Letters, 3/27: Our money's worth

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There was a time in the past when city councils and mayors of Nebraska cities had carte blanche to compensate municipal employees however they chose to — a practice the Journal Star and a few city leaders would seem to endorse.

This was prior to the state Legislature passing a law that required cities to compare the wages of their employees with those of other similar cities in the region so that municipal employees might receive a fair wage, not one dependent on the generosity of municipalities that, like most entities on a budget, would like to pay their employees as little as possible, so they might spend their money on other things.

This law seemed reasonable when it was passed and it still is. City jobs are often quite unique and cannot be fairly compared to private sector jobs — police, fire personnel, waste water management, city engineers and public works are just a few examples.

Lincoln enjoys an excellent quality of life, due in large part to the aforementioned employees. The axiom “you get what you pay for” holds true when it comes to wages for city employees.

The recently stated concern of creating an “elite class” that rules over the populace (by paying comparable wages to city employees) is complete poppycock and an insult to the men and women who serve this city. I suppose if the ruling class is routinely sprayed in the face by wastewater; spit on, assaulted and insulted like the officers of our comparably small police department; or called out in the middle of the night to deal with severe weather and other emergencies on a routine basis — then, by all means, we are creating a ruling class.

The city of Lincoln has always gotten its money’s worth from city employees. The quality of life in Lincoln attests to it. The law requiring comparable wages is a check and a balance — it provides a fair method of determining a fair wage. City employees are compensated as they should be, by law and in all fairness.   

Jon Sundermeier, Greenwood

All bark, no bite

Last week a news story was aired on one of the local television stations about a fellow who was doing 30 days in jail on a third offense of disturbing the peace of his neighbors with wild, unruly parties.

If that individual had instead kenneled a dog outside his house 24 hours a day and if that dog had barked in the middle of the night and disturbed the peace of his neighbors, the police would have never known his name. Not the first time the barking dog awoke his neighbors, not the third time, not the 15th time.

If his neighbors called the Lincoln police at 2:30 in the morning because this hypothetical dog had woken them up, the police would have told them, “Oh, the police do not respond to barking dog complaints.” The wide-awake neighbor would have been told to call Animal Control.

If this neighbor then called Animal Control at 2:30 in the morning, they would have discovered that Animal Control is closed at 2:30 in the morning. And if this neighbor, after a sleepless night, followed through and called Animal Control the next day during regular business hours, Animal Control would have politely listened and then sent the neighbor a form in the mail to log occurrences of the barking dog.

The bonus of all this time and effort and lost sleep is that after the neighbor had diligently noted on the log every time the dog barked and woke them up in the middle of the night, that person could use that form as toilet paper.

John Spence, Lincoln

Where are the values?

The March 15 Lincoln Journal Star described a proposal to reduce funding for family planning. Earlier, the newspaper described a proposal to reduce funding for food assistance to needy elderly.

If enacted, these proposals will increase poverty and reduce quality of life for many Americans. These lawmakers may be well meaning, but I wonder if they understand people with limited incomes and resources.

Right now I feel sad and ashamed of the government we have elected. I was taught as a small child that true Christians care about all of God’s children. Many of our government leaders are stating that they are Christians. Somehow what I am seeing and hearing is not ringing true to me.

Kathy Stastny, Lincoln

Where loyalties lie

How long is the Legislature of Nebraska going to do the bidding of the Vatican as expressed by the paid lobbyist of the Roman Catholic Church — Greg Schleppenbach — and the mouthpiece of the same church, Sen. Mike Foley?

He was supposedly elected to represent the best interests of the citizens, not the agenda of the Roman Catholic Church. His latest bill shows where his loyalties really lie — not for women but for his church. He is against any form of birth control. He would have women have babies who do not have the resources to care for them.

If a woman does not have the financial resources to take care of a child, then the state must help with food stamps, welfare, Medicaid and a host of other services. Are the citizens of Nebraska compelled to support the agenda of the Roman Catholic Church as put forward by Foley and Schleppenbach?

Natural family planning does not have a successful track record. Birth control and condom use are far more effective. The state should be subsidizing those methods in the search to cut state expenditures.

Sen. Ernie Chambers is the only person who always stands between Nebraska and the domination of our lives as dictated by the Vatican.

If the rest of the Catholic legislators want domination of the Vatican over Nebraskans, then back Foley and Schleppenbach. If you think that one religious belief system should not be dominant in state law and practices, then send Foley and his Roman Catholic agenda to the wastebasket.

Ruth C. Snyder, Lincoln

Officials are accountable

Although I’m critical of Sen. Chuck Hagel’s conduct, I found Mike McNeil’s objection to Hagel voting against investigating President Bush’s domestic spying program beyond the pale (letter, March 16).

The public knows little if nothing in terms of detail about this program. Members of both parties in the Congress are only beginning to learn some of the details of this program. And in general there is a consensus that this program should continue.

Also, it is very interesting how some are concerned when a Republican president allegedly attacks the Constitution. Democrats had no problem with former President Clinton attacking the Second Amendment, having law enforcement use military tactics against civilians, using IRS audits to target his political opponents, and perjuring himself before a grand jury.

It is high time we stop contributing to partisan fights we likely have no influence or control over and start holding all public officials accountable. 

Christopher Nollett, Lincoln

Kudos to Journal Star

Just a quick thanks for your beautiful layout about our storm in the Tuesday, March 21, Lincoln Journal Star.

The picture was outstanding and the map of the various snow depths was very factual and graphic.

Good job.

Virgil Ganzel, Lincoln