MARCUS: Happy news is the remedy for reality
The elderly woman sat before me nervously straightening the seams of her dark gray stockings.
Morton Marcus
Articles
MARCUS: Changing roles cause conflict
Americans are uncomfortable when responsibilities between the public and private sectors shift.
MARCUS: A feast of perceptions about health care
Lots of people are
without health insurance, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they go without health care. Others have insurance that
doesn’t cover their needs. Either they don’t get the care or they go broke in the process.
MARCUS: Economic slump inspires platitudes galore
If the problem is that consumers and businesses
are not spending because banks aren’t lending, then government making it easier for banks to lend and consumers to spend
is a good thing. The stimulus plan is right on target.
MARCUS: Will children make good leaders?
As a quiet person, I am not likely to intrude when I run across egregious wrongs. Most often I let dastardly deeds go without
comment. Someday, I hope, I will overcome this character defect and stand up in opposition to wrongdoers.
MARCUS: Men, women use time differently
On an average day, nearly 83 percent of women, but only 64 percent of men, spend time engaged in household activities, according to a recent report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Plus, when women engage in household activities, they average two hours and 35 minutes per day while men average two hours and one minute.
MARCUS: If not taxes, how about user fees?
“Most people hate to pay taxes,” Gregory Goad said. “They don’t appreciate the services taxes support,
they don’t understand why taxes are necessary, or they don’t like to help people in need.”
MARCUS: Budget made by rudderless Legislature
If we are lucky, by the time you read these words the Indiana General Assembly will have passed a new budget. Democrats use
tarot cards and Republicans chicken innards to determine how much to spend. There are alternatives.
EYE ON THE PIE: Budget made by rudderless Legislature-WEB ONLY
If we are lucky, by the time you read these words the Indiana General Assembly will have passed a new budget. Democrats use tarot cards and Republicans chicken innards to determine how much to spend. There are alternatives. In some states, changes in the level of the budget are driven by the percent change in […]
MARCUS: Grouch finds good in the economy
To use a gardening metaphor, have the courage to prune back in a tough economy, and plant new seeds before the weather improves.
EYE ON THE PIE: Grouch finds good in economy-WEB ONLY
My neighbor, Fred Fetid, was out weeding his garden. “Howdy,” I said. No answer from Fred. “Another fine day,” I offered. “Don’t you read the newspapers?” Fred demanded. “Nothing is fine at all.” “Blasted Indiana Legislature is playing games,” he said. “Still voting along strict party lines, which means individual members have either no brains […]
EYE ON THE PIE: Watch your pocket; someone may pick it
The unexpected move of NCR Corp. from Ohio to Georgia illustrates how even the best corporate citizens can show a fickle streak.
EYE ON THE PIE: Watch your pocket; someone may pick it-WEB ONLY
This is a cautionary tale. Beware of your best commercial friends, your most trusted business allies, your most generous corporate supporters. They may abandon you when you need them most. Let’s fill in the details. NCR Corp. (formerly National Cash Register) was founded in Dayton, Ohio, in 1884. It became one of the great innovative […]
MARCUS: Urban entryways deserve attention
We need not have an arch to rival St. Louis, but more communities could copy work done on the north side of Bloomington and
the west side of Columbus to welcome visitors and bolster the pride of residents.
EYE ON THE PIE: Urban entryways deserve attention-WEB ONLY
This is my hometown, which I am visiting for a few days. I love it, but can afford it for only a few days. We’ll see some relatives and some sights; some of our relatives are sights. One joy of New York is entering the city from the north via the Palisades Parkway on the […]
MARCUS: We all helped kill the auto industry
There are nearly no innocent parties to the conspiracy that brought the Big Three low, from greedy executives to combative
labor unions to elderly uninformed stockholders.
EYE ON THE PIE: We all helped kill the auto industry-WEB ONLY
The congressional committee opened its hearings with this question: Who killed the American auto industry? A long line of people waited to answer. “I did,” said the consumer who continued to buy from the Big Three, “by accepting an inferior product out of loyalty to the flag, by assuming that poor quality was the best […]
MARCUS: Let’s reassess reassessment
The process of assessment could be simplified and performed uniformly and inexpensively.
EYE ON THE PIE: Let’s reassess reassessment-WEB ONLY
Gordon Garble and I are meeting for breakfast. Gordon orders the Everything Skillet: two eggs, Swiss cheese, hashbrown potatoes, ham, bacon, onions, green pepper and mushrooms, all topped by sausage gravy-with a side of three banana pancakes. I have the same, only to be friendly. “I’m thinking about running,” he says. “Exercise might be helpful,” […]
Consider progressive taxes
Put some progressivity into Indiana tax rates when passing the Indiana state budget.