Letters: Supreme Court’s student debt ruling is a boost for families

Iowans not using private schools shouldn’t pay for others to do so

The reaction from Gov. Kim Reynolds and other conservative politicians concerning the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling rejecting President Joe Biden’s attempt to eliminate some federal student loan debt for millions of Americans is telling. Reynolds and other people opposed to Biden’s plan argued that Americans who chose not to attend college or those who financed their own college should not be required to use their tax dollars to help pay the costs incurred by those who made the choice to incur college debt.

The same argument then should be made that those choosing not to send their children to private schools (over 90% of Iowans) should not be forced to fund the private education for those making that choice. The stench of hypocrisy is very strong.

— Steve Westerberg, Forest City

Vander Plaats attacks judges over orthodox actions

Bob Vander Plaats is bullying Iowa Supreme Court justices, again (“Iowa judges seize unlawful power, again,” July 2).

In a 2009 decision, the Iowa Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage, recognizing that marriage was about love, not reproduction. The decision was unanimous. Vander Plaats responded with a campaign to oust three of those courageous justices. Iowans today overwhelmingly approve of gay marriage.

Now he threatens to oust judges who think that a woman has a right to her own body. Never mind that abortion had been a constitutional right for 50 years. Never mind that 70% of Iowa women think it should remain legal.

Vander Plaats seeks to force his narrow religious views on Iowa. He wants “Christians to engage with government.” OK, engage, but engage fairly. Please do not threaten our judges.

— Timothy Olson, West Des Moines

Court’s student debt ruling boosted families

Regarding “Iowa GOP cheers Biden's loss on student debt relief,” June 30: A better headline for this story might have been: "Working-class families cheer Biden's loss on student debt relief." People from middle-class families are relieved of having to pay for someone else's (like an engineer, doctor, lawyer) college bill when they chose not to go to college themselves or couldn't afford to go to college.

The Iowa GOP may be cheering for the demise of Biden's executive order, but it's because the president way overstepped his authority in taking the action to remove student debt. And really, who can blame someone making $100,000 or less being happy that they don't have to offset over $400 billion in debt from people who took out those loans and probably make two, three, four or more times the income they do?

— Patrick Beckerdite, West Des Moines

Grace minister is a humble servant of Christ

I am a retired United Methodist minister who proudly worships at Grace United Methodist Church and supports the Christ-centered ministry of the Rev. Greg Neal, whose story was covered in the Des Moines Register on June 25. Not surprisingly, Pastor Greg's openness about his sexual orientation doesn't set well with all, as evidenced by Michael Devine's letter to the Register published July 2. After years of ministry and life, forced to repress his true self, is it any wonder Neal is excited to finally be free to self-disclose and share his full testimony?

Although the June 25 story focused more attention on the minority disaffiliating from the United Methodist Church, the great majority is staying United Methodist and aligning theologically with other mainstream Protestant denominations on this issue, believing that Jesus is our greatest example of acceptance and inclusion of all people. Although Pastor Greg's humility is questioned, I find him to have a healthy self-understanding and to be a kind, gentle, and humble person. If any pastor is challenged for a lack of humility, maybe those who led congratulations to disaffiliate might check a mirror.

Jesus found his strongest support among a crowd other than the temple elite. On the other hand, his strongest statements of negativity were directed toward legalists who saw him as a threat to the status quo, ultimately conspiring to execute him. It's obvious to me that Pastor Greg loves and humbly serves Jesus to the best of his considerable gifts and calling.

I would encourage Mr. Devine to come experience worship at Grace, at 10:15 a.m. under Neal's pastoral leadership. Our worship is also live streamed and is on YouTube. Blessings upon you as you/we all open hearts in humility to new possibilities of grace, love, and justice.

— David R Shogren, Johnston

Happy to see Frank Miller’s work

Thank you for the inclusion of Frank Miller's 1955 cartoon in the July 2 paper. It brought great memories of the many editorial cartoons that have graced these pages during my life. I hope you can find more opportunities to include them.

As usual, the cartoon was right on point.

— Steve Rodda, Des Moines

Actually, California is minding its own business on pork

California isn't interfering with Iowa hog farmers ("Congress must stop California's interference with Iowa farmers," July 2).

