Letters: Joe Biden's support would collapse if more people knew about Hunter

Wallace Building has but one redeeming quality

Trust me, there are hundreds of people cheering at the possible demolition of the Wallace Building. It was a costly disaster from day-one.

The gold windows were put in backward. The cold air coming down from the windows caused the secretaries to have to wear coats and gloves to work beneath the windows.

The air intakes for the building were directly over the loading dock so the diesel fumes were pulled into the building. The floor drains in the laboratories were higher than the rest of the floor so, if the showers were used, the contaminated water would flow over the entire floor. The sink cabinets were made of cheap pressed board, so they rotted from the acid fumes.

The windows and air intakes had expensive repairs. The lab problems were never corrected.

I hope the windows can be salvaged. They are kinda purty.

― John A. Gersib, Des Moines

More: Iowa Capitol complex's Henry A. Wallace Building to be vacated as state buys replacement

Biden goes far beyond his authority on electric vehicles

When did Congress vote to abolish the internal combustion engine? The Biden administration is gambling that it can, by executive order and administrative fiat, launch the United States economy into a Great Leap Forward that will achieve a Green New Deal future. No one can even estimate the total ultimate cost nor can anyone with any assurance even guarantee that this extraordinary and unconstitutional effort will achieve any of the promised environmental benefits.

Given that China and India are building new coal plants at a rapid rate, and that the batteries, solar panels, wind turbines and necessary supporting materials are to a large extent either manufactured or mined in China, the reality is that the unilateral American shift to electric energy is likely to make global carbon emissions worse, not better.

Moreover, it should be kept in mind that electricity does not just come free out of the socket. It has to be produced, and it is clear that solar and wind energies cannot produce enough to meet current demands for energy, much less that greatly expanded requirements that will emerge as more of the American transportation fleet moves to electric power. And this is to say nothing of the inadequacy of the energy grid that moves electricity across the country.

And yet it is worse than that. Even as Americans face more brown-outs, black-outs and calls to restrict their energy use, power companies are shutting down coal plants while there has been no move to rely on nuclear energy as an alternative. In short, this is a policy direction that is headed toward disaster. The Biden administration attempts to deal with these issues through central directives, orders, and mandates, none of which solve the technical or engineering problems involved in this so-called "green energy" transition.

The real goal here is not a more environmentally friendly energy system, but rather to shift the economy from a market-oriented allocation of resources to a central command economy. If key investment decisions are to be made by the state, with private companies tagging along behind, we can expect not a better environment or prosperity for working people, but rather shortages, bureaucratic bumbling, and corrupt pay-offs to politically connected companies. Great Leap Forwards do not have a great track record of success. Just see how it played out in Maoist China.

― Scott R. Grau, Elkader

Biden support would collapse if more people knew about Hunter

The 73 million Trump voters in 2020 know all about the Hunter Biden and Joe Biden corruption allegations. By listening to Fox News, they are well aware of the Hunter Biden laptop, the IRS whistleblower testimony, the Devon Archer testimony, the several House congressional hearings, and the banking forms FD-1023 showing questionable foreign financial transactions that could involve President Joe Biden.

The 80 million voters in 2020 for Joe Biden know nothing of these corruption allegations. They don't have a clue what's going on. These voters don't tune in to Fox News or other conservative media outlets. They only tune in to CNN, MSNBC, ABC, CBS, NBC, etc.. These media outlets intentionally avoid reporting on the Hunter Biden issues.

If the GOP can't find a way to get the Hunter Biden allegations in the hands of the 80 million Biden voters, all the work done to expose the Bidens will be for nothing, These 80 million voters will in 2024 vote Democratic because they will be as uniformed as they were in 2020.

― Dennis Potter, Des Moines

Farm bill should be about sustainability, communities

Congress must pass a faithful and equitable 2023 farm bill that will promote a sustainable food system for our communities. As an urban farmer who is intimately tied to my faith, I know changes must be made to our current system to truly provide more opportunities for all Iowans to thrive. The farm bill has the unique opportunity to make drastic change over the next five years. Our neighbors and communities deserve access to fresh, healthy, and local food.

Increasing funds and access to USDA and food nutrition programs that will help promote and grow opportunities for entrepreneurs and careers in food and agriculture is a must. Increased support for programs such as farmers markets, fruit and vegetable producers, meat processing facilities, heirloom grain processing, and food nutrition programs such as SNAP are essential.

