Why industries love operating in C.R.

I would love to do business in Cedar Rapids, too. I can put pretty much whatever I want into the air and water with immunity. I can move millions of dollars of my product throughout the city by rail without paying any real surcharges.

The amount of tax paid compared to the amount of money literally being hauled out of Cedar Rapids is astounding and embarrassing but carefully kept out of media. Cedar Rapids has a long history of bending over to accommodate private industry in this town. We need vision and money now, not more people ignoring the obvious.

How about an article posting the hometown of every board of director for ADM, Penford, Quaker Oats, Cargill, PMX and Alliant, with the value of their homes, salaries and bonuses and the total amount of annual direct financial commitment of their company to the city of Cedar Rapids?

This gets their attention and identifies them publicly. Why? Leadership is by example and it starts with transparency and accountability.

Most of the people in charge of the big polluters aren't even from Iowa. Their companies do a lot of taking and little giving compared to their personal compensation and their companies' market capitalization. They are motivated to drive up share price and it ends there.

No one is going to stop buying their products if the cost of cereal goes up a nickel on the shelf because of charging them more. It would make a huge difference locally, though.

Curtis Jasa

Cedar Rapids