Who Gets What?

Dedicated, energetic, non partisan Julia Vaughn has been working to improve Indiana's democratic systems, to foster transparency and to extend voting rights to all eligible Indiana citizens, talks about recent actual and proposed restrictions on voter eligibility.   In her view, Indiana does not have an election security problem.  Instead, it has a voter participation problem.  In 2022, Indiana was 50th in vother turnout.

John Ketzenberger, Director of Government Relations, The Nature Conservancy (Indiana Chapter), reminds us of its many projects, as well as the opportunities to share and to understand nature in Indiana.  John thanks Morton for "cranking me up on a Friday morning," after Morton wonders why so many different environmental organizations exist.    

Local mass transportation, a new soccer stadium and the new judicial center are just a few of the topics in this exchange with Greg Ballard, 48th Mayor of Indianapolis. 

This rambling dicussion between two economists, our host Morton Marcus, and our guest Bruce Jaffee, covers money in athletics, history disappearing, news as entertainment, regulating business, and the compelling need to teach critical thinking--the ability to ask questions, to see the difference between fact and fiction.  For over four decades, Bruce was a teacher, an observer, an author of impact studies, and a faculty representative to the NCAA.  

Habitat for Humanity's State Director, Gina Leckron, talks about both the need for housing, especially starter homes, as well as means for Habitat's many chapters to attract donors.  One method is to utilize The Attainable Home Ownership Indiana Income Tax Credit, created this year by The Indiana General Assembly.  

Tuck Langland has produced major works of art throughout the world.  Here we consider/debate ideas about creativity in general, creating art on computers, the proper and improper application of artificial intelligence to copy or to enhance new works of art, and production by 3-d printing.  Tuck asks "can artificial intelligence create new ideas?"  Then he states:  "I do not think a machine can create a world."

Jim Brainard may be the most expererienced urban planner in Indiana, possibly the nation, having served as Mayor of Carmel since 1996.  In this conversation, he challenges assumptions about "weak mayors" by comparing Indiana's institutional system to those of other states.  The long-term costs of urban sprawl are considered, as well as the absurd system of government jurisdictions competing with each other by offering economic incentives to large companies.  

Jill's House serves up to 33 guests in Bloomington.  Angela Hays has many tasks under the title Community Development Consultant.  She talks about the nature of dementia, finanicial considersations and the broad national need for additional services.  

This walk through a six-decade legal and civic career starts with the racial issues of 1968, moves to work on veterans affairs in Washington, a legal career representing utilities and other corporations, and his recent project, a photo-essay exhibition about the lives of soldiers who returned from Vietnam.  The exhibition opens at the end of May at the Railroad Depot in Union City.  

Jennifer Pearl is President of The Bloomington Economic Development Corporation which serves Monroe County,  She states that "economic development is providing conditions for prosperity."

Twice-chapter-president Roy Hedeen describes the nature, history and functions of service clubs, in this case, Kiwanis.  Roy also served as a professional representative of Kiwanis International.  Societal changes are considered.  

Here we are fortunate to learn about emergence of a new non profit.  Mental health care professional Antoniett Nelson opens Seasoned Transitional Living on June 1, planning to help dozens of young people this year and in to the future.  

Joy's House is a central Indiana leader fostering both professional and volunteer caregiving, and in understanding this element of our aging population.  Tina McIntosh started down this road 25 years ago when she created Joy's House, an adult day care facility in Broad Ripple.  As a result of this commitment, she was selected as USAToday's Woman of The Year, Indiana.  [https://www.usatoday.com/storytelling/grid/women-of-the-year-2023/] Tina supports caregiving in many ways, including a weekly radio show (WIBC 93.1 FM, Sundays, 10 a.m., and 1310 AM Saturdays, 8 a.m.),, and she is a board member of a national caregiving organization.  VisitCaregiverWay.com is one of her favored sources.  General information is available at Joyshouse.org. *Over 200 stations nation wide, including WTTV and WXIN in Indianapolis.  

Brian Sullivan teaches radio and television at New Albany High School, the owner of WNAS, the student-run, 24-hour station.  (88.1 in the New Albany/Louisville area; also WNAS.org)      

In possibly the clearest explanation we have heard, endocrinologist Hunter Heath explains diabetes.  He also states that diabetes was understood by The Greeks.  They measured the amnount of sugar in urine.  Advances in both monitoring and treatment have improved treatment dramatically.  

For almost 20 years, Julia Vaughn has led Common Cause, Indiana, by advocating for legislative ethics, monitoring lobbying, and more fair legislative and congressional districting.  Common Cause was founded by John Gardner in 1970, a Republican who held a cabinet position in the Democratic administration of Lyndon Johnson.  Since then, bi partisanship has been powerful in the organization.  

Having seved as both an Indiana legislator and, later, as a lobbyist for private companies, Marc Carmichael talks about educating legislators who cannot have knowledge about every issue.  Three categories:  lobbyists for one firm or industry; contract lobbyists who work for dozens of different organizations and issues; public interest lobbyists who advocate social reforms such as redistricting legislative districts, voting rights, and public health.

Will Higgins, humorist, author, journalist, talks about last suppers, catered food for journalists at executions, the delayed burial of Indiana poet James Whitcomb Riley, and Indiana's last hanging after which a journalist ate the deceased's final meal.  With apologies, may we say:  you will be dying to hear this podcast.  

Among compelling points in this interview is "the politicalization of medicine is a horrible thing," and, in public health "personal responsibility does not work."  Our guest is former Indiana State Health Commissioner Dr. Richard Feldman who also is a frequent columnist in The Indianapolis Business Journal as well as author of books, including his most recent:  "What Our Patients Have Taught Us . . . "    

This is a quick and comprehensible description of mediation.  Our guest, John Krauss, teaches and practices mediation.  John has been a leader of government with both the mayor of Indianapolis and the governor of Indiana.  He is an attorney who teaches at the law school in Indianapolis.