Letters: Peacock? Iowa football is on too many outlets.

Too many outlets for Iowa football games

How can Hawkeye fans support their teams when we subscribe to cable and cannot afford Peacock streaming?

— Annamarie Marcalus, Iowa City

Discomfort is good

Thanks to Gerald Ott in Ankeny for his recent guest column “Excluding Ta-Nehisi Coates over ‘discomfort’ deprives youth.” I am reminded of the “discomfort” and opposition of many to the struggle for a woman’s right to vote, of the law changing throughout our country that legally allowed a black and white person to marry. And now many report “discomfort” over the preference of some for different pronouns to express their gender and sexual orientation. “Discomfort” is what brings about change. We had better get used to it and beyond. It is a reminder of the work we each need to do as our society becomes more open and accepting in certain spheres of our lives.

— David E. Drake, Des Moines

On Trump, Republicans ignore the obvious

The greatest challenge to the Republican Party is just how much evidence against Donald Trump can be ignored. So far, the answer seems to be … a lot.

Trump and his family have already been barred from operating a charity in New York because they were found to have been charitable only to themselves. Trump University was found to be fraudulent and had to pay back its students. A judge recently issued a summary judgement that Trump submitted fraudulent documents to banks and insurance companies regarding the value of his assets. It is evident that Trump valued his property very highly when using the property as collateral but valued them very low when it came to paying taxes on them.

This poster boy for the seven deadly sins married three wives and cheated on all three. He has bragged about committing sexual abuse and has been convicted of sexual abuse in civil court.

There is a mountain of evidence that he is unsuited to hold any public office, and it is clear that the mountain is on the way to becoming an Everest. He faces four federal indictments and over 90 charges. In the coming months there will be witness after witness testifying to his wrongdoing. Can Republicans ignore all the evidence, present and forthcoming, of Trump’s unfitness, and do it all the way to the Republican nomination for president? So far it appears so. We can only hope for the sake of the Republican Party and the country that recognition of Trump’s unfitness comes before it’s too late.

— Karl Schilling, Des Moines

Cheaper fuel for farming would hurt us all

My father was an agronomy professor at ISU and a farm boy from Saskatchewan. His pioneering work developing reduced tillage systems began in the 1960s. In 1979-80, he pursued a sabbatical in New Zealand. Why there? Because New Zealand had long lived with especially high fuel prices, so their farming systems were adapted to reduce tillage and other fuel-demanding practices. In particular, the New Zealand seed planters were well designed to penetrate into untilled fields with heavy crop residues.

When I read Nikki Haley's Oct. 1 guest essay, touting silly cliches like, "I will free American farmers from Washington and China" and "I will end federal overreach that is forcing farmers to the brink," I chuckled with frustration. But when she wrote, "I will eliminate the federal gas and diesel taxes that are hamstringing farmers," I truly cringed. This enthusiasm for eliminating fuel taxes is ridiculous. There could be no more ill-advised change in farm policy than cheapening fuel.

I am all for a robust financial contribution to agriculture, to revitalize the rural economy, provide stability to farming, reduce farming's environmental impact, and to reduce global warming. Spending money to achieve those things benefits everyone and the world. However, we currently spend billions of dollars to bolster farmers farming too much land, turning soil into ethanol, and overfeeding corn to livestock that wallow in their own muck. Meanwhile, our waters become fouled, our soil goes south, our wild places shrink, and our little towns decay. Haley’s antigovernment gibberish only confuses our real agricultural policy issues.

— Art Staniforth, Ames

America at a tipping point

As we draw closer to another national election, I wonder what kind of nation we really want to be.

Do we want a country that truly treats everyone equally? Will we be a nation where men and women, Black and white, will be free to realize their full potential, not by the accident of their birth, but because of the potential they possess? Will we be a nation that has the strength to face up to its own true history, both its triumphs and its atrocities? Will we have the courage to face the truth and allow our schools to teach the whole truth? Will we live in a land where the word of one man can destroy innocent lives on a whim, simply because of a disagreement? Will we live in a country where laws have meaning, or not? Will we settle disagreements by civil discourse and compromise or by violence?

The next election will answer these questions and many more. I pray our nation is strong enough to endure our current trials and return to a safer, saner, fairer and more compassionate nation.

