Think About It with Michael Leppert

It's time for a new beat, but one last thing before I go

I started writing my column in the spring of 2014, and oh how things have changed since then! Barack Obama was president, and Mike Pence was the governor of Indiana. There were already Republican supermajorities in both chambers of the Indiana General Assembly, and those legislative maps have since been updated and fortified to protect that offensive imbalance for the foreseeable future here. Of course, that assumes Hoosier voters will keep voting red, no matter what that ultimately means. The Republican brand of 2014 would be unrecognizable to a new Republican in 2025. Ronald Reagan is no longer a hero. Richard Nixon is no longer an embarrassment. And Antonin Scalia is unknown to most modern GOP voters. "12 Years a Slave" and "Dallas Buyers Club" cleaned up at the Oscars that year, both of which were stories of historic heroism in response to horrible periods of American history. Those hit movies make me wonder what the great stories about this moment will be, decades or even centuries from now. Early next year, I will publish my second novel, "The Edge of Motherland." The setting is early 2020 in Indianapolis, and the story details an unusual friendship that begins just as the pandemic is locking down the city and the country. The actual historic events, and their impact on people during the first half of that year were remarkable all by themselves, and the book documents plenty of them. But the reason for writing it is to document how the moment felt, and how those feelings inspired a reevaluation of what "home" means. It's not a book about politics or government. Eleven years ago, I was a contract lobbyist, primarily working for clients who needed assistance communicating and advocating to state government. I had been consulting in the private sector for a dozen years following a career of similar length as a state employee and agency executive. Government, and the politics that steered it, was what I spent my professional life studying and working to impact. My résumé would indicate I was an expert in a niche market that was financially rewarding. But I was losing interest in it. Writing this column helped keep it interesting for me back then and for many years since. I have now published more than 600 columns, and almost 500 of them have been specifically about politics and government. When I look back at the body of work, most would agree, some more than others, that on these topics, I've written enough. So, I am going to stop writing about politics in my weekly columns. Before I go though, I want to leave a few parting thoughts. Connect with Michael Leppert Visit michaelleppert.com [http://michaelleppert.com] to read the full post and links to any resources or articles mentioned. Twitter @michaelleppert [https://twitter.com/michaelleppert] Facebook at Michael Leppert [https://www.facebook.com/michael.leppert.90] Michael Leppert is an author, educator and a communication consultant in Indianapolis. He writes about government, politics and culture at MichaelLeppert.com. The views and opinions expressed are those of the author only and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Indiana Citizen or any other affiliated organization.

Crime in America is down, but please don't tell anyone

It was a lovely September morning in Indianapolis in 2018. We had been living in our new townhouse downtown for about a year, relocating from a house just two blocks up the street. I was still a consultant back then and this was still my offseason. So, I had casually risen and slow-walked my way through my morning routine, making my way to the shower around 10:30 am. When I got out, the crime rate in my house had skyrocketed. A burglar was downstairs stealing my laptop, backpack and wallet. Last week, the FBI released its Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) summary for 2024 [https://www.fbi.gov/news/press-releases/fbi-releases-2024-reported-crimes-in-the-nation-statistics]. It's an annual report commonly used to understand the "crime rate." The good news in this report, as has been the trend for the last three decades, is that crime in America continues to slow. However, much of America doesn't seem to know it or doesn't want to admit it. Feeling like crime is on the rise justifies doing dramatic things like mobilizing the military in cities like Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. when there is no actual justification. It's not really about actual crime. It's the crime drama that is in play here. It would be convenient to give credit to some politician, political party, or civic group for the sharp declines in violent and property crimes since the early 90s. But the reduction is too big and has been trending for too many political cycles to support such a claim. Besides, in 2025, much of the public would rather pretend that crime, in general, is rampant, a scourge that must be given the highest priority to eradicate. Yes, it is my belief that much of America would actually prefer to believe that crime is a growing problem, not a shrinking one. Pew Research published an update to its extensive study on the issue last year [https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2024/04/24/what-the-data-says-about-crime-in-the-us/]. The most shocking part of the study is how disconnected the public's perception is from the reality of actual crime rates. For example, between 1993 and 2022, violent crime has decreased by 49%. By half! But when asked, the perception that crime is up "in the last year" has continued to rise from 47% in 2000, to 77% in 2023. As crime rates have shrunk, the perception of its growth has risen. And almost as sharply. Why is that? One contributing factor is how crime is reported.

