Viewpoints

Wed
13
Mar

Letter to the Editor: Submitted by Karen Pratte

To the Editor:

Black Hawk Bridge in Lansing is vital connecting Iowa to Wisconsin where over 2,000 vehicles cross on a daily basis. The bridge allows workers to get to their jobs, Iowans to access La Crosse’s hospitals and clinics, and tourists to visit Allamakee’s beautiful Driftless Area.

The excellent reporting in The Standard has kept us informed about the bridge’s history (built in 1931), its lifespan, the cost and structural problems leading to its recent closure. Fortunately, the new bridge is being built alongside the old bridge so we do not face years of bridge closures.

The new Black Hawk Bridge will cost $140 million. Your first reaction may be, “That’s a lot of money and who is going to pay the bill?” Eighty percent of the money is paid by the federal government’s Infrastructure & Jobs Investment Act.  The states of Wisconsin and Iowa will pay 20%.

Wed
06
Mar

Word for Word 3/6/24


Pastor Abraham Faugstad

Faith Alone

In the last couple of issues, we have talked about some of the main tenants of Confessional Lutheranism as taught in the Lutheran Reformation. So far, we’ve talked about the two important teachings: Grace Alone and Scripture Alone. The Bible teaches that a sinner is saved by grace alone through faith alone for Jesus’ sake, a truth revealed to us in Scripture alone.

Wed
06
Mar

Letter to the Editor: Submitted by Ann Hart

To the Editor:

The Alabama Supreme Court has ruled that frozen embryos created through in vitro fertilization (IVF) are considered children under state law and are subject to the wrongful death of a minor law, if one is destroyed. Ridiculous, you say? We have a U.S. Representative who must not think so as she was a sponsor for the Life At Conception Act along with 124 other members of her political party.

That party has become a patriarchal theocracy. They seek to control a woman’s body. They intend to control our reproductive freedom, our right to abortion, IVF, and soon, contraception. The U.S. Supreme Court is deciding the legality for the distribution of mifepristone, often known as the morning after pill. This is frequently given to women who have been raped, though not in Iowa, as Attorney General Brenna Bird does not believe in it.

Wed
28
Feb

Letter to the Editor: Submitted by Ray Mullarkey

To the Editor:

I write to encourage my fellow rural Allamakee County residents to vote “yes” in the March 5 Local Option Sales and Services Tax (LOSST) election. If approved, this would extend a current tax for an additional 10 years. The county retains 60% of the funds collected in the rural areas, the remaining 40% is used by the townships for their needs. The county uses its share for secondary roads and other rural services.

Currently, townships get funds only from LOSST and property tax. If LOSST is discontinued, property taxes would have to be raised to offset the LOSST money.

Wed
28
Feb

Letter to the Editor: Submitted by Sarah Majewski

To the Editor:

I am writing in response to last week’s letter to the editor on the topic of homeschooling. I was homeschooled myself (grades 5-12), have homeschooled my own son and the children of friends, and have tutored for homeschool families for over 20 years.

For those who think parents choose to homeschool because they don’t think education is important, I’d encourage you to get to know a homeschool family personally, and see for yourself if that is the truth. Parents who choose to homeschool invest thousands of dollars into their child’s curriculum, including textbooks, hands-on activities, online classes, and private tutors when necessary.

Wed
28
Feb

Letter to the Editor: Submitted by Kathy Hay

To the Editor:

Iowa AEAs are still under assault by our governor and her legislative supporters. AEAs provide educational, occupational, psychological, auditory and speech, and vision services for all Iowa students from birth to graduation (this includes private schools which now receive public school tax dollar vouchers).  The AEAs provide curriculum resources for science, literacy, social studies, math, computer science including books, manipulatives, science items, and so much more.  They provide training for teachers and administrators.

Wed
21
Feb

Word for Word 2/21/24

Pastor Abraham Faugstad
Pastor Abraham Faugstad

Scripture Alone

Last week I shared with you one of the important teachings from the Lutheran Reformation. The teaching of Grace Alone - that we are saved entirely by God’s grace alone, apart from works, through faith alone in Jesus. Today I want to talk to you about another fundamental teaching from the Lutheran Reformation. The teaching of Scripture Alone.

A man once asked me, “There are so many different churches, and they all teach different things. How can we know what church is right? How can we know which church follows the teachings of Jesus?”

Wed
21
Feb

Letter to the Editor: Submitted by Ann Fields

To the Editor:

Do you think all parents are competent educators? Would over $1550 per kid encourage you to homeschool your children? Who would know if you decided that history isn’t important, math is too hard, and kids could learn what they needed by working? Since there are no tests, no curriculum checks, or no home visits, what could go wrong?

Bill IAHF 2369 continues to divert public money away from public education. This bill pays public money to parents to homeschool their kids.

That’s right. The state would pay 20% of the regular program state costs per year per student for each homeschool kid. And parents can homeschool four non-related kids, as well.  A third party will be hired to administer the program, taking more money from the state’s budget.

The funds that will support this private homeschooling bill are coming from the Department of Education’s budget, leaving less public money for public schools.

Wed
14
Feb

Word for Word 2/14/24

Pastor Abraham Faugstad
Pastor Abraham Faugstad

Grace Alone

Sometimes people ask me what Lutherans believe. That’s a good question. I normally begin by saying, just as there are many different types of Christians, there are also many different types of Lutherans. Our church is a Confessional Lutheran church, which means that we hold to the teachings expressed and confessed during the Lutheran Reformation in the 1500s. Yet these teaching were nothing new even at that time. They were the same teachings taught in the Bible and believed by the Apostles. A good summary of the Lutheran Confessions could be made with three important teachings from the Reformation - which are sometimes referred to as the three Solas. They are: Grace Alone, Scripture Alone, and Faith Alone.  Today, I want to talk to you about what it means to believe that we are saved by grace alone.

Wed
14
Feb

Letter to the Editor: Submitted by John Carver

To the Editor:

Some of the arguments on speed cameras are mostly nuts. There are two sides to every story, but in this case, I think there’s only “one good side.”

First off, the issue of cities making too much money on speed cameras doesn’t hold water. The companies that provide them are making money and that’s what this country is about - capitalism. The state short-changes cities in numerous ways and this revenue helps fill that void.

The unfortunate side of this story is those drivers breaking the law by speeding and running stop signs. Make it the law whereby tickets exceeding a certain number cause a license suspension. No need to speed if you can’t drive. The humane aspect of this issue respects those who are now free to get on with their real jobs thanks to the cameras.

The conclusion is “one good side” while the other side is bluster​​​​​.

John Carver
Decorah

 

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