Author Archives: Paul Deaton

Encountering Chuck Grassley

Posted on August 2, 2016 by Paul Deaton

The conventions dispersed and the road home was ahead as Blog for Iowa writers engaged with Senator Chuck Grassley last Friday. Both Trish Nelson, in a chance meeting in Mount Pleasant, and Dave Bradley, at a town hall event in … Continue reading →

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August Recess

Posted on August 1, 2016 by Paul Deaton

SOLON, Iowa — While Trish Nelson takes a well-deserved break, I will attempt to fill her shoes at Blog for Iowa. Delegates from the national party conventions dispersed last week and there is a lot to write about. Party and … Continue reading →

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Cemeteries And Decorations

Posted on May 30, 2016 by Paul Deaton

BIG GROVE TOWNSHIP, Iowa — A couple of years ago the Solon American Legion moved their annual Memorial Day commemoration from Oakland Cemetery to the new service memorial at American Legion Field. As remaining World War II veterans depart on … Continue reading →

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Earth Day 2016

Posted on April 18, 2016 by Paul Deaton

My participation in the first Earth Day on April 22, 1970 evolved in a convergence of social vectors. Among them was this Apollo 8 photograph of Earth above a lunar landscape by astronaut William Anders. After viewing the photograph I … Continue reading →

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It's Not Just About Wages

Posted on March 26, 2016 by Paul Deaton

It’s time for a new discussion about wages. People who harp about hourly wages are tedious and mostly fooling themselves. The economic instinct in society should be and is making a decent life from what we have and are given. … Continue reading →

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Iowa Democrats Convene

Posted on March 14, 2016 by Paul Deaton

JOHNSON COUNTY, Iowa — Democratic delegates met in all 99 Iowa counties on Saturday, March 12. The day was overcast, but hopeful. A bellwether was the fact I didn’t recognize many of the hundreds of people at the Tiffin High … Continue reading →

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March To The Finish

Posted on March 3, 2016 by Paul Deaton

BIG GROVE TOWNSHIP, Iowa — This headline in yesterday’s Boston Globe says it well, “Clinton and Trump are now the presumptive nominees. Get used to it.” Author James Pindell attributes the appellation to math. “They have accumulated more delegates than … Continue reading →

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Why Palm Oil Is Bad For Iowans

Posted on February 19, 2016 by Paul Deaton

On Friday, Feb. 5, the benchmark crude palm-oil future contract traded on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives exchange reached its highest level since May 2014, according to NASDAQ. Traders were feeling bullish as warm, dry weather caused by El Niño in … Continue reading →

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Flint and Reagan's Wake

Posted on February 17, 2016 by Paul Deaton

Driving out of Flint, Mich. on Bristol Road wasn’t in the plans. I interviewed some 30 people, all but one male, for truck driving jobs at the Days Inn across from the GM plant. Tired and ready for sleep, I … Continue reading →

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Iowa Caucus — Seven Days Out

Posted on January 25, 2016 by Paul Deaton

Stuff is getting real as we enter the last days before the first in the nation Iowa caucuses on Feb. 1. The Democratic race has been somewhat dull and uninspiring. Set aside the hubris-imbued early drop-outs (Lincoln Chafee and Jim … Continue reading →

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