Blog For Iowa

Donald Trump: America’s Current Gorgeous George?

Posted on November 7, 2015 by Dave Bradley

Driving down the road and listening to yet another story on Donald Trump punctuated with Trump himself telling all who dare listen just how great he is, I could not help to let my mind drift to try to remember where have we have heard this schtick before. For those who don’t know what schtick is, it is a Yiddish word meaning a certain routine (usually comic but not always) associated with one person. The recently retired persona that Stephen Colbert pulled off on the comedy channel would be considered schtick.

While most people think that the Donald Trump they see at appearances and on debates is the REAL Donald, I tend to believe it is schtick – a made up persona. A persona made up with the express purpose of garnering attention to Trump.

In this respect Trump is hardly doing anything new or innovative. Most of us are familiar with the schtick of Cassius Clay much better known as Muhammad Ali. In reality, Ali is a humble and religious man. In his persona as the heavyweight boxing world’s champion, Ali was a bragging pretty boy who often made fun of opponents. One of his most memorable ploys was to make up short mocking poems about his opponents predicting the round he (Ali) would deliver the knockout punch. Ali would be quite arrogant in his interviews and his ring persona creating a character that had people paying great money to see him get beat. It brought in the crowds.

But Ali was not the first to capitalize hugely on this persona. No, Ali gives credit to a showman / athlete (and one time Iowan) by the name of Gorgeous George.

Gorgeous George was a professional wrestler at the time that TV became the ubiquitous presence in American homes. Professional wrestling was suited to the new medium and Gorgeous George and his obnoxious personality helped make professional wrestling the huge draw that it was in the early days of TV. Sporting curly golden locks, George would enter the wrestling ring wearing a flamboyant robe, preceded by an attendant who would perfume the ring as George entered. Prior to his match George would prance about the ring bragging how great he was to a a jam-packed house of locals who paid big bucks to see George go down in flames.

Many of you have probably already drawn the same parallels that popped into my mind. Bragging, obnoxious, hairstyle that looks unreal, making fun of opponents with mockery and making tons of money in the process. While many would link the Trump persona to Ali’s precedent, I think we could make a case that Gorgeous George is the Trump persona’s precursor with a bit of Ali thrown in to round off the effect.

The Gorgeous George schtick has been ridden to riches in wrestling and in boxing. Will Trump now ride it to the presidency in one of America’s roughest contact sports, presidential politics?

For those unfamiliar with Gorgeous George, here is a short youtube bio. Note the many similarities between The Gorgeous one and The Donald.

Posted in 2016 Election Campaign | Tagged Donald Trump, schtick | Comments Off

Dems Must Vote Down-Ballot To Flip States In 2016

Posted on November 6, 2015 by Trish Nelson

DemocracyforAmerica

Tuesday’s election delivered some big wins for DFA-endorsed progressive candidates — and dealt a powerful blow to the NRA.

The good news: On Tuesday in Virginia, DFA-endorsed Jeremy McPike defeated the NRA in the biggest State Senate race of this cycle. Longtime DFA hero Jennifer Boysko won a stunning upset in the House of Delegates, joining DFA-endorsed winners John Bell and Kathleen Murphy. In a huge win against GOP gerrymandering, DFA’s endorsed candidates swept the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and DFA members also contributed to big wins on clean elections in Maine and in city elections from Seattle and San Francisco to Philadelphia and Tucson.

The 2016 election just got under way, and we have a lot of work ahead. Compared to yesterday’s state and local elections, we know that Democrats are going to vote in big numbers in 2016, with control of the White House on the line.

2016 is a huge opportunity. If we can get Democrats to vote down-ballot in their state and local elections, we can flip more states from purple to blue and start rebuilding progressive power from coast to coast. But we need your help to win.

On Election Day in November 2016, the stakes will be significantly greater. That’s why DFA needs your help not just today — but for the next 12 months. Will you help us build on these victories and ramp up DFA’s 50 State Strategy for 2016 by making a monthly donation of $3 or more now?

