LADWIG: Local property rights, Zimbabwe style
Is it hyperbolic to relate anti-colonialism in the African Corn Belt to the machinations of the Capital Improvement Board, the Metropolitan Development Commission or the Indianapolis mayor’s office?
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HOWEY: Daniels still thinking outside the rut
With just two years left in his second term—and beginning only his third year with Republican legislative majorities—Gov. Mitch Daniels presides over a state that has been trapped in a jobless rate hovering around 10 percent for two years.
MUTZ: Improve our existing utility regulations
The actions by utility representatives, the regulatory commission chairman and one of his employees created the appearance of impropriety.
KRULL: School choice not as simple as it seems
The fight over public education has become a way for entrenched interests—the business community and teachers’ unions—to lob shells at each other.
KENNEDY: Public safety, economic development demand attention
Above all, I will continue to listen to the needs, hopes and ideas of residents across the city. That diversity of ideas, opinion and people will help define my campaign.
GIBSON: A multi-part plan to address wide swathe of issues
My vision and passion for Indianapolis and all of its citizens will clearly separate me from my opponents.
COLLINS: The crying gap between the sexes, parties
I’m sure we’ll get used to having a speaker of the House who weeps a lot. That would be John Boehner, the new guy.
DOUTHAT: Political reality forces return to normalcy
Over the past three years, American politics has been dominated by a liberal fantasy and a conservative freakout.
FRIEDMAN: Americans need to reshape a really big plan
Given where we are, the tax-cut deal with the Republicans was the best President Barack Obama could do since raising taxes in a recession would not have been a good idea and the Republicans had the votes to prevent it.
DOWD: Are we ready for a gay commander in chief?
Former President Jimmy Carter is putting the out in outspokenness.
ROBERTS: ‘Perfect storm’ casts pall over Super Bowl
As a one-time NFL lawyer who has closely followed sports labor relations for 35 years, I am often asked about the chances of Indianapolis’ losing the 2012 Super Bowl.
VAUGHN: Ethics reform is riddled with loopholes
When the Indiana General Assembly reconvened earlier this month, legislators were greeted by a huge cadre of lobbyists all wanting the same thing: their attention and support for whatever issue the lobbyist is pushing.
EARLY: Either sing ‘Kumbaya’ or ‘suck it up, cupcakes’
The real gift in the 2010 election is that the Republican landslide was nationwide and resulted in Republican majorities in legislatures all over the country. Why was this so important? It’s map-drawing time.
SHELLA: Indiana Democrats can blame Obama
Democrats couldn’t get away from Barack Obama during the 2010 election cycle. The national mood fueled by frustration over high unemployment and the continued recession, along with opposition to health care reform, carried their opponents into office.
WINSTON: Focus on kitchen and boardroom tables
Many voters I talked with wanted to send a wakeup call to politicians of both parties that they should heed the words of Jim Carville to then-candidate Bill Clinton in 1992: “It’s the economy, stupid.”
HEIN: Hoosier mayors drive U.S., China ties
Wayne Seybold is well-known as an Olympic ice skater. He is also earning a reputation as an innovative two-term mayor of his hometown of Marion. But few Hoosiers are aware of his role as global trade warrior.
MEREDITH: Students achieve more under collective bargaining
Recent reform measures—aimed at blaming teachers’ unions for all that ails public schools—claim that negotiated agreements are a large part of student achievement problems. Yet research shows that Indiana students fare better in school corporations where teachers have the right to collectively bargain.
HARRIS: Teacher contracts are written for adults, not students
Too often, teacher contracts have put the interests of adults above the interests of students. Adults have all the power.
KETZENBERGER: Daniels will define legacy in key speech
Gov. Mitch Daniels’ upcoming State of the State speech will be the seventh time he has addressed a joint session of the General Assembly, and it’s likely the one that will define his mark on Indiana for years to come.
PARKER: Governors past provide critical lessons for 2012 election
You can’t successfully govern Indiana with a divide-and-conquer approach. We’re nice people, and we don’t like to be yelled at.