Viewpoints

To the Editor:

You know, I’ve been thinking about this constitutional amendment on the November ballot - the one that requires a supermajority to pass any new tax reforms. The way I see it, the party in power wants to remain in power and affect our state’s financial well-being into the future. They also want to keep those corporate lobbying dollars coming to them.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t like this flat tax for income tax. It seems that the upper class is benefiting way more than the rest of us. Those of lower income pay the same percentage of their income as the wealthy - who could really afford to pay more.

To the Editor:

Iowa voters will decide on Iowa Amendment #1 during the November 3, 2026 election to determine whether a two-thirds supermajority vote in both the Iowa House and Senate should be required to raise new income taxes.

The current requirement in Iowa to increase or establish a new income tax is a simple majority in both legislative chambers. Majority rules, not supermajority.

We in the Allamakee School District took eleven votes to pass a bond for a new high school and that was a 60% voter approval. They are talking 66% voter approval.

This proposed amendment would require personal or corporate income tax increases to be approved by two-thirds of the majority in each chamber - virtually locking in extreme tax cuts skewed to the wealthy that majority lawmakers put in place between 2019 and 2025.

If this amendment passes it would encourage lawmakers to solve our budget problems by raising the sales tax or other tax fees.

To the Editor:

Likely most of us are aware that in approximately two years our Main Street R-O-W (right-of-way) will be reconstructed. You may have noticed in The Standard that from time to time the City Council has approved various contracts with consultants and received reports related to this project.

When will the Mayor and City Council tell us about the project? Hopefully, we will be informed sooner rather than later. It’s not too early to begin actively enrolling us.

Some questions which would be of interest to us are likely the following:
• What is the project concept?
• What is the role of the community?
• What are the time lines?
• What are the challenges?
• What are the opportunities?
• What will be the fate of Main Street between Front Street and 2nd Street?

Others likely have other questions - what are yours?

To the Editor:

Do you remember one year ago, in September of 2025, when we wrote a letter of concern about eight of our services being threatened? Our letter listed those eight services and the threat of losing them. They are:

1. No cancer research; 2. No Social Security; 3. No disaster relief; 4. No clean energy; 5. No free lunch; 6. No Medicare; 7. No Medicaid; 8. No SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program).

Now, in only one year’s time, we Iowans are suffering because six of those eight services are already reduced or taken away, not only here in Iowa, but across the country. We asked the question last year, “Are our Iowa legislators in Washington D.C. representing us or are they supporting the efforts to get rid of these services?”

To the Editor:

We have a critical election upon us. The past elections have mainly been between two parties that loved this country but held different views on how to serve the ‘citizens’. That is no longer the case. We now have one party that desires to stay anchored in the America established by our Founding Fathers, anchored in Judeo-Christian values.

The other party is being taken over by those who hate America with the desire to implement socialism, communism, and Islamism.  None of these are compatible with the other. They are using each other, along with any group or individual that desires to join as ‘useful idiots’ - a term used by them, to take down the country, ultimately with Islamism prevailing.

If you were to die tonight, are you sure you would have eternal life? If you were to die tonight and stand before God and He asks you, “Why should I let you into My heaven?” what would you tell Him?
These are good questions for us to think about. What would you say? How would you answer?  We all want to be able to say we are certain of eternal life, but most have a harder time with the second question, “Why should I let you into My heaven?” People might answer by saying something like this:  “I’ve tried to live a good life. I’ve prayed. I’ve helped my neighbor. I think God would let me in.” Others say, “I know I am not perfect, but I’ve lived a better life compared to most” or “I’ve made mistakes, but I have also tried to give back. I hope God sees that.” 

To the Editor:

When Iowans get their ballots for the November 2026 election, there will be an amendment to consider.  Iowa Amendment 1 ”requires two-thirds supermajority vote in both the Iowa House and Senate to raise individual or corporate income tax rates or to create a new income tax.”

For the last 169 years, tax increases had to pass the Iowa House and Iowa Senate by a simple majority.  If this amendment passes, the Senate would need 34 votes, instead of 26 votes, and the House would need 67, instead of 51, to pass an increase in income taxes. Thus, making it harder for the legislature to increase taxes. A minority could block increasing income taxes.

In fiscal year 2025, Iowa had a $26 million deficit and covered the loss with the rainy-day fund. Income for 2025 was 8.5% lower than 2024, and 2026’s income projections are below 2025, due to lower farm income.  What is going to happen when the rainy-day fund runs out?

To the Editor:

Psalm 51 New International Version (NIV) reads:

5 Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.

6 Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb; you taught me wisdom in that secret place.

These two verses suggest that life begins at conception. If you have had an abortion you can ask God to forgive you, and if you are truly sorry for your sin and don’t do it again, He will forgive you.
John 3:3 states, “Jesus answered him, ‘Truly, truly, I tell you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.’” This verse, part of Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus, emphasizes the need for spiritual rebirth or a new beginning to understand God’s kingdom.

Wanderings of a Wayward Follower of Jesus

Blessings Everyone!

Have you heard the phase, “No Good Deed Goes Unpunished”? The meaning of this phase as paraphrased from Wikipedia is; “Beneficial actions often go unappreciated or are met with outright hostility. And if they are appreciated, they often lead to additional requests.”

In the Bible, we read this about good deeds and being punished for them, John 10:32, “Jesus answered them, ‘I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you going to stone me?’”

After Jesus fed the 5,000, the people kept following Him, but Jesus called them out by saying they were only following Him because He did good deeds.

I was an eye witness to this phase. At a previous appointment I became involved in the local Optimist Club. One of our members - I will call her Jane - suggested a giveaway project to offer a free bike to elementary age kids.

To the Editor:

It is election season. Political ads abound on TV. Which are true and which are lies? It’s hard to tell. There’s no law that says campaigns and PACs (political action committees) have to tell the truth.

Social media is full of misinformation and AI generated content as well. There will be no author listed, or fact checking done, and the add relies on the reader’s emotions to get them to pass the information on. So, what to do?

Well, I found a site which helps a little - “Fast Democracy.” It’s free, but you have to sign up. You can look up your legislator and see their voting records on various bills. State and federal congress critters are listed.