As I wrote to you a few weeks ago in reaction to the Matthew Yglesias article on Vox about “Democrats being in denial,” the 2016 election won’t just be about who wins the White House. It will also decide if Democrats take back the all-important state governments that Republicans now control — 70 percent of state legislatures, more than 60 percent of governors — which has a profound impact on the lives of millions of Americans.

Since 2010, Republicans have used their power in the states to undermine progressive causes. They’ve blocked Medicaid expansion because they hate Obamacare, sided with the NRA to block sensible gun violence laws, declared a war on women and Planned Parenthood — just to name a few of the worst things they’ve done.

And, as Republicans take control of state legislatures, they are gerrymandering Congressional districts — a significant reason why the GOP and new Speaker Paul Ryan are now running the House of Representatives.

The lesson is clear: To win 12 months from now, every day from this moment to November 8, 2016, counts.

That’s why DFA — carrying out our commitment to the 50 State Strategy — is partnering with allies in cities and states to recruit strong progressive candidates to run for state legislature and city councils. In 2016, we’re planning trainings and mobilizing grassroots leaders to build winning campaigns. Our goal: Train 25,000 leaders by November 2016.

The NRA, the Koch brothers, and other right-wing extremists are pouring millions into state legislative races. We just proved that people power can beat them. To sustain our 50 State Strategy over the next 12 months, please chip in $3 or more each month between now and November 2016.

Thank you for investing in this important work. We can’t do it without you.

– Howard

Gov. Howard Dean, Founder
Democracy for America

Posted in 2016 Election Campaign | Tagged 50 state strategy, democracy for america, Election 2016, gerrymandering, Howard Dean | 1 Comment

Hoover Library Will Host History Of The Iowa Caucuses

Posted on November 5, 2015 by Trish Nelson

hoover.archives.gov/programs

Hoover Presidential Library/Univ. of Iowa to explore
History of the Iowa Caucuses

History of the Iowa Caucuses November 7, 2015 from 1 to 5 p.m.

The History of the Iowa Caucuses is the first of a series of programs examining the past, present and future of the caucuses through a partnership of the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library-Museum, the Hoover Presidential Foundation, and the University of Iowa Public Policy Center.

Until relatively little known Georgia Gov. Jimmy Carter made a surprising first place finish in the Iowa Caucuses in 1976, the media had not paid much attention to him. With Carter’s surprising win, his campaign garnered more media attention, ultimately gaining the Democratic nomination for President and winning the general election over Gerald Ford. How did he do it, and what are some of the unknown stories that can be shared that will give us insight into the 2016 Caucuses?

Tim Kraft was Carter’s campaign manager in Iowa, whose strategy and organizing efforts led to Carter’s win, and eventual election. Kraft will speak on some of the strategies and stories on how it was done at a free program, Nov. 7 at the Hoover Presidential Library’s Figge Auditorium. A panel discussion will follow.

Democratic caucus managers Richard Bender and Jeani Murray, and Republican caucus manager Eric Woolson will share the history of the Iowa Caucuses and how they differ. A second panel including members of the media will discuss what makes a successful campaign and the media’s role. David Yepsen, a longtime political reporter from the Des Moines Register, O. Kay Henderson, Iowa Public Radio’s news director, and WHO-TV in Des Moines weekend anchor Dave Price, who has recently released his first book, “Caucus Chaos” will join us in a media panel discussion.

“Herbert Hoover was a public servant for the last 50 years of his life, who was extremely interested in better public policy discussions and decisions. I have no doubt if he was alive today, he would be vitally interested in how the Iowa Caucuses have shaped politics and public policy in America,” stated Jerry Fleagle, Executive Director of the Hoover Presidential Foundation.

VIEW THE SCHEDULE

ABOUT THE PARTICIPANTS:

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Tim Kraft began his White House service as Special Assistant to the President for Appointments at the onset of the Carter Administration. He originally supervised the Office of Scheduling and Office of Advance. He also held the position of private secretary to the President and social secretary to the President. In late April 1978, Kraft’s title was changed to Assistant to the President and his area of supervision included the Offices of Presidential Personnel and Presidential Messages. In 1979, the White House announced that Kraft was leaving to join the Carter-Mondale Committee as campaign manager.

