 |  |  |  |  |
| Frog Majik Music Opinion Page Featuring Freelance Author George Fish |
THAT INDIANA INFERIORITY COMPLEX
by
George Fish
Hoosiers rankle over that well-known Indiana Inferiority Complex. They rankle at Indianapolis-
expatriate author Dan Wakefield’s 1970 best-selling novel, Going All the Way, later made into a
movie, which portrayed Hoosiers as smug, complacent, bigoted and ignorant. They regard such
characterizations as wrong and unfair, falsely portraying Indiana as inferior to other states.
Is there substance to this lament? To find out, we can compare Indiana to our neighbors
Illinois, Michigan and Ohio, all states, just like Indiana, economically hard-hit from being based
on manufacturing in a time when manufacturing jobs have left to go elsewhere. There’s plenty
of reliable data available, from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
The first thing we notice from the data is that Indiana’s population is only about half that of our
neighboring states, standing at 5,980,881. This compares to Michigan’s, at 9,797,198, Ohio’s
at 11,122,112, and Illinois’s at 12,279,027. This tells us right away that far more people choose
to live in Michigan, Ohio and Illinois than in Indiana, despite economic hardships all around, as is
generally the case in Midwest economies which formerly relied heavily on manufacturing jobs.
We further note that Indiana ranked 27th in the nation in 1999 per capita income, at $20,397.
Illinois ranked 11th, at $23,104; Michigan 15th, at $22,168; and Ohio ranked 22nd, at $20, 003.
Rankings according to 1999 median family incomes put Illinois 10th, at $55,545; Michigan 14th,
at $53,457. Indiana held 21st, at $50,261, just nosing out Ohio, 22nd at $50,037.
Indiana ranked 44th in the percentage of its population holding college degrees, at 20.6%,
according to the Census Bureau report on this in 2004. The Census Bureau changed Indiana’s
ranking to 46th, however, in 2005. Illinois ranked 13th, at 28.1%; Michigan ranked 32nd, at
23.6%; and Ohio ranked 40th, at 21.9%. Indiana ranked 35th in the nation in 2002 in the
percentage of its population 25 and older having at least a high school diploma, at 82.0%;
Michigan ranked 25th, at 85.2%; Ohio ranked 28th, at 84.7%; and Illinois ranked 31st, at 84.0%.
Not very edifying for Indiana at all, to say the least.
Hoosiers love to tout the late 19th-early 20th Century literary renaissance in Indianapolis, while
readily dismissing those notable contemporaries who left Indiana in disgust to make their marks
elsewhere. Contemporaries such as writers Kurt Vonnegut and Dan Wakefield, pop star John
Mellencamp, and songwriter John Hiatt. Including as well Axl Rose, lead guitarist for Guns ‘n’
Roses, who speaks of his growing up in Lafayette only with bitterness. Rose’s former high
school principal was asked about this bitterness by the Indianapolis Star, and admitted that he
couldn’t recall Rose at all. A lack of recollection that speaks volumes why so many talented,
creative people leave Indiana in bitterness and disgust.
One of U.S. history’s most distinguished persons, socialist labor leader Eugene V. Debs, lived all
his adult life in Terre Haute. He’s regarded by many as the greatest Hoosier of all time, yet for
the overwhelming majority of Hoosiers, even still, the greatest Hoosier of all is someone who
came to Indiana from another state, left Indiana to go to yet another state, and was thoroughly
obnoxious the whole time he lived in Indiana. But he won basketball games, the only
accomplishment considered to be one that’s really bona fide by most of Hoosierdom. Of
course, I’m referring to Bobby Knight.
Indiana’s Inferiority Complex is far more than just a complex. It has basis in fact all too real,
and we Hoosiers aren’t going to make it vanish by denying it, downplaying it, or ignoring it.
by
George Fish
Hoosiers rankle over that well-known Indiana Inferiority Complex. They rankle at Indianapolis-
expatriate author Dan Wakefield’s 1970 best-selling novel, Going All the Way, later made into a
movie, which portrayed Hoosiers as smug, complacent, bigoted and ignorant. They regard such
characterizations as wrong and unfair, falsely portraying Indiana as inferior to other states.
