Randy Evans / Stray Thoughts

Evans Op-Ed -- Question For The Ages: How Will History Judge Us?

Curiosity has led me to contemplate events like the Civil War, the growing tensions in Europe and America before World War II, the lynching of black people by vigilantes in the South during the first half of the 20th Century, the internment of Japanese-Americans in the Western United States during t

By Randy Evans / Stray Thoughts

/ 30 May 2018

Evans Op-Ed -- Question For The Ages: How Will History Judge Us?

Don’t Hide Government Officials From The Public

I sometimes think government officials overlook the important role the public plays in our system of government. That was my takeaway last week from the monthly meeting of the Iowa

By Randy Evans / Stray Thoughts

/ 23 May 2018

Don’t Hide Government Officials From The Public

Government Should Be Like Baby Bear’s Porridge

I’m sure you have heard the old tale about Iowa’s bountiful cornfields — about closing your eyes in the summer, listening carefully at night and being able to hear

By Randy Evans / Stray Thoughts

/ 10 May 2018

Government Should Be Like Baby Bear’s Porridge

Government Officials Should Not View The Public As An Annoyance

My role as executive director of the Iowa Freedom of Information Council has taken me from border to border in our state. The message I’ve preached at each stop

By Randy Evans / Stray Thoughts

/ 2 May 2018

Government Officials Should Not View The Public As An Annoyance

Big Isn’t Necessarily Bad, But Dumb Certainly Is

The executives at Wells Fargo & Co., nation’s third-largest bank, should send a nice sympathy card and a big bouquet of flowers to former president Bush.

By Randy Evans / Stray Thoughts

/ 26 Apr 2018

Big Isn’t Necessarily Bad, But Dumb Certainly Is

Do We Really Think People Choose To Be Poor?

I have spent 50 years as a journalist asking questions, listening to the responses, and closely observing the people and events around me. Somewhere along the way, my observational skills

By Randy Evans / Stray Thoughts

/ 18 Apr 2018

Do We Really Think People Choose To Be Poor?

Remember, Our Ancestors Were Immigrants, Too

An important anniversary slipped by unnoticed recently. That milestone is a significant reminder beyond just the passage of time, however.

By Randy Evans / Stray Thoughts

/ 11 Apr 2018

Remember, Our Ancestors Were Immigrants, Too

Iowa Governor Wrong To Think Silence Will Work

The ink is barely dry on the check taxpayers of Iowa had to write last fall to settle a sexual-harassment lawsuit won by an employee of the Iowa Senate Republican staff. Then this.

By Randy Evans / Stray Thoughts

/ 29 Mar 2018

Stray Thoughts columnist Randy Evans writes about a bill up for debate at the Iowa Statehouse in Des Moines. IowaWatch file p

Public Service Isn’t Always About Winning

There was noteworthy news coming out of the Iowa Legislature last week. This may surprise you, but I am not referring to the headlines about Bill Dix, the Iowa Senate’

By Randy Evans / Stray Thoughts

/ 21 Mar 2018

Public Service Isn’t Always About Winning

Making A Better World, One Stone At A Time

People like to say we control our own destiny. But in some of the most important aspects of that destiny, we have zero influence. None of us has a say

By Randy Evans / Stray Thoughts

/ 8 Mar 2018

Making A Better World, One Stone At A Time

A Better Way To Show Our Appreciation

Mr. President, may I have a few minutes of your time? I would like to suggest an alternative to the big Veterans Day parade in Washington, D.C., that you

By Randy Evans / Stray Thoughts

/ 28 Feb 2018

Will We Ever Act? That’s The Question

That priest in Australia nailed it with his message on the Anglican church sign last week: “When Will They Love Their Kids More Than Their Guns.” The sign was a

By Randy Evans / Stray Thoughts

/ 21 Feb 2018

Evans Op-Ed -- Question For The Ages: How Will History Judge Us?

Don’t Hide Government Officials From The Public

Government Should Be Like Baby Bear’s Porridge

Government Officials Should Not View The Public As An Annoyance

Big Isn’t Necessarily Bad, But Dumb Certainly Is

Do We Really Think People Choose To Be Poor?

Remember, Our Ancestors Were Immigrants, Too

Iowa Governor Wrong To Think Silence Will Work

Public Service Isn’t Always About Winning

Making A Better World, One Stone At A Time

A Better Way To Show Our Appreciation

Will We Ever Act? That’s The Question

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