Iowa has gone blue in the past couple of elections but this is essentially a conservative state. Iowa has a long history of landmark progressivism, but that is actually a result of our Midwestern nature that prefers that we keep our noses out of other people’s business. “Why not let women vote?” we asked in…
Religious Freedom?
Controversy abounds regarding the Human Equal Rights Ordinance in Houston, Texas. The mayor, Annise Parker, signed an ordinance that prohibits “discrimination on the basis of protected characteristics.” Mayor Parker is openly gay and the issue of discrimination against homosexuality is clearly a motivating factor, but discrimination against women and minorities are, of course, included. Several…
Welfare Does Not Perpetuate Poverty (Nor Will It End Poverty)
An issue which consistently divides along party lines is social spending. The position I hear the most from the right side of the aisle is that welfare creates a system of perpetual poverty and that a high percentage of people using welfare are exploiting the system. The argument they follow is that welfare should be abolished or…
“To Blog or Not to Blog”
Sometimes I wonder if I post too much. Occasionally, I will apologize for sending my links around because I don’t want my views to become a pain to my friends, although I have no qualms about being forward with those who generally oppose my ideas. I don’t mean to be belligerent, but “life” for a post…
I Love the Way You Lie
On Monday’s I take my sons to school and along Interstate 380, between Waterloo and Cedar Rapids, I’ve noticed for the past several years a homemade billboard which changes with some regularity. Immediately after Obama was elected the sign read “O-Bummer.” During the Iowa Caucus it read “Restore Sanity- Vote Santorum.” Apparently, the common “san” was…
Will the real “smaller, smarter” candidate please stand up?
Karyn Finn is running against Walt Rogers for the Iowa House. A couple of months ago I was asked by Karyn’s campaign manager to have a coffee for her. Even though Karyn is a Democrat, as I am, I don’t simply say, “Yes, by all means, any Democrat is better than a Republican” and so…
Never Shave a Gentile Woman
From MSN News: “Gay and lesbian couples are getting legally married in the South for the first time, crossing a threshold into a conservative region that long stood united against same-sex marriage.”
The Color of Fear: One More Commentary on the Lynching of Michael Brown
“Gary Has Issues” is moving into a new direction. When I come across an editorial that I think is important I am offering my site as a platform. I have a fairly wide base that includes many conservatives and I welcome a healthy and respectful debate. I met Stacey Walker last Spring as he was working on…
Weiners with Boehners
Why is it even news when a public figure lies? We are lied to when verbs are manipulated to minimize the meaning of an indiscretion. We are lied to by politicians who flip-flop positions in order to score higher with populism’s moving target. We share trust issues with wives of candidates, who were lied to about previous lies. So why are…
I call this meeting to order!
It’s not uncommon to get a response from one of my posts that starts out benign to lull me in: “Gary, I agree with a lot of what you say…” My guard goes down as I enjoy being agreed with, but then they will edge toward a counterpoint: “…but, Gary…” I lean in (even when I’m reading) to…