Is there substance to this lament? To find out, we can compare Indiana to our neighbors
Illinois, Michigan and Ohio, all states, just like Indiana, economically hard-hit from being based
on manufacturing in a time when manufacturing jobs have left to go elsewhere. There’s plenty
of reliable data available, from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
The first thing we notice from the data is that Indiana’s population is only about half that of our
neighboring states, standing at 5,980,881. This compares to Michigan’s, at 9,797,198, Ohio’s
at 11,122,112, and Illinois’s at 12,279,027. This tells us right away that far more people choose
to live in Michigan, Ohio and Illinois than in Indiana, despite economic hardships all around, as is
generally the case in Midwest economies which formerly relied heavily on manufacturing jobs.
We further note that Indiana ranked 27th in the nation in 1999 per capita income, at $20,397.
Illinois ranked 11th, at $23,104; Michigan 15th, at $22,168; and Ohio ranked 22nd, at $20, 003.
Rankings according to 1999 median family incomes put Illinois 10th, at $55,545; Michigan 14th,
at $53,457. Indiana held 21st, at $50,261, just nosing out Ohio, 22nd at $50,037.
Indiana ranked 44th in the percentage of its population holding college degrees, at 20.6%,
according to the Census Bureau report on this in 2004. The Census Bureau changed Indiana’s
ranking to 46th, however, in 2005. Illinois ranked 13th, at 28.1%; Michigan ranked 32nd, at
23.6%; and Ohio ranked 40th, at 21.9%. Indiana ranked 35th in the nation in 2002 in the
percentage of its population 25 and older having at least a high school diploma, at 82.0%;
Michigan ranked 25th, at 85.2%; Ohio ranked 28th, at 84.7%; and Illinois ranked 31st, at 84.0%.
Not very edifying for Indiana at all, to say the least.
Hoosiers love to tout the late 19th-early 20th Century literary renaissance in Indianapolis, while
readily dismissing those notable contemporaries who left Indiana in disgust to make their marks
elsewhere. Contemporaries such as writers Kurt Vonnegut and Dan Wakefield, pop star John
Mellencamp, and songwriter John Hiatt. Including as well Axl Rose, lead guitarist for Guns ‘n’
Roses, who speaks of his growing up in Lafayette only with bitterness. Rose’s former high
school principal was asked about this bitterness by the Indianapolis Star, and admitted that he
couldn’t recall Rose at all. A lack of recollection that speaks volumes why so many talented,
creative people leave Indiana in bitterness and disgust.
One of U.S. history’s most distinguished persons, socialist labor leader Eugene V. Debs, lived all
his adult life in Terre Haute. He’s regarded by many as the greatest Hoosier of all time, yet for
the overwhelming majority of Hoosiers, even still, the greatest Hoosier of all is someone who
came to Indiana from another state, left Indiana to go to yet another state, and was thoroughly
obnoxious the whole time he lived in Indiana. But he won basketball games, the only
accomplishment considered to be one that’s really bona fide by most of Hoosierdom. Of
course, I’m referring to Bobby Knight.
Indiana’s Inferiority Complex is far more than just a complex. It has basis in fact all too real,
and we Hoosiers aren’t going to make it vanish by denying it, downplaying it, or ignoring it.
MEDICAID INCOME STANDARDS AND LIVABLE INCOME
by
George Fish
Eligibility for assistance from Indiana Medicaid requires meeting certain spend-down
requirements for those recipients who receive income from non-exempt sources. Which
sources are exempt and which are not can be quite arbitrary. For example, Social Security SSI
benefits are exempt, while SSDI benefits are not. Neither is unemployment compensation, nor,
needless to say, income from work. The amount of spend-down is determined by the amount
of non-exempt income received, minus $15.50, from which the allowable “income standard” is
then subtracted, and rounded down to the nearest dollar. This is deemed the “surplus income”
available, which then becomes the required spend-down amount. The various “income
standards” designated for this are stated in the administrative rules governing the application of
Indiana statutory law, the Indiana Administrative Code. The Indiana Administrative Code
citation giving the various “income standards” is 405 IAC 2-3-18.
