opinion
‘And I did not speak out’
Wednesday, March 12, 2025 11:11 am
I tend to view today’s political scene through a long-term and wide view. All too many take the short and narrow view. Their view leads to major problems down the road. Take today’s “but the eggs” view. We will pay for …
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It’s time to practice some fiscal responsibility
Wednesday, March 12, 2025 11:10 am
Kudos to Laurie Worcester for her informative letter in the Feb. 13 letter to the editor section of the Decorah Leader. It seems the “shenanigans” we have experienced in the federal government Obama and Biden administrations have “trickled” down to …
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Let Congress feel it
Wednesday, March 12, 2025 11:10 am
It appears Congress has been left out of Elon Musk’s damage control program. His wrecking ball is something that should be shared by everyone. Congress receives federal dollars the same as other federal employees who have been terminated across the …
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Local show of support planned for veterans, support services
Wednesday, March 12, 2025 11:09 am
On Friday, March 14, 2025, there will be a march for our veterans in our nation’s capital at noon. At the same time — by time zone — Americans will march in all 50 state capitals. Here in Decorah, all …
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Glad to see state mRNA vaccine ban didn’t pass through legislative funnel
Wednesday, March 12, 2025 11:08 am
It’ll still be a few weeks before we know for sure which bills survive the current legislative session in Des Moines, but a good number of bills have come to the end of the road — including one I was …
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Iowa’s biggest issues
Wednesday, March 5, 2025 11:42 am
The news continues to be depressing. The cancer rate in Iowa leads the nation and is unacceptable. If anything, the legislature should be working 24/7 on this and known water issues. There’s little doubt knee deep animal feces, over applied …
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‘If Sen. Grassley has a backbone, I don’t see it’
Wednesday, March 5, 2025 11:41 am
Sen. Grassley sent out a fine letter to constituents that rightly called-out the threat to Europe that Russia’s President Putin represents. In that context, he rightly called for American support of Ukraine. But then he supports anything and everything that Trump pukes …
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A dish of disappointment with a side of hypocrisy and dishwashing
Wednesday, March 5, 2025 11:39 am
Have you read the latest PR from Joni Ernst? I was so disappointed that she has taken aim at the federal infrastructure program that creates jobs by putting public EV charging stations across the country. Smart Electric Power Alliance reports …
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Beware: hypocrisy abounds
Wednesday, March 5, 2025 11:38 am
On Feb. 27 the Iowa Legislature passed SF-418 that strips transgender Iowans of civil rights. Others have well articulated the opposition to this bill. But I share one part of the bill that highlights the legislative hypocrisy. This bill rode …
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We must express our opposition
Wednesday, March 5, 2025 11:37 am
When all our institutions of government are under attack, it is time to speak up as never before. The autocrat in office and his lapdog who is not are destroying the government as fast as they can, causing enormous pain …
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Iowa’s new stance on discrimination brings to mind other civil protections
Wednesday, March 5, 2025 11:32 am
Well, Iowa made history again. Not necessarily in a good way. The Hawkeye state is now the first in the nation to remove protections for a group of people previously covered under the state’s Civil Rights Act. The term “gender …
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It’s a drag
Thursday, February 27, 2025 10:21 am
I sent this letter to our state representative and senator. I share it with you as an open letter. Gentlemen Rep. Mike Bergen and Sen. Mike Klimesh, I continue to be flummoxed by the Republican political obsession with sex – …
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VAT tax and trade
Thursday, February 27, 2025 10:20 am
The value added tax is just a scheme to help domestic manufacturers complete in global markets. The way it works is you lower the taxes you should otherwise collect. Then you put on a VAT tax, you collect it on …
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Move over legislators
Thursday, February 27, 2025 10:20 am
And somewhere out of the political wilderness comes the cry that our Iowa higher education facilities are “left leaning.” And the voice continues to say that if it continues, it will be unsettling. Voting will be unduly influenced. Excuuuuuuuse me, …
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Rage, rage at the dying of free choice
Thursday, February 27, 2025 10:19 am
Dear Editor, A very old adage says, “You can’t legislate morality.” Now some Iowa legislators posing as self-appointed thought police and morality judges are using House File 274 and Senate File 347 to curtail Iowa Public Library book inventories. They …