The 1st Amendment protects free speech: “Congress shall make no law ... abridging the freedom speech...” Indiana’s Const: “No law shall be passed, restraining the free interchange of thought and opinion, or restricting the right to speak ... on any subject whatever...” Art. I, §9 1/4

SCOTUS has long recognized the 1st Amendment’s protection does not end w/the spoken or written word (Texas v. Johnson, 491 U.S. 397, 404 (1989); flags are a primitive but effective way of communicating…

This used to be “Columbus Day.” Few have read Columbus’s journal about the people who greeted him & his crew 10/12/1492: “They ... brought us parrots and balls of cotton and spears and many other things... “They were well-built, with good bodies and handsome features... 1/3

“They do not bear arms ... I showed them a sword, they took it by the edge and cut themselves out of ignorance. They have no iron. Their spears are made of cane... They would make fine servants... With 50 men…

Elon Musk says he’s going ahead with his takeover of Twitter. As a result people quit Twitter & look for someplace else. What has changed? Mid-term elections have gotten closer, the blowback from overturning Roe v Wade has painted a blue November and - did Musk get more $? 1/2

Pay no attention: he’s not even the man behind the curtain, the deal isn’t final, & he wants us to quit. I’m Mark Small: pro-voting rights, pro-legalization of drugs, pro-choice, pro-civil rts GOP…

On Friday, Oct. 7, 5-7 p.m., there will be a launch party at Broad Ripple Tavern, 745 Broad Ripple Avenue. George Wilson’s “Rossville: Collected Short Stories” consists of four short stories and three short paragraphs in a short final section.

Each story seems to appeal to a different group of readers. If you like gratuitous violence and salacious narratives a/k/a low-brow smut, you will be disappointed. The stories share a comedic tone, albeit light. They also have good plots. …

Someone corrected me a few days ago to point out that the GOP nominee for IN Sec’y of State (“SoS”) got the nomination via party convention, not the primary. SoS is Indiana’s chief election officer. I.C. 3-6-3.7-1. (btw, IN’s voting system is secure, as 2020 showed.) 1/5

As a Republican in good standing & primary qualified, GOP rules bar me from supporting ppl running against a GOP nominee. That means I cannot say: Vote for Destiny Scott Wells, combat vet, opponent of neo-fascism,…

I received an email from “American Family Association of Indiana PAC, Indiana Family Action, FRC Action, Tea Party Patriots, and iVoterGuide” & their plan to release, on Oct 3, their Indiana voter guide for the 11/8/22 election. They asked for corrections by noon on 10/3. 1/3

I replied: “Your ‘gauge’ for my beliefs still has a space on the left. The ‘White, Christo-fascists’ ‘trying to take over this country, and through violence if they deem it necessary’ to which I refer include…

After a few days one would think the Marion County GOP would correct its website & accurately name & depict photos of its nominees on the November 8 ballot. As a pro-choice, anti-gun, pro-environment, pro-voting rts (a/k/a pre-MAGA) Republican, I didn’t expect a lot of love. 1/4

The GOP lost Marion County yrs ago & currently hold no county-wide office. The only GOP person elected in this part of Marion County to anything is sitting in my living room & I don’t mean any…

The 14th Amendment was a result of slavery. Section 1 provides: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the States wherein they reside...” People may today wonder why that clause is needed. 1/5

In 1856 SCOTUS held: “A free negro of the African race, whose ancestors were brought to this country and sold as slaves, is not a ‘citizen’ within the meaning of the Constitution of the United…

As the only pro-choice, pro-environment, pro-sep’n of church/State, pro-voting rts, anti-MAGA GOP nominee (meaning I won the primary) for ... well, any elective race, I neither sought nor expected GOP money or support. Indiana’s GOP still refers to trump as president. 1/5

Marion County’s GOP, though, has false information at indyrepublicans dot com Color photos of GOP nominees are displayed over that candidate’s name & the office s/he seeks. A photo of the nominee for District 87…

In 1974 I helped register voters at the Howard County 4-H Fair. Each of the two “major” political parties had a tent with volunteers trying to get as many eligible people as possible registered. In 2006, in Washington Twp 21-01, both D’s & R’s worked together to help people vote. 1/5

Today a friend called, then sent a screen-shot of an application for an absentee ballot she received from the Democratic Party. I want to know if the Indiana GOP is sending out any non-partisan info…

In November, the office of Indiana Secretary Indiana Secretary of State (“SoS”), established by IN’s Constitution, Art. 6, § 1, will be on the ballot. Our system of government depends upon our right to vote being safe. Indiana’s SoS is IN’s chief elections officer. I.C. 3-6-3.7-1. 1/5



