Over Christmas dinner with my family, my father looked at me and said,
“So what does the politician do now?” That question and variations of
it are becoming very familiar to me these days.
I told him that one of the things I will be doing is staying on top of
and commenting on the issues that are important to north Iowa. I
mentioned that with only two weeks to go for the start of the Iowa
legislature, I am anxious to compare campaign promises with actual
votes taken and legislation introduced. We talked about letters to the
editor that could be written and other things that I could do to keep
my name out there and to hold our elected officials accountable. I
mentioned this weekly column as one of the ways to do this.
And as we talked, my father and I agreed that these were things that
everyone should be doing. We elect our officials at least partly based
on what we hear during the campaigns. We then expect them to represent
us and our interests, to take their oath of office seriously, and to
not necessarily follow the party line if it isn’t in their
constituents’ best interests. While voting is our duty, it is also our
duty to make sure that we get what we are voting for. My dad and I
agreed that often politicians get caught up in doing what their party
wants them to do as opposed to what the people want them to do. We
agreed that our government is too far removed from the people and that
it is a problem that needs fixing. My father and I often argue
politics. We usually have to agree to disagree—but on that day we found
agreement. Perhaps our conversation that day was a gift to the rest of
our family.
We should all be watching our elected officials to make sure they truly
represent us, not their own or their party’s special interests. A good
example of this happened a couple of weeks ago. Educators and business
leaders around north Iowa presented their concerns and ideas to
legislators in a “Jobs Summit” held at North Iowa Area Community
College. I was surprised when I noticed that Senator Gaskill was
missing from the list of legislators who attended. I remember one of
his campaign ads said he wants north Iowa to be a “haven for good
jobs.” It seems to me that he would have wanted to attend; it would
have been a perfect place to discuss that “haven” concept. Senator
Gaskill will get a letter from me asking why he wasn’t in attendance.
Perhaps I should ask him for his plan to create this haven.
In order to be politically active or even just actively engaged in
one’s community, one needs to pay attention to what the government is
doing. Get involved in the decisions being made and don’t be shy to
voice your opinion. Write letters to the editor, attend city council
meetings, and compare the campaign promises you heard to votes and
actions taken by your representatives and senators in the upcoming
legislative session.
We need to do these things to remain true to the idea of “government of
the people, by the people, and for the people.” Without the people’s
active participation, those words become an empty shell, just something
you memorize in Civics class.
Pay attention to your representatives, write letters, agitate for
change if you don’t like the direction our government is taking. Join
me in being We, the People.
Iowa's Prescription for Low Cost Medicine by John Drury
Currently, there are only four U.S. states that openly encourage their
citizens to buy prescription drugs from Canada: Kansas, Illinois,
Missouri, and Wisconsin. Iowa is not on the list, but I believe that it
should be.
In the
recent presidential election, we heard Bush use one of his
many scare tactics saying that if we are going to import drugs from
Canada, he wants to make sure “it cures you, and doesn’t kill you.” He
said his worry is that a drug might “look like it’s from Canada but it
might be from a third world.”
While
that’s a very good scare tactic, and undoubtedly worked very well in
his campaign, it is, like many of his scare tactics, not based on
any sort of fact.
Predictably,
the prescription drug companies have only added to the fear with full
page ads like the one shown here. One way to get people to stop getting
their drugs from Canada would be to tell them they are from a third
world country, schemes the pharmaceutical companies.
According
to a recent Day to Day news story aired on NPR on December 7, the
opposite is true. Most of the drugs that Americans buy from Canada are
actually made in the United States, exported to Canada, and then get
re-imported back to the United States.
Canadians
are baffled by our ignorance, and offended by the suggestion that their
pharmacies aren’t safe and that it is some sort of prescription drug
grab bag free for all. Their government regulates the quality and the
price of their prescription drugs. We, on the other hand, turn our
government over to the pharmaceutical companies, letting them write our
laws and set our policies, all at our own expense. Oddly enough, our
high drug prices—which seniors cannot afford—are effectively
subsidizing the low-cost prescriptions that Canadians enjoy.
