gdp's Comments

KCRG : Calls For Potassium Iodide Amid Radiation Concerns | KCRG-TV9 | Cedar Rapids, Iowa News, Sports, and

Fri, 18 Mar 2011 07:58:23 +0000

Nowhere in that link did I see the NRC telling families living near a nuke plant to procure KI pills for themselves. In fact a sub-link under at the link you provided http://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/emerg-preparedness/a... "The NRC has supplied KI tablets to States requesting it for the population within the 10-mile emergency planning zone (EPZ). If necessary, KI is to be used to supplement evacuation or sheltering in place, not to take the place of these actions. If radioactive iodine is taken into the body after consumption of potasium iodide, it will be rapidly excreted from the body." They continue on to further back up exactly what I said above about the KI pills. If it gives you piece of mind procuring them in advance, that is fine I guess. I just wanted to stress that if something happens you need to GET AWAY- the pills will NOT save you in most cases. In my opinion, you wasted you money because you would have gotten KI pills anyway from the govt in the event of an radiation event. In my opinion these Iowan's in this story buying KI pills now for an event that happened halfway around the world, are just being fed hysteria by the media. And, Yes you are absolutely correct to listen to the professionally trained officials instead of some person on an internet forum.

KCRG : Calls For Potassium Iodide Amid Radiation Concerns | KCRG-TV9 | Cedar Rapids, Iowa News, Sports, and

Fri, 18 Mar 2011 05:06:27 +0000

Do you even know what the Potasium Iodine pills do? Let me explain it to you. The KI pills ONLY protect you from getting thyroid cancer by preventing the absorption of “inhaled or ingested” radioactive/ionized iodine particles. They do not protect you from any other radioactive/ionized element, or from external radiation. Basically, these KI tablets “fill up” your thyroid with “good” iodine so it can no longer absorb anymore iodine, making it so that when you breathe or eat “radioactive” iodine particles they will pas through your body and be excreted out. Elements besides iodine can be radioactive/ionized and these pills will not protect you against them. Sorry, but bottom line is you wasted your money (unless you plan on eating food from Japan anytime soon). Best thing to do in radioactive event is to GET AWAY- which Iowa is far enough away from Japan so we are good. http://health.usnews.com/health-news/managing-you...

KCRG : Small Towns Worry About Post Office Closures | KCRG-TV9 | Cedar Rapids, Iowa News, Sports, and Weath

Tue, 25 Jan 2011 05:27:16 +0000

MarkyMark. The postal workers are not faceless, they are our neighbors and friends who have families to support just like you and me. Contrary to the well marketed corporate propaganda and many people's knee-jerk resentment toward our fellow working clas citizens, the true “spongers” in the Postal System are not the modest workers, but rather the mega corporations/banks who are taking advantage of the mail system at taxpayer expense. Consider this: Next time you open your mailbox, take note of how much junk mail is sent to you via to Postal Service. Now consider, do you ever get junk mail delivered via UPS or FedEx? No. Why? Because FedEx would charge what it “ACTUALLY COSTS” for that company/bank to mail you that credit card offer/ junk mail/advisement. In other words, the Post Office is not failing because Postal employees are making reasonable living wages, but the PO is failing because they are subsidizing the delivery of corporate bulk/advertisements/junk mail- UPS/FedEx does not take a loss to deliver such things. The Post Office needs to raise ALL it's rates to be more comparable with FedEx/UPS. Would UPS only charge 42 cents to send an envelope accros the counrty? No, neither should the post office.

KCRG : Small Towns Worry About Post Office Closures | KCRG-TV9 | Cedar Rapids, Iowa News, Sports, and Weath

Tue, 25 Jan 2011 04:09:18 +0000

In other words instead of you trying to get Post Office workers to also be paid crummy wages like the rest of us in the private sector, you should be trying to get the rest of us in the private sector to be paid higher wages like our union/public sector counterparts. Think about it, the private sector employee making $8/hr is barely able to make ends meet, why do we want to bring more citizens to that level of misery too? Jealously? Post Office workers are not living lavish lifestyles, but on the converse their families are not financially struggling either. They are living comfortably unlike many of us non-union American workers who make crummy wages.