Among these “income standards” are the ones designated as applicable for an individual/one
parent family recipient, which was stipulated as $470/month in 1997, and the one designated as
applicable for couple/two parent family recipients, which was stipulated as $705/month in 1997
as well. These “income standards” are increased annually in the same percentage amount for
SSI as specified in federal statutory law, the United States Code, as set forth in 42 U.S.C. 1382
(f) and applied according to the federal administrative rules, the Code of Federal Regulations.
The specific citations for this are given in 20 CFR §§404.271-272 and 416.405. In 2005, the
individual/one parent “income standard” was $579/month, or $6,848/year. This makes the
“income standard” for couple/two parent recipients $867/month, or $10,404/year.
The “Paths to a Livable Wage” report for May, 2001, published by the Indiana Economic
Development Council, Inc. (IECD), defines a “livable wage” as being an income of $20,000 or
more annually. This comes to an hourly wage of $10 earned for working 40 hours/week for 50
weeks/year. This is quite in line with the income standards for a livable wage established by
contemporary economics, as is a poverty wage level of $15,400/year, which is based on an
hourly wage for 40 hours/week for 50 weeks/year of $7.70.
This “livable wage” of $10/hour for full-time employment as set forth above by the IEDC
became the criterion for a Living Wage adopted by the Indianapolis-based Community, Faith and
Labor Coalition for a Living Wage in January, 2001. Adjusting for cost-of-living increases
indicated by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) of the U.S. government’s Bureau of Labor
Statistics (BLS), this “livable wage/Living Wage” would be equal to $11.40/hour, or $22,800
/year, as of the beginning of 2005. (Calculation results rounded.)
Now back to Indiana Medicaid’s “income standards.” The difference between the
individual/one parent “income standard” of $579/month, or $6,848/year, and the “livable wage”
of 2001 of $20,000/year is $13,152. For the “livable wage” of 2005 that results from the
adjustments made in accordance with the CFI, $22,800, it’s $15,596. For the couple/two
parent “income standard” of $867/month, or $10,404/year, it’s $9,596 for the 2001 “livable
wage” of $20,000/year, and $12,396 for the 2005 “livable wage.” For a 2001 annual income of
$25,000 it’s $14,596, and for a 2001 annual income of $30,000 it’s $19,596. For the
corresponding incomes of 2005 that result from adjustments made in accord with the CPI as
mentioned above, the differences are $17,596 and $23,596 respectively.
Whence these Indiana Medicaid “income standards” so out of line with the actual “livable wage”
incomes resulting from the proper application of contemporary economics? Ed Stattmann of
the FSSA/Office of the Secretary gives the telling answer: “The Indiana requirements were
established in state law after a full and careful debate by the Indiana General Assembly.”
There! “[E]stablished…after a full and careful debate by the Indiana General Assembly,” the
same Indiana General Assembly dubbed “America’s worst legislature” by the late Harrison
Ullmann, Editor Emeritus of NUVO. But then, being able to pass Econ 101 has never been a
strong point with the Indiana General Assembly, ever.
by
George Fish
Eligibility for assistance from Indiana Medicaid requires meeting certain spend-down
requirements for those recipients who receive income from non-exempt sources. Which
sources are exempt and which are not can be quite arbitrary. For example, Social Security SSI
benefits are exempt, while SSDI benefits are not. Neither is unemployment compensation, nor,
needless to say, income from work. The amount of spend-down is determined by the amount
of non-exempt income received, minus $15.50, from which the allowable “income standard” is
then subtracted, and rounded down to the nearest dollar. This is deemed the “surplus income”
available, which then becomes the required spend-down amount. The various “income
standards” designated for this are stated in the administrative rules governing the application of
Indiana statutory law, the Indiana Administrative Code. The Indiana Administrative Code
citation giving the various “income standards” is 405 IAC 2-3-18.
Among these “income standards” are the ones designated as applicable for an individual/one
parent family recipient, which was stipulated as $470/month in 1997, and the one designated as
applicable for couple/two parent family recipients, which was stipulated as $705/month in 1997
as well. These “income standards” are increased annually in the same percentage amount for
SSI as specified in federal statutory law, the United States Code, as set forth in 42 U.S.C. 1382
(f) and applied according to the federal administrative rules, the Code of Federal Regulations.
