What are the most important issues for Iowa

[queeg]

What do you want your congressman to concentrate on.

What local issues are more important.

If your congressman said ---what ---would you like him more or never vote for him again.

[Wapsie B]

1. A big one is

how to deal with the aging of the state. In so many areas outside of Des Moines and Cedar Rapids/Iowa City there's an ever-increasing number of elderly and a dwindling number of younger people of family-raising age. There's got to be more to it than just those who can profit off building an assisted living center.

What passes for economic development in the state is laughable, chasing smokestacks to entice companies to move here. That's a losing proposition. These business development centers at several community colleges throughout the state is a good start. But that only accentuates the short-sightedness that's existed here for so long. If it wasn't related to farming, banks didn't want to talk to you. We've blown golden opportunities by the score in this state. Robert Noyce and Walter Chrysler are but two individuals who had to leave Iowa in search of a state more welcoming to ingenuity and true entrepreneurial spirit.

[pstans]

2. I agree to some extent

The aging of the population is a big problem in Iowa. Many of the people who go to college in this state, leave once they graduate. Economic development is good, but people aren't leaving the state because of money. It is cheaper to buy a home in Iowa, get insurance, etc. Iowa needs to develop strong communities and that starts by funding education.

In the past 5-6 years, education funding as not been what it should be. In my first 2 years at the U of Iowa (2000 and 2001) tuition went up over 15% each year and it has kept going up. From Kindergraten to college, our schools need to be funded. Education used to be Iowa's prize possesion and I am afraid that we have fallen back in the middle of the pack.

A strong education system will give reasons for people to raise their kids here. It will provider employers with an educated workforce, and it will create smart, creative entrepeneurs to develop small businesses in the state.