KCRG : Small Towns Worry About Post Office Closures | KCRG-TV9 | Cedar Rapids, Iowa News, Sports, and Weath

Tue, 25 Jan 2011 04:05:50 +0000

Markymark. You should read the comment by SaboCat in the following article http://www.commondreams.org/view/2010/07/06-3. He sums your resentment toward PO workers very well. To paraphrase- “I have noticed this rising resentment..the ability to foment this..intra- working clas resentment is one of the most brilliant strokes of the US capitalist propaganda system - they have convinced the person earning $8.00 an hour to despise union and public sector workers and their "lavish" $16-20 per hour pay, because they aren't making $8.00 an hour too. One would think the guy working 70 hour weeks at $8.00 and no overtime would think "hmmm - maybe I should join or organize a union too!" But I guess that is asking too much.”

KCRG : Vander Plaats Calls Vote a Referendum on Failed Leadership | KCRG-TV9 | Cedar Rapids, Iowa News, Spo

Sun, 14 Nov 2010 03:25:06 +0000

ammo2. Actually, California is more like a democracy than Iowa due to the way California has set up their Constitution. Laws and the Constitution are easier to change in California than in Iowa. In California it is very common form several dozen “Propositions” to be up for public vote on the ballot leaving new laws up to the “will of the majority.” California lets "WE THE PEOPLE VOTE” on virtually everything. “We The People” tend to make decisions based on emotion or personal beliefs, not guided by legal expertise or proper knowlege of a subject. Non-expert regular citizens making laws in California may be a reason California is in such financial trouble. It's a bad idea to have regular (non-expert) Iowa citizens voting on every issue too, especially other citizens rights.

KCRG : Vander Plaats Calls Vote a Referendum on Failed Leadership | KCRG-TV9 | Cedar Rapids, Iowa News, Spo

Sun, 14 Nov 2010 02:41:05 +0000

Ammo2, The "majority rule" has no place when it comes to voting on other citizens rights. America is a Republic, not Democracy- there is a very clear difference which many unfortunately do not understand. The Constitution restrains the “rule of the majority”, and allows all citizens, even unpopular citizens, to enjoy the same rights to life liberty and the pursuit of happiness not subject to whims of the majority. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhG4yJByfrE This 10 minute video is something most people would have seen in 6th grade social studies. Pay close attention to minutes 5:00-7:00, but please watch the entire video.

KCRG : Vander Plaats Calls Vote a Referendum on Failed Leadership | KCRG-TV9 | Cedar Rapids, Iowa News, Spo

Sun, 14 Nov 2010 02:17:40 +0000

Ammo2, NEWS FLASH... The equal protection clause, clasue #6, is a right every IOWA citizen has under the IOWA Constitution; just as bearing arms, the 2nd amendment to the FEDERAL Constitution is a right every American citizen has. I hope this make sense to you. (This is why the Iowa judges unanimously overturned DOMA, because DOMA violated the Equal protection clause of the IOWA Constitution.) FYI- The pocket Constitution you have in your desk is probably a FEDERAL Constitution, not the Iowa Constitution - there is a difference, please educate yourself of them (and not from those, like Vander-Plaats and his out-of state religious group, who have mislead so many Iowans into voting these fine Iowa justices off the bench.)

