from JD's Grille and Bar, 2210 East 54th Street, we shall stream today's Show from 11 am to 1 pm.

   Mike Claytor is seeking nomination of the Democratic Party for the office of Auditor of Indiana. For that office, "major" political parties nominate candidates through their state convention, not through the primary May 6. Mike has accepted our invitation to appear on Saturday's Show, introduce himself to the voters, and discuss issues he sees as germane to the race for his…

   On April 7 I blogged a challenge to candidates for public office, in the event a candidate is elected, the candidate will either refuse to accept passes to suites at Colts or Pacers games or at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, or donate any such proffered passes to charity.

   I like sports. I like watching basketball---I was born in Indiana. I would like to quit watching NFL games. The brain damage to players has been shown to be lethal. And I have listened to the Indianapolis 500…

   David Russ is a candidate for the Indiana House of Representatives, District 39 in the Democratic Party primary on May 6. The incumbent in that district is Republican Jerry Torr.  Patrick Lockhart is a candidate for Indiana House District 91 in the Democratic Party primary. The incumbent in that race is Republican Robert Behning. Both Mr. Russ and Mr. Lockhart will be guests on Civil Discourse Now this Saturday, April 19, 11 am to 1 pm as we stream live from JT's Grill and Bar, 2210 East…

   The Foundry, located at 236 East 16th Street, corner of 16th and Alabama, will be the location for today's Show, streamed live from 11 am to 1 pm. We shot there a few weeks ago and the place and people were so cool, we had to return.

   The Indianapolis International Film Festival will take place July 17-26 this summer. We have covered the Festival the past two years and had fun each year. Each year, though, we were jumping into things half-way through. Event organizers were very…

   Percentage-wise, few people get seats to luxury suits at Pacers and Colts games. Indianapolis Motor Speedway has probably more suites with larger seating capacity.

   Elected political officials receive free tickets for these luxury accommodations. Maybe the politicians are friends of the owners. Those owners have sought public funds for various aspects of their operations. The politicians vote on those funds. This is at least an appearance of impropriety and wrong.

   This…

   Humans are given less consideration each day. Corporations have been given powers and rights about which the Framers of our Constitution and early leaders of the United States warned. James Madison “feared that the spirit of speculation’ would lead to ‘a government operating by corrupt influence, substituting the motive of private interest in place of public duty.’” FN 1. Andrew Jackson vetoed recharter of the Second National Bank because the Act “seems to be predicated on the erroneous…

   Senator Mike Delph made the news a lot this past session of the Indiana General Assembly. His remarks were held in such low esteem by his Republican colleagues, he was banished to the Democratic Party's side of the aisle. The man who wanted to retain the second part of the amendment that would have memorialized discrimination in our Indiana Constitution has an opponent in the November election. J.D. Ford will be our guest on "Civil Discourse Now," as we stream live, 11 am to 1 pm, from…

   Whatever office you seek in Indiana and whatever party---or none---of which you are a member, you are invited to be on "Civil Discourse Now." Please contact me at marksmall2001 at yahoo dot com.

   Tune in from 11 am to 1 pm as we will have Congressional candidate Allen Davidson, Marion County judicial candidate David Hennessy, Lawyer Bill Groth who argued the Indiana Voter ID law to the United States Supreme Court, Kimann Schultz with "Fashion and Style," and---the inaugural episode of the satirical radio satire "Tale of the City"! Streamed from the Cabin Fever Weekend at Clarion Convention Center, just west of I-465 and just off Crawfordsville Road!

   We have a newspaper that acts as a cheerleader for a Mayor who openly showers campaign backers with neat gifts. We use Tax Increment Finance ("TIF") districts---now banned by statute, as a local government funding mechanism in the State where they first were developed because they destroyed local economies---to create slush funds for a Mayor who seems to care only for the wealthy. There is no check on corruption---a plague that does not necessarily involve illegal conduct.

