Letters: Mike Franken deserves our thanks; Chuck Grassley deserves our votes

Mike Franken deserves our grateful thanks; Chuck Grassley deserves our votes

Adm. Mike Franken deserves our grateful thanks for his service to the country. Sen. Chuck Grassley deserves our vote based on the aggregate body of his work on behalf of Iowans over a lifetime of service.

Grassley works tirelessly on our behalf each and every year, not just in election years. He is as vigorous and mentally sharp in his annual 99 county meetings as during his first campaign. His bipartisan leadership of the Senate Finance Committee was a standard that Hill staffers wished was the norm. He continues to work across the aisle on issues of importance to Americans (Grassley-Wyden, Grassley -Klobuchar, etc.).

If re-elected,Grassley will rank No. 1 in Senate seniority; a huge asset for Iowa. You may or may not agree with his position on a particular issue, which I venture to say would be true of other elected officials.

Franken deserves the nation's appreciation for his service, but Grassley deserves to be reelected as our "hired hand" on the basis of his lifetime of service to Iowa.

— Dr. Stuart Weinstein, Iowa City

Grassley has lost his way

As an independent, I am concerned with the present situation in our state.  We need more balance.  I admired governors Bob Ray, a Republican, and Tom Vilsack, a Democrat. We had Sens. Tom Harkin, a Democrat, and Chuck Grassley, a Republican.

I vote for candidates I feel are ethical and moral and care about all Iowans. When there is input from both parties, there can be dialogue and compromise and representation for all Iowans.  But now I am overwhelmed by the Republican Party officials who have forgotten they were elected to serve all Iowans.

Grassley for one has become a person who is concerned only about Republican politics.  Yes, I voted for him in the past, until he tried to squash the Affordable Care Act, which was vital to my sister’s welfare. She has multiple sclerosis and previously could not get insurance. Beware, senior citizens, of the Republican Party wanting to privatize Medicare and Social Security. Our state privatized Medicaid, which was more costly. Also, the cost of drugs for all of us, especially older Iowans, is an unbelievable burden. We end up choosing between medication and life necessities.

Mostly I was stunned when Grassley had ex-president Donald Trump, who tried to undermine our democracy on Jan. 6, on the platform at a rally. Where and when did you, Senator Grassley, lose your moral compass?

— Judith Heller, Indianola

High prices aren’t most important thing

Access to women's health care and abortion rights is more important than the price of gasoline. It is more important than the price of groceries. It is more important than the Second Amendment. Don't be distracted by election noise. Look at Iran. This is our hijab.

— Paul Swenson, Waukee

Loan relief for farmers must also be wrong?

Republicans have been wailing for weeks now about President Joe Biden's proposal to forgive portions of outstanding student loans. I'm waiting for a similar response to Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack's announcement that thousands of farmers are about to receive many millions of dollars from the federal government for debt relief.

— David Leonard, Waukee

No defense for Grassley siding with Trump

The current investigation makes it very clear that Donald Trump is responsible for the violence at the Capitol on Jan. 6.  It confirms what many of us thought: that Trump would go to any lengths, even inciting violence, to remain president, even though clearly Joe Biden had been elected.

Anyone as experienced politically as Sen. Chuck Grassley should have recognized that accepting Trump’s endorsement may have been politically smart but is morally indefensible. 

— The Rev. Chet Guinn, Des Moines

Uncomfortable history lessons are important

I am writing about the piece from Dianne Prichard (“Why we teach literature, even when it’s provocative”) in the Oct. 16 paper. If people would pay attention to her story, they would hopefully understand why we cannot let our students be deprived of our history because someone may say it can make them “feel bad.”

Students cannot get a full and fair picture of our country’s history if half of it is left out. It is not to make them feel bad but to teach them what not to do and what it can do if they follow the bad things that have been done in our past. Please do not let that happen.

