SKARBECK: Big banks still face issues over soured mortgages
The U.S. banking system continues on its path toward healing—with many thanks to the ongoing generosity of U.S. taxpayers.
Opinion
Articles
HICKS: Earmarks need overhaul, but they aren’t entirely bad
Our influential senior senator, Richard Lugar, and 6th District congressman, Mike Pence, disagree on an outright ban on earmarks. This is a rare case in which the differing concerns of both men are right.
FEIGENBAUM: Daniels experiences pushback even from Republicans
Assorted issues advanced by Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels are confronting political pushback—from his Republican legislative majority.
Union backer has vested interest
The reason [Teresa] Meredith is so gung-ho regarding her union stance is she has so much to lose: 18 years into her profession, vice president of the Indiana State Teachers Association, her pension and benefits.
Should teachers be unionized?
[In response to Teresa Meredith’s Jan. 10 column in Forefront] I would like to know, if collective bargaining has all of those benefits, why are our public schools performing so badly that a great percentage of the students do not graduate?
Criticism of IEDC was off-point
Professor [Morton] Marcus’ warning about the perceived under-appreciation of local economic development organizations [in his Jan. 10 column] places a spotlight on the importance of these groups and those who lead them.
Children need broad education
I applaud Bruce Hetrick’s column (Jan. 10, “Why this public-school baby fears school reform”) for its keen observations about the value of education in the arts and humanities.
COX: Shrinking government can increase costs
Legislation will likely be introduced in the Indiana General Assembly to abolish township governments and consolidate their functions into counties. As in the past, the proponents claim this would save money for taxpayers. Nothing could be further from the truth.
MARCUS: A good bill benefits dinosaur buildings
Building owners or developers use the Indiana Industrial Recovery Income Tax Credit to reduce their costs in restoring or rehabilitating dinosaur industrial structures.
MAURER: This is a broker’s tale worth reading
“Twelve years after I popped out, I learned to sell. During the next three, I began to write. Fifty years later, I discovered how to kill.” Thus begins the journal of investment adviser Jack Chap, protagonist in John Guy’s novel “Middle Man, a Broker’s Tale.”
EDITORIAL: Time for mayor to clear the air, back smoking ban
Another year, another parade of editorials, opinion pieces and studies that call for Indiana to join its neighbors in banning smoking in all workplaces.
BROOKS: Spending should pass achievement test
Unless something big and unexpected happens, 2011 will be consumed by a debate over the size of government.
RICH: Let Obama’s Reagan revolution begin
Barack Obama’s Christmas resurrection was so miraculous that even a birther or two may start believing the guy is a Christian.
KRUGMAN: Texas is a bad omen for the nation
Wasn’t Texas supposed to be thriving even as the rest of America suffered? Didn’t its governor declare, during his re-election campaign, that “we have billions in surplus”? Yes, it was, and yes, he did. But reality has now intruded.
DOUTHAT: The continuing paradox of the unborn
This is the paradox of America’s unborn. No life is so desperately sought after, so hungrily desired, so carefully nurtured. And yet no life is so legally unprotected, and so frequently destroyed.
COLLINS: Balance gun access, rights with sanity
In 2009, Gabrielle Giffords was holding a “Congress on Your Corner” meeting at a Safeway supermarket in her district when a protester, who was waving a sign that said “Don’t Tread on Me,” waved a little too strenuously. The pistol he was carrying under his armpit fell out of his holster.
HERBERT: Obama casting his lot with the megarich
Consider the extremes. President Barack Obama is redesigning his administration to make it even friendlier toward big business and the megabanks, which is to say the rich, who flourish no matter what is going on with the economy in this country. (They flourish even when they’re hard at work destroying the economy.) Meanwhile, we hear […]
FARGO: Building futures alongside memories
My hometown and the southern Indiana communities I encountered have much to offer, including hard-working people, clean air and beautiful scenery. To ensure they survive and grow, community and education leaders need to help prepare workers for opportunities in the new economy.
REED: Democracy depends on the right basics
I believe we need to do some clear thinking around at least three issues: civil discourse; death, taxes and change; and stepping up to serve.
MAHERN: Kill off townships to save public services
OK, here’s your choice: You can reduce the public library book budget by a million dollars or you can recoup a good portion of that savings by deciding we really don’t need 72 elected public officials to dispense poor relief in Marion County.