Viewpoints

To the Editor:

Words cannot express all my love and gratitude for my classmates from the Waukon High School Class of 1969. Our class recently gathered for our 55th class reunion. My husband and I live near Maggie Valley, NC in western North Carolina.

Our county and adjacent counties experienced catastrophic effects from Hurricane Helene. Because of this, we were unable to get to the airport to fly up for the reunion. The reunion attendees were notified that I would not be there and a dear friend from the class, Karen Watts Gibson, gathered a good-will offering to be sent to me to give to hurricane relief efforts in our area.

These 63 wonderful “Iowa nice” classmates donated $1,473.00!! Their kindness has overwhelmed me.

To the Editor:

Veterans Day has been known as a celebration to honor America’s veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good. It’s a day also known as Armistice Day, marking the end of The Great War. Wouldn’t it be great to say that there was no more war, and that peace prevailed?

The fact that there have been multiple wars and conflicts, and that we still have many active-duty service personnel means that we will continue to have many veterans. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, there are over 18 million veterans in the United States. There are over 200,000 veterans here in Iowa. Veterans are here in every part of our community, as business owners, teachers, firefighters, medical personnel, volunteers and more.

To the Editor:

As I read the report of the Waukon City Council in the November 6 edition of The Standard on page seven, I realized that the city is getting an opinion on the cost of a 4th Avenue NW Addition, as well as a 7th Street NW Extension. This is all related to the development in the Bresnahan Property.

For as long as the city has owned it, there has been no development except for the flood control. It seems that the council approves whatever the planner suggests. True, it may be the time to develop that property.

A few years ago, there were ads in The Standard indicating that three lots had been sold and three more were available. What happened? Now there is talk again about concrete streets with curb and gutter. How many other streets and alleys in this town need upkeep with concrete curb and gutter?

To the Editor:

As our country honors all those who have served in the defense of the United States, the Auxiliary of Lawrence D. Anderson, VFW Post 4117 is grateful to the citizens and businesses who contributed to our recent canvas for poppy donations. These funds go toward support of veterans’ needs and services.

Loyally,
Karen Mathis
Local Poppy Chair
 

November has arrived and that means Thanksgiving day is not far off. This is a great opportunity to focus on gratitude - to celebrate the many blessings you have.

When you’re feeling grateful, your mind is clear, you have a deeper relationship to God and the whole of Creation, and you become more aware of the big picture. The world becomes a friendly place to live. Couldn’t we all use that right about now?

To the Editor:

Iowans take immense pride in the commodities we produce that feed the world. Our resource-rich land allows farmers to support the rural communities that make Iowa a very special place to call home. Harvesting clean energy sources, like wind and solar, play a vital role in farming operations by diversifying income and ensuring family farms remain sustainable.

While some folks harvest traditional crops like corn or soybeans - or run a dairy operation like the one I grew up on, some may choose to harvest the wind or sun to power the world, too. In doing so, these farmers and landowners are offered peace of mind with annual drought- and flood-proof land lease payments totaling $74 million. Between unpredictable weather and an unstable economy, this steady income stream helps keep farms afloat regardless of the conditions.

To the Editor:

So what the heck is “Project 2025”? According to their website, Project 2025.org, it is a “political initiative published by the conservative think tank, The Heritage Foundation, which aims to promote conservative and right wing policies to reshape the United States Federal Government and consolidate executive power.”

In the some 900 pages of this document, there are changes to the Farm Bill, which, by the way is being delayed in Congress, possibly to allow these changes to take place after the election.

Author Chris Clayton, of Investigate Midwest, explains some of the changes to the Farm Bill. It would focus the bill on ag production, removing obstacles but not subsidizing ag. Ag risk coverage (ARC) and price loss coverage (PLC) would be repealed.

To the Editor:

Governor Kim Reynolds has proposed a flat tax. A flat tax isn’t fair.

You might ask, why not? Three basic reasons. First, it isn’t fair to everyday Iowans. Second, lowering the tax rate means less money for government services. Third, Iowa will suffer in the long run, just like Kansas did.

According to the new flat tax plan, all taxpayers will pay 3.8%. This isn’t fair to everyday Iowans who need every dollar they make just to get by. The ultra wealthy and corporations can afford to pay more and will reap the benefits of a flat tax.  The rich will get richer and everyday Iowans will suffer.

Second, over the next two years, Iowa tax revenues will be $1 billion less than this year. Coupled with the educational savings plan, another $750 million over the next two years will be spent on private school vouchers totaling $1.75 billion less for government services: education, police, roads, county hospitals and libraries. This isn’t fair.

To the Editor:

When planning your estate, you can take care of your family while also investing in your community.

What if there were a way to make a big investment in our community’s future by setting aside just a small slice of our assets today? Imagine being able to support local needs and amenities like housing, the arts and education with a gift that will grow and grow over time.

That is the opportunity we have today.

In our county, throughout the state and across the country, a historic transfer of assets is taking place over the next decade. This movement includes efforts to earmark a portion of that transfer for charitable endowments. A new study by the University of Minnesota and Iowa Council of Foundations* shows that in Allamakee County alone, $127 million is projected to transfer from one generation to the next in the coming decade.

To the Editor:

Our rights and freedoms are on the line. Most Iowans believe in the dignity of all people, which has long been protected as fundamental rights and freedoms. At the heart of this issue is the dignity of women - the freedom to decide when and if to have a family, and the right to make the best medical decisions for themselves and those they love.

Dignity does not mean attacking women’s freedom or stripping away their rights. Yet, that’s exactly what Governor Kim Reynolds and her legislators have done. By passing a six-week abortion ban, they’ve taken away a woman’s right to make her own decisions, placing politicians in our bedrooms and exam rooms. This law denies women privacy, the right to choose, and access to essential reproductive healthcare, completely disregarding their unique, personal situations.