by Mark Franke Those of my age remember how we waited impatiently each week for “The Wonderful World of Disney.” Each episode included a short film series featuring one of America’s historical heroes. Children were allowed to have American heroes back then. Daniel Boone, the Swamp Fox Francis Marion, Texas John Slaughter, Davy Crockett — what a lineup for a young boy who was rapidly developing a love for history. Each series had its own theme…

by Leo Morris In the aftermath of two momentous Supreme Court decisions last week on guns and abortion, emotions are running high and, indeed, starting to turn ugly. Perhaps it is a futile suggestion, but could we possibly step back, take a breath and consider the court’s actions a small victory for federalism? The Founders’ concept of government tried to put most decision making in the hands of the states and the people, limiting the…

Sen. Young to the Ramparts ALLOW ME a short note on Sen. Todd Young’s vote against the Second Amendment. OK, the senator’s staff would be quick to correct me on that point. He didn’t actually vote against the Second Amendment. He voted in favor of “bipartisan safe communities.” Specifically, he voted to allow government to deny the right to own guns to those it judges mentally ill or immature or without the proper paper work. “If you…

A Political Forecast you Can Bet on WHAT DOES IT MEAN that Gov. Eric Holcomb was booed at last Friday’s lead-in to his own convention? Well, it means that the next couple of election cycles will be crazy wild. Moreover, the political and journalism classes have positioned themselves so far out of touch that they will be of little help preparing you for what is coming next. So, as we often find ourselves saying here, you are on…

by Mark Franke The bane of retirement is trying to live on a fixed income. At least that is what everyone who is retired believes. I used to chalk this up to geezer whining. I am one, so I know their whining when I hear it. No more. We fixed-income types have a real complaint these days. Inflation is at its highest point since 1981 and heading higher. Those of us with long memories, when…

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…