Letters: Basic respect seems out of style in Iowa

Finite resources for worthy causes

As a 30-year P.E.O. member, I can appreciate Hugh Stafford’s perspective in a May 14 letter on the closing of Iowa Wesleyan University. I’d like to add some information for context, though.

P.E.O. International already owns and supports an institution of higher learning: Cottey College in Nevada, Missouri. This four-year women’s college, bequeathed to P.E.O. in 1927 by founder Virginia Alice Cottey, serves a current student body of 311 from 38 US states. As a philanthropic organization with emphasis on women’s education, P.E.O. also provides low-interest loans for women students, grants to women resuming education after an interruption, scholarships for outstanding high school senior girls, and grants for women pursuing advanced degrees.

P.E.O. does feel a strong connection to Iowa Wesleyan and the seven remarkable students who started P.E.O. in 1869. Every philanthropic body wishes it could help every organization that shares its goals, and that’s no less true here. I strive to honor the legacy of Mary Allen Stafford and her Iowa Wesleyan sisters through strong support of P.E.O.’s projects for education.

— Anne Petrie, Pella

Abortion opponents should not resort to violence

As a person in the pro-life camp, I was disheartened to read the article outlining attacks on abortion clinics and staff in the May 14 Nation & World section. The Roe v. Wade decision only increased the heated rhetoric and violence toward abortion opponents as well.

That said. It’s no excuse for a vitriolic, violent and illegal pro-life response. This message should come from every pulpit in the country. One cannot claim faith, compassion, and right, while ignoring what the Bible warns about the world. It’s in God’s, not our, control. It would be nice if there were voices on the abortion rights side that could/would offer a similar secular message, but the truth is, it doesn’t matter. Christians must be Christian. Not tolerant, but compassionate. Less accusation and more forgiveness.

Why profess a living God that hears and answers prayer, that has promised to fight our battles and admonishes us to “love our neighbors as ourselves,” only to try to jump in and help Him? We must pray, and believe what He says. He’s got this.

— Steve Lame, Des Moines

Republicans feign a reasonable stance on debt

Congressional Republicans are so determined to undermine President Joe Biden’s agenda that, under the guise of concern about the national debt, they refuse to raise the debt ceiling, and avoid the risk of default on our debts, unless Democrats agree to accept deep spending cuts that will gut Biden’s clean energy plans, slash the social safety net, and cripple the IRS so that it cannot collect taxes owed by tax-dodging billionaires.

A default on our debt would trigger a chain reaction from Wall Street to Main Street that would reverse our economic recovery. Nonpartisan experts predict a lengthy U.S. default could lead to 8.5 million layoffs, and stock market losses of 45%. Even a short default could cause a decline in GDP, and the loss of nearly 2 million jobs.

Kevin McCarthy, the nominal speaker of the House, touts the “Limit, Save, Grow Act” as evidence of Republican reasonableness in the debt ceiling showdown. The bill does propose a modest increase in the debt ceiling, but only if Democrats agree to undo all the legislative progress they achieved in the last session. This is hardly evidence of good faith. It’s more like offering someone a piece of cake, but insisting that they drink castor oil before taking the first bite.

— Jim Whalen, Des Moines

What we don’t know can’t hurt us

My doctor says my cholesterol is too high, and it could lead to heart disease. I am supposed to change my diet, and test again in six months.

I have decided, however, to emulate our great state Legislature and its strategy to fix our rivers and lakes, which are too high in sedimentation, excessive nutrient loads, and dangerously high fecal bacteria levels which can lead to harmful algae blooms, fish kills and human health problems.

Legislators have decided to fix Iowa's water problem by halting the testing of water quality. I think instead of changing my diet, which will be hard, I will follow their lead and just quit testing my cholesterol. That will work!

— Kristy Hibbs-Burr, Marshalltown

Hooray for California

Never in my wildest dreams did I think that I would ever agree with any ruling from this Supreme Court, so when I read the decision in National Pork Producers v. Ross, I was nothing short of astounded, which soon gave way to elation. This case challenged California's mandate that any sows destined for California must be raised humanely without the use of gestation crates.

Iowa employs this vile practice. Immobilizing sows in gestation crates, which is brutally inhumane, serves no purpose at all. The suffering these animals endure is unspeakable.

California leads the nation in animal welfare standards and Iowa is close to dead last. Iowa takes great pride in the fact that torturing and murdering pigs is its No. 1 industry. I take comfort in the fact that for some of these animals, suffering will be abated.

— Lu Ann Hinz, Des Moines

Hunger can’t be the right track

On the front page of the May 11 Register, our governor touts that our state is on the right track, while an adjacent article voices that our state's food agencies report food pantry use is at an all-time high and they are unable to keep food on the shelves.

