Viewpoints

To the Editor:

If you knew that you, your loved ones, seniors, children, parents, patients, taxpayers, hungry people, and indeed every person in Winneshiek, Howard, and Allamakee County were receiving critical services at a cost that’s only a small fraction of their value, would you want to support that?

Of course you would.  That’s the benefit of RSVP, the Retired Senior Volunteer Program right here in our neighborhood. Our own local RSVP is one of the top programs in the country in terms of both volunteer strength per resident and financial value. With our RSVP, nearly 600 volunteers provide over 42,000 hours a year in services to people and communities across Allamakee, Howard and Winneshiek Counties.

And RSVP is such an efficient and cost-effective effort that the program has a budget of only $100,000 yet produces over $1,200,000 of value for our community. When money is tight like it is, volunteer effort is more important to our own community than ever!

To the Editor:

Recently, President Donald Trump completed a visit to the Middle East. He met with the Heads of State of Saudi Arabia, Syria and the United Arab Emirates. On this tour, President Trump was shown the highest honors. When his plane landed in Saudi Arabia, they literally rolled out the purple carpet, used for royalty, for him. The Crown Prince and his entourage were there at the airport to meet and greet President Trump in person as he descended from his airplane! This visit resulted in huge financial investments being made by Saudi Arabia into the United States economy! They stood for President Trump and clapped for him with many happy smiles on their faces. He was treated as royalty and shown enormous favor. It was said, “He created peace like never before!”

To the Editor:

Sue and Lyle Otte  make a scathing accusation against the Trump administration in their May 14 letter to the editor. It only shows their disdain for the facts and the president.

They claim that “many Americans” are showing  shame and fear over the policies of president Donald Trump. That claim is patently false - as is their claim that the world is wondering what is happening to us.

I want to know what is wrong with bringing emissaries from the Soviet Union to the White House to promote an agenda of world peace. Where is the proof that our national security is being endangered on a daily basis? This is just more anti-Trump rhetoric.

Who are the “unqualified and incompetent” people who have been placed in power in Washington?

To the Editor:

Elon Musk and Donald Trump, through the actions of the Department of Government Efficiency, DOGE, have initiated deep budget cuts, including:
· Department of Education lost half of its staff or 1,300 positions
· Department of Veterans Affairs cut 20,000 positions
· Department of Health and Human Services (including Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, Meals on Wheels, and AmeriCorps, to name a few of its programs) lost 20,000 positions.

What do budget cuts mean? Budget cuts mean eliminating services for the average citizen.

To the Editor:

How about one of us Allamakeers invent a way for all of us to avoid ads on TV, laptops and cell phones. We would gladly pay a monthly fee, as would others for the service.

In all likelihood you could tap into a worldwide market. Newspapers and skywriting could be viable alternatives.

Think about the position you would be in - you could make millions by selling out to big advertisers, but, if you have a conscience, you may find yourself in a moral dilemma.

What’s it to be?

Bruce Palmborg
Lansing
 

To the Editor:

There is nothing to celebrate about our current administration’s first 100 days in office. Indeed, there is little more than shame, fear, and distrust that many Americans are feeling.

The World, too, is wondering what is happening to us. A country that was the destination of many seeking freedom, education, and a welcoming hand is now leaving the world behind.

Instead of a careful reorganization of the bureaucracy of government, we have witnessed a “bull in the china shop” approach, a random destruction of anything that personally offends the president or his DOGE collaborator.

To the Editor:

Every two years, Vision to Learn provides vision screenings, eye exams, and two free pairs of glasses to Allamakee County students who need them. Since 2017, Vision to Learn has examined nearly 900 local students and provided glasses to 818 students.

While this service is complimentary to families, it isn’t without cost. Opticians, a mobile screening clinic, glasses and other expenses add up. The Allamakee County Community Foundation works hard to support this program, both through our annual grant cycle and by connecting donors with this important cause.

To the Editor:

If you are an American citizen, you must stand up for your rights now. The current administration’s actions are like a hurricane, destroying everything in its path. A hurricane doesn’t discriminate but destroys whatever or whoever is in its way.

I like the right to vote for candidates. I want to know the military is being guided by smart people who live their duties and responsibilities. I want Social Security and Medicare/Medicaid to be there for all. I need to have the finest scientists overseeing the nation’s health and research. I want the best and brightest educators to engage students of all ages and stages of learning. I need journalists who are protected. I want to know that the vulnerable populations are respected. I must have three independent branches of government, and have the rule of law applied to all. I want good housing, wages, and benefits for all. I require due process and presumption of innocence under the law.

To the Editor:

Iowans work hard, sometimes holding multiple jobs, to pay bills and provide for their families. Workers keep our communities thriving, and small businesses keep jobs in towns. Trump’s tariffs and trade war threaten workers, small businesses, and communities.

Trump unilaterally levied broad sweeping tariffs on our trading partners. Trading partners retaliated by imposing tariffs on U.S. exports. Trump, Rep. Ashley Hinson, and Republicans are trying to trick us into believing China, Canada, Mexico, and other countries will pay the price of tariffs.

Americans are smarter than that. We know that countries exporting goods to the U.S. will offset their higher expenses by raising the prices of items. Increased prices will be paid by the American consumer. Make no mistake, tariffs are a tax on consumers.

To the Editor:

Mr. Lowell Engle (in his April 30 letter to the editor) argues we should “stand up for the Constitution and the rights of American citizens.  Support the rule of law.”  Both Ann Hart and I were calling for the same rights, not only for American “citizens,” but for all “persons” in the U.S. as the Fifth Amendment guarantees.

Mr. Engle (and Donald Trump as well) make much of Mr. Garcia’s tattoos, claiming that they prove he is a member of the MS-13 gang. However, a photo of his left hand circulated on social media that shows a marijuana leaf, a smiley face, a cross, and a skull with “M - S – 1 – 3” on his knuckles has been shown to be Photoshopped.

Experts, like Steve Dudley, on MS-13 said that the use of tattoos as displays of affinity to gangs has dropped in recent decades as police have started using them to identify members.