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Constitution Day calls for civic participation

Local Columns

When I celebrated my birthday on Sept. 17 growing up on our family farm, I didn’t know I shared the day with Uncle Sam. On that day in 1787, our nation’s founders signed America’s highest law of the land — the Constitution. While I can’t attribute my interest in government to this coincidence, it nevertheless coincides with my efforts to foster civic engagement. Constitution Day calls Americans to reflect on our storied system of self-government, as well as consider ways to participate in and contribute to society. Thanks to the courageous patriots who fought for ...

Brushy Creek Area Honor Flight is back

Editorial

When a 737 roars into the sky above Fort Dodge Regional Airport just as the sun begins to brighten the horizon this morning, one of the most unique and heartfelt tributes to area veterans will be back in action. There will be about 120 veterans aboard that plane, going to Washington, D.C., for free to see the nation’s war memorials. The trip will be the 26th one conducted by the Brushy Creek Area Honor Flight. The first took place in 2010. Since then, about 3,600 veterans from 228 Iowa communities have made the journey. The Brushy Creek Area Honor Flight is largely the vision of ...

Support the blue

Letters to the Editor

To the editor: I was so disappointed the referendum regarding the additional police personnel didn’t pass. I felt it would be an overwhelming vote in favor. I understand it was a matter of additional cost for fixed income people, but I fail to understand why one cup of coffee per month ($6.50) is going to disrupt their finances that much. The F.D. Police Department responds to over 30,000 calls per year. That is nearly 50 plus per day and these are printed in The Messenger every day - i.e., shots fired, out of control person, welfare checks, fights, person with firearms, etc. To get ...

Soybeans are big business in Iowa

Editorial

Nobody knows exactly how long humans have cultivated the soybean, but agricultural historians seem quite certain its domestication as a crop in China dates back three millennia. There are actually Chinese records documenting soybean growth as far back as the 11th century. There is some disagreement about who first introduced soybeans into North America, but researchers seem to agree that by the 1760s, soybean seed had reached Georgia. Whatever the origin, few would dispute that in the 21st century soybean cultivation is important to the world as a food source and a great deal more. ...

Strengthening our strategic position against China

Local Columns

For decades, China has threatened our national security through both overt and covert measures. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and affiliated individuals and entities have rapidly increased purchases of American farmland, stolen valuable intellectual property and other critical technologies, infiltrated our schools and universities, and violated our trade laws with impunity. As the world becomes increasingly volatile, we have a duty to protect our country and the American people from CCP influence and interference. That’s why, at the beginning of September, I joined my Republican ...

Critical of tax proposal

Letters to the Editor

To the editor: The Biden/Harris administration is positing the idea of raising revenue by taxing unrealized capital gains. This would entail taxing speculative investments the amount they appreciate even if they’re not sold and no profit is actually realized. If taxing unrealized capital gains were implemented, how long would it be before a voracious government decided to tax the unrealized gains on your 401k and IRA? Of course they say that this tax would only be on the “super wealthy,” but we must not forget that when the income tax was inflicted on Americans in 1913 a married ...