PANEL OF IOWA CAUCUS MANAGERS: Richard Bender was an architect of the modern Democratic caucus system. He became a special assistant to Senator John Culver in 1975. Bender was on Tom Harkin’s staff from 1977 till 2013. He was his senior legislative assistant, focused on appropriations, taxes, economic development and infrastructure. Throughout his years in Congress, Bender remained involved in the Iowa caucus process and deflected various efforts to replace Iowa’s first in the nation position.

Jeani Murray served as an Iowa Representative, Leonard Boswell’s Chief-of-Staff on Capitol Hill, a National Field Director for a major public interest non-profit, Executive Director of the Iowa Democratic Party, and a campaign manager.

Eric Woolson of West Des Moines, Iowa, has worked for a mix of candidates over the years. In 2008, Woolson was the Iowa campaign manager for presidential candidate Mike Huckabee. He was senior advisor for former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s presidential campaign in 2011 and was also the Iowa communication director for three other GOP campaigns – U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley in 2010; Doug Gross for governor in 2002; and George W. Bush for president in 2000 – as well as one Democratic campaign: then Delaware U.S. Sen. Joe Biden’s 1988 presidential bid.

PANEL OF IOWA CAUCUS REPORTERS: David Yepsen became director of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University Carbondale on April 1, 2009. Previously, he had a 34-year career with the Des Moines Register serving as the paper’s chief political writer, political editor and political columnist. Dave Price is the political director and weekend anchor at WHO-TV in Des Moines, Iowa. His work has earned him a national Emmy and Edward R. Murrow award, along with dozens of state and regional awards. Dave also recently released his first book, Caucus Chaos, his insider’s account of the unique Iowa Caucuses.

O. Kay Henderson, News Director — In 1987, Kay became one of the three founding members of the Radio Iowa network newsroom. In 1994, she became the network’s news director. She is a featured reporter and commentator on Iowa Public Television’s “Iowa Press.”

The History of the Iowa Caucuses is a free event at the Hebert Hoover Presidential Library-Museum in West Branch, Iowa. The Museum is located ¼ mile off Interstate 80 at Exit 254, for more information: www.hoover.archives.gov or www.ppc.uiowa.edu.

Posted in Iowa Caucuses | Tagged #firstinthenation, Iowa caucus history | Comments Off

Reading Naomi Klein

Posted on November 4, 2015 by Paul Deaton

Unlike the climate crisis story spoon fed to us in decreasing numbers of corporate media stories, in social media memes, and in fleeting conversations at community gatherings, in This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs The Climate, author Naomi Klein said there is a nascent, global movement preparing to take climate action.

“The climate movement has yet to find its full moral voice on the world stage,” Klein wrote. “But it is most certainly clearing its throat—beginning to put the very real thefts and torments that ineluctably flow from the decision to mock international climate commitments alongside history’s most damned crimes.”

If you haven’t read Klein’s 2014 book, you should. Not because of a desire to take sides in the public discussion of global warming and the need to keep global temperature increase to two degrees or less. But because a). reading a paper book can be good for us, and b). with Klein you can hear her broader story and learn new things. Here’s more on why you should pick up a copy at your library or bookstore if you haven’t already.

In Iowa, as home to the first in the nation caucuses, we are inundated with stories about politics. Elections matter, and we have seen how in the Republican awakening after Barack Obama’s 2008 election. Progressives hardly understood that Republicans, though in the minority in the Congress, would exercise such power that much of Obama’s agenda was sidelined from the beginning. Republican comebacks in 2010 and 2014 have turned the congress from Democratic to Republican, and right-wing hardliners have more input to the legislative process than their numbers warrant. Taking climate action in Congress has, for the most part, been a non-starter.

“It’s not just the people we vote into office and then complain about—it’s us,” Klein wrote. “For most of us living in post-industrial societies, when we see the crackling black-and-white footage of general strikes in the 1930s, victory gardens in the 1940s, and Freedom Rides in the 1960s, we simply cannot imagine being part of any mobilization of that depth and scale.”

