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Kathi Zimpleman's avatar

Thank you, Rekha. Larry and I encouraged our sons to leave the state and explore the world when they graduated from an excellent public school system. We thought that would help them become better global citizens and then come home and help us to become better global citizens. We know now that they will not return to Iowa as it is now and I understand why. Iowa is not the place it was when we encouraged them to go out and see the world. The public school system that gave them the opportunity to think and question and learn is being destroyed. Sometimes we think we should leave, but we won’t. Iowa is home and we do not want the people who have made our government so ugly to win. We cannot let that happen. Our hope is that this election will be the beginning of the end of the “mean” that has become the definition of our state.

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Dave Busiek's avatar

Agree completely. Further complicating decisions on whether to stay or go is that Des Moines is a great place to live. Most people here are accepting of others and want to help make it a better place to live. It’s the arch conservative legislators from outside DSM who come to town every January with their anti-urban bias who screw up life for those of us who actually live here. They prohibit urban decision makers from making laws that would help urban residents. Can’t raise the minimum wage. Can’t ban plastic bags. Can’t force landlords to accept housing vouchers. Make it easy for families to flee public schools.

And they’re not done. They will come back in January with even more draconian measures to drive even more young people out of Iowa.

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