Letters: Babies who aren’t aborted can become doctors

Book restrictions will backfire

Banning books is one of the worst laws passed. It will only make teens more curious, and they will find a way to read the book in spite of their parents and laws.

— Lavon Doherty, Waukee

Babies who aren’t aborted can become doctors

I found the front-page article by Michaela Ramm entitled "OB-GYN recruiting possibly in peril" on Aug. 13 to be a bit ironic by placing much of the blame on the new six-week abortion ban.

How many of those who share those views understand that the babies who will be saved by this law may grow up to become great OB-GYNs?

Careful what you wish for.

— Mark Beardmore, Carroll

Lenience for certain offenses is tiered justice

I must have heard that we have a “two-tiered system of justice” thousands of times. I believe nothing could be further from the truth. It seems to me that Lady Justice has traded in her blindfold for no-line bifocals. The closer one is to power, influence, money, and connections, the blurrier justice seems to be.

While those in the majority who are lacking in the aforementioned qualities and or connections tend to face quick and sometimes severe prosecution for seemingly minor crimes. I would say that the new norm of “no-bail” and no or minimal prosecution for shoplifting and other offenses just reinforces my view. While these people are not rich or powerful, they are certainly well connected and protected by many in political power.

— Steve Lame, Des Moines

Brighter road markings, please

I am beginning to wonder if the various departments of transportation have completely run out of lane painting supplies. Lane marking in huge sections of Interstate Highway 235 and other major streets in the Greater Des Moines area are almost invisible and completely disappear during early morning and later afternoon commutes when the sun is at an angle or when there is any moisture on the roads. This is very dangerous for drivers.

— Steve Booth, Waukee

If it works for sex acts …

If Republican lawmakers are so worried about youngsters reading about sex, why stop there? Why not also ban books that portray violence, murder, people stealing and lying and here’s a good one, adultery?

— Bret Voorhees, West Des Moines

Diversity should be represented at cemetery anniversary

I enjoyed the subscriber-exclusive special section in the Sunday Register on Aug. 13, "Censuring Black History."

As with many things, it is beneficial to look from not only a global perspective, but also from a revisiting of local history, which can yield many stories long forgotten.

So far over 70 participants have signed up to tell the stories of Woodland Cemetery at the 175th celebration on Sept. 16.

I hope the rich history of diversity is also well represented.

Many lifelong citizens of Des Moines are not even aware that there are more Black Civil War veterans buried in Woodland than any other Iowa cemetery west of Keokuk. Many may not be aware of Delia Webster and the Underground Railroad historical designation recently awarded to Woodland. How many know of inventor, civic leader and businessman R.N. Hyde? How about former slave John Walker, who was the last Civil War veteran buried in Woodland? Do most know of E.T. Banks, a Civil War veteran and one of the first Black officers in the Iowa National Guard? There is Henrietta Wallace, who was with the 39th Iowa for three years during the Civil War, including Sherman's March to the Sea.

If you would like to represent these and other stories that need to be told, join us for the last planning meeting, to be held from 8:30 to 9 a.m. Saturday in the Mausoleum at Glendale Cemetery.

— Mike Rowley, Clive

Thank Biden for smoother ride on U.S. 30

On a recent trip from Des Moines to the Amana Colonies and Cedar Rapids, we decided to avoid the interstate and took U.S. Highway 30. We were amazed at mile after mile after mile of new and re-worked concrete east of Marshalltown.

The diggers, the graders, the trucks and the grinders were busy shaping the new four-lane highway. Hundreds of good-paying jobs and tens of millions of dollars for the Iowa economy!

Of course, the project is part of the Biden administration's infrastructure bill that is improving roads and bridges across America. Iowa has plenty of roads in need of repair and among the worst bridges in the country. And we need to remember who to thank.

— Gail Pace, West Des Moines

Good literature engages students

Enough! Which is more important: creating literate, lifelong readers, or – under the political guise of appeasing a minority of voters in order to stay in office – protecting students from thought-provoking literature? I will say straight up that I do not promote graphic depictions of sex acts or gratuitous sex or violence in literature unless it contributes to a major plot point.