The specific citations for this are given in 20 CFR §§404.271-272 and 416.405. In 2005, the
individual/one parent “income standard” was $579/month, or $6,848/year. This makes the
“income standard” for couple/two parent recipients $867/month, or $10,404/year.
The “Paths to a Livable Wage” report for May, 2001, published by the Indiana Economic
Development Council, Inc. (IECD), defines a “livable wage” as being an income of $20,000 or
more annually. This comes to an hourly wage of $10 earned for working 40 hours/week for 50
weeks/year. This is quite in line with the income standards for a livable wage established by
contemporary economics, as is a poverty wage level of $15,400/year, which is based on an
hourly wage for 40 hours/week for 50 weeks/year of $7.70.
This “livable wage” of $10/hour for full-time employment as set forth above by the IEDC
became the criterion for a Living Wage adopted by the Indianapolis-based Community, Faith and
Labor Coalition for a Living Wage in January, 2001. Adjusting for cost-of-living increases
indicated by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) of the U.S. government’s Bureau of Labor
Statistics (BLS), this “livable wage/Living Wage” would be equal to $11.40/hour, or $22,800
/year, as of the beginning of 2005. (Calculation results rounded.)
Now back to Indiana Medicaid’s “income standards.” The difference between the
individual/one parent “income standard” of $579/month, or $6,848/year, and the “livable wage”
of 2001 of $20,000/year is $13,152. For the “livable wage” of 2005 that results from the
adjustments made in accordance with the CFI, $22,800, it’s $15,596. For the couple/two
parent “income standard” of $867/month, or $10,404/year, it’s $9,596 for the 2001 “livable
wage” of $20,000/year, and $12,396 for the 2005 “livable wage.” For a 2001 annual income of
$25,000 it’s $14,596, and for a 2001 annual income of $30,000 it’s $19,596. For the
corresponding incomes of 2005 that result from adjustments made in accord with the CPI as
mentioned above, the differences are $17,596 and $23,596 respectively.
Whence these Indiana Medicaid “income standards” so out of line with the actual “livable wage”
incomes resulting from the proper application of contemporary economics? Ed Stattmann of
the FSSA/Office of the Secretary gives the telling answer: “The Indiana requirements were
established in state law after a full and careful debate by the Indiana General Assembly.”
There! “[E]stablished…after a full and careful debate by the Indiana General Assembly,” the
same Indiana General Assembly dubbed “America’s worst legislature” by the late Harrison
Ullmann, Editor Emeritus of NUVO. But then, being able to pass Econ 101 has never been a
strong point with the Indiana General Assembly, ever.
MORE THAN AN EDUCATED GUESS:
HOOSIERS LACK THE LEARNING TO ATTRACT HIGH-SKILL, HIGH-PAY JOBS
by
George Fish
The 2004 report of the Indiana Chamber of Commerce and the Hudson Institute, “Economic
Vision 2010 Report Card,” gave Indiana a C grade overall for Education and Workforce
Development, but an F grade in Workforce Development only. These grades were given in
evaluation of Indiana’s performance in transforming its economy to attract high-tech, high-
skill, high-pay jobs.
While Indiana ranked 17th in the nation in number of Bachelor’s degrees granted per 22-year-
old resident, 22nd in the number of graduate degrees granted per 24-29-year-old resident, and
30th in the number of Associate’s degrees granted per 20-year-old resident, all for 2003, it
ranked 44th in the nation in the percentage of its population holding a college degree, 20.6%,
according to the U.S. Census Bureau in 2004. This ranking was changed by the Bureau to
46th in 2005.
Indiana ranked 35th in the nation in the percentage of its population 25 and older having at least
a high school diploma, at 82.0%.