It's merely setting its terms in order for Californians to consume more humanely raised pork products. (Anti-cruelty is the dynamic factor here.) To have interstate commerce laws interjected in this matter would be another suffocation of local control when it is not necessary. If Iowa hog farmers don't like the terms of the California market, they have the choice to revise their practices or find other markets. No one is twisting their arms to sell bacon in the Golden State.

— Patrick Muller, Hills

Looking for consistency on government aid

I'm a bit confused by our state government. It's OK for our government to pay for private schools, but it's not OK for the government to pay for college costs?

— Leo Kanne, Denison

Ease of getting private school assistance seems out of character for Iowa

I have a couple of questions about the private school funding that Gov. Kim Reynolds so desperately wanted so that she could spend public education money on non-public schools.

Why is there no means testing to eliminate those with means from using the people’s money to attain what they could already afford? And how about a work requirement that says, if you have fewer than two jobs you can’t get that money? And how come the paperwork to apply for the funding wasn’t so complicated that it would knock out many of the applicants? It would seem consistent with the Republican philosophy for public-support-spending procedures put in place for the most vulnerable of our state.

— Phillip Thien, Des Moines

Double standard on education aid is appalling

Our governor thinks it’s bad for Joe Biden to use our taxes to send a kid to college. But she thinks it’s good for Kim Reynolds to use our taxes to send a kid to a private school. Go figure.

— Robert Oston, Clive

‘Shining city on a hill’ was Reagan, not Jesus

Jim Ross Lightfoot (June 25 Register), one of the five House Republicans defeated by Tom Harkin, is apparently not a Biblical scholar. He twice refers to the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) as referring to the USA, which came into being about 17 centuries later that the sermon in Matthew.

Apparently, Lightfoot thinks “a shining city on a hill” is in the Sermon on the Mount. These words were uttered centuries later than the sermon.

— William D. Russell, Lamoni

Thank you to citizen patriots

Our country was founded by brave citizen patriots who acted with concern for our freedom and well-being. This July 4, I would like to thank these Iowa citizen patriots:

The teacher who listens compassionately to transgender youth.

The volunteers who monitor and report our water quality.

The meteorologist who speaks the truth about climate change.

The judge who protects voting rights for minorities.

The physician who dares to care for women’s reproductive health.

The journalist who asserts her right to report the news.

The legislator who sacrifices family and career to serve in office.

The farmer who resists profitable offers for land by urban developers.

Not every patriot waves the flag or seeks public recognition.

— Diane Glass, Des Moines

Republicans must commit to lower government spending

The race for the Republican presidential nomination is in full swing here in Iowa. As voters decide who they’re going to caucus for, they’ll want to know candidates’ plans to rein in wasteful government spending and lower inflation, putting money back into the pockets of Iowans.

Kitchen table issues are front and center for Iowa voters, who are increasingly concerned about the cost of filling their gas tank or putting food on their table. Today, nearly three-quarters of likely Iowa voters say the U.S. is on the wrong track, and inflation remains the most important issue here. Iowa voters across the political spectrum want the government's insatiable spending to stop.

Unfortunately, the problem is getting worse, not better. While Republican leaders in Washington recently introduced a plan to slash federal spending, Democrats have refused to work with them on the issue. Instead, they’ve backed President Joe Biden’s yearly budget, a radical proposal that would force Americans to foot the bill for over $73 trillion in government spending over the next 10 years.

We want a candidate who’s committed to making a change.

As a longtime activist in county and state affairs, I believe the government shouldn’t make things tougher for Iowans with out-of-control spending. That’s why I’m calling on every Republican presidential candidate campaigning in Iowa to commit to ending wasteful government spending and present a plan that will make the American economy work for Iowans.

— Trudy Caviness, Ottumwa

Register’s Courtney Crowder is a rare talent

I didn't see the byline on the Register's June 29 story about Matt Phippen until I realized I must be reading another superbly written Courtney Crowder story. She gets the facts right, the context right, the human side right, and puts it all together in a clear, engaging narrative. She brings a rare talent and valuable human insights to our community. Thanks to her and to the Register for putting some sparkle into the daily news.

— David Leslie, West Des Moines

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Letters: Supreme Court’s student debt ruling is a boost for families