Letters to the editor

The Register

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Get tested during STD Awareness Month

April is STD Awareness Month and folks, it’s time to get yourself tested.

In Polk County alone, there have been more than 1,100 new chlamydia, 436 gonorrhea, 43 syphilis and 11 new HIV diagnoses in 2019. Unfortunately, there are too many young people I see in my clinic who have never been tested and have little to no education on how to protect themselves and their partners, let alone how often to get tested and what to look out for.

Why are we as Iowans continuing to have the debate on whether or not sexual health education has value? Public health professionals like me know first-hand that without early intervention services, from sex-ed to low- to no-cost STD testing and treatment, we’ll continue to see the STD rates rise.

Talk to your children and your sexual partners about the importance of getting tested. Get tested early and often. And protect education, funding and access to programs that work to prevent the spread of STDs.

More:Sexually transmitted diseases on the rise in Iowa, following national trends

— Ashley Parker, Des Moines, HIV prevention specialist at The Project of Primary Health Care

Barr came into Mueller report with a bias

Attorney General William Barr’s reasoning makes a mockery of the honorable profession of law. Barr uses sophistry to justify the unjustifiable. He refuses to acknowledge that he is the nation’s attorney, not a member of President Donald Trump’s counsel. When we represent a client, we owe them the best representation we can within the bounds of the law. We do not need to cover up the misdeeds of those whom we do not represent.

Barr came into this situation with a bias. He does not believe that a president can be indicted when he uses his Article II powers, no matter the intent with which the powers are used. This is nonsense.

What distinguishes the presidency from a monarchy is that the intent with which a president’s power is used matters. A nation’s legal system and citizens can look into the matter of intent and hold a president responsible in the criminal courts if the president intentionally used those powers to an unlawful end or Congress can act to impeach and remove. Any other result makes our president a monarch who answers only to the divine and is above the reach of the law.

Mueller has put forth enough facts to justify an indictment of Trump for obstruction of justice. He must either be tried in the courts or impeached in the Congress. Our republic and our democratic future depend on it.

More:What report? Public doesn't ask 2020 contender Gillibrand about Mueller's findings during Iowa stop

— Anne Kinzel, Ames

Noise rule would take away beauty of live music

The proposed sound ordinance protocol threatens permanent damage to the vibrant and expanding live music scene in Des Moines. This proposal will negatively impact dozens of local vendors and hundreds of jobs, including production companies, food and beverage vendors, marketing firms, promoters and musicians.

Thanks to 15+ years of relentless work by these small businesses and organizations, Des Moines is finally garnering attention by marquee national headlining acts as a “must have” on their tour schedules. In an era where in-person community building is more challenging than ever, creating unrealistic thresholds and flawed methods for measuring noise ordinance violations is short-sighted policy. Live music is one of the few remaining activities that successfully brings people out of the digital world and into the real one.

It is important to helping Des Moines maintain and increase the flow of young professionals to this area. If we enjoy being nationally recognized as one of the best cities in the country, then we are compelled to provide a robust and energetic musical heartbeat for the people who call Des Moines home.

More:Noise rule change threatens Water Works Park concerts, music supporters say

— Jerry Lorenson, Des Moines

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Stop obsessing over the Mueller report

A reminder to Democrats in Congress and to the mainstream media: He won and she lost. The Mueller report is out and there was no collusion. Get over it.

Congress members must start concentrating on the important issues that need to be solved in this country instead wasting time on trivial matters, and constantly badgering the president for and vilifying him and his administration. They need to tend to the business we sent them to Congress to do.

If Democrats want President Trump out of office, they should put their best candidate forward and try to unseat him in 2020 and stop this ongoing nonsense they are putting this country through.

More:What report? Public doesn't ask 2020 contender Gillibrand about Mueller's findings during Iowa stop

— Mark Nord, Polk City

Senators, stop blaming and help flood victims

Sens. Charles Grassley and Joni Ernst seem determined to find someone to blame for the flooding on the Missouri River. It can't be the fault of our elected officials who pass inept legislation, so they are blaming the Army Corps of Engineers.

Why not move up the chain and accuse the National Weather Service for allowing it to rain on top of the snow?

Or maybe focus on aiding victims instead of laying blame. Every day spent on the blame-game spends needed resources and pushes recovery farther away.

More:Iowa must redouble efforts to improve flood control

— Jim Struve, Des Moines

Reynolds should listen to Iowans about Medicaid

Could this federal investigation finally bring accountability or an end to this horrible experiment with the privatization of Medicaid? When former Gov. Terry Branstad mandated privatization, he refused to listen to advocates who were opposed.

Now, we find ourselves with another managed care organization (MCO) leaving because it cannot make enough money. There is plenty of blame to go around, but the main culprits all belong to the Republican Party. Our concerns have fallen on deaf ears.