Is increased hunger in our state the track that our governor is on? The Legislative Services Agency warns that the bill removing Iowans from SNAP benefits ends with hungry kids, elderly and disabled. Just the hoops and barriers put in place for applying comes for many on that track to a screeching halt.

— Lloyd Kaufman, Des Moines

We are on the wrong side of the energy revolution

I recently heard a radio discussion on global heating that concluded, “We have to learn to live with less.”

I couldn’t disagree more. It is not about what we give up but about what we get.

We recently built an aging-in-place home with a 5-HERS rating. We have comfort, lots of natural light, and fresh air. The only thing we have “less” of is energy costs.

Right now, a few Republicans are holding the Inflation Reduction Act — an act democratically approved by the entire Congress — hostage in a “negotiation” to raise the debt ceiling. Meanwhile, China, our economic "enemy," is already way ahead of us: It produces about 75% of the solar panels in the world. They are partnering with BASF to improve storage technology.

Here in the U.S., a country responsible for at least 20% of the carbon burned since the Industrial Revolution, Republicans are fighting for fossil fuels.

All four of our Iowa congressmen sided with Kevin McCarthy once he agreed to keep ethanol -- when the world is switching to electric vehicles (and China is no slouch there, either).

The world is undergoing an Energy Revolution. We must elect people who are looking ahead and insist that our existing representatives take their blinders off to see what 21st-century energy looks like.

Are we — governed by our legislatures and public policy makers — going to be leaders or losers?

— Mary Hoyer, Salem

No more “No Mow May”

I graduated from Iowa State University majoring in forestry management and minoring in wildlife management. After graduation, I spent 25 years working with natural resources. During that time, I planted several thousand tree seedlings and either planted or helped others plant several hundred acres of native grasses and forbs. I am currently retired but natural resources have always been and continue to be an important part of my life.

Sadly, much of our wildlife from the smallest to the largest has vanished over the past 50 years or so. I appreciate the concern from our city leaders to try to do something positive for our pollinating insects. However, there simply has to be a better way than not mowing for the month of May. The scientific research that I have read does not support this concept.

Flowering perennial trees, shrubs and plants are needed throughout the warm growing season. A four-week crop of dandelions and tall grass that will disappear in a short period of time is counterproductive. Taking very tall grass that has already gone to seed down to the customary 3 inches is very unhealthy for the grass. The property owner is also left with an unsightly mess to clean up.

Pella is the Tulip Capital of Iowa. State Center is the Rose Capital of Iowa. I sincerely hope Des Moines does not become the dandelion capital of Iowa.

One and done is enough for this failed experiment.

— John Parsons, Des Moines

Basic respect seems out of style in Iowa

At age 87, I have lived, gone to school, raised a family, worked, and retired in Iowa. With my family upbringing, my Christian faith and my education, my ethics require that everyone is a person of worth and value. I don’t care what their life situation is. They have the right to be treated with respect for who they are and be treated as a human being.

I believed that most Iowans held similar values for other people who live here. I now guess that, because of my ethics and beliefs, apparently I am “woke,” which is not a term of affection. Our governor and Republican legislators, who are apparently “un-woke”, have proudly passed legislation with the goal of making Iowa the most un-woke state in the country. In the process they are running roughshod over individuals’ rights, tossing out woke parents’ rights, suppressing freedom of speech, banning books, and making our public schools second class. The list goes on.

What woke values will Republicans attack in 2024? Will they go far enough to awaken enough wokeness in the people of Iowa to vote them out, and return Iowa to being a state that values all its citizens?

— Harold Templeman, West Des Moines

Leaving hands-free dangling is a missed opportunity

A big thank you to Jeff Aten for his May 14 letter to the editor, "Hands-free bill should have been a slam dunk." Yes, Jeff, the emperor has no clothes, and the Legislature has no excuse for not passing Senate File 547.

— Rick Chapman, Des Moines

Flag at half staff seems to have lost meaning

Is anyone else tired of seeing our flags flying at half staff? When I was younger, before multiple mass shootings each day, the flag was lowered for very unusual occasions such as a national/state figure dying. It was truly sombering and a tribute to those for whom it was lowered.

Today it seems that the flag is lowered almost daily or at least weekly for the continual mass shootings. How about if we truly honor the flag and do something to protect the American citizens the flag represents? And fly the flags at their highest each day to show our respect and homage to our country!

— Jeff Herzberg, Des Moines

Many examples of politicians meddling

I am sympathetic toward the Iowa Pork Producers. They feel that it is wrong for people who are not educated in the business of raising pigs and who are just trying to appease the extremist wing of their party to make rules about how they run their farms. As a teacher, I feel the same outrage every time some politician wants to makes points with their party extremists and tells me what and how to teach.

— Barbara Persoon, Pleasantville

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Letters: Basic respect seems out of style in Iowa