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While we listen to the election news, see it on TV and read about it, some of us live untouched and unaffected in Storm Lake, but we do our share of worrying. We try to imagine what would happen if Mr. Trump would win the election. Just with the threats Trump says he’ll carry out, our town has changed. I notice the traffic is less around town. Our neighborhood is growing quieter.
I try to put myself in the position of the many immigrants from around the world who now live here. What do they think when Trump says they are criminals, rapists and very bad people? Who is he talking about? These are not my neighbors or the people living in our three rental houses. These are not the folks living in our neighborhood. I don’t think they live in your neighborhood either.
If Trump wins and does what he claims he will do — the housing market will suffer, our employers will not have enough workers and our economy would flirt with recession. It would be the greatest migration of people in our history. Many of our new residents would lose most of what they have worked for . . for so many years.
Don’t sell out your friends and neighbors — vote for Harris-Walz.
Carol Peterson, Storm Lake
Attention wealthy, privileged people of Storm Lake: Faith without works and obedience to God is dead. A day of judgment is coming for all who ignore Matthew chapters 7 and 25; specifically, look at what Jesus said — why do you call me “Lord, Lord,” yet do not do what I ask you to do, and I was homeless, and you did not give me a place to stay.
The rich say, “If you build it, they will come” — “they” meaning the homeless. Well, wake up call: THEY ARE ALREADY HERE IN STORM LAKE! That homeless man behind S.O.S. is someone you are responsible for — he’s Jesus. Build a hospitality house ASAP, before it's too late! We need to quit ignoring Jesus in the face of the homeless man. Jesus, Mary and Joseph were illegal aliens in Egypt. Leaving homeless people out in the cold is murder — and their blood is on your hands, believe me!
No more excuses. God will provide, and God works through you.
Do you want to face an angry God on Judgment Day? Do you want to hear Jesus say to YOU, “Why did you let me freeze out in the cold? Why didn’t you build that halfway house for the homeless when my servant asked you to? Why did you ignore me and throw me out of town and let me die?”
I wouldn’t want to be in your shoes — not for all the money in the world.
See the face of Jesus in the face of the homeless man. Quit making your Satanic, flimsy excuses to continue in your refusal to give Jesus a place to stay! May God have mercy on you!
Brother Mark Huddleston, Storm Lake
How would you feel if your city council or county supervisors invited hundreds of illegal aliens to come to your community even though there are no resources to manage them?
What would you think if your local school district started teaching CRT “critical race theory” that says whites are oppressors and blacks are victims? They also start a drag queen story hour for elementary students promoting LGBTQ and transgender policies.
Suppose your alma mater embraced transgender athletes competing in women’s sports and actively suppressing speech and speakers who stand up against this stupidity.
Imagine if your county attorney endorsed and promoted giving donations to help bail out rioters who burned Minneapolis during the George Floyd riots.
Well friends, the above scenarios are happening courtesy of the Democrat party. Under the Biden administration 16 million illegals have entered our county, with no end in sight. The Dems push CRT transgenderism to divide us even more. Many liberal universities have banned conservative speakers; in fact Riley Gaines, a female swimmer, who speaks against males competing as females, was physically attacked at a university where she was to speak.
The “Democrat party” also want to take away your right to own guns. They want to tell you what kind of car to drive. They worship at the altar of abortion. In 2022 on the House floor, they voted 219-1 to allow abortion right up to birth. They pass no bail laws and demand to defund the police.
The Democrat party cares about one thing only, POWER, power over you.
Why would we vote for anyone who aligns themselves with this line of thinking?
Alan Saunders, Peterson
Republicans have a problem. It’s called hypocrisy. That’s when you say one thing and do another. They say they want freedom. Is it freedom to restrict voting? Is it freedom to ban books like Hitler? Is it freedom to take away a women’s choice in healthcare? Is it freedom to discriminate against gay and trans people?
Republicans want the freedom to rule over you with no feedback. People, you have the freedom to vote them out.
Dave Haynes, Duncombe
This constant lying is not aimed at making the people believe a lie but at ensuring that no one believes anything anymore.
A people that can no longer distinguish between truth and lies cannot distinguish between right and wrong.
“And such a people deprived of the power to think and judge is without knowing and willing it completely subjected to the rule of lies. With such a people, you can do whatever you want.”
This has been such a poignant quote often attributed to the German-American historian and philosopher, Hannah Arendt, who lived in Germany during the Nazi regime. It saddens me to be experiencing that very phenomenon in our country at this time. I never thought the USA would become so deadened to the ravings of some man spewing lies and vile rhetoric.
“First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out — because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews and I did not speak out— because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me-and there was no one left to speak for me.” — Martin Niemoller 1892-1984, a German pastor.
I am speaking out. I am angry at the Republicans that allowed their party to be hijacked.
I am equally angry at the Christians who have allowed the evangelical religious cult to speak for all Christians.
They have allowed hate and judgment of Old Testament authoritarianism to be the voice for Christians rather than the Love of Jesus.
I will do all that I can possibly do to awaken us as a society. Find your voices before we are all in a concentration camp.
