Author Archives: Paul Deaton

The Hell In Hellfire Missiles

Posted on February 6, 2013 by Paul Deaton

The AGM-114 Hellfire air-to-surface missile was developed as an anti-tank weapon back in the days when the primary threat against the United States was thought to be the Soviet Union and their T-62 and T-72 tanks. When I entered the … Continue reading →

Posted in Peace, Veterans | Tagged Drone warfare, drones, John Brennan, Peace, Veterans for Peace | Comments Off

50,000 Megawatts of Coal Plants Retired

Posted on January 23, 2013 by Paul Deaton

Settlement Between the Sierra Club and Warren Buffett’s MidAmerican Energy Brings Clean Air Victory to Iowans DES MOINES, Iowa– On Jan. 22, the Sierra Club and Warren Buffett’s MidAmerican Energy Company announced a landmark settlement that requires the Iowa utility … Continue reading →

Posted in Energy, Environment | Tagged climate change, energy, environment, MidAmerican Energy, Sierra Club | Comments Off

Iowa House Republicans' Anti-Union Bill DOA

Posted on January 21, 2013 by Paul Deaton

The gang of Republicans in the state house kicked off last week asking for a constitutional amendment to include their political position on Iowa’s status as a right to work state in the Iowa Constitution. Didn’t they hear about the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALEC, GOP, Iowa Legislature, Labor | Tagged HJR 1, Iowa Legislature, labor, right to work, unions | 1 Comment

Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy Comment Period Extended

Posted on January 3, 2013 by Paul Deaton

The comment period for Iowa’s Nutrient Reduction Strategy has been extended for two weeks until Jan. 18, according to the Des Moines Register. By extending the comment period, the best interests of Iowans will be served. One hopes the strategy … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Farming | Tagged environment, farming, Gulf of Mexico, Gulf of Mexico hypoxia | Comments Off

Responding to Iowa's Nutrient Reduction Strategy

Posted on December 13, 2012 by Paul Deaton

I continue to encourage readers to make formal comments on Iowa’s Nutrient Reduction Strategy before Jan. 4. The impact of Gulf of Mexico hypoxia zones that are created from agricultural runoff has been grievous enough to activate the U.S. Environmental … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Farming | Tagged environment, farming, Gulf of Mexico, Gulf of Mexico hypoxia | 1 Comment

Iowa's Nutrient Reduction Strategy Update

Posted on December 13, 2012 by Paul Deaton

This week, the State of Iowa called three public meetings on Iowa’s Nutrient Reduction Strategy to take and answer questions about the program. Here is the information about the meetings: Dec. 17, 6:30 p.m., Boulders Conference Center, Denison. Dec. 19, … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Farming | Tagged environment, farming, Gulf of Mexico, Gulf of Mexico hypoxia, Iowa farms | Comments Off

Infringing on Sovereignty

Posted on December 5, 2012 by Paul Deaton

Tuesday, the United States Senate failed to ratify the United Nations Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities in a 61-38 vote where two thirds majority was required. Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa voted against ratification of the treaty, saying … Continue reading →

Posted in Foreign Affairs, Nuclear Disarmament, President Obama | Tagged Americans With Disabilities Act, Disability rights, nuclear disarmament, Obama | Comments Off

It's Time For Fiscal Accountability at the Pentagon

Posted on November 29, 2012 by Paul Deaton

It’s time for fiscal accountability in all parts of government, but particularly with military spending. In FY 2000 the Pentagon budget was $295 billion, the national debt was $5.62 trillion, and unemployment was 4 percent. In FY 2012, the Pentagon … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, Foreign Affairs, Veterans | Tagged defense budget, military budget, Pentagon Budget, veterans, Veterans for Peace | Comments Off

Iowa's Nutrient Reduction Strategy-Redux

Posted on November 27, 2012 by Paul Deaton

In a letter to the editor of the Cedar Rapids Gazette, my friend Lynn Gallagher spoke to how I felt about the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy referenced in my Nov. 20 post. Here is her letter: “Does anyone really believe … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment | Tagged environment, Governor Branstad, Gulf of Mexico hypoxia, Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy | Comments Off

Dealing with Iowa's Nutrient Runoff

Posted on November 20, 2012 by Paul Deaton

In May 2010, I first posted on Blog for Iowa about Iowa’s nutrient runoff and its effect on the Gulf of Mexico, where it creates hypoxia zones. It is a serious problem, grounded in reality, and Governor Branstad, along with … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Farming | Tagged environment, farming, Gulf of Mexico, Nutrient reduction strategy, Nutrient runoff | Comments Off