Letters to the editor

The Register

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Vote without investigation leads to resentment

It is abundantly clear that Sen. Chuck Grassley’s role in the Kavanaugh nomination is, as he sees it, to successfully shepherd the candidate through the Senate Judicial Committee, to the Senate floor for a vote.

That would be a fine strategy in most cases, but it is an unconscionable breach of his duty to the nation and state and the parties involved in this case under the current circumstances.

There will remain a black cloud of suspicion over all of these people, in their personal and professional lives and the institutions they inhabit, unless the process used is fair, competent and honest.

The only hope of achieving this is to have the FBI do what they are tasked to do for all important federal government appointments, and complete their background investigation on this nomination in light of the new information.

Only that process can assure that the inevitable fight that will occur once these facts are developed is grounded in something approaching reality and fairness to all parties.

More:Hatch: Grassley conducted Kavanaugh confirmation process like a gentleman

— Michael Bennett, Ankeny

Uncultivated land announcement seems self-serving

I always get suspicious when I read of all the people and nations that are hell-bent on assisting Africa [Africa is making great progress in ag production].

Guest columnist Marshall Matz found 600 million hectares of uncultivated arable land in Africa, but uncultivated simply means “not under the plow,” and he doesn’t say where all this land is to be found.

Does it include The Serengeti? That is 12,000 square miles and consists of the most important wildlife habitation on our earth.

Disturbing this eco-system will result in climate change and irrevocable environmental harm. Most uncultivated, arable land is found in forest areas or savannahs, areas that can easily become sand dunes when stripped of their top soil.

Matz also said China has just aided Africa by putting an additional $60 million on the table, but I contend that China probably only puts money on the table to help China.

Sustainable agricultural practices are to be encouraged, but why do I sense big business and land grabbers in this discourse on altruism?

More:Judge allows Iowa to join states halting clean water rule

— Eugene J. Gardner, Altoona

The Left has taken Kavanaugh hearings too far

I may be a "deplorable" but the Left, not the Democrats, have become despicable.

I say yes to Judge Brett Kavanaugh.

More:Iowa Poll: Iowans split on whether Kavanaugh should be confirmed to Supreme Court

— Kim Heckert, Story City

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Grassley should retire from his position

When I was in grade school in 1962, my dad introduced me to Sen. Charles Grassley, who was then a state legislator.

Since then, I graduated from high school, college and law school. I had an entire work career. I retired and drew Social Security. But Sen. Chuck Grassley is still in office, working continuously since 1959.

His often bumbling, inarticulate demeanor has convinced Iowa voters that he is something other than a career politician.

I applaud his public service. But an 85-year-old man who has served 60 years in office is what is wrong with Washington.

More:Grassley said he offered to fly staff to California to speak with Ford

— Jim Benda, Des Moines

Korean reunification seems closer than before

What could a peace treaty between North and South Korea mean?

The first steps toward denuclearization is for both countries to make peace.

Others do not agree with the methods being used and think that the U.S should be putting more pressure on North Korea to dismantle its missiles. I propose we look at this with a more positive lens.

For much of my life, the idea of North and South Korea coming to peace seemed like an idealistic fantasy. Yet, here we are, with South Korean President Moon Jae-in addressing a crowd of 150,000 North Koreans with the now Pyongyang Declaration. This is a huge milestone for the two countries. The reunification of Korea might seem like an idealistic notion, but I believe it could happen.

Both countries are expressing determination to see this dream come true. I feel hopeful that families who have been separated will be reunited.

Of course, I know that our country is more concerned with the dismantling of missiles. While some urge the use of force, I can only look with criticism on that. Name calling and mockery is only juvenile, whereas active diplomacy and in-person meetings have shown more positive results.

We may not see the reunification for a long time, but the idea of it does not seem so far away now.

More:Drake professor gets up-close look at North Koreans fleeing their home for South Korea

— Hannah Anderson, Pella

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We need leaders who bring us together

Listening to Judge Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing Thursday made me sad on many levels. I felt sympathy for both the accused and the accuser.

As a woman, I find it so frustrating that Christine Blasey Ford's testimony on what happened was so easily dismissed as either never happening, or that it didn’t matter.

I also feel for the accused because his whole life has been turned upside down. He is being judged by what happened when he was a teenager. I don’t doubt he has led an exemplary life since his high school and college days, but I am worried about his temperament and his ability to be impartial if he gets on the court.

For the Republicans to put total blame for this fiasco on the Democrats is wrong. Yes, it is partisan, but, we saw the Republicans spend eight years obstructing Obama in everything. Not even allowing Merrick Garland a hearing was total disrespectful and was outrageous.

