Choose candidates who represent all of us

In recent years I've become increasingly concerned about the behavior and intentions of the Republican leaders who have led our state. It's been increasingly evident that their goal is to rule rather than to govern, to the point that it makes sense to refer to our current state leadership as a regime pursuing its own interests and goals at the expense of its subjects.

But haven't they won all those elections? Yes, true enough, and if you look at their margins of victory they have usually received about three out of every five votes. But what of the needs and values of the 40% of voters who oppose Republican policies? Have our current rulers made any effort to listen to the (not negligible) two out of five voting Iowans who consistently disagree with them? Isn't democratic governance supposed to be based on mutual respect and, in some cases, compromise?

It's clear that Republicans' majority has gone to their heads, as is further manifested in their attempts to limit local decision making by increasing the governor's power. As if the governor will always be a Republican and one party rule is here to stay!

But change will come if we are able to increase the already positive vision of 40% of voters to 51% or more. Some heavy lifting required, but it can be done; and if you want to see this happen, speak to your neighbors and support candidates who will work to represent all of us.

Harvey Sollberger

Strawberry Point