I taught English for 35 years, most recently classes of reluctant readers. I learned quickly the only way to get students to read is to give them literature that engages them. Sherman Alexie’s “Absolutely True Diary of A Part-Time Indian” was a yearly favorite of my students and a book that everyone actually read. Then came “The Hate U Give.” I handed this 444-page tome to my students, who groaned and said, “You really think I am going to read this? No way!” I said, “Read the first four pages and tell me what you think.” Three weeks later, the majority of my students had read the book in its entirety.

I was a sophomore in high school when I was assigned “Ordinary People,” a book that checks all the forbidden boxes. I was going through some turbulent times at the time. I read the book and was compelled to seek professional help and counseling. In fact, I, coincidentally, attended the movie the same night as my doctor. That book and many other books were the catalysts for me to become a teacher. This Bradburyan, dystopian war on books needs to stop. It is pointless and purely political. Parents and students have always had choices, and the state of Iowa does not need to dictate curriculum or thinking. Students are not going to be corrupted by books but may actually benefit from reading them.

— Steven C. Woolery, Ames

Allow expungement of felonies. My record’s been clean 43 years.

I served my country during the Vietnam War. Shortly after I got out, I did something very stupid and hurtful. I robbed a drug store. I justly received a felony conviction out of it. I did all my time, made restitution, paid court costs, etc. That was 43 years ago.

Did you know that Iowa is among only a few states that refuse to expunge a felony record to allow you to find suitable employment?

California, Colorado, Kansas, Maryland, Montana and many other states will expunge a felony after a few years has expired. My criminal record is spotless, short of that felony, and because of that, I am not able to get a good career or own a weapon to protect my family as I protected the United States so many years ago.

I know many of you will say "Don't do the crime, if you can't do the time!" I say, how long of time?

— John Loghry, Des Moines

Party of law and order excuses former president’s sins

Here we are again: another indictment. We are Americans, if we value our freedoms we must not be silent about the indictments of our past president. Your elected Republican representatives seem to think Iowans don’t care or we aren’t paying attention, I believe they are wrong.

Now, multiple grand juries of everyday Americans, in multiple locations -- not the Democrats, as many Republicans are preaching; these jurists are from across races, backgrounds, and parties – have indicted the former MAGA president many times, including allegations of a criminal conspiracy to overthrow the will of the people by inciting supporters to deadly violence on Jan. 6 and asking government officials in Georgia to falsify votes. Yet the MAGA Republicans want to overturn our legal system to allow him to evade consequences, while they wash their hands of the whole affair.

From the House of Representatives to the Supreme Court to state legislatures, they want to take away our freedoms and rule for the wealthy few. We must come together and demand that anyone who aided, abetted or excused a MAGA criminal conspiracy be held accountable so we can make this a place where our leaders honor their oaths, protecting our country and our freedoms. Let the judicial process play out like it is supposed to. I’m waiting for the party of law and order to show up and speak up.

— Pat Bowen, Iowa City

Doctors should resist insurers overruling their expertise

Respect. It means a lot. Personally, everyone wants it. Professionally, everyone thinks they earned it. The lack of it may just well explain why everyone is so angry in America.

My mother, aged 94, was discharged from a one-week acute hospital stay plus one week at a rehab hospital on a weekday at noon. Her physician told me to fill a prescription that she would need to take three times a day for a week. He had called it in and said that I should be able to pick it up right away.

The pharmacist refused to fill the prescription as written. The insurance company would only authorize a two-times-a-day dose. If I wanted to follow her discharging physician’s orders, my mother would have to pay “out-of-pocket” for three pills a day.

So in less than one hour, someone at the insurance company, presumably a human, reviewed the records of her two-week in-patient stay and determined over the wishes of her treating physician that she should receive a different course of treatment.

