Viewpoints

To the Editor:

Google and Facebook have enormous economic and political power in society - especially over the news industry. Many ask if they have played a role in the misinformation that erodes our free press and plagues our democracy.

Google and Facebook have a duopoly of the distribution of digital news content, which drives people to their platforms where they make money. The platforms hoard critical data and use clever tactics, like reframing stories in rich previews, to keep users on their sites - siphoning off the advertising revenue that small and local publishers need and weakening their ability to be rewarded for their own content.

Google and Facebook generated $4 million in U.S. advertising revenue every 15 minutes during the first quarter of 2022. That amount could fund hundreds of local journalists in every state in the country.

To the Editor:

I see neither Mr. Engle nor Mr. Quandahl have made mention of the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol of the failed attempt to overthrow the U.S. Government and the U.S. Constitution by both men’s party of insurrection. None of Iowa’s insurrection party members, such as Iowa’s senators, Iowa’s governor or any member of the new party of Iowa, dare mention or condemn what their failed wanna-be dictatorial leader did. If they did, he would banish those from his party or - worse - seek revenge.

All former members of the party of Lincoln are scared to death of one man, and their oath to the constitution and this country mean nothing to them. But they did follow the ex-president down the rabbit hole of crime.

Pat Ward
Waterville

To the Editor:

Addiction is the only disease that tells you that you don’t have a disease.

This is a powerful statement about the disease of addiction. The silent voice and inner thinking that goes on with addiction - what is it exactly that makes it so difficult to stop? Those who do not understand addiction often believe that if the addict/alcoholic “just tries hard enough,” or “just wants to badly enough,” they can stop.

Shouldn’t their damaging behaviors indicate to the addict/alcoholic that what they are doing to themselves and others in their lives is bad enough to make them want to change?

This lack of understanding results in people who have addictive behaviors being considered “immoral,” “weak,” or even “cursed” with a behavior defect that even incarceration or punishment cannot change. A better understanding of the nature of addiction could correct these damaging misconceptions.

To the Editor:

I have reached the point where, quoting Peter Finch in the 1976 movie “Network”, “I am madder than hell and am not going to take this anymore”.

So what am I upset about?  Let me count the ways.

We have a president who has created the worst inflation in 40 years and who wants to blame Putin, Big Oil companies, gas station owners and everyone but himself. The same president openly criticizes the Supreme Court for the recent decision on Roe v. Wade, totally misrepresenting what the decision actually means.

The Justice Department refuses to protect the Supreme Court justices, as required by law. Those justices are being threatened daily by mobs who have no regard for the life of a human fetus, yet will not impose capital punishment on someone who kills a dozen people. What has happened to the rule of law?

To the Editor:

The Supreme Court’s decision to overthrow Roe v. Wade should be concerning for every single American. Rather than a court that is expanding freedoms and rights, the courts took away the rights of half the citizens in America by overturning a decades-old settled law. Regardless of whether or not you have had personal experience with abortion, every single one of us knows and loves someone who has had an abortion.

Every person deserves the right to make their own decisions about their health and families without interference from politicians or punishment. And, yet, for half the people in America, that right is now gone. The Supreme Court has taken away Constitutional protection on individual freedom rather than expanding rights and liberties as most of us have witnessed over our lifetimes.

RAGBRAI, the Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa, is coming to northeast Iowa in just a few weeks. Approximately 15,000 bicyclists from around the world will be pedaling through Waukon and ending up in Lansing on July 30. It will be a very exciting summer!

As a clergy, I have been volunteering on the Lansing RAGBRAI team. I’ve written some of the press releases you’ve been reading and worked designing the logo. I think it is important the ministers and members of our congregations serve the community and this is a fun and convenient way to do so. The entire event will bring a lot of revenue and future tourism to our communities.

To the Editor:

So many things to write about: the passing of Baxter Black from the U.S. Farm Report, the beauty of the corn crop rows as we travelled to the waffle breakfast at the Northeast Iowa Community College Campus in Calmar last week, noticing the weedless corn rows. Seeing a stalk of corn in a bean field is a weed, a weed is a plant out of place. Corn is beautiful but not in a bean field.

On the same note, an old truck or trailer gracing the city plaza for weeks at a time, is a weed in what is supposed to be a beautiful plaza, no doubt to be replaced in the distant future, by a dumpster next to a thriving business in the old J.C. Penney store, which may by that time need another new roof.

Independence Day – Freedom to follow the Lord

On the Fourth of July we celebrate the birth of our country. As Americans I hope you took a few moments during this holiday to give thanks to the Lord for our liberty, justice and precious gift of freedom. Our nation recognizes that all are equal regardless of race, political affiliation, gender, age, health, whether born or yet to be born. We are free to follow the Lord or some other god.

I think that whenever we seek freedom it can be found easiest by following the Lord’s way – Jesus’ new commandment: “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.” John 13:34

Through Christ Jesus we are given love that is unending; in addition, we receive freedom, mercy, peace and hope. “For freedom Christ set us free; so stand firm and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery.” Gal 5:1

To the Editor:

1. According to the U.S. government, there is no historical evidence that Betsy Ross made the first Stars and Stripes. The story of Mrs. Ross and the first Stars and Stripes is based on Ross family oral history from 1870 - nearly a century after the War for Independence. Although Mrs. Ross made flags for 50 years, she made flags for Pennsylvania’s Navy during the War. (Source: “Our Flag.” Joint Committee on Printing. United States Congress. H. Doc. 100-247. Washington: U.S. Government Printing Office. 1989. p. 2.)

2. The so-called “Betsy Ross Flag” dates from the early 1790s - not from the War for Independence. (Source: “Our Flag.” p. 2.)

To the Editor:

June 24, history was made. Roe vs. Wade, a mainstay of the law of the land for over half a century, was overturned.

I was born in 1957, six years before Roe vs. Wade was enacted. My mother chose not to abort me, and even if she wanted to, it may not have been easy at that time. But, what if?

What if I were about to be born in 1963 and my mother wanted to use the Roe vs. Wade law to its fullest benefit? I would now be up in heaven talking to my mom, asking, “Why, Mom? Why did you choose to abort me? God’s plan for me was to live 60-plus years on earth, but now because of your choice I have missed out.”

Thankfully, in real life, that has not been the case. It was never an option for my dear mother to ever even consider abortion, either for me or my seven other siblings. My mom was smart, but she was never quite able to learn to say the words, “my body, my choice.” Thank you, Mom.