Letter to the Editor: Matt Tapscott is a good man

(The following Letter to the Editor has been submitted by Bill Pardee of rural Decorah):

"This election is not just a choice between personalities, but between competing visions of the role of government, a competition that existed at least since Alexander Hamilton debated Thomas Jefferson. One group wants government to be small, smaller than it is, and on the other hand, some believe the right size government provides the essential services that individuals cannot provide by themselves.  

The first group wants to cut taxes and regulations and turn services over to corporations. In Iowa, that's been a disaster with Medicaid. Hundreds of millions of dollars of tax dollars went into insurance company pockets while leaving many more Iowans without insurance (Des Moines Register, Aug 3, 2020).

Des Moines has not adequately funded education, starving even our crown jewel universities with the professional schools that provide our teachers, physicians, nurses, lawyers, physical therapists, and so on. The same Des Moines small government limited service philosophy has ignored the needs of our small-town clinics and hospitals, which cannot achieve the low operating costs of the cities.

My friend, Matt Tapscott, is now running for State Senator from this district. I support him, not just because he's my friend, but because he and I share the conviction that government exists to provide for the common good, to provide essential services to working Iowans. (Hint: the preamble to the US Constitution says, "provide for the general welfare.") Matt believes, as I do, that the Iowa government helps corporations more than working families. Reducing regulations on corporations, as sought by the small government party, allows those corporations run freely over the quality of life of working Iowans.

Matt's a good man. He's a Marine veteran and a 25-year professional in childcare. I hope you'll give him a chance to earn your vote."