The Public Pulse, Feb. 5

It’s not worth ‘air in the hair’

A Feb. 1 World-Herald editorial on Nebraska’s motorcycle helmet law described the pain and grief of helmet-less crashes: death. But it gets worse. Some victims never really live again.

Once again, the Legislature is considering repeal of the motorcycle helmet law. That is as bad an idea now as ever. When our daughter was a biker with a helmet, she said the plus side of the debate is “Air in the hair.”

The news story indicated this repeal effort has been a bit of a conservative push. Actually, it’s a liberal idea to increase taxes and seek more choices for individuals.

However, to be more accurate than labels, it’s a citizen matter. Allowing some helmets to be removed is expensive for taxpayers. Personal insurance will pay for the initial hospital costs on serious brain injury, but we are the ones who pay for the lifetime care of serious brain injury.

In Nebraska, a modest cost of caring for a permanent brain injury is $100,000 per year, but it can be three times that. If we have only two more permanent brain injuries per year, in 10 years that is 20 people. Ten more years could double that.

Air in the hair, anyone?

Lowen Kruse, Omaha

Former Nebraska state senator

Personal freedom to obey law

Why do some see the helmet law as a matter of personal freedom but not seat belts? I wear my seat belt by choice, but I don’t see why some things are a matter of personal freedom and some are not.

Glenn Tolles, Omaha

Want some changes in Congress

It’s sad to see U.S. Sen. Mike Johanns, R-Neb., blindly follow the dictates of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who seems to know as much about what the U.S. people want as Fidel Castro.

Sen. Ben Nelson has been a very positive advocate for both the United States and Nebraska. However, at the same time, our current Republican senator is no Sen. Chuck Hagel or Sen. Bob Kerrey. In my view, Sen. Johanns has not made any contributions to improve or change anything for the United States or Nebraska.

Gov. Dave Heineman absolutely would be much better in Washington, D.C., pushing legislation and fiscal policies that would better serve both Nebraska and the United States.

Although I’m an independent, I would love to see Gov. Heineman voted into the Senate and Sen. Johanns booted out for lack of initiative.

Les Krings, Columbus, Neb.

Heard what we wanted to hear

At first, I thought Larry R. Jansky (Feb. 2 Pulse) and I must have watched a different State of the Union address. But as I read his letter, it became clear it was just another case of sour grapes because he didn’t agree with the 2008 election results.

I found President Barack Obama’s speech gracefully direct on the big issues and a strong urge for change, community and growth.

It’s unfortunate that such cynicism negated the words of hope, determination and American spirit in the president’s speech.

Paulette Smolsky, Omaha

Decision may hurt participation

On Jan. 21, the U.S. Supreme Court seemed to express that the rights of a United States citizen in the area of free speech are equal to the rights of corporations and unions, as far as the First Amendment to the Constitution is concerned.

It seems that long-term participation by Americans may be marginalized by the unlimited spending power of corporations and some unions, along with special-interest groups. That will be to the detriment of the republic in the long run.

Sen. Robert F. Kennedy once said, “People are just sick of politicians. And they are looking . . . for just an honest man.”

In this age of high-tech, it may be harder to find the latter but not the former as time goes on. A good nominee is outspent by corporations that care more about their bottom line than the American people.

Sen. Kennedy also said that “the principle on which this country was founded is that direct participation in political activity is what makes a free society.”

I hope the court’s decision does not douse the flame of citizen political participation that glowed anew in 2008.

Phil O’Brien, Omaha

Focus on education, not uniform

I have a few issues with a Feb. 1 news story about Omaha Marian High School’s uniform change. While simple vanity and dislike of change are some of the issues at hand, they are certainly not the most important.

As a 2004 Marian graduate, I was upset for other reasons. Marian is a fantastic institution and generally has its priorities in order. The new principal is enthusiastic and readily answers her detractors.