“Where would we organize?” Klein asked. “Who would we trust enough to lead us? Who, moreover, is ‘we?'”

Klein’s book frames answers to those questions: People are organizing everywhere, resisting unbridled extraction of natural resources by corporations. “We” includes almost everyone.

This Changes Everything reviews the recent history of the climate movement. It covers extreme extraction of natural resources that leave behind waste heaps, fouled water and polluted air, then are burned and produce atmospheric gases that warm the planet. Everyone from fossil fuel companies to environmental groups have been involved in what Klein calls “extractivism.” There is a growing resistance, including environmental groups divesting from investments in the fossil fuel industry, indigenous people mounting court battles, and community groups violating international trade agreements to move to renewable energy sources. The book is a snapshot of where the climate movement currently stands.

While Klein has her point of view, she depicts the complexity of a global network of fossil fuel companies seeking to extract hydrocarbons scientists tells us must be left in the ground. While the resistance may not have found its full moral voice, Klein’s book makes the case it won’t be long and recounts the significant inroads indigenous people and communities near extraction sites are making.

When we talk about taking climate action, Naomi Klein’s work should be part of our conversation.

Posted in Climate Action, Environment | Tagged ActOnClimate, Climate Action, environment, extractivism, Naomi Klein, This Changes Everything | Comments Off

Urgent: Act Now To Stop The Bakken Pipeline

Posted on November 3, 2015 by Trish Nelson

November 12 is a critical day in the fight against the Bakken Pipeline and we need you there. The Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) will hold their public comment hearing where everyday Iowans will have the opportunity to share their dissent to this risky proposal with the three appointed IUB Board Members.

We want to have a huge impact that day. This means we need hundreds of Iowans lining up out the door at the Boone Fairgrounds to tell IUB: No Bakken Pipeline!

Will you join us? REGISTER HERE

When: Thursday Nov. 12 | 8 AM

Pipeline fighters will rally at 8:30 AM before heading into the hearing together by 9 AM

Where: Boone County Fairgrounds Community Building
1601 Industrial Park Road, Boone

If you are in Des Moines, we’d love to have you travel with us! Iowa CCI has reserved two vans to transport folks to the event. Please contact me (nathan@iowacci.org) if you would like a ride. There is no cost, but we need you to meet at our office (2001 Forest Ave, Des Moines) by 7 AM to hop in the van. Refreshments will be provided at the Fairgrounds!

Let’s win a clean energy Iowa,

Nathan

Posted in Calls to Action, Corporate Greed, ICCI | Tagged #nobakken, Bakken pipeline, Iowa pipeline | Comments Off

CAP Action, Progress Iowa to Host Iowa Women’s Economic Security Forum

Posted on November 1, 2015 by Dave Bradley

October 29, 2015

Contact

Chelsea Kiene, 202.478.5328, ckiene@americanprogressaction.org

Matt Sinovic, matt@progressiowa.org

ADVISORY: CAP Action, Progress Iowa to Host Iowa Women’s Economic Security Forum

Des Moines, IA — Too many working families are struggling to make ends meet and to respond to the competing demands of work and family. Every day, women and men across Iowa confront impossible choices between ensuring their families are cared for and working in order to get by. What’s more, mothers are the sole, primary, or co-breadwinners in more than 7 in 10 Iowa families. Unfortunately, our public policies have not kept pace with the reality of what women and families need to put economic security within reach and have a fair shot to get ahead.

On Thursday, November 5, the Center for American Progress Action Fund and Progress Iowa will host a forum on women and family’s economic security and the concrete solutions needed so that working families can fulfill their obligations at work and at home without putting one or the other at risk. At the forum, state advocates, policymakers, and legislators will announce a legislative agenda and call to action for Iowa women and working families.

