SULLIVAN'S SALVOS
July 14, 2025
Sullivan’s Salvos 7/17/25
In this edition:
*No Salvos the Next Two Weeks!
*Johnson County Fair
*Solon Beef Days
*Farewell Center for Worker Justice
*Laborer’s Local 43
*Winning Statewide in Iowa
*Go Ahead and Hate Your Neighbor
*Impeachable Offenses
*Did You Know?
*No Salvos the Next Two Weeks!
I hope you enjoy a summer break, and I hope you will continue reading with the next edition.
The next Salvos you will see will be dated August 7, and should arrive in your inbox on August 5. Happy summer!
*Johnson County Fair
The Johnson County Fair runs from Saturday, July 19 until the livestock auction on Thursday, July 24. As usual, there will be fun for the whole family!
Yes, it is typically hot out there. But that is why they sell ice cream! So, please stop out and enjoy the Fair. You’ll be glad you did!
Check out each day’s schedule at: https://thejohnsoncountyfair.com/county-fair/schedule-2025/
*Solon Beef Days
The 54th annual Solon Beef Days runs Friday and Saturday July 18 & 19 in Solon. Steak sandwiches, rides, entertainment, a parade, and the now-legendary hay bale toss are just a few of the items on tap.
For all the details, including a full schedule of events, see: http://beefdays.com/
*Farewell Center for Worker Justice
I was saddened to learn of the closing of the Center for Worker Justice (CWJ) in Iowa City. I was around the CWJ from the very beginning, and I feel as though there were a lot of good things that happened during that time.
I spent literally hundreds of hours working with the CWJ on various issues – it has been a big part of my life. I do find it interesting to see some of the folks howling about the loss of the CWJ who never volunteered or donated.
It is particularly frustrating to see a worker’s justice center close while employees were on strike. It makes this all even more sad. I really wish the CWJ Board had resolved their labor issues.
Meanwhile, we will need to refer our friends and neighbors to other services in the community. The work does not end. There are more challenges than ever. Thanks to all the staff and volunteers. RIP, CWJ!
*Laborer’s Local 43
You may recall that about a month ago, I wrote about the fact that the American Federation of Teachers Local 716 (AFT 716) - my union of 30 years – was folding. I was afraid that I would not have a union home.
That may not mean much to others, but it means everything to me. So I am very pleased and proud to report that I am now a member of Laborer’s Local 43, part of the Laborer’s International Union of North America (LiUNA).
Laborer’s Local 43 is where my late father worked from 1966-1998. He served about 11 years as Secretary of the local and 18 years as the Business Agent. His proudest moment was adding the Laborer’s pension plan in the late 1960s, which helped a lot of blue-collar families live lives of dignity as they got older. It is not unusual for older men to come up to me and thank my Dad for their pension! It almost always tears me up!
I walked the picket line with Laborer’s 43. Way back when I was 5 or 6 years old. It was a life-changing experience, and something I will never forget. Striking workers are very brave! Don’t ever forget that!
I will not be on the roster of eligible workers for Local 43 – not that anybody would want me! But I will be paying dues in support of the union. It is the least I can do – Local 43 put food on my table when I was growing up. I want to keep the union strong.
Thanks to Laborer’s Local 43 for giving me this opportunity!
*Winning Statewide in Iowa
Democrats in Iowa badly need a couple statewide wins. How do we do that? I think the path is clear. Any Democratic candidate who wins statewide is going to need to do the following things:
1. Register a bunch of new voters.
2. Get the vote of 95% of Democrats.
3. Get the vote of 55-65% of Independents.
4. Get the vote of 5-15% of Republicans.
Are there other paths? Maybe, but I’m not certain any are very viable. So how does a candidate achieve these targets?
You have to energize Ds, but not to the extent of alienating Is. You have to reach out to Rs, but not to the extent of alienating Ds. This is not any easy needle to thread!
I think the single most important thing is being genuine. You need to have some strongly held beliefs, and be able to speak passionately about them. If you can do that, and do so sincerely, every group of voters will cut you some slack.
What do Democrats need to do as voters? Fight like hell for the policies you want between now and the primary. Vote your values. Then fall in line. If you don’t, we may not hit that 95%.
*Go Ahead and Hate Your Neighbor
Due to State intervention, our Mental Health and Disabilities Services (MH/DS) Department has closed, and our Mental Health Region has ceased to exist. I was around in the beginning of the Region – before that, actually – and I am quite proud of my role in getting it started. It is undoubtedly the best political work I have ever done, in terms of getting a diverse group to agree on things.
I bring that up because we had our last meeting recently, and when it was over, there were a lot of hugs and handshakes. A group of mostly Republicans and I just stood around and talked.
The interesting thing? They find it much easier to deal with the Dems on that Board than their fellow conservatives back home. And I hate to say it, but I would have to agree, but in the opposite. I find them easier to deal with than my fellow liberals.
Why is that? Why are we so mean to each other? So hard on each other? So unwilling to listen all the way through a complex issue? So unwilling to show grace? So unwilling to compromise?
I do not know the answers to these questions. If I did, I would just fix it! But I do know that it would behoove us to figure it out!
*Impeachable Offenses
I think it is easy for younger people to dismiss much of what comes out of the mouths of us older people. Once we start on a “Back in my day,” it is a cue to tune out.
That phenomenon has actually really hurt the current state of politics. I came up during Watergate. The President at the time broke several laws, and though there were massive efforts at a cover-up, he ultimately felt he had no choice but to leave office. Many people still feel that Nixon got off easy. But to a great degree, our system of government stood up and met the moment.
That is just not the case now. I would argue that Donald Trump commits an average of two impeachable offenses every week. I’m not exaggerating. The scope and scale of the corruption and grift is unlike anything in American history. Ever. EVER.
Crimes of the sort that brought down Richard Nixon happen so frequently in this Administration that we cannot even hope to keep up. I am not the only person who feels this way. Representative Dan Goldman, a Democrat from New York who led House Democrats' impeachment trial against President Trump in 2019, said the president committed "dozens of impeachable offenses" in his first 30 days in office.
The grift alone should make us all sick. Trump continues to use the government to enrich himself and his family every single day. These are obvious violations. Yet nothing happens.
Same thing with “weaponizing” the government. Lots of laws were passed post-Nixon; Trump has broken them all. Yet nothing happens.
So why does this lawlessness continue? Because the Republicans who control the House and Senate refuse to hold him accountable. All of these people are accessories to crimes. Every single one should lose their job in 2026. This includes Iowa Senator Joni Ernst and every Iowa member of Congress, especially Marianette Miller Meeks!
*DID YOU KNOW? Solon Beef Days has decided to move from steak dinners to steak sandwiches starting with the 2025 event.
Anyone interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the County website-
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---Rod
posted by Rod Sullivan @ 11:40 AM
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