But we are in the middle of a recession. Budget priorities should not be fashion-based. Not all families with children attending Marian make excessive amounts of money. Why isn’t donated money going to some aspect of the education?

I found it ironic that the story mentioned putting the focus “on job No. 1 — learning.” I don’t see that the focus is there when Marian administrators are making this uniform change right now.

Plenty of people are unhappy about this change. Yet, not much can be done.

Colleen O’Doherty, Omaha

Protect taxpayers from unions

The New York Times recently reported that union membership of government workers exceeds union membership in the private sector. This is bad news for taxpayers.

When a private sector union achieves unsustainable wages or benefits from employers, the employer’s company becomes uncompetitive and soon goes out of business. In the public sector, when unions achieve unsustainable wages or benefits, the public entity can simply raise taxes.

Raising our taxes is what Omaha is doing to pay for the exorbitant pension plans for the police and firefighters.

Over the past three Omaha mayoral elections, the police and fire unions have been very successful in getting their candidates elected. Both Hal Daub and Mike Fahey obliged the unions by opening up city coffers to pay for union demands.

Now that the coffers are dry, current Mayor Jim Suttle has decided to raise our taxes rather than require the unions to make reasonable concessions.

Omaha taxpayers need protection from predatory city unions. State lawmakers and City Council members need to weigh in on the taxpayers’ side to level the playing field.

John E. Trout, Omaha

Writer captures medical world

A Jan. 25 story by World-Herald staff writer Susan White described in honest and vivid detail what it means to be a cancer patient going through chemotherapy.

Susan’s words captured so well the atmosphere of a cancer center. Even as a cancer survivor myself, I still cannot presume to know exactly what it is like to walk in Susan’s shoes.

I can say her story accurately brought to life the world of chemotherapy — a world of compassionate nurses, IV drugs, anti-nausea medications and being among others fighting their own battles against a deadly disease.

Susan’s story is an important one, and I applaud her for sharing it with us. May God bless Susan in her fight. May she write many, many more stories.

Eileen L. McBride, Omaha

Holocaust survivor is my friend

With more than casual interest, I read an Associated Press story, “Holocaust survivor in a hip-hop band” (Jan. 31 World-Herald).

Esther Bejarano was a classmate of mine and one of my best friends in our Jewish school in Ulm, Germany, where her father, Cantor Loewy, was the principal. She inherited the musical talent from her father.

I thank The World-Herald for bringing her story to its readers.

Hannie Wolf, Albion, Neb.

Column shows how to find help

World-Herald columnist Robert Nelson’s Feb. 1 candid description of his journey with mental illness was courageous.

Too often, mental health is never talked about, yet Nelson pointed out that one in four Americans struggle with some type of “diagnosable form of mental health problem.” His story points out the role of the family, his employer, police, mental health professionals and himself in creating a path toward wellness.

Nelson’s story of healing is not over, and I hope he continues to educate the public on his journey. The World-Herald should be applauded for caring enough about Nelson to get him help, allowing him the time off to get better and for printing his story.

Rachel Eikenberry, Neola, Iowa

Columnist offers hope for others

We are very glad to see Robert Nelson’s column once again. We have missed reading his witty and informative prose.

We believe the full disclosure of his illness will lead many others to treatment for their own illnesses.

Al and Mary Beiriger, Hastings, Neb.

Gift from a stranger in the night

At 2:30 a.m. on Jan. 30 at 84th and L Streets, a young man got out of his car, walked over to the Omaha street maintenance crew and thanked them for their work. He also gave them a $20 bill to get some coffee.

The workers took the $20 back to their yard and gave it to their foreman, who used the gracious gift to purchase two dozen donuts and a gallon of milk to share with all of the workers.

This young man’s kindness touched the hearts of all 11 men who shared those donuts and milk that day. It was an extremely kind thing to do for strangers, and the men wanted him to know they very much appreciated his gift of kindness. May God bless him.

Jody Gubalke, Omaha

Wife of crew foreman

« Columns

Share