Posted October 17, 2024in Morain
Last Monday, October 14, the state of Iowa observed Indigenous Peoples’ Day (traditionally called Columbus Day), in recognition of the roles native tribes have played in the state’s history and culture. It’s not a federal holiday, but an increasing number of states and cities now observe it. Last Friday, October
Read More →
Posted October 10, 2024in Morain
Where are today’s Menachem Begins and Anwar Sadats? Or Yitzhak Rabins and Yasser Arafats? Without leaders of their stature and their willingness to compromise for the good of their people, it’s hard to see how anything close to peace can ever be achieved in the Middle East. This statement does
Read More →
Posted October 03, 2024in Morain
Most Americans believe in democracy – or say they do. The United States operates as a representative democracy. That means we elect leaders to do the work of governing, and we get to vote for those offices on a regular basis. If we like what our leaders are doing, we’re
Read More →
Posted September 26, 2024in Morain
This is a nostalgia column. When you’re 83, you’re allowed some nostalgia, provided you can remember what you’re nostalgic about. And that it has some relevance to the current moment. (See conclusion.) I’ve been thinking about the late Bob Ray, Governor of Iowa from 1969 to 1983. He was the
Read More →
Posted September 19, 2024in Morain
I’ve been muddling through some thoughts about national politics after the November 5 election. I will no doubt have more, but this week I have one for each party. FOR REPUBLICANS: Presidential candidate Donald Trump is already strongly suggesting that if he loses to Kamala Harris, it will be
Read More →
Posted September 12, 2024in Morain
The fatal school shootings in Perry in early January took place eight months ago. The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) has concluded its investigation of the tragic incident and turned it over to Dallas County Attorney Jeannine Ritchie. Ritchie refuses to make the report’s findings public. That choice deprives
Read More →
Posted August 22, 2024in Morain
Republicans, who control the Iowa House, the Iowa Senate, and the Iowa governorship, make no secret of their intent to entirely eliminate the state’s income tax. It probably won’t happen this coming year or the next, but the plan is now on a glide path. If the Iowa GOP remains
Read More →
Posted August 15, 2024in Morain
Did the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision in Trump v. United States hold that American Presidents are immune from criminal prosecution for all actions they take while in office? No. But it certainly has made it difficult for a prosecutor to prove a criminal case against a President. The decision
Read More →
Posted August 08, 2024in Morain
During the “Progressive Period” in American history—two decades or so, from roughly 1896 until 1917—a number of states adopted the “initiative” and “referendum” as part of the way their governments operated. Many of those states were in the American West. Iowa was not among them. What would it be like
Read More →
Posted August 01, 2024in Morain
Question: When is a bribe not a bribe, but a thank-you gift? Answer: When it’s paid after the fact, not before. So says the U.S. Supreme Court. Here’s the setup: In 2012 James Snyder, who had big debts and was behind on his taxes, was elected mayor of Portage, Indiana.
Read More →
