Gongol.com Archives: February 2014
![Iowa](http://gongol.com/assets/icons/2005icons/iowa.png)
Richard Doak used to edit the opinion pages of the Des Moines Register. Now he's just opining on his own, saying that Iowa needs a Minnesota-style economic policy (which he characterizes as being part of their "more progressive politics"). Not everything he suggests is wrong -- we'd be better off finding an escape route from the free-for-all of economic-development incentives. But suggesting that we need a "more progressive state income tax" is boneheaded. The state's tax system is already too complex and riddled with special deductions. Flatten the rate and simplify the system. And don't think Iowa needs to become more "progressive" (code language for "more inclined to spend") in order to succeed.
![Weather and Disasters](http://gongol.com/assets/icons/2005icons/wx.png)
The science of weather forecasting has improved a lot over recent decades. Now it's time to improve the communication of that science to a public that doesn't seem especially interested in specialized information.
![Business and Finance](http://gongol.com/assets/icons/2005icons/biz.png)
They're trying to do it at Northwestern
![Weather and Disasters](http://gongol.com/assets/icons/2005icons/wx.png)
![Humor and Good News](http://gongol.com/assets/icons/2005icons/haha.png)
But you'll look pretty silly doing it