SULLIVAN'S SALVOS
October 21, 2021
Sullivan’s Salvos 10/26/21
In this edition:
*Happy Halloween!
*RIP Tim Terry
*Threats to Ross Wilburn
*Deere Strike
*Sick Day
*No Consequences
*Volunteer for a Board or Commission!
*Did You Know?
*Happy Halloween!
Halloween is Sunday the 31st. I have been amazed in recent years by the amount of effort (and money) that goes into decorating homes for the season. When I was young, few homes displayed anything other than carved pumpkins. Now, there are huge blow-up characters, lights, and much more.
Regardless of how you view Halloween, we need to remember a few key things: First, be careful! One thing that has not changed is an abundance of young children in dark costumes excitedly crossing streets. Secondly, you may want to temporarily take down your campaign yard signs. Despite annual accusations to the contrary, I still think most signs that disappear are teen pranks. Finally, have fun! Halloween offers all of us an opportunity to be young again.
*RIP Tim Terry
I was saddened to hear of the death of Tim Terry of Iowa City. Tim was the founder of two very successful businesses, Terry Lockridge and Dunn and World Trend Financial.
We met as members of the original Board of the Iowa City UNESCO City of Literature. Tim was an incredibly interesting fellow, and he and I had many long conversations about business, politics, education, and the like. It was really a joy to get to know him. Tim was opinionated, quirky, and in many ways, a series of contradictions. But he certainly won me over!
My thoughts and prayers go out to his large family and many friends. RIP, Tim.
*Threats to Ross Wilburn
Iowa Democratic Party Chair Ross Wilburn has been getting the typical attacks that come with that office. Same old song, right? But this time one of his critics decided to add that Wilburn (a black man) should be lynched.
This is obviously unacceptable. But what is driving me crazy is the rush from Republican elected officials to condemn this single comment. The GOP created the environment in which we live, and they continue to fuel it. Look at the way Trump “eulogized” another black man, the late Colin Powell. No elected Republican will dare say a thing about that. None of our federal or statewide elected Republicans will even admit Trump lost! So pardon me if their statements fall flat.
Wilburn’s black ancestors – Iowans - fought for the Union Army in the Civil War. If the Republicans in the Iowa Legislature had to vote today to take the side of the Union or the Confederacy, which side would they choose? I think the answer is they would wait and see what Trump did.
*Deere Strike
As you probably saw, workers at John Deere have gone on strike. This affects plants in Davenport, Waterloo, Dubuque, Ottumwa, and Ankeny. I strongly support my union brothers and sisters, the striking workers.
*Sick Day
My granddaughter Zuri was sick the other day. Not COVID; just a brief GI thing. No big deal. I stayed home with her the day she was ill. Again, no big deal.
Except it IS a big deal! Do you know how many people in our society have nowhere to turn when a child is sick? The lack of support America has for parents in this situation is shameful.
Every day in the US parents (mostly women) are faced with a series of bad decisions: Stay home and lose out on a day’s pay? Stay home and potentially lose my job? Take my child to my workplace? Leave my child unattended? Send my sick child to school? Again, all of the above are bad decisions. But what is a parent without sick leave to do?
We are very lucky. My daughter has sick leave. She also has Melissa and I, who have a certain amount of flexibility in our schedules. Every child in America deserve what my granddaughter has – the ability to stay home from school if you are sick.
25% of American civilian workers – 34 million people – have no sick leave. In the wealthiest country in the history of the world. It is truly shameful. We can and must do better.
*No Consequences
What stops us from stealing, cheating on a test, or punching someone in the mouth? There are certainly times when all of those might feel pretty good. But we don’t usually do them. Why? Consequences, that’s why.
There is really only one thing that prevents bad behavior, and that is consequences. Consequences could be from the State, in the form of laws, police, and imprisonment. They could be work-related, such as firings and demotions. They could be personal, such as divorce, loss of friends, etc.
Most folks do not require these types of consequences. The THREAT of the consequences is enough. Most people stop well short of the line. But in every case, there are people who will go right up to the line, and experiencing no consequences, will cross it again and again. This behavior will pretty much never end until there are consequences.
Remember when Donald Trump claimed he could shoot a man on 5th Avenue and get away with it? He may have been correct, especially if it was Fifth Avenue in a small town in Western Iowa. Unfortunately, that is where we are at politically in Iowa and in this country. And in politics, there is really only one consequence that matters – losing an election.
I don’t think Republicans in Iowa or the US will stop at anything unless it costs them an election. There are almost no norms that cannot be violated. There are probably still a couple things that would not be OK: murder, sexual assault of a child… that is about it. And the only reason those would not be OK is electoral consequences.
Why am I bringing this up now? Redistricting. I expect the Republicans in the Iowa Legislature to pass on the first and second maps, vote down the third, and then amend it into something they like.
But wait! Isn’t that against the intent of Iowa Law? Sure, but that only matters if there are consequences. And I do not believe there will be. I think the Iowa Supreme Court will allow a gerrymander. The US Supreme Court has already decided gerrymanders are not an issue they will consider. So essentially, Iowa’s nonpartisan redistricting process is dead. Why? Because there will be no consequences for the GOP.
*Volunteer for a Board or Commission!
The Johnson County Board of Supervisors is seeking volunteers to serve on various County boards and commissions. Board and commission members serve in an advisory role to help direct policy by making suggestions and recommendations to the Board of Supervisors and County staff. Vacancies are available on the following Johnson County boards and commissions:
·Board of Health (two vacancies)
·Compensation Commission (28 vacancies)
·Conservation Board (one vacancy)
·Historic Preservation Commission (three vacancies)
·Swisher Library (one vacancy)
·Medical Examiner (one vacancy)
·County Case Management Advisory Board (three vacancies)
·Zoning Board of Adjustment (one vacancy)
Information about specific boards and commissions, vacancies and application forms are available on the Committee/Board Openings webpage of the Johnson County website at: www.johnsoncountyiowa.gov/vacancies and in the office of the Johnson County Board of Supervisors, second floor of the Johnson County Administration Building, 913 S. Dubuque Street, Iowa City. Questions can be directed to the Board of Supervisors Office at 319-356-6000 or applications@johnsoncountyiowa.gov.
Completed applications must be returned to the Board Office by 4:30 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 20, 2021.
*DID YOU KNOW? Iowa Governor Bob Ray ushered in Iowa’s nonpartisan system of redistricting in 1980. Opponents at the time included Terry Branstad and Chuck Grassley.
Anyone interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the County website-
"Sullivan’s Salvos" is sent once per week to any interested party. It will give a brief update on issues of interest to Johnson County residents.
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As always, feel free to contact me at 354-7199 or rodsullivan29@gmail.com. I look forward to serving you!
---Rod
posted by Rod Sullivan @ 1:42 PM
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