Posted June 26, 2019in Stray Thoughts
What in the world has gotten into us? Through the years, we poured ourselves into political campaigns, put out yard signs for our favorite office-seekers, and held “coffees” to encourage our friends to back our candidates. It wasn’t unusual for our views to be at odds with those of our
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Posted June 18, 2019in Stray Thoughts
A small caravan crossed the United States border last month, but this was not the kind of caravan that has been in the news for more than a year. The caravan was not being led by a “coyote” who was guiding hundreds of illegal immigrants to the border so they
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Posted June 12, 2019in Stray Thoughts
One of the most contentious issues in the Iowa Legislature this year involved the way the state’s judges are chosen. That process was established 57 years ago when voters amended the Iowa Constitution. It’s worth noting that Republicans held solid majorities then in the Iowa House and Iowa Senate. In
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Posted May 28, 2019in Stray Thoughts
There have been plenty of examples that raise questions whether government boards in Iowa truly understand they work for the people, not for government officials and employees — and that they are supposed to be looking out for the best interests of taxpayers. The latest example comes from Polk County,
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Posted May 21, 2019in Stray Thoughts
I’m a sucker for happy news. There never is enough of it. Often it seems as if discouraging news overshadows anything uplifting or encouraging. But there was an amazing good-news moment Sunday. It came during the commencement ceremony in Atlanta at the historically black Morehouse College, a school whose most
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Posted May 08, 2019in Stray Thoughts
A friend of mine, a Korean War veteran, was talking last week about a mutual friend of ours, who also served in the Korean War. Opinionated would accurately describe both men. They often argued over issues, each one trying to shoot holes in the other’s point of view. Then one
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Posted April 30, 2019in Stray Thoughts
The First Amendment isn’t long, but it certainly packs a lot of angst into those few words: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press or the right of the people peaceably
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Posted April 24, 2019in Stray Thoughts
When you drive down Columbia Street in Bloomfield, you will roll past two lessons on selfless giving. Both of those “lessons” are wrapped in one important building, the Bloomfield Public Library. More on the library’s lessons in a moment. All of this is pertinent to our discussion today because it
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Posted April 09, 2019in Stray Thoughts
A sobering comparison between the athletes and the coaches. A few days ago, a friend repeated a maxim about what it’s like at his work these days: When the company wants him to do something after hours for no pay, the boss points out this is his calling. But when
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Posted April 02, 2019in Stray Thoughts
When members of the Iowa Legislature show up at coffee shops in their districts on weekends, you won’t hear them talking about not trusting local government officials. But that is at the heart of a bill that would turn city and county government topsy-turvy and place a straitjacket on the
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