Letters: Kim Reynolds commercial is accurate, fair and compelling

Reynolds commercial is accurate, fair and compelling

I found the Oct. 2 column by Rachelle Chase attacking Gov. Kim Reynolds’ recent campaign ad profoundly hypocritical and inaccurate. So, let us set the record straight.

In her attacks on the ad, Chase concludes it to be racist because a person on the screen happens to be Black. The individual in question, Cori Bush, is a congresswoman and a leading voice in advocating for what many believe to be a dangerous ideology that is resulting in lawlessness in many parts of our country, but never mind that, because, as far as Chase is concerned, it has to be about race, since the congresswoman is Black. That is not only absurd, it is dangerous and harmful to peaceful discourse and legitimate dissent and deflects from the real issues at hand.

It is fair and honest to show the lawlessness that has taken place in many parts of our country, by people of all races. Progressive Democratic district attorneys are refusing to prosecute crimes, adding to a level of lawlessness that threatens every aspect of our lives and our culture. There are also some governors who are supporting an agenda that quickly places lawbreakers back on the streets, endangering our neighborhoods and encouraging more criminal activity. This has not happened in Iowa, thanks to conservative leadership and common sense, and it is appropriate to point that out as well.

Chase believes that the ad unfairly suggests Deidre DeJear would support defunding the police. However, the facts suggest there is absolutely cause for concern.

During Reynolds’ Condition of the State address, Deidre DeJear chose not to stand in recognition of law enforcement. While the vast majority of the Legislature stood and applauded our law enforcement heroes, DeJear remained seated. The fact that she chose that moment to make a political statement instead of showing support for law enforcement is curious and a cause for concern.

DeJear has also contributed to a magazine called Urban City, which is known for making anti-law enforcement statements. Most concerning, Deidre DeJear has also been “proudly” endorsed by the Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement Action, a group that advocates for defunding the police. Its website states that members look forward to a world in which “we’ve defunded the police.” Why would this organization endorse Deidre DeJear if leaders did not believe this agenda would be advanced?

I suspect the real reason Democrats are up in arms over the ad is because it effectively speaks the truth and lays bare the reality of the dangerous agenda being pursued by progressive Democrats in their assault on the rule of law. Thanks to common sense leadership, in Iowa, America does still work, and Reynolds’ ad makes clear she intends to keep it that way.

— State Rep. Steven Holt, Denison

Editorial board wildly off the mark on Reynolds

As a regular reader since 1948, I have many times disagreed with the Register while still respecting your opinion. However, I have never been so disappointed and incensed at the Register as I am after reading the editorial board’s critique of the governor's TV commercial.

Personally, I find the commercial very positive regarding our state as opposed to the many negative political ads currently being aired.

It would have been nice if the editorial board staff had viewed the commercial as positive view of our great state rather than just a racist statement. Go Iowa!

— Ed Whitaker, Ankeny

Would today’s Democrats endorse Hughes’ abortion view?

Hoping to re-invigorate Iowa’s Democratic Party, Jack Hatch, along with a number of other influential Democrats, have launched a new political initiative, which they’re calling the Harold Hughes Project.

I wonder if they are aware that the great and charismatic Democrat from Ida Grove was staunchly opposed to abortion. Harold Hughes, who died in 1996, was probably Iowa’s last pro-life Democrat.

— Steve Perlowski, Des Moines

Des Moines’ elected leaders disappoint

Not even a conversation, not a chance to discuss. It is clear that Mayor Frank Cownie and most of the council members of the city of Des Moines have chosen not to make Des Moines a place that respects human rights and the rights of body autonomy, a place where our citizens can be free from judgement, free from harassment based on their reproductive health care decisions and feel supported by their government who have been elected to represent them.

