Republican culture wars will whittle away at Iowans’ rights

The Republican Iowa Legislature has begun and is teeming with culture war proposals that would restrict local government, remove civil rights from select groups, introduce biased education in public schools, impose a narrow definition of patriotism, and rein in all sorts of government agencies to state (re: governor) authority.

These are just a few examples of partisan efforts to reshape Iowa into the perfect, politically correct God fearing and conservative family values state that is envisioned by an extremist minority — a minority that campaigned on “freedom” but didn’t mention that meant freedom for only a select.

You can argue that the voters chose these legislators and they are doing the will of the people. Vague promises in campaigns produce votes. We’ve seen that once elected, majority party legislators meet behind closed doors to discuss and decide issues, then emerge to vote their predetermined decision. There is no need to listen to the opposing party or constituents’ personal stories that conflict with the image or agenda held by the directorate.

Most Iowans don’t pay close attention to what goes on in the Legislature, thinking that what happens there doesn’t affect them up front. Then one day a right or privilege you took for granted is threatened or taken away. That’s the way it is with autocracy: if you don’t speak up while they whittle away at others’ rights, there will be no one left to speak up for yours.

Anne Salamon

Cedar Rapids