We all know that her records were never given a thorough review by Dr. Insurance or anyone else. So let’s quit with this absurd fiction. It is time for self-respecting medical professionals to stand up for themselves and their patients and say, ‘This is my professional advice. 'You don’t know my patient, I know them. I am licensed to prescribe drugs based on a standard of care, which, at its least, requires that I treat my patient’s individual medical needs.'

It is time for the medical profession to rise up, demand the respect that it desires, and show some courage in taking on the medical insurance complex. Anything less and physicians don’t deserve to be called professionals but simply cogs in a wheel.

— Anne Kinzel, Ames

Liz Cheney for president

I was an Eisenhower Republican and am now a non-Dixiecrat Democrat. I cannot support any of the current presidential candidates. However, there is a person that I believe all independents and moderates of both major parties should consider supporting. That person is Liz Cheney. Although many may consider her a non-MAGA Republican, I believe that she has demonstrated the belief that the nation’s good comes before political beliefs. At this confused time, I think that this should be the belief and reasoning for action by our President. Please tell Liz Cheney you support her run for president and tell every political poll that she is your choice.

— Thomas Johnson, Ankeny

Ernst has odd response to indictments

Sen. Joni Ernst is worried that people are angry that Donald Trump has been indicted for crimes against America. I am more worried that Ernst has failed her oath to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.” She is fanning the flames of Trump’s supporters’ anger. Instead, she could contribute to our belief in law and order. I’d like to hear her say, “If he did the crime, he should do the time.”

— Nancy Brown, Urbandale

Pipeline’s goal is noble, correct?

I want to confess my confusion over the carbon capture pipeline. As I understand it our climate danger arises from an excess of carbon in the atmosphere; why then the massive objection to a system that will take carbon and store it? I can understand if this is an eminent domain issue, but if not that, what?

— John Crowley, Des Moines

To protect against pornography, take away phones

I find the controversy regarding banning certain school library books to be confusing. If a parent truly wants to protect his or her child from exposure to pornography, I suggest they take away their cellphone and do not allow access to a computer where with a few simple clicks they can readily access any pornographic-type content.

— Greg Cole, Ankeny

Freedom to flourish somewhere else

Iowa’s brain drain continued last month with the exit of KCCI TV chief meteorologist Chris Gloninger. Gloninger and his wife decided there wasn’t enough “Iowa nice” left after he received a death threat for discussing climate change when he delivered his evening weather forecast beamed in to living rooms across central Iowa.

Turns out Gloninger had the audacity to share his knowledge as a trained scientist and meteorologist about observed extreme weather events and climate change impacts being experienced elsewhere.

Gloninger did not appreciate how many Iowans have been radicalized by Iowa GOP leaders that climate change is a hoax.

In fact, it’s actually the first big lie Republicans hatched decades ago that climate change is not a real thing. It’s a liberal conspiracy to raise taxes and prevent us from buying the light bulbs we want. Now it’s woke.

Republicans seem cool with derechos, floods, deadly heat waves and hazardous air pollution from uncontrolled forest fires. What else can explain their unanimous opposition to historic investments by President Biden and congressional Democrats in transforming our energy economy while helping families and businesses save money by using energy more efficiently.

Over the past seven years, Gov. Kim Reynolds and her culture warring GOP Legislature have approved a slew of bills that ensure Iowa storms will be more extreme and imperil the lives of our 3.1 million residents.

On the current path, Iowa farmers will face massive crop-killing droughts and heat waves that will suffocate hogs in CAFOs. Communities will ration water and our electric grid will shutter as our utility bills skyrocket.

The frenzied urgency to convene the recent special legislative session to force government-mandated parenthood should be a jolting slap in the face to Iowans about how extreme Reynold’s and her autocratic GOP priorities have become.

Iowa’s hot-as-hell future is knocking on the door. The fleeing chief meteorologist deserves our thanks for trying to prepare us for it.

Reynolds and the GOP continue to recklessly lie to us about climate change and have demonstrated zero interest in actually working in earnest to solve this problem.

That makes them a dangerous and a perilous threat to our lives, economy and way of life.

— Joe Bolkcom, Des Moines

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Letters: Babies who aren’t aborted can become doctors