Category: Policy

Coke, Pepsi, and the Future of Autonomous Ride-Sharing. Why Austin’s Experiment Matters for Public Policy.

Posted on by cary

For years, autonomous vehicles have been framed as a distant technological frontier, an abstract promise of convenience, safety, and efficiency. But in Austin, Texas, that future quietly arrived. And with it, a critical public policy question emerged: how do we ensure that competition, consumer choice (i.e., Coke and Pepsi), and public interest guide the evolution Read More “Coke, Pepsi, and the Future of Autonomous Ride-Sharing. Why Austin’s Experiment Matters for Public Policy.”

When Revenue Rises but Stability Slips

Posted on by cary

Tariffs are back, louder, sharper, and more lucrative than they’ve been in decades. As of mid-June, the federal government has collected over $72 billion from tariffs in 2025, an 81 percent increase from the same period last year. That kind of growth would turn heads in any revenue stream. But when it comes to understanding Read More “When Revenue Rises but Stability Slips”

AI, Trump, and the Voices of History

Posted on by cary

Sheila Kennedy, one of Indiana’s sharpest public thinkers, just dropped a masterstroke of modern commentary. Her post, AI Talks to Trump, isn’t just clever, it’s necessary. The premise is simple but profound. What if ChatGPT could summon the rhetorical spirit of Thomas Jefferson, Jesus of Nazareth, and Ronald Reagan, then ask them to speak candidly Read More “AI, Trump, and the Voices of History”

The Crown and the Vote: AOC’s First Kingmaker Moment

Posted on by cary

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has never lacked influence. But this is the first time she’s trying to wield it like a blade. Her endorsement of Assembly member Zohran Mamdani in the 2025 New York City mayor’s race marks her debut on the political stage not just as an icon, but as a kingmaker. This is the first Read More “The Crown and the Vote: AOC’s First Kingmaker Moment”

Biosimilars Are the Billion Dollar Solution We Keep Ignoring

Posted on by cary

The United States pays more for prescription drugs than any other country. That is not a function of better drugs or better care. It is a result of a deliberately engineered system that protects monopolies, encourages price discrimination, and stifles competition from the very products that could save the system billions: biosimilars. Pharmaceutical companies insist Read More “Biosimilars Are the Billion Dollar Solution We Keep Ignoring”

The Bridge We’re Building

Posted on by cary

They say when the economy contracts, it takes a while for the layoffs to reach the surface. But in Indiana, they’ve arrived. Ivy Tech, our statewide community college system, just announced the elimination of over 200 jobs. Most people will read that and think “budget tightening.” But if you’ve worked in public education or research, Read More “The Bridge We’re Building”

Art’s Journey to Wisdom Travels the Path of a Public Good

Posted on by cary

Modern economies reward efficiency, not reflection. Our institutions—schools, platforms, governments—are calibrated to deliver outcomes, track progress, and benchmark success. In this landscape, the arts are often treated as indulgences: budget-line luxuries, extracurricular distractions, or marketplace novelties. Yet this utilitarian bias misses something profound. The arts are not ornamental. They are infrastructural. They construct emotional intelligence, Read More “Art’s Journey to Wisdom Travels the Path of a Public Good”

Why the Next Superpower Will Subsidize Daycare

Posted on by cary

NYC has one of America’s most watched mayoral races ongoing. Perhaps the most surprising issue dominating headlines is not crime or housing. It is childcare. Candidates are proposing free care for toddlers, city-run after-school programs, extended school days, and tax-funded support for working parents. Voters are listening. Polls show overwhelming support for universal care for Read More “Why the Next Superpower Will Subsidize Daycare”