Health care should never be a partisan issue. Gov. Kim Reynolds is a public servant, and should listen to all Iowans – especially those whose lives are directly affected by the MCOS. Maybe she will listen to the feds.

More:Feds to investigate whether Medicaid firms are unfairly denying care to disabled people

— Deb McMahon, Des Moines

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Sanders: Tyson reported a negative tax rate

Last month after a visit to Iowa, I wrote a guest column in the Des Moines Register [Bernie Sanders: I'll fight for farmers against powerful agribusiness].

I made a straightforward argument: Agribusiness giants like Tyson Foods are leveraging their overwhelming wealth to further consolidate Iowa’s agriculture and control the economic life of rural America.

Tyson’s Mark Elser wrote a letter to the editor saying I “need to get my facts straight” when I called them out for not paying their taxes [Tyson Foods pays millions in income taxes].

So here are the facts: In 2018, Tyson reported $40 billion of revenues, $3 billion of profit and paid its CEO and chairman more than $19 million. And yet, the company reported paying a negative 10.3 percent tax rate.

The Trump administration's tax law lets corporations slash 40% on billions in taxes they still owed from previous years. Tyson filed IOUs for years and were rewarded with a billion-dollar tax cut.

When we are in the White House, we are going to finally make large profitable corporations pay their fair share of taxes, and we are going to break up agribusiness monopolies that are squeezing farmers and communities.

We are going to do all of this, whether Tyson Foods likes it or not.

More:In Iowa, Bernie Sanders says states should allow felons to vote from behind bars

— Sen. Bernie Sanders, Democratic candidate for president of the United States

The flooding and Notre Dame fire are both tragedies

While I can appreciate Kathie Obradovich's viewpoint in regard to those mourning the loss of property and way of life along the Missouri River and the angst people feel when the iconic Cathedral of Notre Dame burned [Fond memories of Notre Dame, but where's help when disasters strike closer to home?].

The two events are by no means similar. We here in Iowa care about people over buildings, no question. It's not a fair comparison. Both events are tragedies in their own right. Give each the respect and support they deserve.

My prayer is that we survive both because we will do the right thing, when all is said and done.

More:How do we live with the new reality of flooding in Iowa?

— Bill Kersting, Spencer

The CARE Act is only the beginning

The CARE Act, signed by Gov. Kim Reynolds, is a long overdue tool which is intended to support caregivers when their family member is being released from the hospital. But, if you are one of the 318,000 caregivers in Iowa who care for someone who hasn’t been in the hospital, you might wonder where do I turn for help?

For 18 years, Iowa’s Area Agencies on Aging have been supporting family caregivers by helping to assess each family’s unique situation, sharing information on available home-based services, providing education about memory loss and other necessary information, as well as to provide emotional support. Calling LifeLong Links, Iowa’s Aging and Disability Resource Center, at 866-468-7887, can connect all of Iowa’s caregivers with available services and support whether they have had someone in the hospital or not.

Iowa’s caregivers are an army of invaluable “volunteers. Thank you for your service and I hope you get the support you need to continue.

More:Nunn: CARE Act supports Iowa's 317,000 family caregivers

— Kay Vanags, Des Moines

Privatized Medicare has constricted Iowan's freedom

I'm one of about 425,000 Iowans who lost their coverage when United Healthcare of the River Valley discontinued participation in Iowa’s privatized Medicaid program.

Using my electric-powered wheelchair gives me freedom to participate and be a contributing member of my community and to be active and involved.

Last year, it took three months to get approval from my MCO to have my casters on my electric power chair repaired. When it was not properly working, the casters jerked and dragged to one side causing an imbalance for my chair and leaving marks on the floor of wherever I happened to be.

I need a new power chair, but my new MCO, Amerigroup, would deny me, saying I don’t need one. Without a properly working chair, I would be housebound without the freedom to continue to be mobile and active.

Why do Gov. Kim Reynolds and GOP legislators support a privatized Medicaid system that limits the freedoms of Iowans like me?

More:'Medicare for All' would severely disrupt health care costs and access

— Eric Donat, Waterloo

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Axne is doing her job with flooding admirably

My husband and I are again experiencing the ravages of the Missouri. We have 1,100 acres under water as of today, of which only 500 acres were farmable after the 2011 flood.

We are becoming increasingly alarmed by the partisan politics at play as funding for relief is kicked around by the Senate. Vice President Mike Pence, during a flood tour, made special mention of Democrats’ opposition to funding relief in the Senate.

It was mentioned in several articles and broadcasts that Rep. Cindy Axne was absent from Pence’s flood tours. Axne has visited the flood area and talked to numerous flood victims on three different occasions. Her request for Iowa relief funding was included in the new, $3 billion House appropriations emergency disaster supplemental bill.

