next we are asking…

The New Boondoggles THE NEW riverfront park with the landscaped hiking trails, the downtown renovation, the convention center, the sports stadium with the attached garages and a mixed-use apartment complex — has it ever crossed your mind that they are all boondoggles? Of course it has. Economists have a nicer term for it. They speak of “rent extractions,” referring to the ability of officials to squeeze payments (seek “rents”) for favorable legislation. We call it press-release economics. Whatever you…

by Leo Morris I did not go to college because I wanted to. I went first of all because it was expected of me. I had good grades in high school, and that meant, according to the prevailing custom, you were supposed to continue your studies, especially if you would be the first one in your family to attempt postsecondary education. And I went second of all because I thought I had to. Journalism at…