The 'Ministry of Truth' shoots its highest ranking messenger

To me, "1984" [https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&sca_esv=b155a5c232b1396b&q=1984+van+halen&si=AMgyJEtULK0SKwwDiAHLrI671RJymBxgz0cWPf6G4jcET98Kr0DajxhCstWxZUbEl_ND5MGwM8jQxTx7HEBOIKPAVeC4myHCiykKpCX7yZxiFrzAOzIdNeg=&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiWuOfkn_SOAxXm78kDHZ57KQsQyNoBKAB6BAgbEAA&ictx=1&biw=1423&bih=754&dpr=2] was originally a rock album, the last studio collection of songs by the original members of Van Halen. It was July 7, 1984, when the 16-year-old version of me earned his way to a spot right in front of Eddie Van Halen's place on the stage at Roberts Stadium in Evansville for the biggest tour of the year. Back then, we fought for those spots on the arena floor. The album was named after George Orwell's classic book [https://www.amazon.com/1984-Signet-Classics-George-Orwell/dp/0451524934], even though there is no artistic connection between the book's "Ministry of Truth" and songs like "Hot for Teacher." Back then though, even after learning more about the book and growing out of Van Halen, both seemed like nothing more than inconsequential examples of make-believe. That was a different time. Last Friday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released its monthly jobs report—as has been typically done on the first Friday of every month. The first bit of bad news in this report was the 73,000 jobs added in July, significantly lower than the forecasted 109,000. But that initial bad news got worse. What is commonly done in the monthly jobs report are revisions to prior monthly reports after data is more accurate and complete. The BLS revised the May and June reports downward by 250,000 jobs, the largest revision outside of the COVID era, since 1979. As reported by the BBC [https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvg3xrrzdr0o], "It is not unusual for the BLS to amend jobs figures as more data comes to light, however. During Joe Biden's presidency, statistics for 12 months over 2023-4 were retroactively revised downward by 818,000 jobs." Importantly, the article also stated, "Though this month's changes were much larger than usual, analysts said the updates were consistent with other data showing slowdown." It's not great news. When I saw the numbers, I wasn't surprised at all. I also wasn't giddy about how they might make President Donald Trump's obviously questionable economic strategies look as perilous as I think they will be. I remember saying out loud to the report, "Well, yea." Trump apparently thought the report should say something different and was also apparently so enraged by this bad news that later that day, he fired BLS Commissioner Erika McEntarfer. She was appointed as the commissioner in January of 2024 and was confirmed by the Senate on an 86-8 vote. Then-Senator and current Vice President J.D. Vance voted yes. Then-Senator and current Secretary of State Marco Rubio voted yes. Her impeccable qualifications were reported extensively by Fortune on Sunday [https://fortune.com/2025/08/03/erika-mcentarfer-bureau-labor-statistics-jobs-report-trump-jd-vance-marco-rubio/]. Connect with Michael Leppert Visit michaelleppert.com [http://michaelleppert.com] to read the full post and links to any resources or articles mentioned. X @michaelleppert [https://twitter.com/michaelleppert] Facebook at Michael Leppert [https://www.facebook.com/michael.leppert.90] Michael Leppert is an author, educator and a communication consultant in Indianapolis. He writes about government, politics and culture at MichaelLeppert.com. The views and opinions expressed are those of the author only and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Indiana Citizen or any other affiliated organization.