— Marilyn Freerksen, Des Moines

Literature provides a foundation

Dianne Prichard's "This is why we teach literature, even when it is provocative" contribution to the Oct. 16 Register really hit the mark. Her anecdote about the Vietnam veteran was wonderful.

We all need to practice positive habits every day, every way. Then she went on to mention how we learn to cope even after bad decisions by reading and experiencing through literature. That vicarious learning is needed by youth and adults. Of course, I recognized some of the stories' characters, but not all by any means.

Literature gave her generation, my generation, too, a foundation. We all need to read or even listen for a foundation for living well. Thanks for this great insight.

— Pat Mattern, Albia

Editorial board is out of touch with Iowa

I was astounded to but not surprised at the editorial board’s endorsement of Deidre DeJear on Oct. 16.

Gov. Kim Reynolds was just named the best governor in the country by the nonpartisan Cato Institute, yet you come out stating we need a new governor. 

When will Register leadership realize you do NOT represent the people of Iowa? Your own polling gives her a 52% approval rating. I have no doubt the editorial backs the complete Democrat ticket.

Instead of "being the news Iowa depends upon, it should read "the news Iowa Democrats depend on."

— Rick M Nord, Norwalk

Disappointing that Reynolds ignored the Register

For the past few weeks I have appreciated the Register running the question-and-answer articles covering the upcoming elections. I thought the questions were fair and wasn’t surprised by 99% of the answers.

I am disappointed that Kim Reynolds didn’t respond. It would be interesting to hear her reasoning. I’m also confused about the race for Iowa attorney general. Is Brenna Bird running against Tom Miller or Joe Biden?

— Mark Mahoney, Urbandale

Abortions late in term aren’t elective

In Monday's gubernatorial debate, Gov. Kim Reynolds tried to paint a heartbreaking picture of the tragic abortion of an unborn baby at or beyond 8 months gestation.

What she left out is that mothers who don't want to give birth generally do not wait until the third trimester to seek an abortion. The ones who do desperately want their babies but run into medical complications. Heartbeat or no heartbeat, the baby cannot survive. And the mother's health and life are at risk unless an abortion is performed, the sooner the better.

But of course, many doctors would be afraid to put the health of their patient first, if it meant risking imprisonment.

Reynolds says she trusts Iowans to do the right thing -- but not pregnant Iowans!

DeJear understands medicine is complicated. She knows that anti-abortion laws will have unintended consequences. DeJear knows that in a democracy, the government should butt out and let women have control over their own bodies. DeJear deserves our votes.

— Barbara Aszman Stone, Grinnell

Only DeJear values rights and freedoms

Most of the parents I know wouldn’t trust a third-grader to watch their infant. Yet during Monday’s gubernatorial debate, Gov. Kim Reynolds implied that a third-grader should be forced to give birth to her rapist’s baby. Iowans know this isn’t right. This isn’t common sense.

In Iowa, we believe that a person has the right to make their own medical decisions and we believe that doctors have the freedom to treat their patients with the best medical advice possible. We also believe that it is an individual’s choice to decide when and if to have a child and start a family. These are personal decisions to be made by each individual, not decisions to be made by lawmakers and Supreme Court justices.

I’m supporting Deidre DeJear because she is the only candidate who will respect and protect our rights and freedoms. Our next governor should be guided by our state motto: “Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain.” If not, these are just meaningless words on a flag.

— Allison Simpson, Bellevue

Iowa needs commitment to change in farming

We need a new direction.

Growing up in a small, rural western Iowa community in the 1950s and 1960s, I came to understand the important work farming represents to the state and its people. I also saw how the corporate agricultural industry gradually took over, while the prosperity of small towns vanished. The Iowa farmer had to adapt or find another livelihood.

What was less visible, but more persistent, were the changes in farming practices and in resource management. Wetlands were drained, timber cleared, and fence rows eliminated. With developments in agrichemicals and modified genes, weed and pest management was “simplified,” but at what cost? Confinement feeding largely replaced the pastures and feedlots of old, expanding mass food production. But, again, at what cost?