More:Des Moines City Council missed a chance to boldly support women's rights

Cownie would not even allow discussion to vote on a resolution to conduct a workshop to discuss what the city could do for its residents to uphold their human rights. Councilperson Connie Boesen claims she is for women’s rights but would not even vote yes for a workshop. "I don’t believe it’s a city of Des Moines issue," Boesen said, calling abortion a state and federal matter. "I'm for women's rights … but don’t know if it’s in the realm of the city."

Under Section 364.1 of the Iowa Code, the city of Des Moines is empowered to "exercise any power and perform any function it deems appropriate to protect and preserve the rights, privileges, and property of the city or of its residents, and to preserve and improve the peace, safety, health, welfare, comfort, and convenience of its residents."

My council representative also claims to fight for women’s rights but voted no. Linda Westergaard, you were not representing me, as I feel this is a good use of my taxpayer dollars. You spend them on bike paths but not here? "I have been fighting for women's equal rights since the '60s," Westergaard said. But "it is not within our purview to be dealing with things like abortion, marijuana — that is state-controlled. And I would urge everyone who wants to change the law is that you work with the Legislature and you work to elect people that represent your beliefs.”

You should at least meet to discuss what you can do to protect us, and to protect our bodily autonomy, our right to reproductive health care and our right to privacy.

— Tracy Creason, Des Moines

Congress should rethink Fed’s goals

A letter published Oct. 6 questioned how Congress could combat inflation. The letter further pointed out that Congress had in fact worsened the problem through stimulus spending.

The Federal Reserve is the entity we expect to fight inflation, but Congress is responsible for setting the Federal Reserve's objectives. The Federal Reserve Act of 1913 has been amended over 200 times in the intervening 109 years.

As I understand it, the Fed's current goals of "full employment" and "price stability" were set by the 1977 Federal Reserve Reform Act.

These goals are so broad as to be nearly meaningless. Perhaps Congress should set more concrete inflation and money supply metrics for the Fed to attain.

— Randy L. Loomis, Ankeny

Nunn’s record is impressive

I served in the United States Air Force (1962-1966) in several overseas locations. My service instilled a lifelong commitment to my country, to being involved and making a difference. Another Air Force veteran, Zach Nunn, is currently running for Congress in Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District.

Before you vote, look at Nunn’s service, in and out of the military. An Air Force major, he flew multiple combat missions. He is currently a lieutenant colonel in the Iowa Air National Guard. Following our chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan, Zach and other former Air Force pilots organized rescue flights into Afghanistan to retrieve over 2,000 U.S. military personnel and Afghans, bringing them to safety.

Nunn served in both the Iowa House and the Iowa Senate. While in the Iowa Legislature, he eliminated wasteful government spending and lowered taxes. He fought to implement a zero-based budget system for Iowa government, worked to reform the criminal justice system, reduce regulations on businesses and empower workers. Nunn wants to take Iowa values, and successes, to Washington for implementation on a national level.

Nunn has a proven conservative voting record, demonstrating his commitment and ability. Please consider sending veteran Zach Nunn to Washington, D.C.

— Mickey Hucks, Ottumwa

Democrats don’t do much for our country

A recent letter said that “voters need to vote for the party they think will do the most for our country and the people.” I totally agree.

The writer went on to draw distinctions between the two major parties. In my opinion, he omitted the major issues. He forgot to state that when Democrats are in charge there is no border control, we beg our adversaries for oil, crime increases and inflation is rampant because of excessive spending. These issues impact everyone in our country.

The writer also states that the super-rich and giant corporations need to pay their fair share of taxes. Again, I would ask a Democrat to state in numeric value what percentage of income is considered “fair share.” They never put a numeric value on fair share because they always want to go for more.

— Doug Gulling, Urbandale

Support Democrats if you support equality

Twenty years ago, (Sept. 25, 2002), Bill Tubbs, editor of the North Scott Press, published an editorial bemoaning the fact that his daughter was not welcome in Iowa. She wasn’t a criminal. She was gay. She chose to move to a state where being gay was neither forbidden nor hidden. The law that exiled Aimee was repealed 10 years after her departure.

