The Iowa GOP Doesn't want Iowans or Anyone Else to Know the Truth about the Quality of Our Water
Now ask yourself, why?
This column appeared in the Kansas City Star yesterday, and is in print and being distributed across Kansas and Missouri today. I would tell you more or even post it here, but it’s an exclusive to the Star. It’s a great American newspaper and I’m honored to be in it. You can read it here. You may hit a paywall, or have to answer some questions, but if you can afford it, please consider a subscription. You won’t regret it. The Star has great reporting and commentary related to our shared midwestern lives and more. I may wait a while and repost it here, but only with permission. But please go take a look at it there. Let’s support our great newspapers.
I’ve done several pieces with the Star before and am lucky to work with one of the best editors I have ever had, Derek Donovan. Everything he touches gets better. Thanks…
The column is a look at the big picture behind Chris Jones’ departure from the University of Iowa, which relates to Iowa Republicans not appreciating Chris’ candid truths about the quality of our water, and why Republicans don’t want you to know what’s really happening. I also offer thoughts on why Republicans are pursuing the destructive path they are on related to water quality and virtually every other policy they advance that makes Iowa, and the U.S.A. a worse place to live.
Now why would they do that? Hmm…it’s in the column…
Here’s a quote to tease it:
“Jones’ story has all the elements of a great novel or movie; environmental destruction, heroes, villains, corruption, greed, arrogance, complicity, retaliation, incompetence, and indifference. Add a lack of ethics, violation of academic freedom, and First Amendment rights sprinkled with buffoonery, and you have it all.”
(Note: Derek made me change “dumbassery” to “buffoonery,” but that’s what good editors do.)
You should also check out Chris’ Substack, and buy his book, The Swine Republic: Struggles with the Truth about Agriculture and Water Quality, published by my friend Steve Semken with Ice Cube Press. Please check out the list of books about Iowa and the Midwest Steve has published, including my own Deep Midwest: Midwestern Explorations.
I want to tell you more, but I better stop for now. Click here to continue reading. Thanks!
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Iowa Writers’ Collaborative Columnists
I’ve been asking myself why for years, and the only conclusion I can make is they’ve decided capital costs outweigh the human and environmental toll. It’s too ugly to admit so they hide facts and pretend the issue away. There are solutions, with the treatment of tile outlets previously sought by Des Moines Water Works being a good one. The proposed carbon pipelines arguably make it worse. Thanks for speaking up, Bob - at least Kansas City Star readers are better informed today. And Chris Jones shouldn’t have to do this alone.
I know some individuals and groups have done studies on water quality in some locations in Iowa and published them. But aren’t there hundreds if not thousands of people willing to donate five or $10 to organize a comprehensive state wide survey (perhaps ongoing) of water quality and widely publish it. I don’t trust the State’s reporting thats done under the thumb of big Ag and Branstad’s evil twin.