Letters to the Editor: RFK leading Health and Human Services is concerning

The recent nomination of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. as secretary of Health and Human Services again brings forward concerning misinformation about essential and proven health practices.

Mr. Kennedy has been an open critic regarding the effectiveness of a wide range of vaccinations to promote public health. His opinions are irresponsible and wrong.

Additionally, blatant misinformation about the importance of vaccines to individuals and communities is prevalent on the internet, in social media and on partisan cable news networks.

I encourage everyone to rely on the knowledge and experience of their trusted family physician, nurse practitioner or physician's assistant to determine when vaccines will promote better health for themselves and their children.

I also urge Iowans to contact Senator Grassley and Senator Ernst to request that they vote to reject the nomination of Mr. Kennedy to lead HHS. His erratic views and lack of relevant experience do not merit public trust.

Bill Bumgarner, Spencer

Avian flu spreads

The points made in your editorial are well-taken. With President Pandemic back on the job and a kook named Kennedy at the public health helm instead of the eminent Dr. Fauci it’s not just democracy that’s ailing. It might be a good many of us too.

Mike Wellman, Des Moines

Please adopt

A just-released U.S. Department of Agriculture report reveals that a Newell-area cat breeder failed to seek veterinary care for a cat with a head tilt who turned in circles, despite having known of the animal’s condition for more than a month. Another cat had matted hair on her back and mats crusted with dried fecal material under her tail, while a third cat was forced to try to rest on a board that was split in half. The breeder also failed to scoop litter boxes daily, or even check on all the cats.

This neglect is exactly why PETA urges the public never to buy from breeders or pet stores.

If you are ready to welcome a new family member into your home — during the holiday season or any other time — please adopt an animal.

Sarah Deffinger, Senior Evidence Analyst, PETA, Norfolk, Va.

A slave to the man, not law

How ironic. The chief custodian of our system of law in America, Chief Justice John Roberts, has personally torpedoed America’s 400-year-long system of rule of law. He did that by writing and installing a doctrine of immunity from prosecution for one single, solitary American, the President of the United States. America is now a slave to one all-powerful man rather than one all-powerful law.   

With one stroke of a pen, Mr. Roberts installed that same unhallowed system of autocracy that kept Europe in the Dark Ages for a thousand years.

As our new king installs bootlickers rather than professionals everywhere in the government, it is clear that he and his gangsters are free to commit whatever crimes against our Constitution, our ancestors and our living, breathing people that they so desire.

The people elected Donald Trump to a four-year term, but one man gifted him totalitarian power while in office. This is the “elective monarchy” our Founding Fathers and Mothers said was the worst possible form of government of all.

Kimball Shinkoskey, Woods Cross, Utah