  On…

  Clarion Waterfront Hotel is on the west side of Indianapolis on Crawfordsville Road, just west of I-465 at 2930 West Waterfront Parkway. We stream live from 11 am to 1 pm on Indiana Talks dot com. A focal topic for The Show  will be legislative efforts to restrict voting rights.

   Our guest panelists include: Bill Groth, who litigated the Indiana "Voter ID" law before the United States Supreme Court; and a representative from the Marion County Clerk's Office, the office responsible…

   The primary elections of the two major political parties, as "major" political parties are defined by Indiana Code, will occur on Tuesday, May 6, 2014. Civil Discourse Now was started in the interest of fun and enlightenment. With primary elections---plural because more than one office is in play and more than one party is holding a primary---a few weeks away, it is important for voters to know the candidates from whom they can choose. If you are a candidate for an office in the May 6…

   Every year for a long time my ritual on NCAA(r) picks Sunday---or whatever the formal brand name for the day has become---has involved watching the NCAA(r) draw of teams for the tournament and filling in the brackets on the form printed in The Indianapolis Star. I used to purchase of a copy of the Sunday Star, but after I graduated from law school I subscribed for home delivery of the daily publication then owned by the Pulliam family.

   A savvy lawyer in trust laws figured out…

   We shall do a "wrap-up" of the 2014 Indiana General Assembly on Saturday, March 22, from 11 am to 1 pm. Our guest panelists will be John Ketzenberger and Jon Easter. CDN Senior Contributor Matt Stone also will be a panelist. CDN will stream live from the Antelope Club, 615 North Delaware Street.

   Mayor Greg Ballard, in Indianapolis between jaunts overseas, has spoken out on how to address problems here in Indianapolis. Yesterday Mayor Ballard announced a new initiative---"Your Life Matters"---targeted, as noted by Indy Democrat blogger Jon Easter, "specifically towards troubled and at-risk young people." The Indianapolis daily newspaper noted: "Ballard pledged a $75,000 investment in the Connect 2 Help 211 telephone service. The nonprofit connects people, especially parents who…

   On Monday evening, I stayed up late. I did not go to bed until nearly 10 p.m. As I have grown older, the wild days of youth, when I would stay up until 11 p.m., have faded.

   I was hungry and decided to order a pizza.

   Even several years ago, there were several choices for delivery. Noble Roman's deep-dish was a favorite. Bazbeaux's whole-wheat crust was healthy, tasty, and local. There were the corporate fall-backs---Pizza Hut and Domino's (and I know Noble Roman's…

   After 9/11,the United States government took actions that were unrelated to defense against terrorists. The Patriot Act was passed by a docile Congress. In it, protections (i.e., rights) of the Constitution were out to the side in the interest of national security. The United States also transported people to the former Navy coaling station at Guantanamo Bay, on the island of Cuba, to be held.

   "Gitmo" was a loophole. If individuals had been arrested and charged with criminal…

   Over the past few days, commentators and politicians have expressed dis may over President Obama's restraint in the way he addresses the crisis over Ukraine. Senator Dan Coats and others want trade sanctions against Vladimir Putin's Russia. Others want some sort of military effort. Sarah Palin offered a view, along with a giggle, that President Obama's policy lacks "potency." Sexual innuendo has been a mechanism for comedy since the days of Aristophanes or before. As an expression of…

   Saturday will be St. David's Day, a national holiday in Wales.

   Since childhood, my father led me to believe I was of Scottish descent. In 2008, on a trip to Kansas City and a detour to an Irish heritage museum, a guide ran a computer search of family trees. When she asked if I wanted mine run, I blew her off and said there was no need to do a search on me. She said perhaps I would be surprised. She ran the search, called over a co-worker, and pointed at the screen. She uttered…

   Yesterday's blog drew interesting responses. One observed "nothing is more convincing than a good personal anecdote," and provided a link to the Concise Encyclopedia of Economics. I followed the link. I expected to read a recent entry about unemployment benefits and a summary of peer-reviewed studies of the effects of unemployment benefits. Instead, I read an article written in 1992. We are on our third President since the article was written. The internet was developed. NAFTA was signed.…