Ott Observations

Kevin McCarthy was voted out of the U.S. House Speaker position. This is the top leadership position in the House of Representatives, chosen by a majority of the representatives. Prior…

Mike Bost is our representative in Congress. He has a website which summarizes his positions on a variety of issues.  Our country is divided over whether the past presidential election…

Part of the beauty of sports is they give us a break from all the stresses of daily life.  And in this world of increased polarization, one thing virtually all…

I think our country today faces two immense and complex challenges, but they aren’t what you think.  It’s not the economy, the environment or how to handle Russia, China or…

In the past few months, Waterloo School Board meetings have been setting parent attendance records. Coverage of these meetings by the Republic-Times has required some of the largest column inch…

Recently, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Affirmative Action is unconstitutional.  For almost 50 years, this has been an admissions practice by universities, accepting minority student applicants who might not…

Imagination is a powerful word. To have a goal is to imagine something beyond where you’re at today.  Progress requires both an imagined better situation and imagination as to how…

The definition of an “institution” is an established official organization having an important role in the life of a country. Established practices, customs or laws are also considered institutions. Institutions…

I have been writing recently about how the current Republican party has become unhinged from any foundational principles and logic. Although I often disagree with politically conservative perspectives, I have…

Many of us are familiar with a game called “20 Questions.”  The object is to be able to guess a specific person, object or place by asking questions to eliminate…

My very first letter to the Republic-Times was an appeal to my Republican neighbors after the 2020 election.  I’d like to make another appeal. Please restore the Republican Party back…

As I digest many current events, I find myself thinking about the word “reason.” The dictionary defines the word as “a cause, explanation or justification for an action or event,”…