In campus protests, history is on the side of the protesters

A very, very long way from Bob Ray

Seldom are newspaper readers saddened by an editorial that is timely, well-written and accurate. Sadness is the warranted reaction, however, to the April 28 Register editorial “Gov. Kim Reynolds’ handpicked Legislature steamrolls extreme path in Iowa.”

The editorial covers just some of the damage done to Iowa and Iowans by the governor and by those called her legislative “lemmings” as they head us over the cliff from democracy to authoritarian and punitive rule.

Yes, it was a majority of voters in the 2022 election that put both the governor and her lemmings in charge.

Accordingly, the editorial rightly calls upon those voting in 2024 to end the maddening far-right rule and begin repairing the damage Iowans have suffered.

Given the state government’s continuing attacks on public education and those in need, maybe a new set of the three R’s is in order: Remember Robert Ray.

Herb Strentz, Urbandale

Lack of care for state parks is evident

Ledges Park is celebrating its centennial later this year. Its beauty may be unrivaled in central Iowa. Yet its beauty is showing its age.

With closed shelters and no trash removal, we are not taking the care of the treasures we own. In times of budget surpluses, we are starving our state parks and not funding our natural resources and recreation trust fund.

We shouldn't have to travel to Colorado or Minnesota to enjoy the outdoors. Come on, Iowa: We can do better.

Ellen Grimes, Des Moines

The call is coming from inside the house

Dallas County Republican Party chair Kelly Koch, decries the lack the lack of effort being made to safeguard our electoral system.

She is simply ignoring both state and federal efforts to prosecute the greatest threat to electoral security in our nation's history: Donald J. Trump and his MAGA sycophants.

Kent Balduchi, Des Moines

Robust conservation spending in farm bill is a must

Don’t let Congress cut conservation farming funds.

I grew up on the farm that my father and grandfather built together, and today with my family, we farm 1,000 acres of corn and soybeans. Over the years, we have utilized multiple EQIP contracts to implement cover crops and increase profitability. The funding we receive from these programs has been instrumental in changing our chemical program, reducing expenses, and improving our overall sustainability.

However, the future of these vital conservation farming programs is at risk. The USDA conservation programs, which provide approximately $20 billion in funding within the Inflation Reduction Act, face the possibility of being cut in the next farm bill. Such cuts would have a significant impact on farmers like me. These programs play a crucial role in equipping us with the necessary tools to address current challenges in agriculture and ensure the long-term success of our farms.

I run an agriculture equipment business where we sell products and machines that help implement climate-smart practices. The NRCS funding has been instrumental in supporting our business and encouraging our customers to invest in precision ag tools and equipment. If the funding for these programs is reduced, it will not only hinder the ability of farmers in our community to adopt sustainable practices, it will impact our business.

Agriculture contributes over $100 billion annually to Iowa's economy and supports hundreds of thousands of jobs. The success of our farms directly impacts the prosperity of our local, rural communities and the well-being of our residents. In my experience, the investments made through these conservation programs have not only improved our yields but have also led to cost savings and environmental benefits. Cutting funding for these programs would be a setback for the future of American agriculture and the sustainability of our farms.

I urge our representatives in Congress to recognize the importance of these conservation farming programs and fight against any cuts in funding. Let’s work together to ensure a prosperous future for farming in our state and the nation as a whole.

Pete Youngblut, Dysart

Ban on universal basic income programs is regrettable

I wish every Iowan would read the April 23 story “Which laws will change?” in its entirety.

It would be very helpful if the Democrats’ opinion about each bill would also be provided. One bill passed would provide low-income mothers a full year of Medicaid after giving birth, but Republicans also reduced the number of women who qualify. They are so tight-fisted when it comes to helping the poor. Another bill that passed actually prevents counties from helping the poor via the Uplift pilot program! The Uplift program uses no state funding. The Uplift program provides qualifying households (average income only $24,500) with a prepaid debit card with a $500 balance monthly. In past Uplift programs in other parts of the country, research found that 40% was used for food, 12% for transportation, and 27% for retail sales and services. Ninety-five percent of households included children. Females comprised 85% of participants.

Research has shown that basic income increased the ability to obtain full-time employment, improved physical and mental health, and provided a greater ability to manage emergencies. Why in the world would Republicans want to step in and prevent counties in Iowa from providing this crucial help? Please contact the governor’s office to ask Kim Reynolds to not sign this bill into law.

Ann Marshbanks, West Des Moines

History is on the side of those protesting injustice

As a person who protested a war in the 1960s, I am bothered by how the news media has focused on the bad things some protesters are saying and doing and have not talked about why there are students protesting.

In the 1960s we talked a lot about unjust wars. The Israeli assault on the people of Gaza is a classic unjust war. Israel's response has been not so much to destroy Hamas as to destroy the Palestinian people. This is not proportional, a prime requirement of a just war.

Israel is not threatened with destruction by Hamas. Killing 30,000 people and destroying cities and infrastructure will not destroy Hamas, which has branches across the Middle East. It does destroy the lives of people living in Gaza. Clearly not a balanced response, not a just war.

But the students are talking about much more than a disproportionate response and an unjust war.  This unjust war is being carried out using American weapons and American money. We and our government are not innocent. As recognized by virtually every major country and by scholars around the world, if peace is to come to Israel, it will require the creation of an actual Palestinian state, a matter which Israel opposes and is protected in this position by American policy.

The students are right to oppose their government. The media is wrong to focus on those protesters who are violent or antisemitic. The media is wrong to ignore the mistreatment of many protesters.

It would be nice to read proper coverage of the core position of the protesters. There are people in the government of my age who should recall when they were on the streets and ignored.

Remembered history need not repeat itself.

Ivan T. Webber, West Des Moines

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: In campus protests, history is on the side of the protesters | Letters