What we have achieved in the short term seems miraculous. However, these rewards have been ill-gotten. Now we find ourselves scrambling for solutions to rapidly diminishing topsoil, polluted air and water, and maintenance of a rapidly forgotten “rural way of life.”

Our dependence on a short list of products (corn and soybeans; pork, beef, and poultry) limits our choices moving forward. Corn-based ethanol production has bought us some short-term profits, but the energy market is changing, and we must prepare for it rather than clinging to an industry without a clear future. Proceeding with carbon pipelines is a way to lock us into a farm future that could collapse around us.

There are solutions. No-till farming and cover crops can maintain and rebuild soil integrity and productivity. Careful control of pesticide/herbicide use, fertilizer application and wetland management can go a long way in restoring pure water for our population. Diversifying our agricultural products can help us compete in a rapidly changing world economy.

Change is difficult. Seeing a clear path to the future is often obscured by the clouds of short-term gains. Thoughtful and skillful leadership is essential in planning our path forward.

I believe John Norwood represents that vision. His wealth of experience can provide the wisdom to choose a wise path forward for our primary industry. Please give John Norwood your consideration as you vote to choose our Iowa secretary of agriculture in November.

— Rex Rundquist, Sioux City

Increased disease follows Planned Parenthood’s exclusion

Iowans need better access to reproductive health services. Reproductive health is not a moral issue. It is a basic human need and a matter of public health. Access to reproductive health education and services is as vital to societal well-being as it is to individual well-being. Afterall, a healthy populous equates to a healthy society and a robust economy.

In recent years, state and federal laws have taken aim at defunding entities that provide abortion services, such as Planned Parenthood. For Iowans, that has resulted in a significant decrease in access to all reproductive health services — for women and men both.

An unintended consequence of this has been a notable increase in cases of sexually transmitted infections across the state. Data collected by the Iowa Department of Public Health shows that the number of cases for gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis have increased over the past five years, a trend that directly correlates to decreased access to reproductive health services. Continuing to exclude Planned Parenthood from Title X funding means the health of Iowans will continue to suffer.

Planned Parenthood provides critical services to community members and should not be excluded from the programs eligible to receive state and federal family planning funds. The health and well-being of Iowans depends on it.

— Cassidy Bos, Johnston

Lifeguard shortages deserve attention now

If Des Moines would like to avoid the problem of staffing city pools with lifeguards next summer, perhaps it would be a good idea to start now!

Offering free bus passes and free (or low-cost based on income) certification classes at the YMCA on the rest of school breaks until at least Easter, might offer young adults the chance to be gainfully employed this summer and beyond. Since most courses are around $150, this must be an obstacle to some young adults who may really wish to become lifeguards.

— Julie Erin Lawless, Perry

Keep dogs out of festivals, please

We all love our dogs but places like fairs, fall festivals, farmers markets, car shows etc. are no place for dogs! Iowa has provided wonderful trails; please use them to walk your dog. They would be happier dogs. Think of your dog, not yourself.

Dogs should be banned from all spring, summer and fall events where there will be groups of people.

— Linda Tweeten, Mason City

Provide more resources to address houselessness

In Polk County, it is estimated that 606 people are homeless on any given night. If you have looked at any social media or news outlets lately, you’ve noticed that some people and businesses are becoming disturbed by part of that 606; you should be disturbed, too.

You shouldn’t be disturbed by the fact that there are homeless people in the world, as this is inevitable. What should disturb you is Iowa’s rank as the seventh-worst state for access to mental health providers. Iowa has one mental health provider per 640 residents, while Massachusetts, which ranks first, has 160 residents per one provider.

In January of 2015, Gov. Terry Branstad announced the plan to close state-run mental health facilities without providing residents a place to go. Many homeless persons have some form of current mental disorder, according to research.

