Blue Indiana and Schellinger

Blue Indiana takes on a post from Advance Indiana criticizing our Jim Schellinger. Seems that the GOP line is that Schellinger needs to be taken to task for being a successful businessman. Remember that the guy is an architect. Being a successful architect means the guy is creative as well as a savvy businessman. Blue Indiana makes the point much better here, Blah, blah, blah...:

For all of the anger that conservatives in this state have had for local government over the last few months, it is a wonder how quickly they can shift the blame when it suits their political ends. I've already discussed this as the Worst. Smear. Ever., but it seems to rear its ugly head every so often, so I offer this in abbreviated form.

- First, the idea that Jim Schellinger is somehow responsible for the market price of the services his architectural firm provides is just a little kooky to me. I know you conservatives are the cheerleaders of the free market, but I can't help but wonder why you are suddenly finding blame with the invisible hand that assures you under almost every other circumstance. Outside of the insanity that accompanies a claim such as, "Jim Schellinger is responsible for high property taxes," it seems a bit ridiculous to blame architectural firms for their fees when there is a system of governmental oversight in place that is affirming these prices each and every time a project is undertaken. It's called a school board, and if you are angry about how much your school projects cost, you need to talk to them.

- Second, I am curious why Jim Schellinger is targeted for being a successful business leader and building schools -- you know, for kids to learn in and stuff -- while Mitch Daniels got a free pass for heading up a pharmaceutical firm that by all accounts inflates its domestic drug prices because of a government-enforced protected market. Or, you know, that time he was associated with that little IPALCO matter. The idea behind criticisms of Schellinger's firm seem to imply he should have charged less than the market price for his goods in the name of the public good, but I didn't hear too many conservatives taking that stance about Eli Lilly and their drug prices.

For a very long time I have thought calling Mitch Daniels a businessman was a stretch if not an insult to business people. I do not think the same about Schellinger. (By the way, Taking Down Words has a post on the Schellinger campaign: Working Man's Friend: Jim Schellinger Spends Labor Day With Workers).