Reading might make you cry; Not reading definitely will

On Monday night, I sat in my recliner writing my third novel. I'm about halfway done with it, and my editor is expecting that first half by the end of the week so she can do a midpoint "assessment" of the story. She worked on my last book, and I know how she operates. The first question she will contemplate is whether or not the story is grabbing the audience quickly. That's on my mind this week, though I'm 40,000 words into this soon-to-be classic already. As I was pecking away on my laptop, my wife was on the couch reading. She hadn't made a sound in a while, and without my notorious pounding on the keys, the living room would have been silent. Until she unexpectedly burst into tears. "I didn't see that coming!" she announced while asking me to get her some tissues. Bursting into tears, or laughing out loud, or even descending into an extended stretch of quiet contemplation are what people often seek when they read. It's the joy of thinking. That's what reading for pleasure is. People are reading less than they once did. I write "they" because I'm reading more than I ever have. And my wife grew up a reader and it's clear she will always be one. The recent news of our education challenges in Indiana is telling a different story. First, Casey Smith reported for the Indiana Capital Chronicle last week, "Indiana's college-going rate drops again, dipping to 51.7%." [https://indianacapitalchronicle.com/2025/07/24/indianas-college-going-rate-drops-again-dipping-to-51-7/] This descent scares me for my home state. Not just because I am a college teacher and my craft appears to be losing popularity, but because I believe that the prosperity of all people depends on their ongoing commitment to learning. Any learning. All learning. The culture wars instigated by Indiana's political leaders on the state's public and private institutions of higher education will only deepen this specific decline. As a teacher and writer, I wonder what Hoosiers really want for themselves. Behaviorally speaking, apparently destroying "wokeness" and "owning the libs" are more important than learning. There's no question those things are cheaper. But only in the moment. Prioritizing those repulsive behaviors will end up being wildly expensive. Smith reported, "Indiana's college-going rate has dropped more than any other state tracked by the National Center for Education Statistics over the past 15 years. Previously, Indiana reached a college-going rate of 65%." What do our leaders believe the outcome of this collapse will be five years from now? How about ten? Connect with Michael Leppert Visit michaelleppert.com [http://michaelleppert.com] to read the full post and links to any resources or articles mentioned. Twitter @michaelleppert [https://twitter.com/michaelleppert] Facebook at Michael Leppert [https://www.facebook.com/michael.leppert.90] Michael Leppert is an author, educator and a communication consultant in Indianapolis. He writes about government, politics and culture at MichaelLeppert.com. The views and opinions expressed are those of the author only and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Indiana Citizen or any other affiliated organization.

Dignity and reality force Stutzman to cross the MAGA line on immigration

Last week, GOP U.S. Rep. Maria Salazar of Florida, filed "The Dignity Act of 2025," [https://floridaphoenix.com/2025/07/15/gop-rep-maria-salazar-introduces-legislation-that-includes-protections-for-certain-migrants/] a bipartisan immigration reform package that would provide legal status for certain undocumented immigrants. She filed similar legislation in 2023, but the political climate has changed wildly since way back then. Unsurprisingly, the economic demand for migrant labor has not. Donald Trump is now in the White House and the mass deportation initiative he promised is being implemented at breakneck speed. The masked raids by a growing masked army known as Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, are happening in unpredictable places [https://www.usatoday.com/story/graphics/2025/06/17/map-shows-where-police-law-enforcement-can-partner-with-ice-raids/84185758007/] all over the country. The impact of the sweeps, however, is as predictable as the sunrise. What else has changed in politics? U.S. Rep. Marlin Stutzman, R-Indiana, recaptured Indiana's 3rd Congressional District seat after Republican Jim Banks vacated the seat to run for the U.S. Senate. Stutzman is one of 10 GOP House members to sign onto the Dignity Act 2025, and that is no small gesture. In normal times, of which these are certainly not, Stutzman's co-sponsorship of legislation designed to protect the agricultural economy that dominates his district would make perfect sense. And make no mistake about it, the legislation is a far cry from what immigration hard liners could legitimately pan as an amnesty policy. As reported by the Indianapolis Star [https://www.indystar.com/story/news/politics/2025/07/21/marlin-stutzman-congressman-undocumented-farm-worker/85278070007/], the bill "would provide legal status to undocumented immigrants who have lived in the U.S. for at least five years, so long as they pass a criminal background check, pay a $7,000 fine across seven years and begin paying taxes. The bill would allow people with this status to stay indefinitely, though they would be ineligible for federal benefits." Documenting living in the U.S. for five years by an undocumented immigrant would seem to be the first challenge. The second challenge is the "fine." Is it really a fine? It seems more like an installment program for the purchasing of legal status. I can hear the sales pitch now: "For the low, low price of $1000 a year, you can live out your days as a farm worker in peace and prosperity." ICE will be able to sort all of that out during their masked kidnappings, I'm sure. Connect with Michael Leppert Visit michaelleppert.com [http://michaelleppert.com] to read the full post and links to any resources or articles mentioned. Twitter @michaelleppert [https://twitter.com/michaelleppert] Facebook at Michael Leppert [https://www.facebook.com/michael.leppert.90] Michael Leppert is an author, educator and a communication consultant in Indianapolis. He writes about government, politics and culture at MichaelLeppert.com. The views and opinions expressed are those of the author only and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Indiana Citizen or any other affiliated organization.