Iowa is
in the top five in the percentage of its elderly population. Since the
federal government has failed its people on this issue, the state of
Iowa has a moral obligation to meet the needs of Iowans who cannot
afford the drugs that are prescribed to them. It is time for the state
of Iowa to join our neighbors and make lower cost, prescription drugs
from Canada readily accessible to our seniors.
There was an article posted here over the weekend called “Uncle Sam Wants You.”
This article encourages the "average Joe" to run for and hold public
office, saying that “if only the palm-greasers and back scratchers run
for office, what kind of government will we have?” After reading this
article, I thought it would be appropriate to talk about my own love
for public service and also encourage others to do the same.
A little background might help. I served two terms as mayor of a once
bustling, now struggling farm community located 25 miles southwest of
Mason City. Probably one of the biggest hurdles a small town mayor
faces is apathy. You’ve got the CAVE (Citizens Against Virtually Everything) and the BANANA (Build Absolutely Nothing Anywhere Near Anyone)
people to contend with. These are the more organized groups of people
that will fight you and your vision for the future all the way to
unincorporation. And in Iowa, you’ve got a state legislature with no
strategy to bring rural Iowa back to life. And, of course, you’ve all
heard the expression that it’s a thankless job.
Despite all of that, we took many progressive steps during my four
years as mayor. Under my leadership, we condemned abandoned properties,
turning one into a park. We got people interested again and sparked
volunteerism. We put tax incentive plans in place that have resulted in
growth, both in residential and commercial. We brought in over $40,000
in grant dollars; using those dollars we replaced our park playground
equipment, upgraded fire-fighting gear, and replaced an aging fire
truck. We now have an economic development plan in place that will
serve the needs of current residents, will bring travelers to our town,
and will attract new residents. It will also serve as a business
incubator sparking entrepreneurism in the entire region.
It might seem like making that much progress in a struggling small town
once on the brink of unincorporation might be enough to illustrate my
love of public service. And while there’s no doubt that it’s gratifying
to put plans in place and see them work, I think a better way to
illustrate why I love public service is in the following story.
Back in 2002 when I was Swaledale’s mayor, I had heard that a former
resident wanted to send a box of softballs to me so that I could give
one to every kid in town. Now, as mayor of a small town, I got used to
hearing lots of different things but this one intrigued me. A few days
later, I received a letter from a Bob Westover from Pinellas Park,
Florida.
Here is what he wrote:
Hi John:
I’m sending this note to let you know I took a box of softballs to UPS
today. You will probably get them about next Thursday, do with them as
you like, but mainly see that the younger boys get a good share. The
balls are an accumulation over a few years when the balls sail over the
fence on night games and the people don’t recover them, I do. Have been
hearing some good reports on what you are doing for the “old hometown.”
You must have grown up while I was gone in the Navy from Dec. ’39 till
Aug. ’69. I knew your Dad, Herschel and your grandparents. They were
very nice people. Have to get this in the mail. Another box will be
coming soon. Regards, Bob W.
There were 76 softballs in that first box. A few months later, I
received another box of around 35. Early this year, Bob Westover passed
away at the age of 83.
A month later, his wife had a package delivered
to me with about 30 softballs inside. I have handed out softballs to
kids in Swaledale’s annual town celebrations, parades and at other
events. Bob Westover hadn’t set foot in the town since the day he left
but he stayed on top of all the good things we were doing and he
noticed. I knew I was making a positive difference and getting his
letter only reinforced my love of public service.
Public service is not a thankless job; run for office and win or lose, you’ll be glad you did.
The
following is an editorial published in the Mason City Globe Gazette on
December 5, 2004. I found it hypocritical of the Globe to all of a
sudden have an interest in education after completely ignoring the
subject in the recent election and blindly endorsing the entire
incumbent Republican ticket. And of course, I had to respond and that
follows as well. -John Drury
Iowa must find a way to raise teachers' pay
Young Iowans who hear all the talk about the state's commitment to education may wonder if they're hearing things correctly.