The solution lies with citizens. We need to start electing and supporting candidates that are willing to work across the aisle and not look at the other side as enemies but fellow citizens with equal rights.

I have listened to ads recently on both sides that bring this message. These are the people we need to support.

More:Basu: Senate should not vote on Kavanaugh without FBI investigation

— Rose Zagar, Ames

Senators don't need FBI to investigate judge

The imperative to have an FBI investigation concerning the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court seems a bit ridiculous.



What is missing from the debate is that argument that the Senate Judiciary Committee is also an important investigative body. It also runs according to the rule of law. It has the authority to conduct its own investigations, including ordering the FBI to do some of its legwork.



So, if the Senate Judiciary Committee deems that the truth can be ascertained without the FBI’s help, it has the authority to do so, as long as the investigation is lawful.



Witnesses testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee have to swear upon an oath promising to tell the truth. To lie to it, like lying to the FBI, is punishable according to the law.

Some have said Kavanaugh’s judicial nomination hearing is not a trial. That may be correct. But it is still governed by the rule of law. To absent the law would be governance by mob rule, where the accused is “guilty” until proven “innocent.”



Think about that. That would be unlawful

More:Photos: Sen. Chuck Grassley during Brett Kavanaugh Judiciary Committee hearing

— Edward Rearick, Ames

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Democrats should not focus on Trump bashing

I seem to find myself to be in the minority in today's national Democratic Party.

I disagree with the tendency of most Democrats (including political candidates for Congress and those in the media) to constantly bash President Donald Trump over his obnoxious personality and his divisive comments.

As conservative "Morning Joe" Scarborough has said on his MSNBC show, when Democrats talk negatively about Trump it just makes his supporters angrier and more protective of him while corroborating their paranoid belief that the Democrats and the liberal part of the media are out to get the president.

Rather, as Scarborough suggests, Democrats need to focus on their values and telling the people how the federal government can make life better for all Americans.

They don't seem to realize that most Americans agree with them that we need to protect the safety-net programs such as Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, food stamps, college student loans and unemployment insurance benefits.

These are winning issues that we should constantly be talking about, not trashing Trump.

More:Matt Whitaker, Iowa attorney and ex-Hawkeye starter, seen as Trump favorite for key posts

— Stewart B. Epstein, Rochester, New York

Hubbell wants to set managed care back

As of late, Iowa’s Medicaid system has been under fire.

Managed care in Iowa has had growing pains, but there have been successes too. The opponents of managed care want Iowans to believe that the program has not improved the lives of Iowans, but that can’t be further from the truth.



More than 630,000 Iowans rely on Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). With the transition to managed care, these patients receive more coverage, not less.

Managed care plans often cover items like prescription drugs, housing, job assistance, health education, social services and more that government-run Medicaid could not. Yes, saving taxpayers money is important, but expanding care options is imperative.



Iowa’s old system needed improvements. Managed care is working to improve health care options for Iowans at a lower cost to taxpayers.



Gov. Kim Reynolds knows that the managed care program is helping Iowans and wants to iron out the issues, while Fred Hubbell wants to take us back to the old system.

What is Hubbell’s solution to the disruption of care that nearly 600,000 Iowans will endure if we go backwards?

More:Iowa’s Medicaid Managed Care program is deeply flawed; corrective action is needed

— Greg Malone, Des Moines

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Immigration reform should focus on agriculture

The Des Moines Register published the results of a poll regarding undocumented immigrants working in Iowa, asking respondents who they blamed for this — the workers or the employers who hire them [Iowa Poll: Most place blame on employers who hire undocumented immigrants, not the workers].

I believe they missed a third important group: Congress and Trump administration officials who fail to adopt meaningful and just immigration reform.

At a minimum, such reform should include provisions expanding visa options for agricultural workers. This would recognize that Iowa and other agricultural states need the labor that immigrants/migrants provide, and would provide migrants who work in agriculture legal status and other protections.

More:Citing ad in Des Moines Register, Trump accuses China of meddling in U.S. elections

Its past time for Congress and the administration to get to work.

— Mary Nelson, Des Moines

3rd District should get to know Axne

Voters in the 3rd Congressional District should get to know Cindy Axne as they consider their vote this November.

She is not as connected to the Washington political crowd as Rep. David Young is. In a recent meeting with her, she came across as genuine, not power hungry, with a strong sense of community and a commitment to serving others.

She reminded me of the late governor, Robert Ray, who felt what was best for Iowa came before loyalty to party.

Young, a Republican loyalist, seems to have lost his way in his completely partisan votes. And the money flowing into his campaign from the Republican Congressional Committee and other special interests is payback for his loyalty to the partisan cause.