Axne is doing her job admirably and does not deserve the criticism she is receiving from those who are using this disaster to create partisan divisions.

More:Cindy Axne: I'm holding Washington accountable for vital disaster aid for Iowans

— Alice Hodde, Sidney

Reynolds hasn't been a hero in office

When former Gov. Terry Branstad ran his last time, it was rumored that he would never complete the term. He would resign (what a blessing that an ambassadorship came along for him) so that Gov. Kim Reynolds would then be the incumbent and have an easier time getting elected for a term of her own.

He created crises by outsourcing Medicaid, closing mental health hospitals and an executive order keeping former felons from having the right to vote. That gave Reynolds the chance to come in and be the heroine and save the day, making people think she was really trying to do something positive.

She hasn't even fixed one of those things.

More:Legislative failure on felon voting rights should prompt Reynolds to act

— Myrna Perks, Des Moines

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We need to invest in the aging population

Each year, our state leaders are faced with difficult decisions. I appreciate the challenges they face in determining how to spend our tax dollars to address the state’s most pressing issues. Several years ago, our legislators invested in Iowa’s direct-care workforce. This investment has improved retention rates in the caring workforce.

Our professional caregivers are some of the most difficult employees to recruit and retain, but we have no choice as our baby boomers grow older and the number of individuals with disabilities who need care services grows substantially.

The Legislature needs to invest in programs for direct-care workers, such as those provided by the Iowa Caregivers. As someone who has experienced the need for these services both as an employer and for my family, I ask our leaders to do the right thing.

More:Des Moines University's move creates rare opportunity for Iowa's capital city

— John Tone, Des Moines

Airport expansion smacks of climate denial

The Register reported recently that the Des Moines airport recorded this March as the busiest month in its 71-year history [Des Moines airport records busiest month in 71-year history]. In view of the climate change crisis, it appears that there is widespread climate denial among those who fly.

Climate experts tell us that boarding an airplane is the single worst thing that an individual can do to damage the earth’s climate. One has to wonder if we will ever take this information to heart and change our behavior.

The airport authority is also talking up the perceived need for a new terminal which will cover up more land and destroy more wildlife habitat. I hope Iowa’s Legislature will resist providing any state funding for this project.

More:Tickets on sale from $49 for new Southwest Airlines Hawaii flights beginning March 17

— Robert Fischer, Decorah

We need Ross Wilburn in 2nd District in 2020

Dave Loebsack has decided to retire from Congress. Now it’s announced that Democrats are in danger of losing the 2nd Congressional District seat [Democratic Congressman Dave Loebsack to retire after this term]. The only answer to this is to draft Ross Wilburn to take Loebsack's place on the ballot in 2020.



Wilburn has political experience having served as the mayor of Iowa City, as well as on the city council. He has served as CEO of the Crisis Center and worked as diversity officer for the Iowa City school district. He now works for Iowa State University. So his resume of serving responsible public and political positions is vast.



Wilburn ran unsuccessfully for governor because he came in the race too late — so the Democrats need to get on the stick. He can relocate to the district, as Loebsack was forced to do.



Democrats find themselves in a dangerous position of losing the majority in the U.S. Congress we’ve just acquired, and we must unite to win.

More:Where the candidates stand: Ross Wilburn

— Mary Gravitt, Iowa City

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Bill Stowe was a gentle giant

My friends, who were friends with Bill Stowe, always said we should get together because we believed in a lot of the same things and that we shared a passion.

Bill and I did meet, briefly. We were both taking phone calls at a bike trail dedication in Des Moines. We stood there, back to back, trying to make things happen even while attending a celebration of accomplishment. We introduced ourselves and promised to talk later, but we never got a chance. To me, Bill stands for stopping the outrageous water-pollution era. Until we do that, his legacy will remain unfulfilled.

He was indeed a gentle giant who tried to guide the state on the right path. Thank you, Bill. We will miss you on a lot of levels.

More:'We're all lucky to have been able to know him': Bill Stowe, Water Works CEO, has died

— Steve Throssel, Eldora

We can only be bitter and angry for so long

Jordon Scheibel, in his response [You can't defeat racism with simple kindness] to Joel Kurtinitis' column, tells us being a good person is not enough to counter poor race relations and our society needs a top-to-bottom overhaul.

What does Scheibel expect to happen? That we drop our efforts at civility and become grim activists working toward a utopia that will never happen? Some will be left behind no matter what and yes, some of those will be minority groups. In the future, whites will likely be a minority group, and some will still rise to the top.

Improved race relations will happen through civil discourse, not maudlin guilt-tripping. In the meantime, be a good and decent human being. People will only follow the bitter and angry for so long.

