I'll be in Iowa next week! Yay!!

[Critters2]

I'm taking a week's vacation from the land of subdivisions and political corruption, to visit the land of my birth! I'll be in Altoona for a friend's installation on Sunday, then north to Eagle Grove and environs. I'll pay attention to political news while I'm there, to see what I'm missing.

Can't wait!

[IA_Seth]

1. Lol...

I will tell you what you are missing in and around Des Moines...You are missing subdivisions and political corruption (or at least the suggestion of such).

So much for being able to get away from it all huh?

[Critters2]

2. Illinois could give Iowa lessons in political corruption

Our (or "their", this isn't likely to ever feel like home to me) last governor was just convicted of 6 felony counts of various kinds. The current governor is being investigated, but still handily won the primary for re-election. The major difference between corruption in Illinois and corruption in other places is that Illinoisans don't mind. In fact, they get annoyed with the feds for investigating and indicting pols here. Ryan is the 5th Illinois governor to be convicted of federal crimes. And no one cares.

And as to subdivisions, in Iowa there are places (like Eagle Grove) where you can get away from 'em. They are ubiquitous in Illnois. From the Quad Cities to Chicago, if there isn't "development" happening yet, there are "developers" doing "studies". I'm 90 miles from Chicago, and we're basically a suburb.
Which may be a problem (not for me, I live across the street from the church) when gas hits $5.

Trust me, Iowa is better.

[Critters2]

3. Just got back to Illinois, and confirmed it--

Iowa is better. It took all my sense of responsibility to drag myself across that river!! So green, so quiet, so friendly!!

Saw two friends' new hybrid cars, and the ethanol plant in Goldfield. Okay, so I also had to breathe the fumes from the Sparboe egg factory once or twice, but no place is perfect. Close, though.

[Hardrada]

4. My mistake.

I thought this was a message from Tom Vilsack!

[Critters2]

5. Hehehe!

Nah...I could never get elected head of the DLC. I'm a Democrat!

[Hardrada]

6. Good point.

Neither Blouin nor Vilsack have ever been Dems.