In 2020, Connie Lawson, a Republican, was SoS and there were no credible complaints of voting irregularities. Destiny Wells, Democratic Party candidate for SofS, is a combat veteran who has been…

I'll attach to this blog/tweet, in PDF info that Jason Straw, head of Indiana NORML, sent out in regard to the Summer Cannabis Study at the Indiana Statehouse. And no, this is not like when a friend of mine snuck into the House Chambers and fired up a joint. 1/3

Why anyone has to discuss the matter is a bit absurd. They originally were to meet in Room 403, but needed a bigger room. Last I heard, it was 420. 2/3

I’m Mark Small, and I've argued for legalizing all drugs since…

Grace & civility R qualities all-too-rare. Online ppl sometimes aren’t real & this can lead to real ppl being treated as objects. Friday 9/16 I addressed folks who commented about my speaking on 9/15 at the Governor’s Mansion where ppl protested IN’s absurd abortion law. 1/3

Photographer Leif Ostara wrote several such comments. On 9/18 he posted this: “I’m sorry you were so offended. I think you’re very interesting and I meant no offense. I’m a bit of a wingnut myself.” I…

In 9/18 email, IN GOP chair Kyle Hupfer, w/subject line of “Socialism? In Indiana?” claimed Democrats want to change our freedom-loving way of life “to America becoming a socialist country.” Hupfer doesn’t define the scary term, “socialism,” but saysDems roll “their eyes 1/6

at our constitutional principles of free speech, freedom of religion, and the right to keep and bear arms.” FL has election police, MAGA ppl want theocracy & the 2nd Amend is bastardized by the GOP. Hupfer’s…

When trump made fun a reporter’s disability in 2016, many were appalled. This past Thursday I would have been glad to talk w/ppl, who took issue with my speaking about IN’s new abortion law, at the Governor’s Mansion. Photographer Leif Ostara wrote he didn’t “know this 1/5

dude's name” but “he's super wingnutty” like “a cross betw John C. Reilly and Henry Winkler.” Ostara yelped “Yikes!” after a Jordan Trachtenberg’s cursory search found a website that listed no platform for me. Sara…

Several ppl expressed dismay, after the protest outside the Governor’s Mansion on 09/15/22, that I do not have a platform. One person wrote “Yikes.” In February I posted my platform on my blog & Twitter in February. So, here are the issues I listed w/my stand. 1/5

1) Women’s reproductive rts: codify provisions of Roe. 2) Education: restore academic freedom of our pub school teachers & end vouchers. 3) Economic policies: repeal IN TIF statute + stop public subsidies to pro…

Stats show that immigrants commit far fewer crimes, work harder & do more for communities where they live than people born in the USA. FL & TX are cruel in sending, via false pretenses (a/k/a lies) immigrants to Massachusetts. We want those ppl in Indiana. 1/2

Hoosier Hospitality should be more than a catch-phrase for commercials. I’m Mark Small: pro-choice, pro-separation of church & State, anti-gun GOP nominee (I won the primary) for Indiana House Distr 86. I approve of…

Tomorrow I’ll speak outside the Governor’s Mansion at a rally to protest Indiana’s abortion law, enacted after a Supreme Court with impaired legitimacy overturned Roe v Wade. Lee Atwater set abortion as a key issue, though few in history have seen abortion as wrong (read Roe). 1/5

Atwater said racism could fly if the GOP swapped out divisive terms (like racial expletives) with race-neutral terms like “busing.” Atwater’s plans used white supremacy & fascism founded in a weird…

The Constitution created a framework for gov’t. The first 10 amendments, called the Bill of Rights, were added soon after The Constitution was ratified to allay the fears of some who felt a Bill of Rights was necessary. The Civil War amendments, 13-15, broadened protections. 1/6

The First Amendment (“1A”): (a) protects us from & practice of religion; & (b) protects speech & right of association. 2A protects the right of the people to have armed militias. Recently 1A &…

Basis for Indiana’s Open Door Law, enacted in 1977 & amended several times, is in American const’l representative gov’t, the ppl are entitled to full & complete info on affairs of gov’t & official acts of public officials and employees. I.C. 5-14-3-1. But the door’s not so “open.” 1/5

Example: a public agency can publish its agenda ahead of a scheduled meeting, but an agenda is not required. I.C. § 5-14-1.5-4. Both the Hamilton County Commissioners and the Hamilton East…