Letters, 10/26: Support Amendment 4
I support the Nebraska State Fair and hope you will join me in voting for Amendment 4, which will see to it that our State Fair continues to provide enjoyment for all residents of Nebraska. The state fair not only is an enjoyable place for adults and children, it is an important asset for Lincoln as well as the state.
Charles Lamphear did an economic impact study that showed that the Nebraska State Fair brings in more than $27 million annually in direct and indirect money to the city of Lincoln. This is only slightly less than the amount the College World Series brings into the city of Omaha. The Nebraska State Fair is the largest event in the state, and the city of Lincoln benefits greatly by having it here.
Now, about Amendment 4. Iowa has a fantastic fair, but its fair has received $21 million from the legislature during the past five years. Kansas has a great fair also, but has received $27 million from the state to support their efforts during the past five years. In contrast, the Nebraska State Fair has received less than a total of $2 million of financial support from the state during the past five years!
I support Amendment 4, which will provide funding for the Nebraska State Fair by allocating lottery funds, not tax dollars. Help support this 136-year tradition in Nebraska by joining me in voting for Amendment 4.
Larry Hubka, Lincoln
Keep lottery's promise
While the Nebraska State Fair is a worthy event, we should not support Amendment 4.
The Nebraska State Lottery was established by a vote of the people that 49.5 percent of the proceeds would go to education, 49.5 percent to help the environment and 1 percent would go to help gambling addiction (which the lottery itself helps to perpetuate).
Now, after promising this breakdown to get the lottery passed, Amendment 4 is merely the latest attempt to tinker with the lottery proceeds. Gov. Mike Johanns supported a ridiculous proposal to use part of the environmental portion to pay the legal fees for Nebraska's legal problems with water law (which Johanns himself helped to perpetuate).
We should not tinker with the premise upon which the lottery was allowed. If we do, before long we'll have constitutional amendments every election to carve up more and more of the lottery proceeds for every little pet program the Legislature or the governor or some special interest group comes up with.
Keep the promise upon which the lottery was passed. Keep education and the environment the benefactors of these proceeds.
Bruce Stephens, York
Vote for Heier, Hudkins
In recent candidate forums, and in his published literature, Mike Donlan harshly criticizes the development of acreage properties just outside the Lincoln city limits. This position is incredible given that Donlan himself lives on an oversized acreage property in the exclusive Firethorn development, where property was created under the very policies and zoning provisions Donlan now criticizes in an attempt to mislead Lancaster County voters.
This lack of credibility seems to be disingenuous in an attempt to get elected. Do the voters want to add another "bizarro elected official," as observed by the Journal Star on its opinion page recently to local government?
Bernie Heier and Larry Hudkins deserve to be re-elected by virtue of their stability in county government. I believe we have a real need for some common sense in all local government!
Joe Hampton, Lincoln
Keep the money here
The examples of "house edge" (LJS, Oct. 10), though stated in seemingly modest percentages rather than in dollars, nevertheless illustrates the reason Las Vegas casino operators have spent (actually, invested) millions to expand their gambling empires into Nebraska.
A better way to "Keep the Money in Nebraska" is not to send it to Nevada. Better yet, let's "Keep the Money in our Pockets." You can take that to the bank!
J. Arthur Curtiss, Lincoln
Choose life or ignorance
That human life begins at conception is not merely an "article of faith," as candidate John Kerry condescendingly suggested to the questioner of abortion as murder during the second presidential debate.
Life is a biological and scientific fact, not ideology or a faith that Kerry chooses to ignore.
Likewise, we as a society can either choose life or choose ignorance as Kerry has done.
Dallas Virchow, Lincoln
This election about Bush
This election is not about John Kerry. It is not about liberal and conservative, or Democrat and Republican.
It is about George Bush. It is about his war, his increase in the national debt, his destruction of the environment, his transfer of tax money from the poor and middle class to the rich and very rich. It is about his alienation of our supporters around the world, and his lack of respect for science and scientists. It is about his absurd and destructive energy policy. It is about his subservience to special interest groups such as the Religious Right. Most of all, it is about his catering to big business and his lack of concern for average citizens, and particularly about his denying support for a viable future for humanity.
These are not Republican priorities, they are Bush priorities. In the past, we have seen some excellent Republican leadership from Dwight Eisenhower and even Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan in their own ways. There is presently some high quality Republican leadership in Congress. Even our own Chuck Hagel at times shows creativity and deep understanding of the issues. On the other hand, certainly many members of Congress, both Democrat and Republican, have sold out to big business.
Think about how different this election would be if it were between John Kerry and Dwight Eisenhower, Ronald Reagan, Chuck Hagel or John McCain. It is time to stop the irrelevant savaging of the opposite party and put our efforts into deciding whether our country can survive another four years of the George W. Bush administration.
Robert C. Sorensen, Lincoln
Flip-floppers not needed
I am writing to respond to Larry McClung's recent letter. In it he states that President George Bush is a "flip-flopper" because of changes in his policies over the course of his term.
I would disagree with McClung that this is an indication of flip-flopping. There is a considerable difference between changing a position on a policy (to cite one of McClung's examples, the need for a 9/11 commission) and continuing with that decision, as opposed to what Sen. John Kerry is often accused of — frequent changes of positions on policies and then changing back, reflecting the current political winds.
For example, Kerry strongly supported the war in Iraq, then appeared to oppose it during the latter part of the primaries, only to support it again, and now (finally?) he opposes the war.
While I do not believe that the current administration is the best one we have had in recent times, I think that the alternative would be worse for the country — Kerry's actions lead me to conclude that his administration would base its policies on the latest public polls and change accordingly.