More:Cindy Axne's personal investments become a public campaign issue in battle against David Young

It is time for a big improvement in how we the citizens are represented in

Congress, and candidate Axne offers that choice.

Get to know her beyond the negative ads before you cast your vote.

— Thomas Beck, Ankeny

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'Conspiracy' charges still ring hollow

At this point, I don't think that any of us really know who is telling the truth in the Kavanaugh situation. If you are sure that you do know, you might be a partisan voice.

It is easy for me to see what Judge Brett Kavanaugh would have to lose, but it is very hard for me to see what the women have to gain from this situation, unless it was their desire to ruin their lives.

I was very amused by Kellyanne Conway when she referred to the Kavanaugh situation as "a vast, left-wing conspiracy." Doesn't that statement ring a bell?

Hillary Clinton called the Monica Lewinsky affair "a vast, right-wing conspiracy" on the "Today Show" years back, and we know how that turned out.

— Frank McCammond, Redfield

Shame stops victims from speaking out

To be victimized in any manner is shame-inducing.

Whether one is scammed, manipulated or assaulted, the effects can be the same. Feeling caught in a vulnerable situation and abused in some manner creates shame.

Feeling shame is one of the first negative feelings written about in the Old Testament. Feeling naked and exposed after shameful events paralyzes people.



It comes as no surprise that people who have experienced sexual assault do not speak out. Whether it be the victims of priests or the victims of a future Supreme Court judge, to come out and tell one’s story is extremely difficult.



For President Donald Trump and the Republicans to silence, ridicule and demean the women who have stepped forward to tell their story about Judge Brett Kavanaugh is just shameless. Obviously, they have not been seriously abused or else they would be more understanding of the shame and silence that keeps these stories hidden for so long.

To mock and dismiss these stories without a thorough investigation showcases a severe lack of civility and compassion to the women who may have been dehumanized.

More:Watch live: Senate hearing on allegations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh

— David Crotts, Grinnell

We must elect officials who listen to victims

Shame on Sen. Chuck Grassley for railroading Judge Brett Kavanaugh's nomination without adequate investigation and hearings.

The #MeToo movement has brought to light the dangerous culture surrounding sexual assault. Yet, Republicans and their supporters are intentionally dismissing the serious sexual assaults by not thoroughly investigating the latest victims' accusations.

Republicans defending Kavanaugh by suggesting it is just "horse play" or "boys will be boys" just don't get it. Failure to defend the victims of sexual of assault suggests that our Republican leadership is only interested in political expediency and does not care about the rights of women.

Iowans must elect representatives that understand it is totally unacceptable to ignore or dismiss sexual assault.

More:Chuck Grassley staffer resigns amid concerns about sexual harassment allegations

— Rick Smith, Urbandale

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Kavanaugh's defense is too weak to stand

Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s defenders portray him as an innocent victim of a smear campaign and they say this is a classic he said/she said scenario.

There are multiple problems with this defense. First, Dr. Christine Blasey Ford has already passed a lie detector test, giving her testimony validation.

Second, another victim came forward, showing that this is not a lone accusation.

Third, the character witnesses for the judge have ignored his participation in DKE, a fraternity infamous for misogynist behavior.

Fourth, a close friend wrote a book, implicating Kavanaugh in heavily drinking as a teenager and this would account for outrageous behavior which could not be remembered. His choir boy reputation after college does not mean he did not sexually abuse women previously.

Fifth, there have been accusations that Kavanaugh lied in testimony when he was at the Department of Justice during the George W. Bush administration. Sen. Chuck Grassley has refused to release documents which would either refute or confirm these accusations.

This is an appointment to the Supreme Court. If there is any question concerning the appointee, the Senate must thoroughly investigate or it is a dereliction of duty.

More:Iowa Poll: Iowans split on whether Kavanaugh should be confirmed to Supreme Court

— Wally Moll, Urbandale

Animal abuse should be a felony

Iowa lawmakers have been neglecting the safety of companion animals far too long.

Each year, lawmakers send a bill to the agriculture committee to die. Multitudes of animals are suffering abuse and neglect daily, and offenders are charged with simple misdemeanors — if charged at all — and are then free to live life as normal.

2018 has been filled with animal abuse and neglect cases in Iowa: a man in Marion kicked a dog and caused internal bleeding, a couple in Vinton kept nearly 1,000 neglected animals in their basement [Vinton couple who kept hundreds of animals charged with animal neglect] and a man in Hancock was charged with 40 counts of animal neglect after abandoning animals that were left in his care.

Crimes like this are occurring at an alarming rate, and our lawmakers are turning a blind eye to protect agriculture and prevent a non-existent "slippery slope." However, the section of code that needs changing to increase abuse penalties is called "Injury to Animals Other than Livestock" and has no impact on our state's farmers.

