Elected representatives should be accountable to all people they represent, not institutional forces like lobbyists and special interests. Politicians are often unable to do their job because their only goal is to do whatever it takes to get re-elected and keep their power; not to do what is right for the American people. This doesn’t…
The election is not Trump vs. Clinton. It’s Trump vs. Clinton AND The United States of America. Donald Trump stands against every ideal that America stands for. His dexterous manipulation of fear has resonated, God help us, with tens of millions of Americans. What do they fear? The world is moving too fast for them….
May I suggest voters ask potential elected representatives the following questions, hopefully getting honest personal answers (not party approved answers) before deciding who to vote for: 1. Do you support congressional term limits? If so, what would you propose and are you willing to promise, in writing, to actively support such? 2. Is it true…
What kind of US Presidential election year is 2016? Both big establishment candidates have the highest negative ratings ever recorded in US politics. Shame on us. Out of 300 million, is this the best we can do? I refuse to waste my vote on voting against someone. In good conscience, I must vote for someone…
Federal funds known as Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) are distributed by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to Indiana in two methods. First they are awarded to 17 HUD Entitlement Communities and secondly as a Block Grant to the State of Indiana for use throughout the state in the “Non-Entitlement” areas. CDBG…
I want to highlight the good work the Jasper Council is doing to balance the budget, but it also shows us something else. That like the county council has pointed out, local government spending has outpaced the tax revenue base. This is why the circuit breaker was tripped, because the city of Jasper has large…
I delve into this letter with a bit of unease and a tremendous amount of determination. My unease comes from the fact that I myself have been a teacher in a traditional public school for the past 13 years, and I worry some will not accept my words due to this. Likewise, the determination I…
Five years ago, my friend Sarah Barry and I looked at what we could to do to be stronger advocates for the LGBTQ community in Indiana. A few months prior I had graduated from Jasper High School, and before that, I had pursued starting a gay-straight alliance (GSA) at the school to help combat the…
But for. These two words represent the essence of economic development laws in Indiana, especially tax abatement. The basis for any use of this tool is, “But for this tax abatement, would these new investments by your company be taking place? Yes, or No?” When the answer is “No” the results have been astounding: Since…
I have been glued to the television all day watching the unfolding Baton Rouge tragedy along with the security concerns for the Republican Convention scheduled to get underway tomorrow. It has occurred to me that the presumptive Republican candidate has done nothing to diffuse the murderous rage that has besieged the world this summer. On the…
