Most of my life has been spent in Iowa, and although I no longer live there, I still follow parts of Iowan politics with some interest.

Yesterday, Iowa Senator Charles Grassley perpetuated misinformation about the current health care bill in the House saying it includes provisions for the government to, as Senator Grassley eloquently put it, “pull the plug on grandma^[1],[2].” Amazingly, he makes this leap to euthanasia from the House bill having “counseling for end of life”.

I have no expectation of always agreeing with elected officials, but I have the right to expect civility in debate, especially from a U.S. Senator (not that I often see it). The Senator’s false comments do nothing to strengthen this country, do not contribute positively to the health care debate, and are simply meant to frighten people.

This is not Senator Grassley’s first questionable statements regarding health care recently. In late June when a constituent asked Senator Grassley why the Senator’s insurance is so much less expensive and better than his own, Senator Grassley deflected by recommending the man get a job at John Deere^[3],[4]. When pressed further, the Senator ultimately recommended the constituent get a federal job. See the full exchange below.

References

1. Grassley Warns Of Government Pulling Plug “On Grandma”
2. Sen. Grassley: Govt. Would ‘Decide When To Pull The Plug On Grandma’
3. Grassley tells Iowan “go work for the federal government” for affordable insurance
4. Grassley: If you want good Health Care “Just go work for the Federal government”

A few posts back, I promised (with conditions) some deer and turkey photos from my trip home last month. Here they are!

The turkeys below come by the house several times a day and eat seed that has been pushed out of a bird feeder by other birds. The tom whose photo I posted back in September (see Tom Turkey) still visits regularly, but is, of course, traveling alone. A few times, however, they were all together outside the house.

A deer and representatives of two species of squirrels.

Finally, I have received word that two coyotes have been seen nearby multiple times.

Here is a picture of the tom turkey that stops by my parents’ house a few times each day. I took this when I was visiting during the Labor Day Weekend.