Indiana ranked 2nd in in-migration of college freshmen to Indiana’s colleges and universities,
but the listing of the Top 5 states in such college in-migration reveals a significant weakness
resulting from this. Pennsylvania was 1st, with a 2003 in-migration of 11,817, and a 1996-
2002 absolute change of 11,539. North Carolina was 3rd, with a 2003 in-migration of 7,027,
and a 1996-2002 absolute change of 11,696. Massachusetts was 4th, with a 2003 in-
migration of 6,082, and a 1996-2002 absolute change of 10,055. And Rhode Island was 5th,
with a 2003 in-migration of 4,345, and a 1996-2002 absolute change of -982. Indiana was
2nd, with a 2003 in-migration of 7,266, but a 1996-2002 absolute change of 15,403. In other
words, the students entering Indiana’s colleges and universities are in significant part migrants
from other states rather than college-age Hoosiers. This is further borne out by the 2002
American Community Survey of the U.S. Census, which noted that the number of Indiana
household residents attending college or grad school differed less than 1% from the number
attending high school grades 9-12, meaning that a large number of college-age Hoosiers don’t
go on to college. This is in contrast to both Michigan and Illinois, where the number of state
household residents attending college or grad school was significantly larger than the number
attending high school grades 9-12. Only Ohio had a significantly smaller number of its school-
age household residents attending college or grad school than those attending high school
grades 9-12.
Indiana, moreover, ranked 43rd in the nation in the percentage of residents 30 and older
enrolled in part-time secondary education, at 2.1%. This contrasts with 8th-ranked Illinois, at
4.9%, and 10th-ranked Michigan, at 4.5%. And 28th-ranked Ohio, at 3.0%, like Indiana, and
like our other state neighbors, used to rely on low-skill, high-pay manufacturing jobs as an
economic mainstay. But now Indiana, just like its neighbors, faces the challenge of motivating
its older workers to continue their educations and upgrade their skills. But, in this regard,
Indiana fails miserably.
The “2010 Report Card” lists a number of “Innovation Economy” degree areas for Associate’
s, Bachelor’s, and graduate degree that are considered economically competitive. These
“Innovation Economy” degrees are classified as such “based on the use of technology and
applied knowledge.” They are all in biological and physical science areas, engineering, math,
business, and other areas where applied technologies are prime. A clear and legitimate
objection can be raised that a resultant “Innovation Economy” education that overstresses
these areas could well be one that gives technical expertise only. But “Innovation Economy”
degrees or no, there are so precious few jobs in Indiana utilizing any kind of college degree
that underemployment among college grads here is rampant. This is borne out well to this
writer from anecdotal evidence indicating that as many as 98% of the graduating students
from Indiana colleges and universities leave the state immediately upon graduation.
Economist Graham S. Toft, Ph.D., offers an exhortation/admonition, “Just Say Grow,
Indiana!” in the body of the “2010 Report Card.” But it’s going to take much more than just
cheerleading to overcome the structural deficiencies in today’s Indiana workforce, deficiencies
which are liable to be around for quite a while. Educational attainment is very much one of
these deficiencies.
HOOSIERS LACK THE LEARNING TO ATTRACT HIGH-SKILL, HIGH-PAY JOBS
by
George Fish
The 2004 report of the Indiana Chamber of Commerce and the Hudson Institute, “Economic
Vision 2010 Report Card,” gave Indiana a C grade overall for Education and Workforce
Development, but an F grade in Workforce Development only. These grades were given in
evaluation of Indiana’s performance in transforming its economy to attract high-tech, high-
skill, high-pay jobs.
While Indiana ranked 17th in the nation in number of Bachelor’s degrees granted per 22-year-
old resident, 22nd in the number of graduate degrees granted per 24-29-year-old resident, and
30th in the number of Associate’s degrees granted per 20-year-old resident, all for 2003, it
ranked 44th in the nation in the percentage of its population holding a college degree, 20.6%,
according to the U.S. Census Bureau in 2004. This ranking was changed by the Bureau to
46th in 2005.
Indiana ranked 35th in the nation in the percentage of its population 25 and older having at least
a high school diploma, at 82.0%.
