SHARE
COMMUNITY LETTERS
Which party is more like Jesus?
I was reading David Chung’s most recent piece, and it brought to mind the question: Which political party’s actions and plans actually represent Christian principles? Let’s take a crack at it.
Principles Jesus Christ lived: love, humility and servanthood, forgiveness and mercy, compassion for the poor and marginalized, peace.
Republican Party priorities: Build a wall on the southern border of the United States; round up illegal immigrants and some legal immigrants into camps and deport them; take away a woman’s right to make health care choices that are best for her; prosecute women who have miscarriages; create laws to punish marginalized people, especially the LGBTQ+ community; lower taxes for billionaires.
Democratic Party priorities: Continue to invest in infrastructure which will create good jobs; scaling up renewable energy projects to combat climate change; expanding access to health care; negotiating to lower prescription drug prices; measures to combat gun violence; expand access to affordable higher education, including addressing student debt; expanding early childhood education.
I ask your readers, now which party do you think embodies the principles of Jesus Christ?
Matthew Lantz Cedar Rapid
Jay Gorsh values public education
Thank you for printing opinion pieces by candidates running for offices outside of Linn and Johnson counties.
I’ll comment on two Iowa County candidates running for House District 91; Jay Gorsh and Judd Lawler.
Gorsh, as a former public schoolteacher, supports adequate funding for public schools and stakeholder input regarding important decisions. In contrast, Lawler spins fact-free, Republican talking points about education. He states students are taught they are unfairly privileged and have been born in a country that is uniquely evil.
I emailed Lawler and left a voicemail in order to ask questions about his views.
He did not reply to either attempt. In addition, the Oct.
20 Gazette reported he did not respond to their candidate questionnaire.
A sample of questions that need answers: How often have you been in HD 91’s public schools in the past year?
What is an example of HD 91 students being taught our country is uniquely evil?
If you win the election, will you become more transparent by participating in public forums, and responding to area newspapers and HD 91 constituents?
Jay Gorsh has spent time in 50 Iowa public school districts as part of his job. He has demonstrated he will be present at public events as a show of respect for HD 91 constituents. Gorsh deserves your vote on Nov. 5.
Betty Stiefel Victor
No new wars started under Donald Trump
For those undecided and who haven’t voted: Are you better off now? OK with prices of food and gas the last four years? What about lawlessness in our major cities? Higher taxes and more regulations? More IRS agents? Armed SWAT teams against citizens deemed “domestic terrorists? Or unbridled influx of illegal immigrants with drug cartels and sex trafficking? Biological men in women’s sports and prisons? Or, foreign policy of funding two sides of the Hamas-Iran and Israel War?
Or endless unaccounted billions to Ukraine? Energy dependence on foreign foes?
If so, vote Harris-Walz.
How about the 2016-2020 years? Were you better off then? Lower gas and food prices? Law and order? Limited and legal immigration?
Leaner government, fewer regulations, and energy independence with domestic drilling and fracking? Smart tariffs for fair trade? Free speech? Separate male and female sports with time-honored protection of women?
Plans for no tax on tips, Social Security and lower taxes? Whether you like Trump or not but like these policies, please vote Trump-Vance.
Why I trust Trump-Vance is based on record, namely, no new wars.
Reasons vary why many ex-Democrats such as RFK Jr., Elon Musk, and Leo Terrell endorse Donald Trump, but one stands out. Veteran and former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard echoes Dwight Eisenhower’s warning how our industrial-military complex with D.C. war hawks could easily plunge us into a global war measured in seconds with no winners.
She’s convinced Kamala Harris would follow orders.
But with tough negotiations and smart diplomacy, Trump would stand against unnecessary new war.
Tim Bickel Cedar Rapids
Congresswomen voted against abortion rights
As voting gets underway, remember this. Reps. Ashley Hinson and Mariannette Miller- Meeks both voted against the Women’s Health Protection Act which would have protected a woman’s right to abortion and the Right to Contraception Act which would have guaranteed access to birth control. Do not let efforts to legalize a birth control pill over the counter make up for our Iowa women representatives withholding reproductive choices from other women. That involves a single, low-dose pill when women need choices among a variety of birth control options to fit their individual needs and circumstances.
Hinson and Miller-Meeks do not trust other women, along with their partners and doctors, to make powerful decisions about their bodies, their families, their futures. They want control over women’s lives.
Nancy Sauerman Cedar Rapids
Clay Bennett is a syndicated cartoonist distributed Counterpoint Media. Comments: syndication@counterpoint.com.
SHARE