Radical Republicans, now that they have successfully limited women’s medical autonomy, are “looking at” same-sex marriage.

Justice Clarence Thomas wrote in his opinion on the abortion ruling that the court should also reconsider the 2015 ruling that legalized same-sex marriage. The Respect for Marriage Act was passed by the U.S. Congress on July 19, 2022. It is heartening to know that Republicans Ashley Hinson and Mariannette Miller-Meeks voted with Democrat Cindy Axne for the act; however, 157 other Republican representatives voted against the bill. Interestingly, this bill also supports interracial marriage — just in case? The U.S. Senate, at this writing, has not voted on S.4556.

While there is reason to fear another loss of freedom at the hands of the radical right, there is also hope. That hope depends on you and how you vote on Nov. 8. A vote for a Democrat will be a vote for equality for all. A vote for Republicans, however well-intentioned, means a vote that will be ruled by an America that is the antithesis of the dream of freedom for all.

— Dianne Prichard, DeWitt

Our leaders seem intent on making inflation worse

While the sticker shock of inflation may have faded, high prices haven’t gone away. A routine trip to the grocery story is still causing most American families to extend their budgets. With the price of necessities such as bread and eggs up more than 10%, we are far from feeling relief from the impacts of inflation.

According to President Joe Biden and some in Congress, Americans should blame freight railroads, “big corporate agriculture,” meatpackers, ocean carriers, and oil companies for our current crisis. We need politicians to stop looking elsewhere or pointing fingers and address runaway cost increases head-on.

But instead of taking steps to tamp down real accelerants of this inflationary fire, some misled elected officials have set their sights on antitrust regulations as the solution.

Reinvigorated antitrust claims not only encourage lawmakers to jeopardize products we use daily, including valuable technology platforms and services, they could even set us back further from overcoming inflation by increasing costs.

Why suggest measures that could destabilize our economy and restrict necessary services when politicians could be spending time finding actual solutions?

It’s one thing for our representatives not to have a plan for tackling inflation. It’s another issue to actively make the problem worse.

— Ben Foxen, Des Moines

Special interests seem to drive justices

The U.S. and Iowa supreme courts are being populated by judges who act more like lawyers than judges. A lawyer represents a special interest; a judge should understand and apply constitutional law without regard to special interests. The U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade is especially concerning.

This past summer, the Iowa Supreme Court ruled 4-3 against me in a case involving a CAFO that was affecting both air and water quality on my farm (Garrison v. New Fashion Pork). The majority of Iowa justices believed that this CAFO was so important that my right to freely enjoy my property should be sacrificed.

I am an 80-year-old lifelong farmer, with a B.S. agricultural engineering degree, 1972, from Iowa State University.

— Gordon Garrison, Estherville

Democrats’ meddling in people’s lives is scary

It’s interesting that Jack Hatch and his cohorts are retooling. Maybe they would have better luck if they were to actually find out what Iowans want as opposed to what they want for Iowans.

The only thing I really find fault with is the Republican stance on abortion, and I write to tell my representative how I feel about that and anything else that seems important to me.

The Democrats, on the other hand, scare me with their ideas that no one can get along without the government running interference for them. And of course using my tax dollars to support those who, for the most part, should be should be able to take care of themselves in a responsible manner.

Just for once, Mr. Hatch, assume that we are capable and willing to face our life and the hardships and rewards that are part of living and stop being Big Brother!

— Beryl Richards, Nashua

City could take a stand on problem address

Regarding the story about the safety of the Court Avenue district, one fact leaped from the pages of the Register. The businesses at 216 Court Ave. are responsible for 40% of the assaults so far this year (16 of the 40 assaults in 2022).