Legislation that makes it easier to support locally grown, locally raised, and locally caught food-along with increased support in our food distribution system-is necessary to build stronger connections between farmers and communities. The farm bill is a major investment in our farmers, our food system, and our communities. As stewards of the Earth, we need to ensure that it supports and prioritizes the well-being of our communities. Fresh, healthy food is vital for growth and protection of the mind, body, and spirit-everyone deserves these basic resources and needs.

― Mandy Noethe, Des Moines

Biden is unpopular because of his terrible policies

In response to Kenn Johnson's list in an Aug. 6 letter of Joe Biden's accomplishments: Here is a list of his failures.

• Biden closed much of the US oil production and now pays billions of dollars to foreign countries to buy oil.

• He pulled troops out of Afghanistan and left billions of dollars of equipment to the Taliban and thousands of people stranded.

• Biden opened the southern border to illegal immigration and untold quantities of drugs that have caused fentanyl deaths in every state.

• He has provided billions of weapons and cash to Ukraine with no accountability as to where that cash is used.

• He proposed student debt relief, which the courts voted down, probably the most costly, most unfair proposal ever.

• Biden has catered to immigrants who should be deported with benefits while many veterans are hungry and homeless.

• Biden touts the economy but has forgotten the people who are homeless, jobless, and food insecure. Food banks across the country are overwhelmed with hungry people.

• He wants all electric cars in the US but has no clue how many people will never be able to pay for one.

These are some of the reasons Biden has a low rating.

— Elaine Rains, Urbandale

‘Woke’ is lazy and bullying

I’m sick to death of hearing or reading the term “woke.”

No matter how the term is misapplied, I am proud to be “woke.”

“Woke” signifies awareness of the suffering of others. “Woke” means attention to the ills in our society, nation, world. It means activism: the choice to do something other than resting on one’s laurels.

The term “woke” is a cheap shot, in the fashion of bullies: words like wimp, nerd, tree-hugger, socialism, racial and other slurs and on and on over the centuries. It is the calling-card of lazy minds.

It is used solely to demean, stereotype, generalize and mislead rather than address the real issues and differences among us and try to resolve them.

We should reject it as a slur, but at the same time embrace it as a compliment.

― Mary Ann Dorsett, Des Moines

History has been plenty fair to Herbert Hoover

John Hendrickson is smitten with Herbert Hoover's "exceptional career as a mining engineer, his humanitarianism, and countless acts of charity," as well as a conservative philosophy outlined in his 1922 book "American Individualism" ("Herbert Hoover was defender of the old order," Aug. 6). Oh, by the way, "he is often viewed as a failed president" (maybe that's because he WAS a failed one-time president). After his defeat in 1932, Hoover dedicated the rest of his life to sourly denigrating FDR and the New Deal from his lofty abode in the Waldorf Astoria, unlike another smart-but-disappointing single-termer who has spent his post-presidency offering selfless service to his country.

I was also amused to learn from Hendrickson that Hoover opposed "totalitarian ideologies such as socialism" and "the various poisonous ideologies of socialism, communism, fascism, and Nazism." Take that, Sweden!

― Jim Zeller, Des Moines

Did the New Deal actually rescue capitalism and democracy?

John Hendrickson's tribute to President Herbert Hoover (Aug. 6) reveals the author's warped view of history.

He equates FDR's New Deal with "poisonous ideologies" including "socialism."

The truth is that both "socialism" and "capitalism" come in wide varieties of applications. Sometimes within totalitarian political environments, sometimes within democratic ones.

FDR's New Deal was advanced within a social-democratic environment. It can be argued it saved American capitalism and democracy at a time when other world-stage nations were headed to fascism and communism.

― Jay Howe, Greenfield

Bird hopes we will forget about emergency contraception

Remember when, if your parents did not want to say “no” to your request, they would say, “Let me think about it,” hoping that you would finally forget and not make a fuss?

Well, Attorney General Brenna Bird has been saying, “Let me think about it,” for eight months now to the question of continuing the established practice of the state payment of morning after pills for rape victims. It is obvious that she wants to say “no,” but she doesn’t want to have to justify her decision. So she plays the waiting game, hoping that we will finally forget about it, just like we did about that pony we asked for many years ago.

But not receiving a pony is quite on a different level than not receiving needed medical treatment. The attorney general needs to stop stalling and find her backbone. She is going to make someone unhappy, no matter how she decides. There could be a lawsuit against her decision, no matter how she decides.

