Viewpoints

To the Editor:

I feel I must reply and applaud the letter from Steve Paul in the September 27, 2023 newspaper issue in reference to the letter by Ozzie Quandahl in this newspaper’s September 13, 2023 issue. Steve took the exact words right out of my mouth, stepped up faster than I did, and could not have said it any better.

Dodie Keatley
Lansing
 

To the Editor:

Iowans are compassionate people and care about one another. We believe no Iowan should go hungry, especially our children. Sadly, child poverty has more than doubled in the last two years and 122,000 children in Iowa are hungry.

One cause contributing to an increase in child poverty is a refusal by MAGA Republicans, including Representative Ashley Hinson, to extend the Expanded Child Tax Credit (CTC). The Expanded CTC, passed by the Democrats and signed into law by President Biden as part of the American Rescue Plan, put money into the pockets of hard-working families each month to pay for food and necessities.  Because of the Expanded Child Tax Credit, child poverty was cut in half.

Now MAGA extremists in Congress are poised to shut down the government.  Food assistance for 58,126 Iowa women, children, and infants who rely on the special nutritional program WIC (Women Infants and Children)  will be one of the first cuts.

To the Editor:

Iowans want to live in communities which are safe and secure and where public safety is valued. Police officers help to make our communities a safe place to live and work.

Every day, police officers put themselves on the line to protect us. They deserve our respect and support, even if we do not like being stopped for a traffic violation. “Personal responsibility” means that each of us is responsible for our actions. If we violate the law, we need to pay the consequence.

The police are not to blame for doing their job when they stop Mr. Quandahl for speeding (refer to letter to the editor by Ozzie Quandahl in the September 13, 2023 edition of this newspaper) or stop anyone else for violating the law.

The bottom line is that no one is above the law, not Ozzie Quandahl, not Donald Trump, not MAGA Extremist Insurrectionists who stormed the capitol to overturn an election, or Hunter Biden. All must be held accountable.

To the Editor:

Our society has come a long way in understanding the importance of taking care of mental health. Although there have been many improvements in how mental health is addressed, there still is a stigma involved, especially when it comes to suicide. One common misconception that leads to the further stigma around mental health is that “suicide is a selfish choice.”

Is suicide selfish? To be frank, no, suicide is not a selfish act. People who contemplate suicide are often in such a state of emotional distress and pain that they don’t feel they have many choices to help end their suffering. There are many complex factors that could contribute to someone attempting suicide, but the bottom line is that people do not commit suicide out of selfishness.

To the Editor:

The familiar yellow school buses have appeared as a happy harbinger of cool fall days and cyclical routine. As a lifelong Iowan and retired educator, it also symbolizes the education system that for many years was a source of pride as a leader in the nation.

Unfortunately, this year those buses remind us of a public school system that has been undermined by our state officials. For the first time a huge chunk of money ($133.5 - $221 million of your tax dollars) is being taken from the Iowa general fund to support private schools. These primarily religious schools are not available for many in our state.

Parental Rights is a misnomer. There is no oversight or state requirements for these schools to meet and the money is handled by a for-profit, out-of-state entity. This new system is only for parents and students who have options close by and certainly not for the students and parents who remain in the public system.

To the Editor:

I am writing to address the letter in the August 30 edition of the paper written by Mr. Quandahl. I am confused. At the beginning of the letter he says that Jesus is his savior. I was expecting a letter about the love of Jesus for all and how our words and actions show that we have Jesus in our hearts.

Like the community coming together to feed our kids during the month of July when the school program doesn’t run. That’s love because we are feeding the hungry (Matthew 25:35-37).

Like the community coming together to raise money for medical and travel expenses when someone is battling cancer. That’s love because we are caring for the sick (Matthew 25:35-37).

To the Editor:

The GOP has the reputation for being the “fiscally conservative” party. Let’s examine the facts.

There are a total of 14 American presidents who have guided America from 1933 to 2020, seven Democratic and seven Republican.

Economic growth: The economy grew at an average rate of 4.6% under Democrats and only 2.4% under Republican presidents. Under Biden, the economy has grown three times faster than under Trump.

Recessions: Ten of the past eleven recessions began under Republican presidents.

Balanced budgets: Only three presidents had a balanced budget - Carter, Clinton and Obama.

To the Editor:

Last week, I drove to Elkader with the special purpose of visiting Pastor Dave Andreae at the Elkader Nursing Home. I was glad to see he was better than I expected, so we had a good 30-40 minute visit.

I headed back from Elkader to Waukon with a short stop at Walz Feed Lot and a short visit with Mike Walz. The feed lot is full with 10,000 head and farmers on the waiting list.

Going north through Monona, as I was exiting the town, I guess I sped up too soon. The next thing I know, I was pulled over by the Monona Police. He said I was 12 miles over the 25 limit. I was held up over 30 minutes. I think he was very new to the job, and I know it is hard to find and hire new police in many places. I feel I was being unnecessarily harassed. I know, for sure, I was not putting anyone’s life at risk.

To the Editor:

I attended Rep. Ashley Hinson’s town hall in Waukon August 16. I expressed concerns about the environment and poor water quality in Iowa. Hinson told us that water quality and soil health is improving.

She reviewed from her notebook of talking points the initiatives her Republican caucus is pushing, which is primarily promoting fossil fuels and less government regulation. You may recall Republicans celebrating the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that the Environmental Protection Agency can no longer regulate some bodies of our nation’s waters.

“Be not far from me, for trouble is near, and there is no one to help.” - Psalm 22:11

I’ve been a pastor for almost 25 years and in this capacity I have accompanied many suffering people. I’ve borne witness to all kinds pain - physical, emotional and spiritual. Sometimes the sufferer will cry out to the Lord in exasperation and even anger, wondering why they feel so alone.

In June, I was in a car accident serious enough to warrant a med flight and a nine-day hospital stay. I’m grateful that I survived and that my injuries, though serious, are healing. Before this experience, I don’t think I understood just how difficult it is to be the patient. It was quite an education and I can tell you that the view from the hospital bed is very different from the one next to it. It’s the worst.