With the current laws on the books, district courts have the ability to pull the liquor license or shut down completely those businesses that breed trouble for the general, law-abiding public. If any liquor license for 216 Court Avenue were to be withdrawn for a week or a month, it is this reader’s opinion that the owners of those businesses would take drastic measures to alleviate the problems in their establishment. They would most likely hire one or two off-duty police officers to monitor what’s going on. Consequently, their miscreants would leave.

Other businesses in the district would take note and hire their own police officers and, before long, any business that was a breeding ground for troublemakers would follow suit.

And best of all, the additional cost of protection would fall on the shoulders of those businesses with the in-house problems.

— Stu Bassman, West Des Moines

Responses to Trump are telling

What do Brad Zaun and Chuck Grassley have in common? Both have enthusiastically accepted the endorsement of former President Donald Trump. That’s all you need to know.

— Jay Yarnell, Pleasant Hill

Sarah Trone Garriott works to help children

With Election Day only weeks away, Iowans have the opportunity to ensure every one of the nearly 900,000 children across our state, regardless of their ZIP code, have access to quality early childhood education. As a longtime child care provider with a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, I have witnessed how the first years of learning pave the way for lifelong success.

Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott has championed early childhood education by expanding access to quality, affordable child care, and preschool. She has worked to expand the Double Up Food Bucks program, helping lower-income families afford fresh fruits and vegetables.

She is also endorsed by Save the Children Action Network, a bipartisan political voice for kids, for demonstrating a commitment to improving the lives of children across the state.

Voters have the power to elect lawmakers who champion policies and solutions to address the most pressing issues facing children like access to affordable, quality child care, early childhood education and combating hunger. This Election Day, Iowans can use their vote to invest in our future.

— Hayli Irvin, Clive

Nunn would bring respect for rights to Congress

Are you or our country better off than two years ago?

In Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District, we need to replace our big-spending, inflation-causing, crime-supporting member of Congress who always votes with Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi for higher costs, crime, and open borders.

Vote Zach Nunn for Congress. He is a sixth-generation Iowan and father of six children. He will represent Iowa in Washington like he has in the Iowa House and Senate: cutting taxes, spending, and protecting our constitutional rights.

He will stand up for Iowa instead of the D.C. establishment. As a small-business owner and combat aviator with two deployments with the U.S. Air Force, he has the experience to fight over regulation of farmers and business owners. He has the common sense to make our nation safer. Voter for Zach Nunn, he gets it done!

— Phil Cavanaugh, Ottumwa

Norwood could make a difference for Iowa

John Norwood would be a much better secretary of agriculture for Iowa. He has demonstrated an understanding and dedication to a biological science approach to cleaning Iowa’s impaired water and degraded soil. The current status quo approach coming from Des Moines will not solve the embarrassing air and water conditions throughout this state. Norwood is committed and capable of changing agricultural policies for the better.

— William Zales, Westfield

Consider candidates carefully and individually

It’s that time of year when we are inundated with political ads, phone calls and texts to support candidates for public office. It’s also that time when I am led to believe that I am stupid, unpatriotic, or downright dangerous if I don’t vote for a certain candidate. It seems that more and more, we are asked to vote for party over country, with the expected belief that only one of the two “big ones” has the best interest in mind for its citizens and the other party will certainly bring us to “ruin” if elected to office.

We have begun witnessing a reduction in healthy debate and respect for the outcome of votes/decisions regarding policy and instead are seeing a move toward using elected office to retain a sense of power over the purse and policy at all costs. Where is our democracy headed if we can’t support individuals who will allow debate on important issues and make decisions based on their constituents’ best interests, not just their campaign funders?

I have always believed that my privilege to vote is something I should exercise with due diligence, and not take for granted. I work hard to understand candidates’ positions on issues, obtain a sense of their abilities to represent all of their constituents’ interests, and exemplify good character. After all, who manages our government is as important as who manages a business or teaches our children; don’t we want someone who will not use that position to line their own pocket or exercise absolute authority to do whatever they want without listening to constituent interests? Any look at a person’s actions prior to running for office is a good indicator of their character: Have they demonstrated fiscal responsibility in their personal/professional lives? Have they exemplified the values of good public service?

