A Common Sense Approach to Economic Development ()

Letter to the editor written to begin the debate and inform citizens on a different view regarding government's role in economic development. ()

The Definition of Insanity ()

Letter to the editor, written after debate and vote on expansion of city bus system into the county. I thought it necessary to challenge the old way of doing things, ie., When someone perceives a need, get government to do it. It was important to shed light on the real reasons for this expanded government service. ()

The Holy Grail of Every Politician ()

Editorial written at the request of the Terre Haute Journal of Business, and published in their paper. It is a description of my philosophy regarding the proper, and most effective, government approach to economic development. ()

Dear Travis ()

Of all the letters I have written, it was this one that I always hoped might have made a difference. I do not know if it did. It was written to a young man in a high school class I spoke to. He was very involved in efforts to get the city of Terre Haute to build a skate park. I was, and still am, very much opposed to forcing taxpayers to fund this project. In the letter, I tried to convince this sharp young man of the wonders and benefits of persons acting voluntarily in the free market.
()

A Fair Field, with No Favors ()

A letter to the editor that ran opposite another letter with an opposing view. Mine explains, in some detail, the costs of government interventions and the alternative I promote with regards to economic development efforts. ()

Jim ()

I was asked a question at an event that I spoke at, and it was necessary to go into more detail on the answer for the gentleman who had asked. The question was about seeking state and federal dollars, "earmarks" if you will, for local projects. ()

Price Gouging on Trees? ()

This article was written in response to an article on business costs in the trade publication of the Indiana Nursery and Landscape Association. I was prompted to write this after reading about calls by a few in the nursery industry advocating government investigations into gasoline "price gouging" and punishment for those "gougers." ()

To: Members of the Terre Haute City Council, Mr. Bill Olah, and other Interested Persons
()

This somewhat lengthy letter was written to respond during a debate over the use of tax abatement and similar government incentives. In this case, a local franchisee of Schwan's, Inc. (a home delivery food business) was seeking an abatement on a new building. Their attorney wrote to council members a letter outlining his arguments and I responded with this letter. You will be able to follow the points I respond to, with one exception. In arguing for the abatement, the attorney used an analogy to lessen the concern over the ambiguous and unknown nature of tax abatements and incentives. He stated the lament of retail tycoon, Marshall Field, when he talked about advertising. Mr. Field had once stated, "I know that half of the advertising money I spend is wasted, I just don't know which half"! My take on this analogy is in the letter. ()

Dear Dr. Bowden: ()

This letter was sent to the director of the Terre Haute Symphony Orchestra. I did a radio
call-in show in WFIU, as a city council member. I had recently opposed taxpayer funding
of the THSO in the city budget. The director called into the show and we had a lively
discussion on this issue. I sent the letter to make clear my position on government
funding of the arts. ()

Who’s Driving the Property Tax Boat?
Local Government is! ()

Op Ed submitted to papers across the state of Indiana, via the Indiana Policy
Review, on my view of the property tax crisis affecting Hoosiers. In this article,
I try to make it clear who is primarily responsible for the problems we face
with property taxes. ()

Diary of a Duly Elected Troublemaker ()

An artilce written for the Fall/Winter 2006 Issue
of Indiana Policy Review()

This Councilman Stood Firm ()

Defending private property and free markets can be a successful
campaign strategy. An article published in Indiana Policy Review
in April 2004.()

Local Government and Property ()

Catch-22s and qualifications drag this councilman toward a
'comon good.' An article published in the Summer 2005 issue
of Indiana Policy Review. ()