WHO:

Featured speakers:

Sally Pederson, 45th Lieutenant Governor of Iowa (D)

Neera Tanden, President, Center for American Progress Action Fund

Sheila Lirio Marcelo, Founder, Chairwoman, and CEO, Care.com

Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, Executive Director/CEO and Co-founder of MomsRising.org

Additional speakers and panels will be announced in the days leading up to the event.

WHEN:

Thursday, November 5, 2015

9:00 a.m. CT – 3:00 p.m. CT

WHERE:

Central Library

1000 Grand Avenue

Des Moines, Iowa 50309

RSVP:

Click here to RSVP.

For more information on this topic or to speak with an expert, contact Chelsea Kiene at ckiene@americanprogressaction.org or Matt Sinovic at matt@progressiowa.org.

Posted in Progress Iowa, womens rights | Tagged women's economic issues, women's issues | Comments Off

Sunday Funday: It Gets Late Early Now Edition

Posted on November 1, 2015 by Dave Bradley

Time to answer the quiz today

The title riffs from a Yogi Berra quote of long back. Here we are back to standard time and a week of time schedule screw ups thanks to the silly changing of the clock. Didn’t bother me as much when daylight time started when school ended and ended when school started. However, thanks to a spineless congress and the barbecue (spring) and the candy (Halloween) lobbies, times change at the oddest times now. So tonight many of us will be ready for bed shortly after 6PM and be rising @ 4:30 tomorrow as our bodies try to switch over.

But that extra hour of sleep is wonderful.

Were you paying attention?

1) Looks like the outcome of the last GOP debate was that which candidate is spending most of his time claiming he is still a viable candidate?

2) Much of the blogosphere discussed at length the rough treatment of a female high school student by who?

3) If yesterday was Halloween, then what is today known as?

4) At last week’s JJ Dinner in DesMoines, which candidate was criticized roundly for apparently leaving too early?

5) One of the most famous newspaper headlines ever was published Wed. Nov. 3, 1948 in Chicago. What did it say?

6) At Wednesday’s debate, Ben Carson denied any connection to which company, even though there are youtube videos of him endorsing their product?

7) Following votes by student and faculty representatives, what was removed from the Ole Miss campus Monday?

8) Heating costs in Iowa are expected to lower or stabilize this winter due to a gas supply glut and what else?

9) Hillary Clinton got a surprise endorsement this week from what Ohio senator?

10) What has joined cigarettes and asbestos as a group 1 carcinogen, according to the World Health Organization?

11) Iowa’s State Public Defender’s Office has added what new division?

12) Finally as John Boehner leaves office he gives the President a gift by getting what passed?

13) Scientists have discovered a comet that is leaving a trail of sugar and what other substance?

14) The huge hurricane, Patricia, left how many deaths in its wake?

15) A woman in Oklahoma killed 4 when she slammed into a crowd of people watching what?

16) The label on Aquafina bottled water will soon be changed to say “public water sources” which is another way of saying what?

17) According to scientists at MIT, the Persian Gulf area could be too hot for what by 2100?

18) What former US Speaker of the House pled guilty to evading currency reporting requirements in federal court Tuesday?

19) The Republican Party pulled its February debate from what network in response because it thought Wednesday’s questions out of line?

20) Scott Kelly Friday became the holder of the American record for consecutive days spent where?

For today’s trick, no answers — hehehehee

kidding

1) Jeb Bush – many folks writing that his campaign is kaput.

2) a school Resource Officer or sheriff’s deputy or Ben Fields by name

3) Al Hallow’s Day. Hallowe’en means hallowed (or holy) evening and the day after the hallowed evening is hallowed day AKA All Saint’s Day in Catholicism.

4) Bernie Sanders

5) “Dewey Defeats Truman” by the Chicago Tribune.

6) Mannatech

7) The state flag which contains the confederate flag within it.

8) a very strong El Nino which is expected to keep temperatures mild

9) Sherrod Brown

10) processed meats such as bacon, ham and sausage

11) division of Wrongful Convictions

12) a budget. Been a long time.

13) alcohol

14) 0

15) the homecoming parade at Oklahoma State U.