Indiana ranked 2nd in in-migration of college freshmen to Indiana’s colleges and universities,
but the listing of the Top 5 states in such college in-migration reveals a significant weakness
resulting from this. Pennsylvania was 1st, with a 2003 in-migration of 11,817, and a 1996-
2002 absolute change of 11,539. North Carolina was 3rd, with a 2003 in-migration of 7,027,
and a 1996-2002 absolute change of 11,696. Massachusetts was 4th, with a 2003 in-
migration of 6,082, and a 1996-2002 absolute change of 10,055. And Rhode Island was 5th,
with a 2003 in-migration of 4,345, and a 1996-2002 absolute change of -982. Indiana was
2nd, with a 2003 in-migration of 7,266, but a 1996-2002 absolute change of 15,403. In other
words, the students entering Indiana’s colleges and universities are in significant part migrants
from other states rather than college-age Hoosiers. This is further borne out by the 2002
American Community Survey of the U.S. Census, which noted that the number of Indiana
household residents attending college or grad school differed less than 1% from the number
attending high school grades 9-12, meaning that a large number of college-age Hoosiers don’t
go on to college. This is in contrast to both Michigan and Illinois, where the number of state
household residents attending college or grad school was significantly larger than the number
attending high school grades 9-12. Only Ohio had a significantly smaller number of its school-
age household residents attending college or grad school than those attending high school
grades 9-12.
Indiana, moreover, ranked 43rd in the nation in the percentage of residents 30 and older
enrolled in part-time secondary education, at 2.1%. This contrasts with 8th-ranked Illinois, at
4.9%, and 10th-ranked Michigan, at 4.5%. And 28th-ranked Ohio, at 3.0%, like Indiana, and
like our other state neighbors, used to rely on low-skill, high-pay manufacturing jobs as an
economic mainstay. But now Indiana, just like its neighbors, faces the challenge of motivating
its older workers to continue their educations and upgrade their skills. But, in this regard,
Indiana fails miserably.
The “2010 Report Card” lists a number of “Innovation Economy” degree areas for Associate’
s, Bachelor’s, and graduate degree that are considered economically competitive. These
“Innovation Economy” degrees are classified as such “based on the use of technology and
applied knowledge.” They are all in biological and physical science areas, engineering, math,
business, and other areas where applied technologies are prime. A clear and legitimate
objection can be raised that a resultant “Innovation Economy” education that overstresses
these areas could well be one that gives technical expertise only. But “Innovation Economy”
degrees or no, there are so precious few jobs in Indiana utilizing any kind of college degree
that underemployment among college grads here is rampant. This is borne out well to this
writer from anecdotal evidence indicating that as many as 98% of the graduating students
from Indiana colleges and universities leave the state immediately upon graduation.
Economist Graham S. Toft, Ph.D., offers an exhortation/admonition, “Just Say Grow,
Indiana!” in the body of the “2010 Report Card.” But it’s going to take much more than just
cheerleading to overcome the structural deficiencies in today’s Indiana workforce, deficiencies
which are liable to be around for quite a while. Educational attainment is very much one of
these deficiencies.
THE VONNEGUT PHENOMENON
by
George Fish
Take it and run with it, and never mind any considerations of fact. This working Hoosier
adage most fittingly applies to the Vonnegut Phenomenon so prevalent now in Indiana. After
all, noted writer and Indianapolis-expatriate Kurt Vonnegut did say in recent years that it’s OK
to live and write in Indiana. Never mind that Vonnegut refused to step foot in Indiana until
the late 1980s because he was so disgusted over what he’d encountered here in his youth.
Never mind that, even though Kurt Vonnegut did acknowledge a few times that everything he’
d ever learned about peace and justice he learned at Shortridge High School. But he also
insisted that much which became formative for him came despite his living in Indianapolis.
And never mind that, even though, again, Vonnegut began his writing career in 1948 after he’
d moved to New York City, published his first novel in 1953, and published a number of
acclaimed books throughout the 1960s, the 1970s, and into the early 1980s, all done without
his achieving significant recognition for them either in Indianapolis or Indiana. Done without
achieving that recognition in Indiana until the latter part of the 1980s.
After all, we’re not dealing with a creative and talented person who’s established a deserved
reputation for such. No, here in Indiana we’re dealing with the Vonnegut Phenomenon. We’
re now given our chance to assuage that Indiana Inferiority Complex through the self-
aggrandizing celebration of a Hoosier who’s now acclaimed, but ignored in Indiana for
decades.
It’s appropriate at this time to recount another major cultural happening that’s also part of
Indiana, but one that made the Hoosier State the laughingstock of the nation. In 1964, then-
Governor Matthew Welsh banned that ultimate schlock rock hit record, the Kingsmen’s
“Louie, Louie,” from radio airplay in Indiana because of its allegedly obscene lyrics. This
despite the specially-appointed commission he assigned to investigate the matter admitting in
its official report that the commission was unable to decide if “Louie, Louie” was obscene or
not because, no matter at what speed it played this very poor quality recording, it was
impossible to decipher the lyrics!
