When it comes to public policy, sometimes the answers we seek are counter-intuitive. A perfect example are "regulations" that allegedly protect people from corporate misbehavior. Most people believe if we only regulate corporations more, we'll all be safer from their "greedy" ways.
In reality, we already have piles of regulations. Inventing more will only make things more complicated and open to corruption. With regulations come more loopholes, more lobbyists, and a further intertwining of venal politics and business. Those with the best lobbyists, the best connections and the most money are unfairly privileged in making the system work for them and against the best interests of smaller competitors and the public.
Instead of coming up with more regulations, we should insist on more transparency, more competition and stiffer penalties for those who break the common laws of theft, fraud and deception.
Unfortunately, much like people who mistakenly drive in front of a moving vehicle because they assume the oncoming car has a stop sign, "regulations" give us a false sense of security while tempting those with bad intentions to drive at night with their lights off.
Whoever dreamed up the idea of having a tax protest "tea party" must have been a middle-aged history major who is determined to drive the GOP and conservatives further into cultural and electoral isolation.
The party of "No!" is fast becoming the party of "What now?"
First, a population that can hardly name the last six presidents knows nothing about the Boston Tea Party of 1773. There is simply no useful context for this so-called protest in the minds of mainstream Americans.
Second, some of the figureheads included Newt Gingrich and Joe the Plumber, with color commentary and Obama-hating by Sean Hannity.
As a former supporter of the GOP, it is embarrassing to see this type of contrived protest. Looking at the signs and effigies, it is clear the only real purpose of the tea parties was to express disdain for President Obama and to collectively pine for his failure.
The Grand Old Party is quickly becoming the Grossly Out-of-touch Partisans.
One of President Barack Obama's first promises was to get a dog from an animal shelter for his daughters.
The Washington, D.C., Humane Society provides care for more than 15,000 animals annually.
Sen. Ted Kennedy bought a Portuguese water dog for the girls, a breed reputed to be better suited for allergy sufferers. (This breed costs around $2,000 each.)
According to an article by Susan Bertram, DVM, it is a myth that a non-shedding dog is allergy proof. The dog's size, frequency of bathing and type of shampoo used are important factors. Some breeds have more dander and skin problems that contribute to the allergy issue.
All types of dogs, full bred and mutt, are taken to animal shelters across the country daily. I suspect the Washington Humane Society would have been glad to work with the first family to obtain a shelter dog appropriate for the girls and the allergy issue. It might have taken a little time, but it would have been time well spent for an unwanted dog.
As of April 13, 18 people who call irvington home are listed on the Indiana Sheriffs' Sex Offenders Registry.
The 5700 block of Julian Avenue and 5800, 5900 and 6300 blocks of East Washington Street have the 18 offenders residing (12 child molesters, two rapists, one sexual misconduct with a minor offender, one child solicitation, one child exploitation and one murderer/violent offender who was convicted in 1978, received a life sentence and was released in 2003.
There are six more offenders living in the vicinity and one child molester living within a couple of blocks of the Marion County Children's Guardian Home.
Listed on the registry as addresses of employment in Irvington for other offenders are one in the 1000 block of North Arlington Avenue and convicted child molester in the 5700 block of East Washington. Employed in the 5600 block of East Washington is a man convicted of sexual misconduct with a minor and another who works in the 6200 block of East Washington. IPS School 57 is located at 5435 E. Washington St. and the Irvington Public Library is at 5625 E. Washington.
I don't know what the answer is as to where these people should work and live, but I am of the mind-set "not in my backyard."
I appreciate National Public Radio and local affiliate WFYI for providing such diverse news and information, for which the public provides enthusiastic support and voluntary contributions.
I'm curious: What percentage of the time do these good public TV and radio outlets spend in fund-raising? How much does it cost for a "Diane Rehm Show" or BBC news? In comparing unscientifically a commercial station and public-supported station, I have to wonder about distribution of the broadcasting time and fund-raising. Wouldn't it be nice to see and hear, like in the early days of public TV and radio, far less public-relations advertising?
Even though Fidel Castro took control 50 years ago, the governments of the U.S. and Cuba are still feuding. Like cousins holding grudges, the two nations need to remember their historic cultural and economic ties. Our nations are separated by less than a hundred miles of water, yet there is no trade and very limited personal travel between the two. The cultures have developed independently over the last half-century.
Each government needs to take a deep breath, forgive the insults and indiscretions of the past and start moving together toward reconciliation. The Cuba before Castro is gone. The Cold War of the last century is over.
Granted, Cuba is not a paradise. Our snubbing of the Cuban government hasn't brought its people freedom of speech, press and religion yet. However, contact with the forces of our freedoms and capitalism just might usher in a new era for Cuba. Besides, I'd like to read the latest Cuban books, hear its music, see its art and visit its beaches.
I'm wondering about this and maybe someone out there can educate me:
Goodwill advertises that it will accept any old, junker car as a donation. I assume it sells them as scrap for the metal and makes money that way. Then why are there so many unsightly junkyards around that have vehicles unusable for parts? If Goodwill sees it as a way to make money; why doesn't someone else?
My four-and-a-half-hour trip home from the Motor City lasted seven hours. I would like to imagine that it was because I simply couldn't pry myself from the endless wonders of metropolitan Detroit. However, I can only say that trash bags and cardboard are inadequate protection at highway speeds in a snowstorm.
While I credit Dodge's engineering department for building a car that is difficult to hot wire; it has yet to perfect a solution for the old "crackhead with a crowbar to your window" scenario.
There has been a generous amount of commentary about Mayor Greg Ballard's experience in Detroit, but I can more than empathize with his plight. The day before the NCAA championship game, my car was burglarized while parked in the "good" side of town. I guess I'm the fool this time, if the auto industry can't survive Detroit, why should I leave unscathed?
When I see an exclamation point I immediately think "Party!"
Currently on the sides of city buses there's the following: Syphilis is Back!
My eye is immediately drawn to the exclamation point, and therefore to the party mind-set. But then I see that serious word -- "syphilis."
Maybe a skull and crossbones symbol instead of the happy looking exclamation point would get the message across better.
I'm excited about residing in one of the five "Unsung Indy" neighborhoods chosen by the nonprofit Indiana Association for Economic Development.
Irvington is our home. We moved here nine years ago and instantly felt welcome. We delight in the efforts to maintain the flavor of the past. We live in a diverse neighborhood, which sometimes is an euphemism for "undesirable." Not so in Irvington. Diversity here means we relish the positive influences of all kinds of people.
So we feel lucky to have been chosen as part of Unsung Indy, but those who learn of us will be lucky, too.
IN Touch is The Star Editorial Board's online readers panel. IN Touch members post their opinions on breaking news from Central Indiana, Washington, D.C., and around the world.