Viewpoints

To the Editor:
The following information is from the January 29, 2016 issue of the Wall Street Journal, p. A11.
Something to think about:
Let’s look at … “a 2008 report by the Agriculture Department that estimated changes in food consumption from 1970-2005:
Grains rose by 41%.
Vegetable Oils by 91%.
Fish and shellfish by 37%.
Vegetables by 23%.
Fruits by 13%.”
Meanwhile:
“Eggs and red meat each fell by 17%.
And whole milk by 73%.
Yet during roughly the same period, the incidence of diabetes doubled.”
Now, what would a logical person deduce from these statistics?

Bob Moline,
Genoa, WI
 

To the Editor:
Hello everyone in newspaper land! I have been impressed by some very nice happenings lately and wanted to let everyone know how much my family and I appreciate them.
A couple months ago I was making a habit out of asking everyone about their Christmas plans. In one instance we were talking about Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, which I lamented that I had missed as I was at work the night it was on TV. Shortly thereafter, a DVD copy was hand delivered to our front door! It was a big hit and has been watched 10-15 times at this point.
On a number of occasions both this year and in years previous we have had the pleasure of getting a foot or more of snow. Our neighbors in both directions are in the habit of blowing the snow all the way to the end of the block before turning around.  This clears two sidewalks worth of snow and saves me a lot of time when I get home from work and start blowing the snow.

To the Editor:
August 1, 2015 I came home. It was two days after my first chemo treatment. I would have really appreciated it if the moving crew that showed up unexpectedly had just left me lying in my misery.
Several miles to the east of Waukon, we were headed to our “new” older house in the community of Lansing. Although I was weak and overwhelmed, the move seemed like it went well enough with my husband and daughter at the helm. The truth is, as much as I have always loved the town of Lansing, I didn’t even want to be alive at that point, let alone setting up another household.
Then it happened. Lansing’s basketful of welcome started arriving at the door, despite our dachshund tinkling on their shoes. The welcoming has been going on ever since, and the wiener dog has quit tinkling on their shoes.

To the Editor:
I have been following very closely what is happening in the current campaign for the White House. I am appalled that our president and two of the candidates for the office from that same party have been calling for class warfare, class envy and for redistribution of wealth. And there appears to be a great deal of support for exactly that within a large sector of the Democrat Party.
I noticed that several days ago over 2,000 young people, assumed to be students at Luther College, attended a rally in Decorah for a candidate who wooed them with all sorts of promises of “freebies”. And they bought it, hook, line and sinker. It is disgusting to watch seemingly educated people salivate over the prospect of something for nothing. What has happened to our work ethic and desire to succeed on our own?

To the Editor:
February 1 I took part in the Republican caucus that was held in Waukon. We started in the auditorium, where I spoke in support of ex-governor Mike Huckabee. Previously, I had read about Mike’s proposal to end abortion in the January 25, 2016 Gazette, page 9A.
Next, we exited the auditorium and filed down the hall to our precinct rooms. When I got my ballot, I was still considering Mike Huckabee or Ben Carson. I voted and turned in my ballot.
I did not hear the rumor about Ben Carson until the morning of February 2, after the caucus. I was sorry to hear it. Later, I was happy to learn that it was just a rumor. Now I am thankful that I did not hear the rumor before I voted.
Bruce Palmer
Waukon
 

by Dick Schilling, "Editor Emeritus"

To the Editor:
How in the world did so many Planned Parenthood factories get constructed throughout the USA and accomplished under the radar of the U.S. people? I would sure like to know exactly how many there are in our country.
I know it’s a pet program of the Democrats, but in order to pass this spending bill it took 100 percent support of Congress Democrats and a few Republicans called RINOs (Republicans in Name Only). I think we should be told the names of the RINOs.
The names of a couple of Planned Parenthoodlums are Dr. Mary Gatter and Dr. Deborah Nucatola, and I think they still have their jobs. Their salary must be pretty lucrative because, according to a video by Center for Medical Progress cited by the Priests for Life organization, Mary Gatter wants to buy and drive a Lamborghini, the most expensive Italian sports car, that costs $200,000 and up.

by Dick Schilling, Editor Emeritus

To the Editor:
On Monday, February 1, 2016, participation in the Democratic Party precinct caucuses will provide the best way to be active in forming the party’s platform and agenda, and will be critical in the role Iowa plays in the nomination process for the President of the United States. Coming together with fellow friends and neighbors from all different backgrounds to fight for the values that are important to our communities is what the spirit of the Iowa caucuses is all about.

To the Editor:
In the past 20 years, numerous studies have exposed a disappointing truth: by the time children from low-income families reach the age of four, they will have heard 30 million fewer words than their more advantaged peers. This word gap has a profound influence on a child’s ability to succeed in school - and later in life.
Local libraries play an important role in helping to raise awareness of the word gap and reach families of all backgrounds. At Robey, we offer family story time every Tuesday at 10:30 am. Bring your children or grandchildren and find out more about our ongoing literacy programs for kids of all ages. We can work together to build a healthy, sustainable community in one of the most high-impact and cost-effective ways: by investing in our youngest members.

Cate St. Clair
Library Director
Robey Memorial Library