KCRG : Gronstal Says He Won\'t Allow Gay Marriage Vote | KCRG-TV9 | Cedar Rapids, Iowa News, Sports, and We

Thu, 4 Nov 2010 23:14:29 +0000

Vander-Plaats seeks power by spreading confusion about the courts role and what the court actually did. They did not legislate from the bench, or amend the constitution. The simply court ruled a law the legislature created was unconstitutional, which is exactly what the court is bound to do by the Constitution.. The courts absolutely are NOT to reflect the WILL OF THE PEOPLE; The legislature is the breach that reflects the WILL OF THE PEOPLE. The only considerations courts are to take into account is the Constitution, law, and judicial precedent- absolutely nothing more. Furthermore Vander-Plaats says the courts should have told the legislature to fix the law instead of just ruling it unconstitutional. Vander-Plaats is incorrect here too. The Judiciary cannot dictate to the legislature what legislation to take up. Vander-Plaats and his out-of-state religious groups have confused and misinformed so many Iowans, it is very troubling so may people fell for his baloney.

KCRG : Gronstal Says He Won\'t Allow Gay Marriage Vote | KCRG-TV9 | Cedar Rapids, Iowa News, Sports, and We

Thu, 4 Nov 2010 23:13:01 +0000

You hit it right on the head joe. This shouldn't even be an issue. It is a red-hearrring they are using to get votes and distract the populus from REAL "bread and butter" problems that govt should be dealing with. That is why Sen Grontal will not allow this silly issue to distract from the REAL work the Legislature needs to be working on. Keep up the work and hold to your guns Mike!!!!

KCRG : Gronstal Says He Won\'t Allow Gay Marriage Vote | KCRG-TV9 | Cedar Rapids, Iowa News, Sports, and We

Thu, 4 Nov 2010 23:04:35 +0000

Very good point. How many Constitutional experts spoke out in support of Vander-Plaats and his out-of-state religious group’s vendetta? How many Constitutional experts said the judges got it right? What qualifies a lay person who works at Wal-Mart to be able to properly interpret the Constitution and law? I certainly would not want a lay person deciding on my divorce case, I would want a legal professional (judge). Isn’t that why we have a judiciary who must take years of schooling and are selected based on merit, not popular opinion?

KCRG : Gronstal Says He Won\'t Allow Gay Marriage Vote | KCRG-TV9 | Cedar Rapids, Iowa News, Sports, and We

Thu, 4 Nov 2010 22:43:26 +0000

The WILL OF THE MAJORITY should not determine the rights of other citizens-PERIOD!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhG4yJByfrE This short 10 minute video is a very good explainer when it talks about the rights of the (unpopular) gunman that the MAJORITY want to hang, but wait, he has rights not subject to the “mob rule!!” Contrary to what many Americans believe, our founders actually created us to be a nation of LAW (A Republic), not a democracy (where “WE THE PEOPLE” vote on everything- especially other citizens rights). If a simple majority can be convinced to do something than we would have mob rule, that is why in a nation of law every citizen is held to the same standard, even those citizens we despise. Our founders realized the dangers of a true democracy and did everything they could to prevent one. We have to live together as one nation despite our strong and often depe-seeded differences. As long a one citizen’s life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness does not interfere with another citizen’s right to life, liberty and the purist of happiness we will have a strong Republic. When we tilt toward a TRUE democracy we are in danger of loosing those very freedoms to the “mob rule.”

GazetteOnline.com : Minister wrong but so are narrow-minded Muslims

Wed, 15 Sep 2010 07:04:45 +0000

"Many of them believe their religion is the one and only and that Christians do not deserve to live." - And many of them do not believe this. I agree with most of what you say in your letter, however, not ALL Muslims are part of the narrow-minded group you speak of, just as not all Christians agree with the narrow-minded Florida pastor. We cannot label an entire group based on the actions of the loudest or most provocative/violent. Islam is the most widely practiced religion on the planet. Most Muslims in the world practice with tolerance and non-violence which we do not hear about. America, the leader of the free world, has a duty to demostrate understanding and tolerance of others. If we don't, than we are no better than the narrow-minded persons you speak of.

