OK! I understand the problem/s; the question is this: how in the hell do we react to them and end the "STEAL" ????? If we wait for an election, there may never be another one by the time the election rolls around! I don't have enough guns and bullets to pull off a gigantic assassination attempt to eliminate the many root causes of this "administration" where there wouldn't be someone ready to fill their martyr's boots! No amount of "truth serum" would convince those who have already cut their collective throats they are responsible and need to do something! And still we sit, with no game plan than to sue and fill the courts with cases that will be years before they find trials to answer the charges! Especially when no amount of appeal will become impossible for people who have more attorneys on retainer than my cat has lives! PLEASE! give me hope there is an answer that will shut down this gutting of our government before it is too late and it all goes away forever!
Great article! The trauma IS real. Iowa GOP is ignorant and spineless. *This is a minor proofreading notice: should the photo caption be from Aug 2024 (not 2025)?
The GOP has been working to build distrust of government for decades. I'm old enough to remember Ronald Reagan joking (or not) that the most frightening words in the English language are "I'm from the government, and I'm here to help." Since then, Republicans have regularly underfunded public service agencies and then when those agencies are unable to provide those services due to lack of money the GOP says, "See! We told you government doesn't work." My point is that many Americans have been conditioned to distrust government, and it's going to take time to correct that. That said, I am appalled by the silence of my reps and senators on this and other issues. Trump's actions are blatantly unconstitutional, and I do not believe the statement that we should trust the president because "Trump has a plan." Thank you for letting me rant.
My son is one of the CDI people that was laid off. Moved to Iowa from NE in Nov and now he has no job. Went to work on Tuesday like a regular day and was laid off in the afternoon.
I have shared this idea for different issues and on other substacks. Your substack and reputation reminded me to offer this idea.
You and other leaders in the conservation community could partner with local elected officials, including inviting federal delegations and legislators to make political messages more impactful through localization and personal stories. Photo ops at the local and regional offices of your old agency would be a start. You could show the way for other groups with different focuses to do the same.
The key problem with DC protests is they can feel distant and abstract to many Americans. All Americans see are US Senators being locked out of federal office buildings. We can do better here in Iowa. Here's why:
In addition to ag programs and local offices, state leaders and officials (invite D’s and R’s) visiting federally-funded sites in Iowa could:
Make it tangible and local:
*Visit VA hospitals and talk directly with veterans about their care
*Meet with families at children's hospitals treating cancer patients
*Tour senior centers that rely on federal funding
*Visit conservation projects on Iowa farms that depend on federal support
Document specific impacts:
*Gather real stories of how budget decisions affect actual Iowans
*Get concrete numbers on how many local jobs and services depend on federal funding
*Show exactly how cuts would impact specific communities and programs
Ask pointed questions of federal representatives:
*Why aren't they fighting harder for their constituents' interests?
*How do they justify prioritizing tax cuts over essential services?
*What's their response to specific stories of impacted Iowans?
I was reading about the work already done not being paid. This is not at all unusual for the way the person at the top of this handles his contracts. He has done this for decades, usually bargaining down from the contracted price when the payee gets too desparate to be paid.
Good info. I have been in contact with former colleagues/friends at HRSA. They are doing the best to help one another and deeply appreciate the support from others. They are concerned about their own lives but fret about healthcare programs that will be diminished or dismantled.
OK! I understand the problem/s; the question is this: how in the hell do we react to them and end the "STEAL" ????? If we wait for an election, there may never be another one by the time the election rolls around! I don't have enough guns and bullets to pull off a gigantic assassination attempt to eliminate the many root causes of this "administration" where there wouldn't be someone ready to fill their martyr's boots! No amount of "truth serum" would convince those who have already cut their collective throats they are responsible and need to do something! And still we sit, with no game plan than to sue and fill the courts with cases that will be years before they find trials to answer the charges! Especially when no amount of appeal will become impossible for people who have more attorneys on retainer than my cat has lives! PLEASE! give me hope there is an answer that will shut down this gutting of our government before it is too late and it all goes away forever!
Great article! The trauma IS real. Iowa GOP is ignorant and spineless. *This is a minor proofreading notice: should the photo caption be from Aug 2024 (not 2025)?
Fixed. And thank you! Yes this was last August, not future August.
The GOP has been working to build distrust of government for decades. I'm old enough to remember Ronald Reagan joking (or not) that the most frightening words in the English language are "I'm from the government, and I'm here to help." Since then, Republicans have regularly underfunded public service agencies and then when those agencies are unable to provide those services due to lack of money the GOP says, "See! We told you government doesn't work." My point is that many Americans have been conditioned to distrust government, and it's going to take time to correct that. That said, I am appalled by the silence of my reps and senators on this and other issues. Trump's actions are blatantly unconstitutional, and I do not believe the statement that we should trust the president because "Trump has a plan." Thank you for letting me rant.
My son is one of the CDI people that was laid off. Moved to Iowa from NE in Nov and now he has no job. Went to work on Tuesday like a regular day and was laid off in the afternoon.
Thank you for sharing. These are real people.
Matt,
I have shared this idea for different issues and on other substacks. Your substack and reputation reminded me to offer this idea.
You and other leaders in the conservation community could partner with local elected officials, including inviting federal delegations and legislators to make political messages more impactful through localization and personal stories. Photo ops at the local and regional offices of your old agency would be a start. You could show the way for other groups with different focuses to do the same.
The key problem with DC protests is they can feel distant and abstract to many Americans. All Americans see are US Senators being locked out of federal office buildings. We can do better here in Iowa. Here's why:
In addition to ag programs and local offices, state leaders and officials (invite D’s and R’s) visiting federally-funded sites in Iowa could:
Make it tangible and local:
*Visit VA hospitals and talk directly with veterans about their care
*Meet with families at children's hospitals treating cancer patients
*Tour senior centers that rely on federal funding
*Visit conservation projects on Iowa farms that depend on federal support
Document specific impacts:
*Gather real stories of how budget decisions affect actual Iowans
*Get concrete numbers on how many local jobs and services depend on federal funding
*Show exactly how cuts would impact specific communities and programs
Ask pointed questions of federal representatives:
*Why aren't they fighting harder for their constituents' interests?
*How do they justify prioritizing tax cuts over essential services?
*What's their response to specific stories of impacted Iowans?
Thanks for sharing. So many great ideas and opportunities.
I was reading about the work already done not being paid. This is not at all unusual for the way the person at the top of this handles his contracts. He has done this for decades, usually bargaining down from the contracted price when the payee gets too desparate to be paid.
Good info. I have been in contact with former colleagues/friends at HRSA. They are doing the best to help one another and deeply appreciate the support from others. They are concerned about their own lives but fret about healthcare programs that will be diminished or dismantled.
We will all pay the price eventually if we don't stand together to stop the violence. Now is the time to act.