16) tap water

17) human habitation

18) Dennis Hastert

19) NBC – Wednesday’s debate was on subsidiary CNBC

20) in space – 216 days and counting

And now to hibernate

Posted in Humor | Comments Off

IPP: Branstad’s Administrative Tax Cut For Businesses

Posted on October 31, 2015 by Dave Bradley

If you are looking for solid, fact based opinions on what effect Iowa’s fiscal policies will have in the real world before they are enacted one of the best sources around is the Iowa Policy Project.

Once more under the guidance of Terry Branstad, Iowa is embarking on some new territory in the fiscal arena. Normally fiscal matters are a part of the budgeting powers that are held by the legislature. There is good reason for that. If the budgeting powers were held by one person, then that person would be hard to control whatever party that person is a member of. Bufgeting includes taxing powers. One could easily see that one person exercising budget and tax powers could easily reward friends and punish enemies without any checks.

This is pretty much what Terry Branstad did a couple weeks ago when he unilaterally interpreted a clause in the Iowa tax code to give something like a $40 million gift to the business community. This took place about 3 months after Branstad line item vetoed a $50 million one time expenditure that the legislature approved for Iowa schools. It looks like Branstad is running the budget on his own with schools being punished and businesses getting rewarded.

So we turn to Iowa Policy Project for some insight. From Research Director Peter Fisher we see in brief that a tax cut is not good for Iowa:

The administration’s proposal to create new sales tax exemptions for Iowa businesses is unnecessary, expensive and counterproductive. The state can ill afford another tax break that will harm essential state services while producing little or no economic benefit.

State and local taxes have little effect on business location decisions
State and local taxes are less than two percent of total costs for the average corporation. As a result, even large cuts in state taxes are unlikely to have an effect on the investment and location decisions of businesses, which are driven by more significant factors such as labor, transportation, and energy costs, and access to markets and suppliers.

Enacting a subsidy through administrative rules guarantees complete absence of evaluation and accountability
While the sales tax break has been promoted as an economic development incentive, creating it by administrative rule eliminates even the minimal level of accountability established by the Legislature for the periodic review of tax credits. There will be no review, no evaluation of its effectiveness, not even an annual accounting of its cost.

Tax breaks erode support for public investments in our future
The proliferation of tax incentives and business tax cuts over the past two decades has resulted in several hundred million dollars each year cut from the state budget. This has undermined the state’s ability to support quality education, from pre-school through public colleges and universities, which in the long run will have serious consequences for state economic growth and prosperity.

From IPP Executive Director Mike Owen:

New rule! Governor wants to make laws himself

We all know the drill: The Legislature passes bills and the Governor signs or vetoes them, whereupon they become either laws, or nothing.

Not anymore, apparently.

The move by the Branstad administration to implement a new sales tax break worth an estimated $40 million a year — possibly more — is taking place outside the legislative session. If it succeeds, we have entered a new world of executive authority in Iowa.

Business lobbyists wanted the change, it could not pass the Legislature, and the administration thinks it has found a short cut: Change the longstanding interpretation of the existing law. Presto, tens of millions of dollars will be available for manufacturers. And those same tens of millions of dollars will not be available for schools.

Iowa Policy Project

If the Iowa legislature has any spine at all this should be the first issue they address in the next session. However with former ALEC president Linda Upmeyer as the new Speaker of the Iowa House the chances are probably zero. Unless they stand up to the governor’s action they essentially approve of this change in the scope of power. The underlying issue is not the money, but the change in who has what power. Budgetary power was a power few legislatures have handed over willingly. It looks like Iowa’s is about to.

Posted in Branstad, Iowa Legislature, Iowa Policy Project | Tagged administrative tax cut for businesses, iowa budget, Linda Upmeyer | Comments Off

Real Scares For Halloween

Posted on October 31, 2015 by Dave Bradley

Who could pass up the opportunity to post a column on things to be truly scared of Halloween? Not me for sure!

