The Sweat of Good Christians

This morning a friend from Iowa sent me a note. I get a lot of notes from Iowans¹ distressed at the current situation.

What situation is that?

It’s the one governed by artificial borders - ones that exist on political maps (there are many different kinds of maps - topographical, geological, historical, watershed, etc.) that constrain people by laws and whims of a ruling class.

In Iowa, sadly, Kim Reynolds is governor and the Iowa GOP has one goal: legislate people who are able to leave the state out of the state. Clear the land of those who can move elsewhere: Minnesota is fast becoming a favorite for friends who wish to leave, even Illinois sits like a siren on the left bank of the Mississippi.

This friend wrote that for the first time they were job hunting in Minnesota. And I for one understand.

But here is the truth: If I could live anywhere it would be back home in Iowa. If I were able to get healthcare and find the same calibre of neurologists, doctors as I have in the city here in Iowa there - Tim and I would be home.

This brings me back to Kim Reynolds and the Iowa GOP (as it exists now not in the relative salad days of Governor Ray) who destroyed the healthcare system in the state. Rural hospitals are closing (even now) and she gutted the marketplace as to make it dangerously and callously ineffective. I can’t get coverage. Are you kidding? Me and my constellation of ailments? ²

They are making Iowa unlivable. Not just through policy violence - the implementation of laws that impact BIPOC/women/people with disabilities the most - but through their hate.

Or as I like to call it: The Sweat Of Good Christians. They are filled to the brim with “Christ’s” love.

They love the land so much they are allowing corporations to build CAFOs - multi-level poultry condos just outside Grinnell for example. Grinnell - where two years ago a Black man was actually lynched and burned in a ditch by a bunch of white people but it wasn’t categorized as a lynching because why would they?

This land they are working to take away from the small farmers that still exist (ironic isn’t it white people? Having corporations steal you land through eminent domain? It stings as my family farm could be impacted but we did this to ourselves greedy white folk and Iowans voted for Kim so wah-lah) through eminent domain to stack CAFOS miles into the ever blackening skies above and plunge CO2³ pipelines below the once rich topsoil that is increasingly ripped away by derechos because: climate change).

What incredible stewards of God’s great land.

They love life so much they introduced a bill to bring back the death penalty.

They love kids so much they are defunding public education.

So much love.

So to my friend I sent a note back - that I understand why they are looking north to the great state of Minnesota for respite. I get it - if you were able to move and have children why wouldn’t you get them out of a state so fueled by the Sweat of Good Christians they have to watch their backs for active shooter drills, drink poisoned water, play in streams and cricks filled with the runoff of pesticides and cow shit?

1. I am at a safe remove - living across the country in NYC - the perception is I have nothing to lose when it comes to Iowa. No skin in the game because I don’t live there. But those who know me best know I don’t have anything to lose when writing about Iowa and what it has become no matter where I live.

2. Constellation of ailments is something I heard Keith Morrison say on Dateline so credit where it’s due.

3. About Summit Carbon - Branstad is behind this of course however there is also a Vilsack in this disgusting woodpile. Yes - that Vilsack - the former governor Tom Vilsack and current secretary of agriculture Vilsack - his son is Summit’s general counsel. Give it a Bing.