New Business Theory Sweeping New Albany

I have heard people in the past say "why can't we run the government like a business?" I have even whispered those words myself. Well the truth is that businesses get competitive bids on projects and follow budgets, and local governments do not. How about businesses being run like a geovernment? A grand idea I had while reading about Indiana's failure to properly address the property tax fiasco that has plagued Hoosiers for far too long. It works something like this - say you run a small business in New Albany and for argument's sake, we'll say it is a brew pub. You decide to try out this very modern and progressive new business style. You start by charging customers according to their income. Sounds fair so far. So the well off patron, you can tell he is well off by the little alligator on his shirt, gets charged ten bucks a pint. Hey, he can afford it you know. Now the middle income guy, the hard working Carhart jacket fellow, gets charged three dollars a pint. You still with me? Finally, the low income or no income person gets their pint for free. What a plan. Now after a week or two, the atmosphere of the place really starts to change. The well off fellow isn't coming around anymore. He is at home brewing his own or maybe thinking of starting his own pub. The middle income guy still stops by for his usual one or two. But, the place is crawling with lower income folks. Hey, nothing wrong with that. Everyone deserves a great pint now and then, right? You might think this place would be going under in a hurry with no income from the majority of the patrons. AHA - you didn't consider that the government pays the establishment four bucks for every pint that is consumed by the lower income segment and even pays these people another fifty cents a pint to drink it. Now who pays actual tab? You guessed it, the well off guy who sit at home with a Milwaukee's Best wondering what went wrong.

Man I love this country.

Obama wins Tenth Straight - Wife is Finally Proud to be an American

Obama is rolling, no doubt about it. His good fortune in the primaries is pleasing to his wife also. She stated very plainly on Monday, " Let me tell you, for the first time in my adult life, I am really proud of my country." Well said Michelle. Most of us are proud of the ole USA no matter who is in control. Most of us believe it is the greatest nation on Earth. One bright spot though - she has also noted that she is not sure if she can support Hillary if she should win the nomination. Sounds like if things don't go her way, she will take her toys, and hubby, and go home.

One Man's Constitution

Representative Scott Pelath, a Democrat from Michigan City, has taken it upon himself to single handidly kill the marriage amendment bill in the Indiana House. Mr. Pelath is the chair of the powerful House Rules Committee and decides which bills get to be heard on the floor. He is not a big fan of this one, so it will collect dust on his desk rather than standing for an up or down vote so Hoosiers can decide the fate of it. He claims that the State Constitution should only be amended when absolutley necessary and I could not agree more. This is one of those times. The Constitution does not belong to you - it belongs to the people of this state. The right thing to do is release the bill while there is still time to debate it, put it on the November ballot, then let the voters speak on whether they percieve it as important. Anything less is irresponsible and reaks of partisan politics of the worst kind. Please contact Mr. Pelath as well as your own reresentatives to voice your displeasure on this back room filibuster. His contact information is as follows - phone 1-800-382-9842. e-mail h9@in.gov. There is still time to get this done. If we fail to get a vote on this in this session, 2012 is the earliest it can be on a ballot.