Iowa candidates for public office should be ashamed for not filling out Project Vote Smart's National Political Awareness Test (NPAT). What message does it send to voters when our incumbents and challengers are unwilling to share their views with voters? And what does it say about the parties and political consultants who discourage candidates from such basic disclosure? This refusal to inform voters is part of the systemic problem that perpetuates lack of accountability of the body politic.

The current Davenport zoning issue for the old H&W property located on North Brady across from the Walnut Center is not so confusing when you strip away all the complexities involved and take a basic, common-sense approach.

I am happy to report that the parents of students from Grant and Johnson elementary schools are appealing the Iowa Department of Education's administrative law judge's decision to uphold the closings of the two facilities.

Lobbyists and attorneys appear to control the universe. No truer words were ever spoken than those that claimed a person's case is only as good as his or her attorney. While the law provides for a more civilized society in many ways, it also allows for chaos.