GazetteOnline.com : Don't be fooled by administration's threats

Wed, 15 Sep 2010 06:36:08 +0000

“..keeping dependents on health plans until age 26, unlimited lifetime benefits, limit maximum “out of pocket” expenses, expand preventive care and eliminate pre-existing conditions. Adding all of these features will not cause the cost of health care to increase? Does the current administration think we Americans are stupid?..” -Maybe not “stupid”, but misinformed, yes. The individual mandate, which requires everyone to carry insurance, will keep the costs dwn. Young healthy people will now be contributing premiums offsetting the higher costs asociated with the benefits you speak of. While the individual mandate may not be fully understood by the general public, it is the lynchpin to keeping costs low while adding the benefits you speak of. The individual mandate was originally a Republican idea from 1993 and also promotes INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY. Here is proof: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TDfrsPEhmg

GazetteOnline.com : Judges make rulings, but not laws

Tue, 14 Sep 2010 22:11:45 +0000

Well he got one. I also gave him a crash course in civics. I hope he understands, there is a different guiding force with the Judiciary, that ultimately being the Constitution, rather than the "will of republic/people".

GazetteOnline.com : Judges make rulings, but not laws

Tue, 14 Sep 2010 22:02:10 +0000

To use an example- Let’s say the legislature made a law saying the official State church will be Catholic, and this was acceptable to the majority of citizens. Would it be the courts job to “throw this law out?” Yes, the Judiciary would rule that the Constitution overrides any law the legislature creates. In the Constitution we have the freedom of religion and Congress shall make no law establishing a State religion.

GazetteOnline.com : Judges make rulings, but not laws

Tue, 14 Sep 2010 22:00:55 +0000

Silace "Did they not only not follow the law they through it out[?]"- Ah, yeah Silace that’s what the Courts job is- they abide by the Constitution FIRST which can and DOES override [legislated] "laws". Your lack of knowledge of how the system is supposed to work is apparent. Civics Clas 101: The supreme "law" of the land is a Constitution, then comes legislative laws/acts and former judicial precedent. No law created by the legislature or judicial ruling can violate the Constitution. Judicial rulings are supposed to “overrule”/overturn a law if the law is not in compliance with the Constitution. It is the Judicial branch’s duty, under the Constitution, to decide what is and what is not in compliance with the Constitution. All seven Iowa Supreme Court justices unanimously agreed this legislated law, created by the legislature, violated the supreme "law" of the land, the Constitution,- therefore they had to “throw it out”.

GazetteOnline.com : Judges make rulings, but not laws

Tue, 14 Sep 2010 21:53:26 +0000

No Silace. The “Republic” concept applies to the legislature, not the judiciary. We do not elect Judges, they are appointed as to protect the system of ‘checks and balances’ and as James Madison warned "tyranny of the majority". This link to my help you understand the role of courts better: http://www.iowacourts.gov/Public_Information/Abou... We want to keep the republic concept well and good for our legislature but it has no place in an impartial judiciary.

GazetteOnline.com : Judges make rulings, but not laws

Mon, 13 Sep 2010 22:33:05 +0000

commonsenseguy On what legal grounds are you ruling the Judges did not follow the law? I asume you will not answer, because there isn’t any legal grounds for your statement. You are an uniformed voter that does not properly understand the judicial process or what Judges base their decision's on. Judicial rulings are NOT based on the “will of the people”, but rather based on the Constitution, law and judicial precedent. Again, On what legal grounds are you ruling the Judges did not follow the law?

GazetteOnline.com : Judges make rulings, but not laws

Mon, 13 Sep 2010 22:18:23 +0000

Silace's question was-"What happened to rule of the majority the Democrats so deaply cherish when, politically correct[?]," Silace is asking the question 'what about the rule of the majority?', even though he mistakenly did not use a question mark. I pointed out that the public's "will of the majority" is supposed to be pertinent to the legislative branch not the judicial branch. The judicial branch is supposed to be free from the public majority wishes and only bound by the Constitution, law and former precedent.