Ebola won’t wipe us out

Regarding Shirley MacDonald’s letter to the editor, Oct. 9: If the Black Plague could not wipe out the entirety of the human species, neither will Ebola.

Buy a vowel

Civic Skinny observed that the “t” was apparently laid off the Gannett company sign at Capital Square while at the same time the 2 “n”s were retained. Sources seen reading the Register suggested that, while there is only one “t” in team, there are two “n”s in unemployment check.

Voting age

The Branstad commercial with children reminds me of Nazi Germany during the 1930s. All that is missing is the Seig Heil! Shouldn’t there be a rule that all persons in political commercials should be of voting age?

Shake up the Senate

I am so glad I live in America. I have the privilege of voting for the candidate I think will do the best job as a senator — and it’s not Bruce Braley, or should I say Bailey, a close and personal friend of Michelle Obama and Bill Clinton. They both forgot his name. That just proves to me that they don’t care whether Bruce Braley will be good for Iowa or America; they just want our support because he is a Democrat. Replace one Democrat with another Democrat. If we do that, everything will stay the same in Washington. Is that what you want? I say let’s shake things up a little bit and vote for Joni Ernst. I trust her.

Rich guys and signs

The difference between gubernatorial candidates Terry Branstad and Jack Hatch is stark and unmistakably clear from the signage displayed throughout the state. Oversized Branstad signs are ubiquitous, but please note where they are most prominently placed: namely, on the property of big, moneyed land owners. That is not surprising, but it tells a story that ought to be evident to all. Terry Branstad and big money interests are in the unabashed habit of courting each other. It is clear from the signage alone where Terry Branstad’s sympathies lie. By contrast, Jack Hatch is a person who has demonstrated in many ways in his political and business career that he is for those of us who do not hold monopolies but who are working hard to make ends meet. Very noticeably you rarely, if ever, see his signs planted on the sites of the very rich. That would be inconsistent, because in most cases, their philosophy of life is patently out of touch with what it means to be advocates for those who are less well off. A vote for Branstad is a vote for the economically privileged. A vote for Jack Hatch is a vote for the dignity of the majority, which is the rest of us.

Baccam deserves vote

Som Baccam is driven with both passion and the courage to do the right thing. She understands the importance of working with all stakeholders. Som chose to run for County Public Hospital Trustee this fall because she is committed to delivering accessible and high-quality patient care. She believes when you have a good collaborative relationship with all stakeholders, healthcare patients are the ones who will benefit. Baccam obtained her degree as a registered nurse in 1986 and has worked as a healthcare professional for more than 28 years, including 18 years as a nurse at Broadlawns Medical Center. Som Baccam has a long history of public service and deserves our vote for County Public Hospital Trustee on Nov. 4.

Etch-a-Sketch politicians

Recall Romney’s top aide’s comment after Mitt had moved so far to the right to win the 2012 primaries? He said, “Well, I think you hit a reset button for the fall campaign. It’s almost like an Etch-a-Sketch. You can kind of shake it up and we start all over again.” Why should voters trust Young and Ernst, who have flip-flopped on issues they promoted during the primary but have now decided are too extreme for general election voters. Social Security is one of those issues that requires a Republican to talk about privatization during the primary in order to win with the conservative free market base of the party. However, once the primary is over, they quickly shake the Etch-a-Sketch, adjusting their positions to a more acceptable spot. Young has supported privatizing Social Security but now says it’s become too politicized to talk about. Ernst, who talked earlier of privatization, now says it’s only one option. Shouldn’t voters beware of candidates’ contortionist twists on issues that require a politician with a stiff backbone?