More:The compassion of Kyle Korver reads like racism

— Michael Devine, Fort Dodge

Observe Earth Day by eating less meat

April 22 marks a half century of celebrating Earth Day, but do we observe it? We can each do our part by driving less, using less electricity and reducing our consumption of animals.

Why the attack on meat and dairy? Animal agriculture is a major driver of climate change, air and water pollution and depletion of soil and freshwater resources. Oxford University's prestigious Food Climate Research Network reports that solving the global warming catastrophe requires a massive shift to plant-based eating.

Moreover, meat and dairy production dumps more animal waste, fertilizers, pesticides and other pollutants into our waterways than all other human activities combined. It is the driving force behind wildlife extinction.

In an environmentally sustainable world, meat and dairy products in our diet must be replaced by vegetables, fruits and grains, just as fossil fuels are replaced by wind, solar and other pollution-free energy sources.

More:19 photos: Ankeny Earth Day

— Douglas Mansfield, Des Moines

Ernst is fighting for flood victims

While I know politicians make a lot of empty promises, we could really use some relief from the flood damage. When in Iowa, these Democratic presidential candidates are surveying the flooded areas and promise to help, but when they’re in D.C., they turn their backs on us and vote against assistance for Iowa.

However, Sen. Joni Ernst has followed through on her promise to fight to get us the funding we so badly need to recover from all of the flood damages.

Ernst was out there talking to officials in the area about the flooding and stood up to the Democrats who opposed the bill that would give Iowa more money to fix our farms, homes and other businesses.

We need more of that and less political grandstanding from Democrats

More:'We're with you': Pence joins call for Congress to pass relief package for flood victims

— Riekena Jacqueline, West Des Moines

Every church should be a sanctuary

President Donald Trump’s proposal to release detained undocumented immigrants into sanctuary cities has raised much controversy. Why don’t we have more sanctuary churches?

Every Christian church in America exists to teach the ideas of Jesus. During this current immigrant situation, what would Jesus do? He would welcome strangers, feed the hungry, clothe the poor, heal the sick and provide shelter for homeless travelers. He would love his neighbor and treat him as an equal.

Churches have many resources; both human and material. The buildings and congregations could offer miraculous aid to those seeking sanctuary.

More:Historic church building in West Des Moines wheeled away from expanding Ashworth Road

— Eileen Nelson, Adel

'Social worker' title needs clarification

In reading the Associated Press story [Ex-social worker faces charges of perjury], I thought it important to clarify the record. Iowa's Department of Human Services (DHS) gives that job title to individuals who in other states are called child protective workers, or child welfare workers.

People employed by the state of Iowa as "social workers" in the same capacity as Chelsie Gray may not be professional social workers. Training at an accredited institution is not required for these positions, and no education in the skills or values of professional social work is required to complete this job.

Iowa's DHS, as well as the union representing its employees, should change job titles or educational experience requirements to better reflect the professional qualifications of the state's child welfare workforce.

More:Iowa Supreme Court rules requiring sex offenders to report social media presence is not a First Amendment violation

— Ton Raymer, Des Moines

Editor's note: This letter misidentified the author in Wednesday's Register.

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You can't defeat racism with simple kindness

Columnist Joel Kurtinitis mistakes color blindness for anti-racism and conflates discussion of race as racism itself [The Compassion of Kyle Korver reads like racism].

The notion that simply ignoring race is the way to overcome racism is misleading to white people who need to confront their internalized, often unconscious biases. It's also hurtful to people of color who see their lived experiences and pain minimized and ignored.

Not only that, but by ignoring the root causes and structures of racism, Kurtinitis is helping to protect those structures and ensure continued discrimination toward minorities will be dismissed as "all in their head."

Racism is not simply being personally mean to people different from you. Racism is not simply transcended by declaring "I judge people by the content of their character, not their skin color." Racism is the total structure of society that creates the conditions under which the outcomes for minority groups are significantly worse than white Americans.

You can't overcome those disparities by pledging to be good person.

More:Democrats should support Donald Trump's border wall. It's a mistake for them to fight it.

— Jordan Scheibel, Grinnell

Bill Stowe will be greatly missed

The headline in the Register confirmed that my friend Bill Stowe has died ['We're all lucky to have been able to know him': Bill Stowe, Water Works CEO, has died].

About a week or so ago, I had written Bill a letter suggesting we pray for one another in light of his diagnosis with pancreatic cancer and mine with Alzheimer’s, neither very curable, if at all.

As I look back over the years that I have known Bill, I have realized there are not enough superlatives in the English language when speaking about him.

Bill had it all – an interesting sense of humor, a kindness about him, a giant intellect, truthfulness always and a restrained ego. Everyone who knew him will miss him greatly.

More:Art Cullen: Bill Stowe started an honest conversation about our state

— Dick Goodson, Des Moines

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