Viewpoints

God’s Blessings on the People who dwell in the land we call Driftless. Here are more wondering thoughts from a wayward follower of Jesus the Christ. Let me get right to the point… We need the CHURCH (i.e., the Community of Believers, the Body of Christ), but do we really need organized religion (i.e., the Lutherans, the Catholics, the Protestants, the Baptists, the Methodists, etc.)? The answer is yes, if just for the reason, as people, we need some kind of structure to govern our lives and the activities we are called to do together. The problem is when we try to control ourselves and leave God out of it, either entirely or more often, not putting Him in total charge. At a Christian summer camp I attend for many years in my youth, I learned that I needed to live by this guideline, “God First, Others Second, and I’m Third”. We have turned that around, where “I’m” is first, others are used to benefit “I” and God if consisted at all, is used as window dressing, a name drop.

To the Editor:

I read the Letter to the Editor in the May 28 issue of The Standard from Harriet Sharp. Even though several of her comments about President Trump are blatantly false: “President Trump is highly respected by world leaders, he is a brilliant businessman and boldly stands for Biblical values,” I am not overly concerned with those views because any American who follows multiple news and media outlets knows better.

What is much more bothersome is her belief that “God’s anointing is upon President Trump.” I know Harriet Sharp and consider her a friend and fellow Christian. It saddens me to see her true Christian values be diminished by the words and actions of America’s greatest conman since P.T. Barnum.

To the Editor:

John 3:3 states, “Jesus answered him, ‘Truly, truly, I tell you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.’” This verse, part of Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus, emphasizes the need for spiritual rebirth or a new beginning to understand God’s kingdom.

If you have ever watched Sid Roth on YouTube, near the end of each episode he says: “Repeat after me out loud and mean it to the best of your ability. Dear God, I know I have made many mistakes for which I am truly sorry. I believe the Blood of Your Son washes me clean and now that I am clean, Jesus come live inside of me. I make You my Savior and my Lord and I give my life to You.”

You will probably feel different right after you say these words.

This is the way to your salvation because God wants a personal, intimate relationship with you.

May God bless you all.

Dick Kistler
Waukon

To the Editor:

The new Farm Bill is against states’ rights. Back in the 1970s, the Republican party touted local control - laws should be made for and by the people who were affected. Over time, the Republican party has switched to a “one size fits all.” And many times, the one size gives the large corporation the benefit, not the individual.

The new “Food Security and Farm Protection Act” is no exception.  This bill takes away states’ rights to regulate agriculture, “dictated not by local voters, but by corporate lobbying” (Harkin, The Des Moines Register, June 5, 2025, 7A).

In the United States from 2018 to 2020, “AgReliant, Bayer, Corteva and Syngenta accounted for 83.4% of corn seed sales and 78.1% of soybean seed sales” (Jenkins, DTN.com, 10/16/2024). AgReliant Genetics is headquartered in Canada; Bayer is headquartered in Germany; Syngenta is headquartered in Switzerland.

To the Editor:

Depression is a medical condition that affects millions of people. There are several types of depression, and the symptoms vary among individuals. Here are some of the symptoms that someone with depression may experience:

FEELING SAD OR EMPTY - Mood changes are one of the most common symptoms of depression. A person who has depression may feel sad or low for extended periods of time.

FEELING HOPELESS OR HELPLESS - Depression can make people feel hopeless because there is no foreseeable end to how they are feeling. The person may also feel helpless and they may say or think that no one can help them get better and that they will always feel depressed.

FEELING WORTHLESS - A person with depression may feel as though they are worthless or that their life has no meaning.

To the Editor:

June 14, citizens across the country - including right here in northeast Iowa - will gather for the No Kings Protest, a National Day of Action to defend democracy and reject authoritarianism. In Decorah, meet at 1:00 p.m. at Mary Christopher park on East Water Street to rally then march to the Winneshiek County Courthouse. Come join thousands of others across our great nation to say clearly: we are a nation of laws, not of kings.

This movement isn’t about partisanship, it’s about principle. We’ve watched with growing alarm as President Trump and his allies have undermined democratic norms, attacked the free press, and threatened the rights of everyday Americans. The No Kings movement is a peaceful, nonviolent response to these threats, rooted in the belief that power must be accountable to the people.

To the Editor:

Trump’s and the Republicans’ Big Beautiful Bill is actually a Big Ugly Billionaire Tax Cut Bill. To give billionaires their $1.1 trillion tax give-away, healthcare for the working poor, disabled, elderly, and new mothers is being cut along with food assistance for children (Medicaid and SNAP). To justify this unpopular Reverse Robinhood bill (take from the poor and give to the rich),  Rep. Hinson and Senator Ernst push big lies.

One of the most egregious lies is that “illegals” are getting Medicaid. The truth is that undocumented immigrants are not eligible for traditional Medicaid in Iowa. Federal law prohibits undocumented immigrants from enrolling in federally funded health coverage programs like Medicaid, Medicare, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) [Annenberg Public Policy Center, New York Times]. However, this poll-tested lie is repeated frequently by Hinson and Ernst.

To the Editor:

I was shocked and disappointed by the lack of respect shown during Congresswoman Ashley Hinson’s recent town hall in Decorah. Regardless of political affiliation, elected officials should be able to speak openly with their constituents without being shouted down or interrupted.

Town halls are a cornerstone of our democracy. They offer a much needed opportunity for transparency and accountability. When we silence those we disagree with, we don’t just reject their ideas, we reject the chance for a meaningful dialogue.

This kind of behavior only deepens political division. Instead of working towards prosperity, we descend into hostility and chaos. We must do better. If we really do care about the future of our communities and our country, we must foster respectful conversation, even when we disagree.

Cristina Smith
Waukon

To the Editor:

Finally, our congress is addressing the real problem for Americans. Middle-class and low-income people have too darn much money.

They expect to be able to go to doctors and hospitals, to afford groceries, to buy that car they need to get to work. And let’s talk about their expectation for safe childcare so they can go to work. It’s just not fair to ask a billionaire to contribute to take care of them.

Sure, our taxes pay for the highways that the semis use to transport corporate products. The gas tax poor folks pay should be enough to repair the roads and highways those trucks break down. Billionaires should not have to contribute more taxes despite being bailed out frequently by the government during any economic downturn. Why should Elon Musk pay more just because his company Starlink has been given billions of dollars in government research funding and contracts?

To the Editor:

Have you ever taken a minute to consider what alcohol does to your body, and the irreparable harm that could be caused when you drink and drive? Even if you think you’re not affected, science says otherwise. According to the Iowa Driver’s Manual, here’s what even a small amount of alcohol does to your brain:
• Within 20-40 minutes, the areas of your brain controlling judgment and skill are impaired.
• Your reflexes and reaction times slow down.
• You can’t see as well, and you are less alert.
• You have trouble judging distance, speed, and movement around you (such as other vehicles if you are driving).
• Your coordination is reduced.
• Your eye muscles relax, causing your vision to lose its sharpness.
• Your night vision is cut in half, and your side vision is reduced to one-third.