At this time in history, we need a president who is willing to make the difficult but necessary decisions and see them through. While McClung would no doubt disagree with me, I simply do not believe that John Kerry is that man.
Ken Humphrey, Seward
Charles Lamphear did an economic impact study that showed that the Nebraska State Fair brings in more than $27 million annually in direct and indirect money to the city of Lincoln. This is only slightly less than the amount the College World Series brings into the city of Omaha. The Nebraska State Fair is the largest event in the state, and the city of Lincoln benefits greatly by having it here.
Now, about Amendment 4. Iowa has a fantastic fair, but its fair has received $21 million from the legislature during the past five years. Kansas has a great fair also, but has received $27 million from the state to support their efforts during the past five years. In contrast, the Nebraska State Fair has received less than a total of $2 million of financial support from the state during the past five years!
I support Amendment 4, which will provide funding for the Nebraska State Fair by allocating lottery funds, not tax dollars. Help support this 136-year tradition in Nebraska by joining me in voting for Amendment 4.
Larry Hubka, Lincoln
Keep lottery's promise
While the Nebraska State Fair is a worthy event, we should not support Amendment 4.
The Nebraska State Lottery was established by a vote of the people that 49.5 percent of the proceeds would go to education, 49.5 percent to help the environment and 1 percent would go to help gambling addiction (which the lottery itself helps to perpetuate).
Now, after promising this breakdown to get the lottery passed, Amendment 4 is merely the latest attempt to tinker with the lottery proceeds. Gov. Mike Johanns supported a ridiculous proposal to use part of the environmental portion to pay the legal fees for Nebraska's legal problems with water law (which Johanns himself helped to perpetuate).
We should not tinker with the premise upon which the lottery was allowed. If we do, before long we'll have constitutional amendments every election to carve up more and more of the lottery proceeds for every little pet program the Legislature or the governor or some special interest group comes up with.
Keep the promise upon which the lottery was passed. Keep education and the environment the benefactors of these proceeds.
Bruce Stephens, York
Vote for Heier, Hudkins
In recent candidate forums, and in his published literature, Mike Donlan harshly criticizes the development of acreage properties just outside the Lincoln city limits. This position is incredible given that Donlan himself lives on an oversized acreage property in the exclusive Firethorn development, where property was created under the very policies and zoning provisions Donlan now criticizes in an attempt to mislead Lancaster County voters.
This lack of credibility seems to be disingenuous in an attempt to get elected. Do the voters want to add another "bizarro elected official," as observed by the Journal Star on its opinion page recently to local government?
Bernie Heier and Larry Hudkins deserve to be re-elected by virtue of their stability in county government. I believe we have a real need for some common sense in all local government!
Joe Hampton, Lincoln
Keep the money here
The examples of "house edge" (LJS, Oct. 10), though stated in seemingly modest percentages rather than in dollars, nevertheless illustrates the reason Las Vegas casino operators have spent (actually, invested) millions to expand their gambling empires into Nebraska.
A better way to "Keep the Money in Nebraska" is not to send it to Nevada. Better yet, let's "Keep the Money in our Pockets." You can take that to the bank!
J. Arthur Curtiss, Lincoln
Choose life or ignorance
That human life begins at conception is not merely an "article of faith," as candidate John Kerry condescendingly suggested to the questioner of abortion as murder during the second presidential debate.
Life is a biological and scientific fact, not ideology or a faith that Kerry chooses to ignore.
Likewise, we as a society can either choose life or choose ignorance as Kerry has done.
Dallas Virchow, Lincoln
This election about Bush
This election is not about John Kerry. It is not about liberal and conservative, or Democrat and Republican.
It is about George Bush. It is about his war, his increase in the national debt, his destruction of the environment, his transfer of tax money from the poor and middle class to the rich and very rich. It is about his alienation of our supporters around the world, and his lack of respect for science and scientists. It is about his absurd and destructive energy policy. It is about his subservience to special interest groups such as the Religious Right. Most of all, it is about his catering to big business and his lack of concern for average citizens, and particularly about his denying support for a viable future for humanity.
These are not Republican priorities, they are Bush priorities. In the past, we have seen some excellent Republican leadership from Dwight Eisenhower and even Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan in their own ways. There is presently some high quality Republican leadership in Congress. Even our own Chuck Hagel at times shows creativity and deep understanding of the issues. On the other hand, certainly many members of Congress, both Democrat and Republican, have sold out to big business.
Think about how different this election would be if it were between John Kerry and Dwight Eisenhower, Ronald Reagan, Chuck Hagel or John McCain. It is time to stop the irrelevant savaging of the opposite party and put our efforts into deciding whether our country can survive another four years of the George W. Bush administration.
Robert C. Sorensen, Lincoln
Flip-floppers not needed
I am writing to respond to Larry McClung's recent letter. In it he states that President George Bush is a "flip-flopper" because of changes in his policies over the course of his term.
I would disagree with McClung that this is an indication of flip-flopping. There is a considerable difference between changing a position on a policy (to cite one of McClung's examples, the need for a 9/11 commission) and continuing with that decision, as opposed to what Sen. John Kerry is often accused of — frequent changes of positions on policies and then changing back, reflecting the current political winds.
For example, Kerry strongly supported the war in Iraq, then appeared to oppose it during the latter part of the primaries, only to support it again, and now (finally?) he opposes the war.
While I do not believe that the current administration is the best one we have had in recent times, I think that the alternative would be worse for the country — Kerry's actions lead me to conclude that his administration would base its policies on the latest public polls and change accordingly.
At this time in history, we need a president who is willing to make the difficult but necessary decisions and see them through. While McClung would no doubt disagree with me, I simply do not believe that John Kerry is that man.
Ken Humphrey, Seward
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