Earth’s survival
We are crapping badly in the only nest we have and refuse to clean it up! Also known as climate change. Reality is hard for those who believe that some magic man in the sky is going to save us from our own filthy habits. We only have so much water, so much oxygen, so much diversity of life and so much of a shield from our own sun. We are in the process of destroying all those yet many among us think nothing is wrong. Humans have some choices – they can start cleaning up their mess, find a new planet to move to really quickly or evolve as no species has before them.

Income and wealth inequality.
So what if all the earth’s wealth ends up in a few hands? Something like 80 individuals own over half of the earth’s wealth. But humans have an innate sense of fair play and at some point there will be a cataclysmic change to bring things back into line. Or we could do it through processes we have set up already, peacefully.

Gun violence
Did you ever think that your neighbor may be the guy with a cache of guns and an axe to grind? Or maybe even closer to home maybe it is your spouse. But mechanisms for helping to defuse the stresses that could cause someone to go over the edge and use their guns have been pretty much destroyed in our society. Mental health screenings, gun registrations, counseling and other societal interventions have been defunded and destroyed leaving individuals on their own to act out on their problems. Add the NRA in its capacity as dealer of weapons and it is a toxic soup.

Destroying Social Safety Nets
Republicans are set to vote to destroy Obamacare once more next week or so. Medicare, Social Security, food stamps, unemployment insurance are all in their sights. Since they currently own two houses of congress all they need is to add the presidency and the long held wish of destroying these programs can be achieved. Sure it may end of killing lots of people but that is the price of regressing to a fantasy world that never existed. Republicans have greatly damaged the safety net over the past 3 decades. One more chance and they may be able to finally do it in.

Rigged elections
But wait you say, Republicans could lose congress next year. They could, but not without doing everything they could to rig the elections in their favor. Throwing voters off the rolls who are valid voters across the country, setting up electronic voting machines across the country that can be easily hacked and gerrymandering districts such that Democrats can never win a majority in the US House nor many state houses. Perverting the system like this has led to some strange election results such as in Kansas and Kentucky last year.

Cheaper to fix while they are still up

Failing infrastructure
Ever drive over a bridge and wonder if it could collapse underneath you? If you don’t you may want to start thinking about it. Our predecessors built some great cities with sewer and water and electric and transportation systems. They also built in the necessary funding to keep it maintained at that time. But they did think that we would be smart enough to also follow their lead and maintain and replace as needed as a society. However our personal greed and prejudices have let that great work descend into a pit of problems that actually poses daily danger to Americans. Or maybe you have worried about our way overtaxed air traffic system might just fail someday when you are on a trip?

Apathy
At the base of all the scary stuff in our country is the apathy of our citizens. By not showing up to vote they allow the wealthy to buy politicians, they allow officials to be elected that will hand the running of our local state and national governments over to those who work only to better the lives of those who fund their campaigns. Apathy gives us politicians like Joni Ernst who owes much of her campaign funds to the Koch Brothers and their subsidiaries. We get politicians like Chuck Grassley who is owned by finance and insurance companies. He did all he could to kill Obamacare and now is stalling all judicial appointments. We get politicians like Terry Branstad who has singlehandedly given away our tax dollars to Orascom and paid off political donors with huge contracts to run our Medicaid program.

Apathy, it’s the worst.

There are lots of monsters in our current political system and society. We can ignore them and they will eat us. or we can put up a fight.

Posted in 2016 Election Campaign, Charles Grassley, Climate Change, economic inequality, gun control, Joni Ernst, Medicare, Obamacare, Social Security, unemployment insurance, voting rights | Tagged apathy, infrastructure | Comments Off

Blog For Iowa

Donald Trump: America’s Current Gorgeous George?

Dems Must Vote Down-Ballot To Flip States In 2016

Hoover Library Will Host History Of The Iowa Caucuses

Reading Naomi Klein

Urgent: Act Now To Stop The Bakken Pipeline

More Medicaid Listening Posts Scheduled

CAP Action, Progress Iowa to Host Iowa Women’s Economic Security Forum

Sunday Funday: It Gets Late Early Now Edition

IPP: Branstad’s Administrative Tax Cut For Businesses

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