BOHANON: Contrasting Indiana and Afghanistan
I weep for my Afghan friends and thank God for the relative civility that characterizes Indiana political conflict.
Forefront
Articles
SOUDER: GOP ideology fights are nothing new
At the 1969 Young Americans for Freedom convention, I learned firsthand of the intense ideological divisions within the conservative movement.
SADLER: This governor’s style feels comfortable
Gov. Mike Pence has borne the brunt of unfair criticism from politicos around the state of late. Not even six months into his term, he has been described as lackluster, lacking vision and as having a dearth of ideas.
SHELLA: Override could have been avoided
General Assembly, 1; Mike Pence, 0. That’s how the scorecard reads from the recent one-day meeting of the Legislature.
WESTERHAUS-RENFROW: Older neighborhoods need attention
Everyone knows the old real estate adage about location, location, location. But these days, for revenue-hungry Indianapolis communities, you can add another priority—development, development, development.
ODLE: Many ways to weed gardens of despair
There has been much discussion recently about the need to “beef up” Marion County law enforcement to reduce crime. I agree. The Indianapolis public safety director recently reported that only about half of the sworn officers are on the street.
DAVIS: Some solid ways to move Indy forward
Three promising efforts are under way in Indianapolis to unite the community and propel us forward. I hope we pursue each initiative with a sense of urgency and change the trajectory on our health, skills and economic prosperity.
GARRISON: Indianapolis might get what it asks for
The next mayoral election might represent the functional end to Republican government in Indianapolis.
BOEHM: Battle over council is unnecessary
A two-front war is waging over control of the City-County Council. The General Assembly recently changed the Unigov statute to eliminate the four at-large council seats. Meanwhile, a special five-judge panel is considering a challenge to the city-county ordinance drawing the council’s 25 single-member districts.
MASSON: We’re all becoming Panopticon prisoners
"Privacy" comes from a Latin word meaning “separated from the rest,” initially thought of in negative terms, mostly having to do with deprivation of the ability to participate in government.
BENNETT: Indianapolis is treated differently than other cities
The question continues to be pondered by many people and seems to always rise to a high level during each session of the General Assembly. The issue is typically considered and debated regularly by those of us from around the state who live outside of Marion County.
BALLARD: Contrary to perceptions, Indy gives more than it gets
In modern politics, the term “fair share” has endured more than its fair share of political contortion. I’ve never enjoyed engaging in that kind of debate. What I’ve always enjoyed are facts.
LANOSGA: And you thought the feds were secretive
Some of the most secret governments are on the local level.
SCHELLINGER: Green delegation should work hard on influence
Roll Call reported several weeks ago that Indiana’s clout in Washington, D.C., has slipped in the rankings from 27th to 42nd. This is certainly no surprise in the wake of Sen. Richard Lugar’s departure, in addition to former Sen. Evan Bayh and former congressman and now Gov. Mike Pence.
MCDANIEL: Delegation, Pacers have many surprises in common
Our delegation is a lot like the Indiana Pacers. Both are young. Both are made up of talented people. Both are generating results sooner than expected. Both are likely to grow to be even more effective for many years to come.
SOWELL: Undoing university brain-washings
This time of year, as college students return home for the summer, many parents may notice how many politically correct ideas they have acquired on campus. Some of those parents may wonder how they can undo the brainwashing that has become so common in what are supposed to be institutions of higher learning.
BONIFIELD: Campus entrepreneurs need more love
Having graduated from college this past month, I have now joined the ranks of the college-educated work force.
VANE: Had more than enough hope, change
It should come as no surprise to anyone who’s read what I’ve written in Forefront that I didn’t buy a ticket to ride the “Hope and Change” express. Just because I wasn’t a passenger, however, doesn’t mean I didn’t want the train to reach its station.
BECK: Fascinated with Indiana’s first ladies
It’s hard not to miss first lady Karen Pence these days. From reading to kindergartners to supporting the arts to visiting schools in Fort Wayne, she’s everywhere.
TAFT: Cities are great places to raise kids
I recently participated in a planning session for downtown Indianapolis that included cultural and civic leaders whom I consider very pro-urban Indianapolis. As the conversation turned toward the urgent need to recruit more taxpayers into city neighborhoods, one of my colleagues stated that it really wasn’t practical to raise a middle class family in the city, and many others agreed.