— Jerry Nissen, Cedar Falls

Support for Ukraine is justified

I served in the U.S. Army in Vietnam. I very strongly believe war should only ever be the last resort. But there are times when a nation has no choice. Vladimir Putin’s completely unprovoked invasion of Ukraine has been especially ruthless. Putin has deliberately bombarded civilians, schools, hospitals, and essential utilities. His troops have left a trail of murder and war crimes in the towns the Ukrainians have retaken. The only basis for Putin’s barbaric assault is the warped ego trip of a hollow frustrated old unaccountable autocrat. The United States clearly should continue to stand with our NATO allies in strong support of Ukraine’s courageous pushback against Putin’s criminal assault.

— Alan Charlson, Waverly

Trump’s threats must be denounced

As former President Donald Trump gets more and more dangerous, where are our Republican leaders? Why aren't they speaking out? Only one on the Republican debate stage agreed to not vote for him if he's indicted.

After Trump called for the assassination of Gen. Mark Milley, Sen. Joni Ernst, who likes to use her military background when she campaigns, has had nothing to say about the head of her party calling for the death of the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Now is not the time for silence; democracy is in peril.

"Don't follow the crowd, let the crowd follow you." — Margaret Thatcher

— Kristy Hibbs-Burr, Marshalltown

Let all 3-year-olds attend preschool free

Like a lot of you I am a proud grandparent. My granddaughter just started 3-year-old preschool. Her mom and dad are thrilled. My beautiful granddaughter is smart, inquisitive and kind. The people that love her can't wait to watch the exponential growth and learning she is starting.

By every measure we have as a society, we know starting children in 3- and 4-year-old preschool is an investment that pays off for our community in spades. According to the Washington Center for Equitable Growth, if Iowa had implemented a full 3- and 4-year-old universal preschool in 2016 as a state we would see a benefit of about $2.4 billion by 2050.

Right now the cost to send my granddaughter to 3-year-old preschool is $160 a week. That may not seem like a lot, but for my daughter's family it is. For most working-class people that is a burden. Especially with high inflation, high food costs and housing. The commitment my daughter has to her child means picking and choosing to take on that burden by going without on other things. And she knows starting next year she will be able to utilize the free universal state program for 4-year-olds.

My question to Gov. Kim Reynolds and the Legislature is why they have not finished the job of fully funding universal 3-year-old preschool? The governor talks a good talk about caring for Iowa families, but I'm not sure if getting families and women back into the labor force is really a priority for them. Fully funded 3-year-old preschool would be a game changer for thousands of Iowans.

We may not agree with public dollars going to private schools, but I think we can all agree that fully funded 3- and 4-year-old preschool is a win-win for everyone! Especially with a state budget surplus of $1.83 billion! It seems like a no-brainer.

— Lora Fraracci, Des Moines

Summer was the same, and it was different

Fall is upon us. Like school children everywhere, I know it is time to write about my summer.

I read. I read a fiction book about love in the 1800s. I read about plastics in our land and air. I read about water in Iowa. I read a growing amount of letters in our newspapers concerning farmers, lakes and fires. I found the website to monitor beaches for public health to determine if it is safe for us to swim. I did not find anything about our governor meeting the farmers against the CO2 pipelines.

I saw things of hope and despair. Few more yards with dandelions blooming. Few more unmowed ditches with ground cover and milkweed. Few more fields that were not corn or soybeans. Only three monarch butterflies in my backyard.

I tasted. I went to farmers' markets. I tasted the flavors of fresh sweet corn, beans and butternut squash. I picked tomatoes from my backyard and dreamed of the great chili I will make this fall with these fresh tomatoes, local mushrooms and pasture raised meat. I made and savored my eggless egg salad and fresh spinach local tofu lasagna.

I smelt the air after a rainfall. I smelt the smoke from the Canadian fires. I learned to find what the AQI (air quality index) is to determine what I was going to do that day. I smelt the air from hog and cattle confinements and manure spreading.

I laughed and shared. I visited friends in their homes, at parks, and gatherings. Friends who served treated water or bottled water as their well water is so bad they use it only for washing clothes and bodies. Friends at parks where you can swim, catch fish, and eat them. Friends at other parks where you can't because of E. coli, algae bloom and nitrogen levels.

I listened to talk of friends' health, their families and vacations. Cancer is big. Families growing. Vacations big with problems flying, problems in national parks, and the heat down south.

