Commentary
Hoosiers continue push for amputee coverage
Indiana has been dubbed the Crossroads of America, where our communities are united by basketball. Just ask the fine Hoosiers from Hickory. While we don’t expect political lessons from Alex de Tocqueville’s Democracy in America to play out on the basketball court, Hoosiers do expect a Full Court Press of politi-hoops at the Statehouse. You […]
Rokita’s kangaroo court follows his disgraceful directions
Let’s get straight to the point. Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita is a disgraceful public servant. The seven-member Indiana Medical Licensing Board is disgraceful too. There. Now that we have established those two sad truths, let me share with you the receipts. Rokita used the administrative board last week as a tool to retroactively cover […]
Remembering and mourning our foreign partners on Memorial Day
Beginning with the Revolutionary War, almost 1.4 million Americans have died in our nation’s wars, including about 667,000 killed in combat. We remember, honor and mourn those gallant souls every year on Memorial Day – May 29 this year. Those Americans who have served in or near war zones carry their memories throughout the year. […]
Bring on better candidates for president
I can’t be the only one out there who is looking forward to a second Joe Biden vs. Donald Trump race for president about as much as cleaning my toilet. It’s downright depressing. I want fresh ideas, new faces — dare I say, vitality? A number of Republicans have announced they will run, including Florida […]
The intertwined attacks on abortion and gender-affirming care in Indiana
In the Indiana Statehouse, our bodies have become battlegrounds as politicians seek to pass extreme bans on abortion, restrict access to birth control and medication abortion, and keep transgender people from accessing the care that they need. This past year has been devastating for our right and ability to make personal decisions about our own […]
Money, illusion and the state budget
Indiana’s legislative session addressed some of the most vexing public problems the state faces: hospital monopolies, housing, collapse in college attendance and a slew of social issues. But one aspect of the session is worth considering above all else — the state budget — because of its broad effect on almost everything else. It has […]
The blessing of our national debt has made us great
Alexander Hamilton, America’s first Secretary of the Treasury said, “A national debt, if it is not excessive, to us will be a national blessing.” The whole “if it is not excessive” part has always been important, but never more important than it is today. The musical, “Hamilton,” doesn’t really do much on this other than […]
Balanced approach needed to make wholesale changes to state’s alcohol distribution regulations
Indiana’s recently concluded legislative session saw several changes made to rules that govern the sale and distribution of alcohol with an emphasis on public safety and economic development. Under the leadership of Sen. Ron Alting and Rep. Ethan Manning, the legislature made it easier for communities or special entertainment districts to receive permits to serve […]
Statewide elected officials might deserve pay raises, but not this way
As parents, more than once my husband and I told our then-teenaged daughter, “It’s not the crime, it’s the cover-up.” Looking back at the General Assembly’s decision to sneak pay raises for statewide elected officials into the budget on the last day I will modify that sentiment to “It’s not the policy, it’s the process.” […]
Lifestyle Medicine important part of Older Americans Month
Maybe it’s because Robin Leach’s Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous predominated my young adulthood, but when I heard the term “Lifestyle Medicine” a couple weeks ago, two images popped into my head: guru doctors with celebrity clients and Dr. Oz highlighting the latest unproven wellness theory. I thought it might be one of a […]
Indiana’s dwindling right to bail and the damaging effect on the presumption of innocence
The presumption of innocence is inextricably tied to the right to bail. The right to be free, before legal guilt has been established, is an essential check on the government’s power to punish people based on accusation alone; and it is critical to one’s ability to assist in their own defense and to maintain their […]
Republicans offer up nominees for quote of the week
“Where do I begin?” This is the quote of the week, an award I often dole out for a wide variety of reasons. Those reasons can be the source of great pride or shame. Profound meaning or comedic genius are both favorite categories of the esteemed accolade. It is rarely awarded to someone for achieving […]