They Ain’t Going to Study War no More And that after this is accomplished, and the brave new world beginsWhen all men are paid for existing and no man must pay for his sins,As surely as Water will wet us, as surely as Fire will burn,The Gods of the Copybook Headings with terror and slaughter return. — Rudyard Kipling, “The Gods of the Copybook Headings” INDIANA UNIVERSITY as most large American universities has adopted the position…

by Richard McGowan, Ph.D. In light of news in the Indianapolis Star shortly before Father’s Day, it is appropriate to revisit data on child abuse. The Star had a story regarding the death of toddler Oaklee Snow, whose body was found in a dresser drawer. The next day, the newspaper covered the death of two-year old Erieomairy Dingui, who was beaten to death. In the former case, charges were brought against Oaklee’s mother and her boyfriend. In the latter case,…

by Mark Franke How did we ever get to this point? And so quickly? I routinely try to ignore national news channels but admit to scanning a daily feed of headlines. What I am seeing beggars credulity. One of the top news stories is gender affirmation/gender reassignment/gender whatever issues among young children. Young children? The battle lines are clearly demarcated. In numerous locales parents are pitted against teachers and school administrators over what the children…

Keeping Up Is a Crunky Trip GOING THROUGH the morning’s digitals, a headline caught my eye: “Big Pokey, of Houston’s Legendary ‘Screwed Up Click’ Dies after Collapsing at Juneteenth Show.” Am I wrong to have questions? Please understand that I am of an age accustomed to being out of sync, and I probably wouldn’t need to ask too many younger than me before someone could explain the headline. Nonetheless, the disconnect was jarring. I felt I should check it…

Let’s Hear it for the Midwest THERE ARE MANY social and political threats these days against which we are asked to stand — too many in fact. So I have chosen just one: I stand against Midwest denigration, if the word is still allowed. We live in a wonderful place with an inspiring story and we need to say so. To begin, I recommend my colleague Andrea Neal’s book, “Road Trip: A Pocket History of Indiana.” It will give you…

In advance of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, we are making a special request for $1,000 donations. We intend to produce “An Agenda for the 2020s” that examines public policy issues of our day through a lens informed by the Declaration. We are $10,000 from our goal. We will not be asking for more or asking for support for other projects these next 12 months. If we don’t do this for Indiana nobody…

by Mark Franke Against my better judgment I have followed some of the news about President Donald Trump’s indictment. I’m not a lawyer and have never played one on TV so I can’t offer a considered opinion on the outcome. That, and not having read the legal documents containing the charges nor heard any of the defense, relegates any comment I might make to simple prejudice. But then, it seems that condition afflicts almost everyone…

Click HERE to update your membership. Your tax-free support makes possible the journal, policy seminars and our weekly backgrounders and columns. Regular journal distribution begins July 1. The annual seminar is Dec. 8-9 (register here). IF INDIANA’S ECONOMIC AGENCIES are ineffective at actually creating wealth they are super effective at changing a region’s political makeup and economic strategy. Policies proven to attract investment such as guarantees of property rights, lower taxes, public safety, open competition, freedom from regulation, etc., are abandoned…

by Richard McGowan, Ph.D. In 1982, my wife Barbara and I were expecting our first child. We were both apprehensive and excited.  Our excitement, however, was closely matched by the obstetrician’s excitement. “I just got a new machine, the latest technology for understanding pregnancy.  It enables me to see inside the womb. Do you mind if I use it to see how you are doing, Barbara?” We consented, and he performed an ultrasound scan of our first child. Ultrasounds in the…

“SO GO DOWNTOWN; Where all the lights are bright; downtown waiting for you tonight; downtown you’re gonna be alright; downtown, downtown,” or so Petula Clark sang in 1964. Indiana’s major cities, as we note in the upcoming quarterly journal, are losing their regular citizens. Regular citizens? Yes, the kind that pay taxes, hold full-time jobs, buy things, look to one day owning secure property, perhaps raising a family and not getting mugged regularly. But that is…