But never mind, history is history, so let’s celebrate the Vonnegut Phenomenon as a way for
us Hoosiers to look good, no matter what. We’ve got a genuine, nationally acclaimed writer
for Indiana to celebrate, celebrate even as we continue to ignore and make life difficult for the
other potential Vonneguts living in this state.
We Hoosiers need to take seriously an analogy between ourselves and the German people so
lamented over by the great German writer Goethe: “I have often felt a bitter sorrow at the
thought of the German people, which is so estimable in the individual and so wretched in the
generality…”
We do have many, many estimable individuals in Indiana, estimable individuals who are given
much difficulty by the wretched generalities who form the greater part of our population. I
know, because I work with several hundred of them, my fellow underemployed college
graduates who return year after year to our regular, but strictly seasonal, jobs scoring the
state school systems’ standardized achievement tests. Return year after year because there
are no real alternatives out there for us.
That’s why it’s time for us Indiana citizens to finally, positively overcome that Indiana
Inferiority Complex. Which we can’t do by denying it. But we can overcome it. But we
overcome it, first of all, by establishing a commitment in ourselves to consistently pursue
excellence and achievement of quality. Then, after we’ve done that, we move crucially to the
next step, that of actually pursuing that excellence and achievement of quality. Because,
whether we want to admit it or not, we Hoosiers move ourselves far, far away from an
honest respect for the creative achievements of Kurt Vonnegut, move ourselves far, far away
from the proper recognition of its proper caliber, when we uncritically and self-absorbedly
celebrate the Vonnegut Phenomenon.
by
George Fish
Take it and run with it, and never mind any considerations of fact. This working Hoosier
adage most fittingly applies to the Vonnegut Phenomenon so prevalent now in Indiana. After
all, noted writer and Indianapolis-expatriate Kurt Vonnegut did say in recent years that it’s OK
to live and write in Indiana. Never mind that Vonnegut refused to step foot in Indiana until
the late 1980s because he was so disgusted over what he’d encountered here in his youth.
Never mind that, even though Kurt Vonnegut did acknowledge a few times that everything he’
d ever learned about peace and justice he learned at Shortridge High School. But he also
insisted that much which became formative for him came despite his living in Indianapolis.
And never mind that, even though, again, Vonnegut began his writing career in 1948 after he’
d moved to New York City, published his first novel in 1953, and published a number of
acclaimed books throughout the 1960s, the 1970s, and into the early 1980s, all done without
his achieving significant recognition for them either in Indianapolis or Indiana. Done without
achieving that recognition in Indiana until the latter part of the 1980s.
After all, we’re not dealing with a creative and talented person who’s established a deserved
reputation for such. No, here in Indiana we’re dealing with the Vonnegut Phenomenon. We’
re now given our chance to assuage that Indiana Inferiority Complex through the self-
aggrandizing celebration of a Hoosier who’s now acclaimed, but ignored in Indiana for
decades.
It’s appropriate at this time to recount another major cultural happening that’s also part of
Indiana, but one that made the Hoosier State the laughingstock of the nation. In 1964, then-
Governor Matthew Welsh banned that ultimate schlock rock hit record, the Kingsmen’s
“Louie, Louie,” from radio airplay in Indiana because of its allegedly obscene lyrics. This
despite the specially-appointed commission he assigned to investigate the matter admitting in
its official report that the commission was unable to decide if “Louie, Louie” was obscene or
not because, no matter at what speed it played this very poor quality recording, it was
impossible to decipher the lyrics!
But never mind, history is history, so let’s celebrate the Vonnegut Phenomenon as a way for
us Hoosiers to look good, no matter what. We’ve got a genuine, nationally acclaimed writer
for Indiana to celebrate, celebrate even as we continue to ignore and make life difficult for the
other potential Vonneguts living in this state.
