Governor, GOP legislature sound death knell for "Iowa nice"
Herb Strentz: Iowa is now governed by a disgraceful Trump cult, masquerading as the once respected Republican Party.
The phrase Iowa nice used to be an annoyance to some of us, when used to express the idea that Iowans are nicer than other people. Those of us who have lived in other states, or have family and friends elsewhere, know Iowa has no monopoly on nice people.
But now, instead of being annoyed, there is good reason to mourn the loss of Iowa nice, thanks to Governor Kim Reynolds and the Republican-controlled state legislature.
A friend, retired Drake philosophy professor Jon Torgerson, pointed out that the Iowa nice label was more inclusive than merely having good neighbors. The phrase recognized our public and private institutions and the people who led them.
Iowa nice even included elected officials. We had our own version of the mythical Kennedy Camelot, with a real life, caring Camelot under Bob Ray and a bipartisan legislature.
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https://www.bleedingheartland.com/2022/03/12/governor-gop-legislature-sound-death-knell-for-iowa-nice/