The fix? Tell the state and county to fix the access to mental health services problem by funding psychiatric and substance abuse beds and assertive community treatment programs that provide treatment services while allowing individuals to stay in the community. There is already ample evidence that this works. If inaction continues, you will find more people on street corners and setting up tents, all due only to a lack of care from the state that put these individuals in this position.

— Carl Gerhold, Des Moines

Firearm prevalence is correlated with suicides

I was very moved by the Register’s stories about Aiden Hofer Phelan-Ruden and Ethan Sergei Neubauer, who died tragically young by suicide. Like many, my family has also been affected by suicide. My uncle died by gun suicide when he was 19 after a romantic break-up. In a moment of crisis, he used my grandfather’s handgun, which was not stored safely and securely. Suicidal crises are often short-lived, and nine out of ten people who attempt suicide and survive will not go on to die by suicide at a later date, according to a study published by Harvard. But, unfortunately, 85% of suicide attempts with a firearm end in death. In Iowa, 78% of gun deaths are suicides, which is much higher than the national average of 59%.

There are many steps that can be taken to help prevent these tragic deaths. One step is to vote “no” on the proposed constitutional amendment that is on the ballot in Iowa this fall. If this reckless and intentionally confusing amendment passes, it will subject gun laws to “strict scrutiny,” which will limit the Iowa government’s power to create or enforce common-sense laws that would reduce gun violence, including suicides.

For example, Democrats and Republicans in the U.S. Congress recently passed a bipartisan law that allows states to implement “red flag laws” that temporarily remove guns from those who pose a serious threat to themselves or others and enhanced background checks for people under age 21 who want to purchase firearms. If this measure becomes part of Iowa’s Constitution, it would be nearly impossible to pass one of these life-saving laws in Iowa.

Turn the ballot over and vote no, and encourage others to do so.

— Katie Jones, Des Moines

Why do we bother?

Percentage of minds changed by political ads: 0%.

Percentage of people irritated by political ads: 100%.

— Patty Bixler, Des Moines

Help people with disabilities secure housing

If having a disability is part of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s definition for chronic homelessness, it seems clear that our nation is in the habit of allowing individuals with disabilities to fall into the most vulnerable living conditions in the country. In my work at a community mental health center in Polk County, I encounter new stories of homelessness every day, and some of the most surprising come from individuals with disabilities living on Supplemental Security Income, or SSI.

In September of 2022, SSI recipients in Iowa ages 18 to 64 received an average monthly payment of $610, and over half of total SSI recipients rely on these benefits as their only source of income. Today, the lowest fair market rent in Polk County is $658 per month, and even low-income apartments require monthly income to be two times greater than the rent. The math is simple. It is nearly impossible for this group of individuals to afford housing without subsidy or informal assistance.

In 2020, 63% of homeless individuals in Polk County had a disability and 63% fell in the age range of 18 to 61. At age 62 and beyond, the rate of homelessness falls to 4%. Could this be because of specialized housing programs available to this age range, whom the community expects to have low, fixed income?

We must implement specialized housing programs for adult SSI recipients under the age of 62. Mainstream housing programs are closed to this group and remain at capacity.

This is both a plea for help and a call to action for local decision makers and community members alike. If we do not address this plain example of social injustice, our entire community will be affected by the consequences of inaction. Housing is more than just a place to stay. It is the foundation for well-being and human dignity.

— Alex Hill, Des Moines

Let’s track down tax scofflaws

I keep seeing scary ads about hiring additional IRS agents. I don’t cheat on my taxes and I don’t think I know anyone who does. I don’t know how I would do it if wanted, since all my income is already reported.

However, I understand that billions of dollars a year are not collected, primarily due to insufficient IRS oversight. If we need additional agents to collect that revenue and to catch tax cheats, I’m all for it.

— Robert Cecil, West Des Moines

Kimberly Graham will be bad news for safety in Polk County

Since Democrats are firmly in control of Polk County I'm calling on moderate Democratic voters to start stepping up. To be fair, moderate Republicans should do the same in their strongholds.