Karen Dannewitz, Algona
The election on Nov. 5 is just days away. There are too many important issues to consider to base our vote on just one or two. It’s hard to know what a candidate stands for and will really do when their stances on critical issues seem to change almost daily. (NO IVF, now Father of IVF; anti-abortion, oh wait — not against all abortions). Ah, you say, just another ranting Democrat. Actually, no. I strongly dislike partisan politics and until this election cycle, had been an Independent all my life.
One of the many issues that has convinced me to support the Democratic ticket is immigration. Let’s face it, this issue has been kicking around over the course of decades. While we need immigration reform, we also need to reunite those families who, under the Trump administration, were tragically separated — many of whom are still not reunited because no one bothered to keep records.
We need to remember that we are a nation of immigrants; let’s look at our local migrant population. Our city and county population has suffered considerable population decline for many years.
Important industries — large and small — are benefiting from jobs filled by hard and loyal workers from the Caribbean, Mexico, Latin America, South Africa, India and other countries. These dedicated employees contribute significantly to sustaining our local economy: they pay taxes, purchase groceries and other, durable goods, they rent apartments and buy homes. Just as immigrants have contributed to the U.S. economy and workforce since the founding of this country.
Let’s encourage our new neighbors and make them feel welcome, not run them out on a rail. It’s what our faith requires of us, what our country was founded on, and what Iowans used to be known for. Remember this when you vote!
Jennifer Davis, Algona
Donald Trump said in a televised interview that he would be a dictator for a day. It was a lie. I believe he is laying out what he intends to do if elected again. He intends to be a dictator.
Democracy is dependent on the invisible guard rails and norms of behavior such as the acceptance of election results and peaceful transfer of power to make it work. We accept as a norm that electoral votes will be recorded for the winner of that state, even though not expressly stated in the Constitution. A norm is Congress, on Jan. 6 following the election, will ratify the electoral votes cast pro-forma. That norm was the guard rail that preserved American Democracy through the years.
In 2020, Trump threatened violence, he shouted stolen election and he filed 60+ lawsuits claiming fraud and lost all 60+ of them. He called his followers to Washington, D.C., where “it will be wild.” On Jan. 6, 2021, he delivered a speech sending his followers to the Capitol to stop the counting of the electoral votes. Over 130 police offers were injured by his mob. Five died from injuries or trauma from the experience. He watched the attacks for three hours before he said anything.
After hours of rioting, order was restored and the election of Joseph Biden was affirmed, and on Jan. 20, 2021, Joe Biden was sworn in as President of the United States. Donald Trump did not attend the ceremony. It was the first time since 1869 a sitting president did not attend the inauguration of the new President. Donald J. Trump was a coward to the end.
He is a danger to our nation and does not deserve the vote of Americans who believe Democracy is the heart and soul of our nation.
Steven King, Algona
A big part of making democracy work is creating a time and place for competing candidates of an office to have an opportunity to share views and display their unique qualities. It’s the work of voters to engage in these opportunities, educate themselves and make informed decisions. It’s the work of candidates to help voters draw those comparisons by attending these events and being accessible.
The League of Women Voters has the mission of helping both voters and candidates by creating a forum, an event where the essential public conversation between candidates can occur.
Recently, the LWV Chapters of Sioux City and Ames, with the help of a League organizer in Fort Dodge, arranged to use the facilities at Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge for an event by which the candidates for the Fourth Congressional District could compare their views and qualities for the benefit of the voters.
Ryan Melton, the Democrat candidate, is willing to participate. Incumbent Republican Congressman Randy Feenstra has refused to do so, offering no explanation.
The League of Women Voters of Sioux City and Ames ask that you help Congressman Feenstra see the value of these nonpartisan public events for voters.
Carolyn Klaus, President, League of Women Voters Ames and Story County
Dagna Simmons, League of Women Voters, Sioux City
Vote for Ryan Melton and put people over party as he does. Republican Kevin Virgil ran against Feenstra in the primary and urged voters to vote for the candidate who “is a man of good character who will work for all Iowans and legislate in good faith.” He cited Melton’s opposition to eminent domain for CO2 pipelines, his opposition to corporate money impacting legislators and Melton’s concern for Iowa’s sky-high cancer rates.
Melton will fight for:
Melton promises “to fight for the needs of the people in the 4th district,” all the people regardless of party affiliation.
Kossuth County Democrats urge you to put people over party and vote for the best candidate for Congress... Ryan Melton!
Denny Rasmus, Chair, Kossuth County Democrats, Algona
I did not leave the Republican party; the Republican party left me.
It has become the party of Trump and all the nonsense he stands for, not for the conservative ideals of Robert Ray, Ronald Reagan, John McCain and Mitt Romney. Those of you who are still trying to rationalize a reason for your vote for Trump need to look clearly at Project 2025 and its disdain for the Constitution and democracy.
Ask yourself why you are trying so hard to find a reason to vote for Trump this time. If it’s the border, why did Trump quash the bipartisan immigration bill created by Congress?
If it’s the economy, why did 23 Nobel Prize-winning economists warn that Trump’s economic plans would “lead to higher prices, larger deficits and greater inequality?”
Abortion? There are fewer abortions during Democratic administrations.
Now we find out that Trump, Elon Musk and Putin are buddies. With Trump’s sound defeat, we will rebuild and regain our Republican Party.
Stop rationalizing and vote for the Democratic presidential ticket this time and save our democracy.
Nettie Renshaw, Algona
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