Letters to the Editor: Republicans must heed eminent domain issue

The recent primary elections of Lynn Evans and Zach Lahn should be a wake-up call to politicians in our Republican party. If you run for office, take heed of the eminent domain issue.

Lahn’s position is clear. He is against the use of eminent domain. Contrast Randy Feenstra, who says two different things at once. He doesn’t like the use of eminent domain, but he also says we need to help ethanol plants. He gives no specificity as to how to balance these positions — he just straddles the same ole’ fence. He even received the backing of Trump. He lost.

Evans is staunchly against eminent domain. He has proven this time and again at the Statehouse. His opponent, Shane Bellefy, has a permissive, industry-friendly stance. He lost bigly.

The position of the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation has been interesting to watch over time. Back in the Dakota Access days, the only thing they were worried about was land restoration. They did not jump into the eminent domain debate. Fast-forward to the Summit CO2 pipeline and the IFBF has adopted a different position. They have advocated for a minimum voluntary easement signup of 90% before eminent domain is even considered. 

Taking this point a step further: If the governor vetoes a bill that has been passed by the Iowa House and Senate, then the House and Senate can override that veto with a two-thirds majority vote in both chambers. It doesn’t happen very often. The last time was in 2006. That vetoed bill, later made law through a super-majority vote was — you guessed it — a law against the use of eminent domain. 

Unfortunately, this law has a notable exception. It allows the Iowa Utilities Commission to grant the power of eminent domain to a private company, which power can then be used by that private company to condemn Iowa farmland for that company’s pipeline. 

Predictably enough, this has led to a growing number of businesses filing petitions for hazardous liquid pipelines. Ten years ago, the only one was Dakota Access. But now, the IUC has been deluged with pipeline petitions. Eminent domain is big business. Are we surprised at this?

Perhaps the politicians are finally taking note. Voters are not happy about eminent domain. It’s high time.

John Murray, Storm Lake

What is the Iran War accomplishing — and who’s making the money?

Put aside your red hat or your blue hat and ask yourself a few questions. What is the objective in Iran? How will we know when we've achieved it? What does success look like? And who benefits financially if the conflict continues?

America has traveled this road before. Vietnam. Iraq. Afghanistan. Each war began with promises.

Over time the objectives changed, the costs grew, and the American people were asked to spend more blood and treasure.

Military families carried the burden. Taxpayers paid the bill. The national debt climbed. Today that debt exceeds $36 trillion. War is not solely responsible for that debt, but decades of military conflict have undoubtedly contributed to it.

There is also a cost that cannot be measured on a government balance sheet. A nation can spend lives, spend treasure, and spend reputation at the same time. After decades of conflict in the Middle East, is America more respected, more trusted, and more admired throughout the world — or less?

Then there is the money. Who is making extraordinary profits from continued conflict?

When conflict threatens oil supplies, oil prices rise. Energy companies profit while consumers pay more at the pump. But higher energy prices don't stop there. Farmers pay more to run tractors and combines. Fertilizer becomes more expensive. Trucking costs rise. The cost of moving grain, livestock, and groceries increases. Eventually those higher costs find their way into every household budget.

When missiles are fired, stockpiles must be replenished.

Defense contractors profit. During the past five years, nearly one out of every five Pentagon dollars spent went to just five defense contractors. Lockheed Martin alone received more than $300 billion in Pentagon contracts. That does not prove corruption. It does prove that war creates powerful financial interests. If billions of dollars can be made from conflict, citizens have every right to ask whether those financial incentives influence the decisions that lead to war and prolong it.

One group sends sons and daughters. Another group sends invoices.

The public deserves straightforward answers. What is the objective? What is the cost? Who bears the burden? And who benefits if the war continues?

Those are not anti-war questions. They are American questions, and Americans should train their eyes and ears to see beyond the smoke of subterfuge and the language of deception.

James Anderson, Pocahontas

May 29 Editor’s Notebook

I stumbled on Art Cullen’s Editor’s Notebook (May 29) while eating a chocolate bar and some other comfort food. Good thing I had chocolate “happy endorphins food” while reading. 

I had to visualize this: “We sit through the city council business on Monday, the county board on Tuesday, the school board on Wednesday and report to you on Friday the hows and whys of property tax inflation. It’s not sexy clickbait. It costs money, and we can barely keep the lights on” (page 9B).

And this: “Iowa is drying up no matter who is in charge...”

And this: “Chalk one up to Citizens United, where money is speech ...”

What “citizens” are Citizens United? No one in my family or extended family that I know of. The name “citizens” “united” is gaslighting 101. Cullen brings up sewer sludge no one wants, but ignoring it doesn’t make it go away.  

A fine line between hope and gambling. I set aside hope and just gambled, and my first gamble won. Josh Turek is on deck to challenge Ashley “I will work with anyone” Hinson.  Josh “I won’t be one of 73 millionaires if elected” Turek.  

Citizens united. Not taking that bet.  

Gretchen Reeh-Robinson, Mount Vernon

Our people don’t know the difference between big and little events

Recently on daytime TV’s The View, America’s popular lady commentators glorified the N.Y. Knicks’ appearance in the NBA Finals like it was the answer to all America’s problems.

They do not understand that professional sports detract from the breadth and depth of citizen study and action necessary to deal with Democracy’s Final Hour in America.

America’s evangelical Christians wring their hands about marital adultery all the while ignoring adultery against the U.S. Constitution.

Pistol Pete Hegseth goes to France to remember D-Day and instead lectures Euro nations about the need to stop the “invasion” of immigrant freedom-seekers to their shores. Which is more important Pete, stopping fascism or stopping people of color from obtaining a better life?

America worries about gay marriage, when ordinary heterosexual marriage and attendant child-birthing and child-rearing have been going down the tubes for decades for reasons having nothing to do with homosexuality.

Kimball Shinkoskey, Woods Cross, Utah

Prison problems

Now would be a good time renew prisons? They can’t keep staff at the prisons they have now. The management of said prisons is incompetent and the conditions, especially women’s prison, is horrible. I’m not assuming this either, important to know if this will end up privately owned.

Vicki Goldsmith, Johnston