We Hoosiers need to take seriously an analogy between ourselves and the German people so
lamented over by the great German writer Goethe: “I have often felt a bitter sorrow at the
thought of the German people, which is so estimable in the individual and so wretched in the
generality…”
We do have many, many estimable individuals in Indiana, estimable individuals who are given
much difficulty by the wretched generalities who form the greater part of our population. I
know, because I work with several hundred of them, my fellow underemployed college
graduates who return year after year to our regular, but strictly seasonal, jobs scoring the
state school systems’ standardized achievement tests. Return year after year because there
are no real alternatives out there for us.
That’s why it’s time for us Indiana citizens to finally, positively overcome that Indiana
Inferiority Complex. Which we can’t do by denying it. But we can overcome it. But we
overcome it, first of all, by establishing a commitment in ourselves to consistently pursue
excellence and achievement of quality. Then, after we’ve done that, we move crucially to the
next step, that of actually pursuing that excellence and achievement of quality. Because,
whether we want to admit it or not, we Hoosiers move ourselves far, far away from an
honest respect for the creative achievements of Kurt Vonnegut, move ourselves far, far away
from the proper recognition of its proper caliber, when we uncritically and self-absorbedly
celebrate the Vonnegut Phenomenon.
LOCAL BLUESMAN FAST JOHNNY GETS REAL JOB!
by
George Fish
It’s an apt, if sad, commentary on both the regard for creativity and talent, and the
realities of the income/financial situation for creative and artistic people that exists
here in Indiana, but here, in the Indianapolis blues scene as in other pockets of
creativity in Hoosierdom, we celebrate when a creative musician/artist gets a
regular day job, and not the other way around!
Such was the case as we joined in bittersweet awareness the final performance for
awhile of guitarist/vocalist “Fast Johnny” Scarborough Saturday, July 16. Johnny
just landed a job as a Journeyman with the Stagehands Union, and now moves on
to regular work at union scale. So, he ended with the last performance of the Fast
Johnny Blues Band that night at Vandy’s, a small club on the far West Side, a
boogiein’ place that Saturday obscurely tucked away in a strip mall at Girls School
Road and Rockville Road.
Fast Johnny played the blues and boogie along with regular band members Enoch
“Beat” Vinnegar, drums, Alan Bates, bass, and Allen Stratyner, harp, and was joined
that evening by special guests Billy Gee Miller with his usual blues vocals, and two
excellent guitarists, the redoubtable Katphish, who also sang his original blues and
the blues of others, and an outstanding slide player, Jack Gummer. Fast Johnny
made it a point to be there to do the blues one last time, even though, as he
remarked, he lost $150 doing so, the money he would’ve earned that night as a
union stagehand. But the blues rocked on that Last Picture Show night at Vandy’s,
and Katphish and the Bottomfeeders come back there to do the blues in August.
Good luck, Johnny, and find the good life – at union scale!
by
George Fish
It’s an apt, if sad, commentary on both the regard for creativity and talent, and the
realities of the income/financial situation for creative and artistic people that exists
here in Indiana, but here, in the Indianapolis blues scene as in other pockets of
creativity in Hoosierdom, we celebrate when a creative musician/artist gets a
regular day job, and not the other way around!
Such was the case as we joined in bittersweet awareness the final performance for
awhile of guitarist/vocalist “Fast Johnny” Scarborough Saturday, July 16. Johnny
just landed a job as a Journeyman with the Stagehands Union, and now moves on
to regular work at union scale. So, he ended with the last performance of the Fast
Johnny Blues Band that night at Vandy’s, a small club on the far West Side, a
boogiein’ place that Saturday obscurely tucked away in a strip mall at Girls School
Road and Rockville Road.
Fast Johnny played the blues and boogie along with regular band members Enoch
“Beat” Vinnegar, drums, Alan Bates, bass, and Allen Stratyner, harp, and was joined
that evening by special guests Billy Gee Miller with his usual blues vocals, and two
excellent guitarists, the redoubtable Katphish, who also sang his original blues and
the blues of others, and an outstanding slide player, Jack Gummer. Fast Johnny
made it a point to be there to do the blues one last time, even though, as he
remarked, he lost $150 doing so, the money he would’ve earned that night as a
union stagehand. But the blues rocked on that Last Picture Show night at Vandy’s,
and Katphish and the Bottomfeeders come back there to do the blues in August.
Good luck, Johnny, and find the good life – at union scale!