That's
because the words and deeds don't match, and haven't for too long.
Indeed, Iowans long have prided ourselves on offering high-quality
education and have committed ourselves to keeping that quality high.
But
dwindling state funding has cast an ever-growing shadow over the public
education system. We've heard too many reports of programs being cut or
eliminated, not to mention school closings.
Thankfully,
parents and concerned residents have accepted the challenge to keep
some programs alive and part of a well-rounded education through
fund-raisers and other activities.
But
here's a problem that waffle dinners and bake sales can't touch. Iowa's
teacher pay has slipped four spots since last year and now ranks 38th
nationally.
A
survey by the National Education Association showed Iowa teachers
averaged $39,432 last year — more than $7,000 below the national
average of $46,726. Our teachers drawing that kind of salary had an
average of 15 years of service.
Iowa
also dropped two places, to 38th, in the amount of per-pupil spending.
That averaged $7,098 last year, 1.8 percent more than the previous year
but not enough to keep pace with many other states.
It
goes to show that talk's cheap — we talk about a commitment to quality
education, but our state leaders don't back it up like they should.
Now,
some will point to the 4 percent increase in school funding approved in
the last legislative session. But most education groups wanted 6
percent, and will continue to work for that.
That's
because by the time that 4 percent is divided among rising health
insurance, utility and transportation costs, just to name a few areas,
the funds remaining for teacher salaries may be negligible, according
to Mason City Superintendent Keith Sersland.
It's
time for the Legislature to put an end to the talk and start finding
ways to pump up the education funding. We need to attract and keep the
brightest minds and stop the raiding of our best educators by nearby
states such as Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota.
Many
argue that Iowa's quality of life should be a factor in drawing good
educators, and it is for those of us who hold the Hawkeye state near
and dear. But other states offer a quality lifestyle as well, and more
money to enjoy it.
No
one says it's going to be easy to find the money to make this all
happen. Demand for more cash runs up and down the legislative to-do
list, from economic development to social services, and each area has
valid arguments.
But
to make improvements in those other areas, it seems logical that we
have to start by educating our young people in the best way possible,
and we need quality teachers to do that. To keep those quality
teachers, we must pay them well.
To
let Iowa's rank in teacher pay keep slipping is embarrassing and
inexcusable. Education has long been an Iowa point of pride, and it's a
point the Legislature must address as soon as the gavel falls on the
next session.
Agree? Disagree? Send your letter to the editor to the Editor's Mailbag at news@globegazette. com or by regular mail to Editor's Mailbag, Globe Gazette, P.O. Box 271, Mason City, IA 50402-0271.
December 5, 2004
Editor's Mailbag Globe Gazette P.O. Box 271 Mason City, IA 50402
Dear Editor:
I find the Globe Gazette’s December 5, 2004 “Iowa must find a way to raise teachers’ pay” editorial very interesting.
In
the editorial you mention an updated report released by the National
Education Association showing that Iowa has dropped four points to 38th
in the nation when it comes to teacher pay and dropped two points to
38th in the nation in per pupil spending. A preliminary report showing
similar numbers was released last spring. On teacher pay, you point out
that we are more than $7,000 below the national average. On per pupil
spending, we had a 1.8 percent increase over last year, but we are not
keeping up with the pace of other states.
You point out that the
“words and deeds ‘of the current legislature’ don’t match, and haven’t
for too long.” You correctly criticize the current legislature by
saying that “talk is cheap, we talk about a commitment to quality
education, but our state leaders don’t back it up like they should.”
You are correct in saying that this is “embarrassing and inexcusable.”
You are also correct in stating that the solution is for “the
legislature to put an end to the talk and start finding ways to pump up
the education funding.”
My questions are simple. If the answer
to this problem is a shift in priorities of the Iowa legislature, why
didn’t you take this strong position before the recent election, and
why did you blindly endorse the slate of incumbent legislators that
have allowed this to happen?
If you truly cared about the
education of Iowa’s children, you would show some responsibility in
your reporting. Quite frankly, your pretending to care attitude is also
embarrassing and inexcusable.