Democrats can no longer stay away from primaries and simply mark the candidate's name that appears next to the D that is on the ballot in November.

To their credit, the folks who want to defund the police organized their voters and have gotten a progressive county attorney in line to be elected in November. Kimberly Graham of course won't control police department purse strings, but she can effectively make good police work moot by refusing to prosecute any defendants she wants due to her political beliefs.

Graham got the highest vote tally in the primary, roughly 16,000, but actually more people voted against her; those 20,000 votes were split between two candidates, however.

Those votes for Graham are about 3.3% of Polk County’s population. That many voters have determined that they want a progressive county attorney and higher crime rates.

San Francisco recalled a progressive prosecutor. A recent Associated Press story reported that crime and drug use is so out of control in Portland that Oregon may actually have a Republican governor elected in November.

Graham's website touts her work with juveniles in the court system. Juveniles and young adults are the driving force in crime and have turned our streets and school yards into shooting galleries.

It's too late to do anything to stop Graham’s election, but moderates in the Democratic Party must gain her ear if crime rates rocket up. You will have to put enough pressure on her office to moderate her political views with regard to prosecution.

— John Wade, Des Moines

Democrats are fighting to help Americans

Prices are high and inflation is impacting us all. But those on a fixed income are being hit hardest. Corporations are raising prices and price-gouging Americans so they can buy back stocks and raise CEO pay. When it comes to raising prices, pharmaceutical companies are the worst.

Rep. Cindy Axne helped pass legislation that allows Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices and that brings the manufacturing of supply chains back to the U.S. Some politicians aren’t being honest about The Inflation Reduction Act. The bill is more than fully paid for – in fact, it will reduce the deficit by $300 billion. It does this by making billion-dollar corporations pay a fairer share of taxes, by cracking down on wealthy and corporate tax cheats, and by preventing price gouging by drug corporations.

Republicans in Congress are talking about sunsetting Social Security and Medicare after five years. These are earned benefits that people have paid for through a lifetime of work, and now some politicians are talking about taking them away. This isn’t right.

Congress can still do more. But we need lawmakers like Axne to pass legislation to hold corporations accountable for price gouging. We shouldn’t be taking away the earned benefits of working Americans while the wealthiest get off without paying anything.

This election, remember who is protecting your right to access health care and who is delivering on lowering prescription drugs.

— Elizabeth Wearin, Red Oak

Life sentence ends one kind of suffering

The jury in the Parkland school shooter case has handed down a sentence of life in prison without parole. Many people will be upset by this sentence as they feel the death penalty was warranted in this case. And no one can blame them. I have no compassion for those who commit these heinous crimes, but my feeling is the death penalty causes only more stress and grief for the victims’ families than for the convicted killers.

Death sentences guarantee years and years of appeals and more court appearances for everyone, forcing the victims’ families to have to relive those horrible incidents and their unimaginable traumas over and over. That in itself is cruel to those who lost a loved one. Would the victims have wanted their surviving loved ones to have to go through that? And a death sentence is not really a deterrent to these crimes, as I doubt these individuals are thinking about that while committing these horrible acts. They just don't seem to care.

As hard as it may seem to understand, life in prison without parole at least ends the courtroom agony for the victims’ families and helps allow the healing process to begin.

— John Moore, Newton

School shooter should have gotten death penalty

I'm beyond disappointed at the jury that found the Marjory Stoneman Douglas school shooter deserving of life in prison instead of giving him the same death penalty that he forced onto 17 innocent high school students.

His legal team knew that all it would take was one snowflake of a juror who'd feel sorry for him for having fetal alcohol syndrome.

Guess what? Most people with fetal alcohol syndrome don't become mass shooters.

There are no teeth in our laws or our legal system. I think criminals have far too many rights; and all my sympathy is with the victims' families.

— Lisa Boyes, Grinnell