Our legislators are reconvening in Indianapolis to “do the people’s business.” What they do actually
is send tremors though the fiscal foundations of our state. Households and businesses cannot figure out our tax structure
or our spending priorities.
We don’t support the library or most government services with adequate taxes.
Not-for-profits know we want something more than good deeds for our contributions.
Elvin has been one of Santa’s elves for decades. Normally a jolly fellow, he called me last week with desperation
in his voice.
In my fantasy world, the country singer asks, “Are you ready for some data, some labor market data, for the nation,
for the states, and for Indiana counties?” Now those are words that stir the blood and stimulate the imagination.
My grandson, Nathaniel, recently had his first birthday. Soon thereafter, I took him to a doughnut shop to teach
him the facts of life. If he is to become an adult Hoosier, there are things he must learn.
Initially, I was going to write this week about the innumerable foolish purchases we could make this holiday season. As
I looked through the Sunday newspaper, I felt overwhelmed by the advertisements that offered such deliciously dumb items as
a singing toothbrush holder.
Herbert Hubert is an attorney with Hem Haw Hack and Hew. We met at the local Hot Java. He wanted to solicit my participation
in a variety of causes with a common theme.
Not every county in Indiana is like every other county. This is important to understand (particularly if you are a state
legislator) because we cannot assume one remedy is appropriate for all ills statewide.
The damage done by the recession is still with us, even if the recession itself has ended. But sufficient evidence is available to suggest that the demon recession has left the nation’s economic body.
Occasionally, I go to hear the voice of the people at the mall. Rainy days are good for this exercise. No one is in a hurry
to get drenched in the parking lot.
Most economists are of the opinion that we have seen the bottom of the recession and are in recovery mode. However, the
evidence is scarce to support that position.
Chris Linn drove the roads and noted the telltale signs of lifestyle unseen by most researchers.
His eyes told him what the demographic and economic numbers did not reveal.
Wouldn’t
it be refreshing if we focused on a different way of looking at the recession? What if we talked in
real terms about how much we lost in work days or goods and services?
One recurring pleasure for me is learning how different communities in our state are making progress in economic development. This past week I learned how Madison (Jefferson County) is battling to sustain its heritage while improving opportunities
for its citizens.
All last week, I felt good that Todd Rokita, Indiana’s secretary of state, is pushing
for less partisan redistricting of political offices after the 2010 census.
Where once we believed people were victims of disease, we now insist
that illness is a reflection of choices actively made.
Recently, I saw a newspaper story detailing the number and percentage of jobs lost over the past year for Indiana’s
metropolitan areas. This year-over-year story is appropriate, but it tends to hide the truth behind the numbers.
Our many national concerns are manifest in the widespread transportation industry. The level of
economic activity determines the demand for transportation services and equipment.
Some things need to be repeated over and over again. Repetition is required when a concept is hard to grasp or when narrow
interests are allowed to override the public interest.
