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Eb Griper’s marital frustrations

Local Columns

Most of the booths appeared full when I walked into the coffee shop. As I searched for an open seat I was surprised to see Ebenezer Griper. Eb is an irascible old acquaintance who lives several miles out of town. On this morning he was sitting alone, reading a newspaper. “May I join you?” I asked as I slid into the opposite bench. “Haven’t seen you in a coon’s age,” Eb muttered as he looked up over his smeared eyeglasses. “I guess my luck has ended.” “It’s a joy to see you, too, Eb!” I replied. “A day or two ago I got to wondering about what happened to that ...

Lawmakers’ mixed message on mandates puzzles Iowans

Local Columns

I’m confused, and I have a hunch I am not the only one. Are government mandates a bad thing — or are they good? My confusion comes because I hear what leaders in the Iowa Legislature and Gov. Kim Reynolds have said for months. It certainly seems as if, to a person, they agree mandates are bad. The governor often talks about how she believes Iowans will “do the right thing” when it comes to COVID-19 vaccines and wearing masks. She talks about the importance of defending people’s rights and liberties. She is confident Iowans will act appropriately. Last May, she signed a new ...

Green favors Convention of States

Local Columns

For this week’s newsletter I wanted to highlight an issue that I am passionate about and am honored to be the lead sponsor for in the Senate. The Article V Convention of States is an effort never tried before in our history. It is an avenue the founders gave us to rein in an out-of-control federal government if it can no longer restrain itself. If 34 states pass resolutions calling for a convention, Congress shall call for a convention for delegates from each state to gather and discuss proposing amendments for the states to ratify or reject to add to the constitution. In order for an ...

Que sera, sera; what will be, will be

Local Columns

One of the nation’s most popular recordings nearly 70 years ago was Doris Day’s “Que Sera, Sera.” The title is from the Spanish “Lo que será, será” meaning “what will be, will be.” In the lyrics a young girl asks her mother about her future and whether she will be pretty or rich. “Que sera, sera...” her mother replies, “…the future’s not ours to see… whatever will be, will be.” I thought of these lyrics after a conversation with a group of friends. We agreed that it is best that when we are young we don’t know our future. Life, of course, is a mixture ...

Sleep is easier these days

Local Columns

A few days ago my wife woke me up. It was nearly 7:30 a.m. I have been retired for eight years and there was nothing specific that had to be done that day, but I felt a bit slothful. Sleeping in like that has never been part of my adult life… until recently. Oh, I remember being a kid and sleeping until 8:30 or 9:00 on a summer morning. With a houseful of children I imagine our mother enjoyed those rare moments of peace on a quiet summer morning when we kids slept late. Back in those days I liked to stay up late and sometimes fought sleep. You could say I was resisting a ...

Massive tax cuts won’t solve Iowa’s population challenges

Local Columns

I stumbled across a statistical tidbit the other day that probably will surprise many people. U.S. Census Bureau figures show that between 1900 and 2000, the state that grew the least in population, on a percentage basis, was Iowa. Read that again. No state had smaller population growth between 1900 and 2000, as a percentage, than Iowa. Not North Dakota. Not Montana. Not Wyoming. Not any other state. The census statistics show Iowa’s population increased 31% during that span of time. While that may seem like perfectly healthy, long-term growth, the next-closest state in the ...