What's Happening in Iowa - Des Moines, Iowa

Once again, men and women with vast differences of opinion, congregate under the beautiful golden dome of Iowa's capitol. They sit in beautiful rooms and sometimes meet in special rooms behind locked doors. These people, from all corners and the center of Iowa, enter the statehouse assemblies with feelings of power. We hope they come to serve those people who are relying on them to put forth their message. We hope they don't use their power for their own political hi-jinks. We also hope they don't use their given powers to serve just a small minority of the people but refuse to be open minded to the needs of most Iowans. The economy is struggling but the people of Iowa are willing to work hard and do with less. They also have sincere expectations of their leadership.

Just the past few days we read in the Des Moines Register that some rural Iowa roads will be returned to gravel because there is no money for upkeep. Will this be a way of things to come? We read stories of school kids without adequate supplies, good teachers and facilities. Grandpa and Grandma should be able to find a place to be cared for as needed without worrying about dieing in their feces or being mis-treated. They need someone who will assure that care centers and their staff abide by certain rules and regulations. Military folk are coming home with needs for different types of assistance. Iowa has been rampaged by floods and must plan ahead for more to come. The list goes on and on. The problems are huge and they continue to mount. People of Iowa should not accept this intolerance and should insist that their legislators focus on the larger needs of most Iowans.

1500 people were hired for state jobs since July. Governor Branstad hinted that he will be doing away with all of those jobs. He says the state does not have money and need for these jobs. Maybe you agree that governmental workers, especially in the past, often did not have as high goals as some other places within the business world. This past week I've visited with some of those newly hired workers. Most had educational and job status skills far above those needed for their current job requirements. They've mostly been downsized and need some kind of job to care for their families. And they tell me their desks are piled high when they come in to work in the morning, and again, by the time they leave at night. There is no satisfaction to these jobs, but they were willing to just have a job and they do it. Payroll people are checking files and doing simple math. But the jobs need to be done so Iowans can move forward with their lives. Do people abuse state assistance. You bet and they also know how to work the system. What can be done to help?

Every day we are ambushed with words from the Iowa State House about the dismal fight regarding same-sex marriage. They get no-where with this terrible fight because the issue is extremely polarized. We would hope the lawmakers could meet somewhere in the middle of most issues. Same-sex marriage seems to have no middle ground. Some argue that gays and lesbians should study the bible and get sensible. Others say you can often tell a very young child who will likely be gay. Some shout that people want to be gay. Others say their lives were almost ruined because of something inside them they didn't understand. And then what allowances should be given gay couples? If you loved someone dearly wouldn't you want to be first on their list. Just what is traditional marriage. Some say marriage is for having children.

It seems to me and many of those I've visited with lately, that many of these issues should be left to the individual. If Iowa wants to increase its well-being, we need a variety of people with a variety of talents. We need people who will give and take. We need to discuss issues freely and openly. Iowans must work for the good of all. To satisfy a small group of people, should not be their goal. Iowa is moving forward. Iowans are from all walks of life and they deserve to be treated as well as possible. Special interest groups only interfere with the magnanimous needs you and I now have or that we will need sometime during our lives. And to be successful, we must have leaders who push and pull us out of the quagmire.

Des Moines Register
Employees of the State of Iowa
Myself
Other reading and discussion