There are two states in the country that do not prosecute animal abuse cases as a felony — Mississippi and Iowa. The time is now for our lawmakers to fix this.

More:Hurricane Florence: Local shelter holds pet adoption special to prepare for influx of animals

— Sheryl Eaton, Des Moines

Ford's accusation devalues other complaints

The #MeToo organization just lost all of its credibility with Dr. Christine Blasey Ford’s accusation about Judge Brett Kavanaugh.

Why did she take her complaint to the Democrats and not to the authorities? If you do not know where it happened or when it happened, why would you bring it up at all?

I think any reasonable person knows why, and it is an insult to the women who truly have a legitimate complaint.

More:Iowa Poll: Iowans split on whether Kavanaugh should be confirmed to Supreme Court

— Alyce Elmitt, Clive

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Follow POW/MIA flag protocol to honor sacrifice

Sept. 21 was "National POW/MIA Recognition Day." It is intended to honor those who were prisoners of war and those who remain missing in action.

Last week, a ceremony at the Iowa Vietnam Memorial was held to commemorate the holiday.

As the son of a WWII veteran whose health issues and death were determined to be 100 percent service-connected, my family fully understood the sacrifice of both those who serve and their families.

As I stood at this event, shaking hands with veterans and their families, I tried to offer each of them some of the gratitude I felt for their service. I also felt compelled to apologize to one veteran for the low turnout.

I was encouraged by his response to me. "I bet that for everyone here tonight there are at least 1,000 others that are supportive but just not able to actively show it," he said. "So if I am right I would say a turnout representing about 40,000 is pretty good."

He may be right.

There is another way we could actively show support: Have the state of Iowa pass a law that follows the federal flag protocol standards for the POW/MIA flag.

Many states already do this, and even some Iowa institutions participate, like the Iowa Veterans Home and Prairie Meadows. Previous legislative efforts to enforce this have failed the last several years, but perhaps now is the time before their history is forgotten.

It seems a very small gesture to remember those that have given so much.

More:Online services are great for veterans — if they can get online

— Mike Rowley, Clive

Reynolds has proven to be a worthy candidate

Being wealthy does not make you a good or bad candidate. Honestly, experience and knowledge are the qualities that a candidate must have.

Gov. Kim Reynolds has both.

She started out as a good wife and good mother. Later, she became treasurer of her county in Iowa, a Iowa state senator and then lieutenant governor. Now that she is Iowa’s first female governor, I believe she has definitely proven herself.

Iowa has become the number one place to live in our nation, we have a record low unemployment rate, our kids are well educated and, well, I could go on and on.

I am proud to support Reynolds for re-election in November.

More: Iowa unemployment rate down to 2.5 percent, 2nd lowest in US

— Vergene Donovan, Spirit Lake

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Hamilton supervisors must provide recommendations

The Register printed a letter from three members of the Hamilton County Board of Supervisors, suggesting the Department of Natural Resources Master Matrix could be improved [Iowa can have a better DNR Matrix, and here's how]. The Matrix forces counties to support the unabated growth of factory farming of pigs in Iowa.

The biggest problem with the letter is that it does not make a single policy recommendation, it merely calls for more talk. If this board of supervisors is still unable to make a policy recommendation to actually improve the Matrix, what do they expect more talk to accomplish?

The board members concede that they “don’t have answers.” The reason for this is because the answers do not exist. Iowa has already exceeded the number of factory farms the state can support without putting everyone in the state at risk.

The factory farming process is abusive to animals, abusive to human neighbors and dirties Iowa’s water and the water for everyone downstream. The Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement group and other groups are right to call for a moratorium on additional factory farms until the current problems are fixed.

— Erich Riesenberg, Des Moines

Direct care workers deserve better pay

A recent Register editorial suggested that immigration reform could be used as a tool to help curb the turnover in care-giving work [Trump should support 'chain migration,' which his in-laws used to become citizens]. This proposal overlooks the real issue with our current direct care services.

Right now, care giving is one of the lowest-paying jobs in this state and nation, yet the work is some of the hardest type of labor. The idea that we should use immigrants to keep wages low is an unfair and predatory job practice. Anyone who works in care giving, regardless of their immigration status, should be paid a living wage.

To solve the high turnover in care giving, the only solution is to strengthen and expand our direct care infrastructure. Both candidates for governor should be speaking about this, but neither candidate has offered concrete proposals.

More:How will immigrant hiring affect the direct care workforce?

If we want a better Iowa for all people, specifically for Iowans receiving direct care, it is time we start paying the people who do the hard work fairly.

— Jack Reardon, Clive

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