I listened to local, state and federal politicians to their plans (or lack thereof) to address the problems of Iowa. Speeches with fear of change and others with hope for change.

I felt the love of Iowans in the hospital and all over Iowa. Friendly faces telling me how to enjoy Iowa and be safe at the same time.

I stayed in Iowa this summer. My summer was spent reading, tasting, smelling, seeing, visiting friends and family, catching up on their lives, and enjoying the people of Iowa. This summer was the same and yet so different than my summers of even five years ago on all my senses. Why? What can be done to protect our soil, water and the people of Iowa? Is this not important?

— Charlene Lange, Iowa City

Strope-Boggus would refresh city leadership

As a younger person living in Des Moines, I’m concerned by the lack of action from City Council leadership on a number of important issues facing our community. Des Moines is thirsty for a new generation of leadership to show up and get things done.

If you need something to get done, you want Kimberley Strope-Boggus in your corner. She is a person of action and is tireless in using her breadth of talents to create meaningful change, make things happen, and produce results. A force of progress with a gift for community building, she is an amazing asset to our Beaverdale neighborhood and the Des Moines community as a whole.

— Tony Tandeski, Des Moines

DeSantis’ energy plan lacks Iowa-grown biofuels

Recently, I saw Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announce his “Freedom to Fuel” Energy Plan. Among other things, he mentions wanting to save the American automobile, restoring American energy dominance, and greenlighting American energy exports to strengthen global stability and end energy poverty. All great things! As an Iowa farmer, we have been working toward these ideals for decades and have made tremendous progress. So I was surprised to see DeSantis announce this plan in the state of Texas, during Iowa caucus season, and completely leave out ethanol and biofuels.

We grow corn on our farm in Jones County and sell it to our local ethanol plant. We are very proud of the fact that about 60% of the corn grown in Iowa – that’s more than every other row of corn – goes to ethanol production, truly fueling America. For any candidate who wants to save the American automobile, look no further than less-expensive, cleaner-burning ethanol. On average, E15 saves the average Iowan $0.15 a gallon at the pump. We can immediately lower fuel costs, today, with less government regulation which impedes the sale of Iowa-grown E15. This will help Americans afford to fuel up their cars again.

I would urge any candidate to include ethanol in any energy plan as a key source of American energy that will move the United States, toward energy dominance. Candidates should also support America’s Renewable Fuel Standard. The Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) is America’s strategic renewable fuel reserve. The RFS should continue to displace foreign oil from adversarial countries by expanding the supply of American-made biofuels. That’s a no-brainer.

For any candidate considering an energy plan, I just ask that you give farmers a seat at the table when energy or agriculture policy is discussed. We’ve been doing this a while.

— Lee Hein, Monticello

Aggression not the best tactic against illegal drugs

The Republicans are again proposing another pre-emptive war, this one on the Mexican drug cartels.

We will have much better social and economic success by reducing the American consumer demand. Each state could take the cigarette tax settlement dollars they have been sitting on and spend that on treatment for mental health. Iowa could also take some gambling addiction money and apply it to mental health services (and not just take the addicted gamblers winnings). This in turn could also reduce the daily gun violence.

We would see improved family quality of life, and more productive workers.

Both political parties need to put our citizens needs first and corporate donors last.

— Ray Meylor, Polk City

Drivers are way too distracted, and people keep dying

The Sept. 27 Register e-edition included the story "New cars should be getting safer so why are fatalities on the rise?"

It seems to be a habit that when something undesirable happens we first blame the inanimate object involved. Such is the case here. I read the story and noticed mention of increased safety features on vehicles. But there is still an increase in fatal accidents, primarily involving pedestrians and bicyclists struck by motor vehicles.

Apparently, no one has considered placing the blame where it belongs, on the human operating the inanimate object. There are so many gadgets in newer vehicles that require the attention of the operator that it creates a period of time when the operator is tending to some gadget instead of the road, which requires 100% of the operator’s attention. Maybe if we had laws that were enforced for inattentive driving and fewer lights, buzzers, touch screens, and cameras the accident numbers could be lowered.

The use of any device, hand-held or not, should be barred. It is not holding the device that causes the distraction, but the brain actively engaged in conversation not on the road that causes distracted driving.

— Francis Picray, Des Moines

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Letters: Peacock? Iowa football is on too many outlets.