The Public Pulse, February 10

Not a good time to seek state aid

Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman is not too keen on giving $91 million for University of Nebraska construction.

NU spokesman Ron Withem said 30 "average Nebraskans," including nurses, students, medical professionals and cattle producers, testified Feb. 2 before the budget-writing Appropriations Committee in support of NU's spending priorities.

But these are not "average Nebraskans." The average Nebraskan is a person who has a tough time making ends meet in these times. Except for some of the students, it sounds like the people testifying all have jobs.

If asked, the "average Nebraskan" would agree with the governor that we need tax relief and that NU needs to look to its own foundation if it wants money for construction. What is NU saving more than $1 billion in its foundation for?

Next up, the City of Omaha will go to the state for a donation for streets, sewers and lighting. Omaha is also short of money. Just ask the mayor.

D. Mark O'Neill, Omaha

Football everywhere but UNO?

Am I the only one who thinks it is odd that Peru State College, Wayne State College and Chadron State College have football programs but the University of Nebraska at Omaha does not?

Will someone please pick up the penalty flag?

Gary L. Hall, Omaha

Uniform complaint out of place

I hope the good people of Columbus, Neb., go to their school board and demand that Columbus Athletic Director John Krogstrand and girls basketball coach Dave Licari are replaced.

I could not believe the Columbus coach and AD challenged the pink uniforms the Burke High School girls wore for a charity during a Feb. 6 basketball game in Omaha.

What a lesson to teach young people. Come on, Columbus, you can do better.

Larry Geiger, Lincoln

Time to build up, not tear down

I think Ernie Chambers' Feb. 7 letter missed the big picture on Legislative Bill 990, which would require U.S. flags and the Pledge of Allegiance in public schools.

This country was founded by many different individuals with many different beliefs and ideas that now make up the framework of this country. In the past few years, this basic American core framework has been pushed farther and farther to the side for the sake of individuals or special-interest groups.

We all need to be Americans again and feel proud of our country. I spent 24 years in the U.S. Navy, and I like to think I helped a little in giving Mr. Chambers the right to express his opinions in a free country.

But it's time for Mr. Chambers to stop throwing rocks from the bleachers and do his part on the real stage of life.

I'd like Mr. Chambers to go after the illegal guns our children have, work to reduce the high dropout rate in our schools, stop illegal drugs from getting to 12-year-olds and support a better education system to help students become better people with a future.

Douglas Arthur, Omaha

Leave estate, not tax, to family

Atley Wedemeyer's Feb. 3 letter opposed Legislative Bill 970, which would abolish Nebraska's inheritance tax. Nebraska is one of only eight states to have an inheritance tax. Forbes Magazine named Nebraska as one of the states where it's best not to die.

Mr. Wedemeyer said an inheritance tax seems reasonable, especially for those estates bequeathed to children and grandchildren. He asked, what better time to give something back than when we die? He said those who receive an inheritance often did little or nothing to earn it.

Where do people get off demanding that those who have worked, saved and prospered must pay a large portion of their estate in taxes upon their death to those who had absolutely nothing to do with their success?

People of my generation learned a work ethic from our parents and how to rely on ourselves. We did not take. We earned.

Some will never experience the joy of knowing that their children or grandchildren will benefit from the fruits of their labor. Nothing is more unproductive or harmful to an economy than a regressive tax like Nebraska's inheritance tax.

William R. Gottsch, Omaha

Follow drunken driver's vehicle

I may have come up with a workable solution for repeat drunken-driving offenders. After people's first offense and they have lost their driver's licenses, don't confiscate their car. Confiscate the license plates and replace them with a bright red plate with white numbers.

Doing that makes it possible for the car to be driven by other members of the family, as needed. The car on the road with the bright red plates would stand out among other vehicles and send a signal to the rest of us on the road to beware.

It also would allow police officers to stop that vehicle at any time to check the driver. If it is the unlicensed driver, he would be in deep trouble. But if it is the wife or children of that driver, the officer can wish them a nice day and send them on their way.

As police officers are cruising in their assigned areas, they would notice these plates. If these plates are parked in the lot of any bar, police will know to keep an eye out.

Drunken drivers, or at least their vehicles, would be easy to keep track of and watch out for.

Kim Johnston, Omaha

Look for the best in our leaders

Throughout America's history, we have had several great leaders. Each had flaws, and none knew everything about every subject he had to deal with.

But as leaders, they knew how to control their flaws and how to select knowledgeable advisers to fill the knowledge gaps they had.

In 21st-century America, we seem to believe our leaders must have no flaws and, in fact, must be completely knowledgeable of all subjects they have to deal with in whatever office they hold.

And since there are far more subjects our leaders have to be aware of, it also is becoming much harder to find someone who even knows a majority of this stuff.

In the past year, we have lost some really good possibilities for great leaders because of the constant emphasis on their negative traits rather than their positive ones.

People such as Herman Cain, Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney battle the negativity dragon. It is time to slay this dragon and start looking at people's positive traits. This way, we may find the next Abraham Lincoln.

Steven Wiseman, Bellevue

Buy new jobs, not politicians

I think super PACs should be outlawed. Just think how many jobs could be created with the money these job creators are now spending to buy politicians.

Andrew White, Gibbon, Neb.

Contrary Congress loses ground

I am amused by the GOP's quandary about President Barack Obama's recent recess appointments, as reported in a Feb. 6 news story, "GOP, Obama aren't playing nice." The situation does, however, suggest the evolution of this august body.

In the fall, the "do-nothing" Congress blocked any moves the president made.

During the winter holidays, the "pretend" Congress was gaveled into session but was, in fact, on vacation.

Now, as spring approaches and U.S. Sens. Mike Johanns, R-Neb., and Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and others consider challenging the president's appointments, the "undo" Congress finds itself not only standing still but actually moving backward.

John Dennison, Omaha

Offer equal health care for all

I am puzzled by the recent public outcry by U.S. Catholic bishops regarding the federal policy requiring employers to offer insurance coverage for contraception.

As a Catholic myself, I am well aware that many Catholics have used contraception at some point in their lives.

If their outrage is genuine, it appears church officials may be among the few Catholics for whom this is an issue. This organized effort by the bishops begs the questions: Why this issue and why now?

Catholic social teaching instructs us to oppose violence, but I have seen no organized Catholic campaign against the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. I have not even seen an organized campaign against domestic violence.

Can it be that the bishops are trying to distract from other crises in the church? Regardless, many Catholics support contraception, and all employees should have access to equal health care under the law.

Patty Hawk, Crete, Neb.

W-H offers a variety of topics

Day after day, we pick up The World-Herald and there is a huge variety of topics. Several years ago, I made up a front page of our local daily newspaper in jest about some relatives who came to visit and made headline news because their visit was such a rare occurrence in our little town.

The World-Herald's outstanding Jan. 31 edition brought that to mind with the headline, "Weathering the winter that wasn't." Clever!

We also enjoyed Robert Nelson's Feb. 1 column, "Rethink the role of technical education," because State Sen. Brad Ashford's Legislative Bill 1144 would allow school districts to create career academy schools.

We were in the Omaha South High School Class of 1947 and had the advantage of learning things that were useful in later life. Ruth had a top-notch secretarial course, which coworkers in her office acquired at business school. John had the privilege of taking woodworking and auto mechanics, even though his major was college preparatory.

John and Ruth Wise, Atlantic, Iowa

« Columnists

Share