Rural Iowa is Gambling on Educationby John Drury
While campaigning across Senate District 6 this past year, I had many
discussions about rural economic development. Iowa’s Senate District 6
includes Worth, Winnebago, Hancock, Franklin, and Cerro Gordo County,
excluding Mason City. It’s a rural district with Clear Lake being its largest city.
Another
topic often discussed was public education. Iowa is known for its great
education system. For years, that has been the case. Iowa has
consistently been at the top when it comes to education. In fact, we
have beaten the odds, Iowa’s personal income level is way below average
and typically income level relates to test scores. However, in Iowa, we
have low wages, but our test scores have been high. We have beaten
those odds because we have properly funded our education system, and
because of our commitment to strong rural communities.
The Iowa
quarter was released this year and on the back it says “Foundation in
Education.” Ironically, in a recent survey sent to 2,300 Iowa K-12
teachers, a whopping 75% said their class sizes have increased, only
24% said their materials are up to date and accurate, 62% spent more
than $200 a year of their own money on classroom supplies, and 59%
report that professional development resources at their schools were
cut.
It would appear as though our strong foundation is crumbling. I talked to parents, teachers, school administrators, and students across district 6 who were all concerned that the Iowa legislature is shortchanging our education system.
There is
a common theme of my conversations on economic development. People
can’t seem to figure out why we don’t seem to get much development
north of Highway 20. Our population is on the decline and many have
suggested that this is purposefully being legislated. The legislature
has said no to any real local control on large-scale hog confinements,
they have not promoted the family farmer, they refuse to discuss
raising the minimum wage, and they have no strategy for economic
development. All of these have worked against any real growth in our
area. Mason City likes to boast about its retail expansion west. Sure,
you can get a cheap TV, but does that bring good paying jobs and
attract people to live in our communities? It’s doubtful.
Both
Worth County and Franklin County have each approved a referendum in
support of bringing casino gambling to their county. The opponents of
gambling are rightfully concerned about the social ills and the effect
that a casino will have on already existing and struggling businesses.
Any disposable income will be sucked into the casino and main street
businesses will dry up and blow away, they say. The executive director
of the Worth County Development Authority has said we need a casino to
fund our schools. Proponents argue that the state has left them with
nothing else to spark growth and create jobs.
The sad
truth is, they are both right. The social ills of gambling are real and
the potential effects of casinos on struggling businesses shouldn’t be
ignored. And the legislature has obviously decided that we are no
longer going to properly fund our schools and that as long as we put
the right words on the back of a quarter, that ought to be good enough.
We are
in pretty sad shape when we are willing to gamble on our families and
struggling main streets just to fund a basic service like education.
I’ve
said all along that if Iowa is going to have casino gambling, there’s
no reason why north Iowa shouldn’t have one. But I am concerned that
north Iowa is looking to a casino to solve all of our problems. If we
are to have a casino, then it should be because there is a demand for
recreation, not because we want our children to have the latest
textbooks.
We need
real solutions to economic development that celebrate Iowa and its
people and ones that will grow our economy and our communities from the
ground up. For the state legislature to not have a long term strategy
to grow rural areas of the state is unacceptable. Our future should be
an investment, not a risk.
*IBLTV is a group of citizens from the Iowa City/Cedar Rapids area who are concerned about the decline in the quality of local television. Fight local media consolidation, as it leads to an unaccountable medium that enriches itself while disregarding the need to serve the public good.
*The rational counter to 'The Point,' 'The Counterpoint' critiques and corrects the daily editorial by Sinclair Broadcasting's corporate vice president, Mark Hyman, that is broadcast on all Sinclair-owned television stations across the country
So What Does The Politician Do Now?
Predictably,
the prescription drug companies have only added to the fear with full
page ads like the one shown here. One way to get people to stop getting
their drugs from Canada would be to tell them they are from a third
world country, schemes the pharmaceutical companies.
There were 76 softballs in that first box. A few months later, I
received another box of around 35. Early this year, Bob Westover passed
away at the age of 83.