The attorney general is not supposed to a mouthpiece for either their party or the governor. This position should not be a political one. This person is supposed make the tough decisions about the legality of the state’s actions and to protect Iowans’ rights in the courts.

So step up, Attorney General Bird, and do your sworn duty. Decide!

― Barbara Persoon, Pleasantville

Sheumaker has not improved Des Moines

The Aug. 6 Register editorial regarding Indira Sheumaker made two statements I want to challenge: that Des Moines is a better place with Sheumaker serving on council and that Sheumaker has made good on her campaign promises.

I researched her accomplishments, and the only thing mentioned is the fact that she was the first woman of color elected to the Des Moines City Council. While that in itself is a positive and a noteworthy accomplishment, it doesn't exemplify anything that has helped Des Moines or would suggest that Des Moines is a better place with her on the council.

My research did show many reports of her constituents being dissatisfied with her service based on several months of missed meetings.

Based on her lack of engagement or a valid medical excuse, it seems clear she's neglecting her duties.

— Jim Puffett, Des Moines

Trump knew he was lying

Given the serious and historic nature of the criminal indictment of former president Donald Trump, I appreciate the Department of Justice taking time to thoroughly investigate the evidence of his actions to allegedly defraud the United States. In turn, I would hope every American voter take an hour to read the indictment.

Upon reading, it is clear to me that Donald Trump didn't challenge the election because he thought he won; he tried to overturn the election because he knew he lost.

— Donna Dressel, Des Moines

Iowa process on pipelines is fair and transparent

Much exaggeration, scare tactics, and even lies have been launched over the past two years regarding carbon capture pipelines.

Take for instance a July 30 essay in the Register begging the governor to “slow down the process” for pipelines. The reality is the process in Iowa is something to be proud of. It takes the politics out of utility decisions, it is lengthy (I’ve planted and harvested two crops since this process has started), it is transparent and open for the public to participate in. It’s not decided by the heavy hand of government, or even a single bureaucrat.

Predictably, this opinion piece goes on to lay out scary, what-ifs, not to bring about reasonable discussion but strictly to unleash fears of community members. The truth of the matter is the U.S. Department of Transportation heavily regulates pipelines in this country and they are held to a very high standard when it comes to being safely designed, constructed, maintained, and operated. While this technology may be new to Iowa, it isn’t new across the country.

Those who are concerned about climate change know that it can’t only be done with electric vehicles and eliminating gas stoves, ethanol must be part of the conversation. And those who believe in economic independence know how important it is that we sell more of our clean U.S. energy to our allies and deter them from buying dirty energy from our adversaries.

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is great for Iowa and for farmers. Without the renewable fuels,the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association estimates farm income could drop by more than $1 billion annually, ethanol production could shrink by 75%, closing many ethanol plants, and the industry would lose more than $10 billion annually.

Ethanol producers are eager to utilize CCS to help lower the carbon index score of the fuel they produce. This would not only help the environment but also open new markets for corn producers. Ethanol-based Sustainable Aviation Fuels will be critical to the aviation industry meeting its emission-reduction goals. The industry demands over 100 billion gallons of jet fuel annually, and using every available ethanol gallon could be the solution.

Like it or not, the ethanol industry and its success affects you and every small town in the Midwest. Last year in Iowa alone, the renewable fuels industry accounted for nearly $7.2 billion of the state’s GDP.

Thank you, governor, and lawmakers, for letting Iowa’s utility process play out exactly how it was intended. Every advancement in farming – from the plow, to the tractor, to auto steer – has faced initial skepticism and naysayers. As an Iowa farmer, I know that carbon capture and storage is the future of farming.

— Tim Burrack, Arlington

Demise of eggs is not really relevant

In support of his pro-abortion reasoning, Steve St. Clair in an Aug. 3 letter would like to overlay the pro-life position with a simple-minded theology that sees a contradiction between "the claim that God treasures these early stages of human development," and the fact that about a third of all fertilized eggs are flushed from the body and destroyed.

As an agnostic, I don't know whether God has anything to do with the process by which human beings come into existence, but I do know that human existence proceeds through stages: embryo, fetus, infant, child, adolescent, adult, and old age.

During any one of these human developmental stages, death can occur. And if St. Clair were encouraged to walk through a local cemetery, I suspect that his confusion would be magnified considerably, since 100% of the human beings buried there didn't get spared by God (or nature) either.

— Steve Perlowski, Des Moines

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Letters: Biden support would collapse if more people knew about Hunter