Please, as you consider who you will vote for in this election, don’t just assume that because the candidate is in a particular party they will represent you with integrity and make independent decisions. We, as voters, have tremendous power and must exercise that power with good judgment. I encourage you to use debates, information available to you about candidates’ positions, and understanding of their character as a basis for selecting the candidates you vote for. Then you will have done what you can to support the democracy in which we live.

— Binnie LeHew, Des Moines

Learn about inspiring protests in Iran

Over the past few weeks, the women of Iran have been fighting for their rights after Mahsa Amini was killed. Amini was killed after being arrested by police on accusations of violating Iran’s headdress laws. To fight back many women of Iran, along with men allies, have taken to the streets to protest these laws.

More:'Woman, life, liberty': Iranians on why they'll risk beatings and death for change

In response, the police responded back with violence. Every day the death count rises as protesters are killed standing up for what they believe. In my opinion, America needs to do a better job responding to this issue in Iran. Women of Iran are given few rights, and the fact that they are fighting for their rights should be known. Many Americans are left clueless when this topic is brought up.

An event such as this should be given more awareness nationwide so that the voices of the Iran women can be heard. Every day these protestors wake up to get ready to fight for their beliefs knowing that they could die. The passion in these women's voices should be given more coverage and support so their message can be heard. These powerful women are risking their lives so that they can make change where change is needed.

— Payton Kizer, Zwingle

We help fellow Americans with tax dollars all the time

Gov. Kim Reynolds has joined other Republican governors in suing the current administration, claiming the president overstepped his authority in granting student loan forgiveness of at least $10,000 per person. Another reason she opposed the forgiveness program was that people who did not go to college and incur debt should not share in the cost.

I graduated from the University of Iowa and paid off all my student loans. I chose to not become a farmer and participate in the largest welfare funding of any industry in Iowa. I chose to not be an astronaut. I do not have children in the public school system. I am not responsible for the damage caused by Hurricane Ian. But, it is my duty as an American to share in the expenses that are incurred by these activities to keep this country strong.

Our governor should focus on the value that college graduates lend to our state and country instead of trying to create another divide.

— Ray Sears, Pleasant Hill

Inflation is more complex than politicians let on

I am fed up with hearing how politicians will “do something” to combat inflation. Sen. Chuck Grassley promises that he will combat inflation. He doesn’t say how he has done this in his many years in the Senate. The reality is that inflation is caused by an imbalance of supply and demand. When toilet paper became less available, the price went up. When drivers began to stay home, the price of gasoline went down.

Politicians actually exacerbated the problem by sending rounds of stimulus checks to everyone. The supply of money in the hands of consumers went up while factories were shut down. Then supply chain issues came along, so consumers had money to spend on a limited supply of goods and services.

The only way politicians can affect that is to raise taxes to reduce the amount of money available to buy goods and services. That is not the promise they are making.

— Kathi Stanfield, Indianola

Legislators can't do anything alone

I get a real charge out of listening to what individual candidates from both parties are promising "they" are going to do if elected. There is no single candidate who can deliver all of the things they are promising to do such as lower taxes, increase benefits and so on. If elected, they are only one vote out of many in the House and the Senate.

I spend my time looking at what the party platforms are saying they are going to do. Voters need to vote for the party they think will do the most for our country and the people. If Republicans win the House and perhaps the Senate, they will spend the next two years in Congress launching endless vindictive "get even" investigations and seeking to enact more voter suppression and more handouts to the super-rich and giant corporations.

If Democrats retain control, the next two years we will see the return of women's health care rights, the return of the Voting Rights Act to its original intent, the return of the super-rich and giant corporations paying their fair share of taxes, the survival of Social Security and Medicare, and the return of real democracy.

— Duane Mortensen, Ankeny

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Letters: Reynolds commercial is accurate, fair and compelling