Now
Fair
45°
High
74°
Low
50°
Full Forecast

Jobs

Cars

Homes

Rentals

Alerts

Subscribe
Home > Letters
Bookmark Us   •   Make Us Your Homepage

Letters, 11/10: Ho, ho, ho!

Comments 23 comment(s)  
E-mail Story E-mail Story
Print Story Print Story
Share  Share
Text Size: 
Tools Sponsor

Friday, Nov 10, 2006 - 12:16:17 am CST

Hallelujah!  The election is over. I finally get my TV back because there are no more nit-picking campaign commercials.  Also, I get my telephone back as there are no more calls with recorded campaign messages. And who said there is no Santa Claus?

Ronald J. Miller, Lincoln

Amnesty not appeasementI am writing in response to Jerry M. Parsons’ recent letter on immigration. Sorry to break the news, but amnesty is not a “buzzword” for appeasement, it literally means appeasement.

 

What is this rigorous process towards citizenship? Didn’t we try granting millions of illegals amnesty back in the 1980s; hmm, how did that work out? It didn’t seem to solve any problems, now has it? Seems like rewarding folks for jumping our fences has only encouraged more illegals to come over in hopes of being “rigorously processed citizens,” try an estimated 12 million or more.

I have studied the issue firsthand; I lived in the border state of California for over 31 years. I’ve seen the schools become overcrowded, I’ve seen hospitals shutting down, I’ve seen social services being stretched beyond their means.

It is about time that we got tough with illegals. Why should we accommodate and reward people who have no regard for the laws of our land by granting them citizenship?

Sorry I can’t agree with Parsons, but I am tired of the sovereignty of the nation being violated by people who have no regard for our laws.

Brian G. Snofsky, Lincoln

Thanks for what?

Mayor Coleen Seng thinks she should be thanked for how she handled the firetruck fiasco.

Well, thank you, Ms. Seng, for not doing your job.  As mayor of the city, she is responsible for the actions of every city employee from herself down to the lowest level on the organizational chart.  Thus, she should be more than willing to accept some of the blame. 

By occupying the highest level of command, she should create an atmosphere where certain behaviors are not tolerated.  City employees, including herself, should be trained in the type of standards, ethics and principles that are expected of them. 

Not knowing an employee is doing wrong does not relieve the mayor of her responsibilities in regard to that wrongdoing.  It simply proves that if she were doing the job we expected of her, maybe the firetruck fiasco would not have occurred.

Patty R. Harris, Lincoln

Pick up campaign litter

To all candidates: After the excitement of being elected or disappointment from losing has passed, please remember to pick up your campaign signs from the gutters, storm sewers, and lawns. I have been very disappointed in the past to see signs for Jeff Fortenberry littering the lawn of the Veteran’s Hospital here in Lincoln, months after the election. What a disgrace!

Let’s respect our city by being good stewards of the land that has benefited Nebraska with fertile soil, pure water, and fresh air.

The impact of your advertising lasts long after the election is over. If you do not have the resources, time or heart to reduce the litter, think about corn/soy-based banners and inks that do not adversely affect our ecosystem and break down quickly.

Joselyn VanCleave, Lincoln

A fair question

Why not move the State Fairgrounds to Grand Island or Kearney?

The State Fair could be combined with Harvest Days if moved to Grand Island. After all, we are an agricultural state.

If moved to Kearney it could complement the Arch, which is need of support.

A statement often heard — Nebraska consists of Omaha and Lincoln. Why not spread the resources and unify the state?

Anita Jarecke, Columbus

Keep it here

It would seem to me that we citizens of Lincoln, Lancaster County, and the state of Nebraska should be allowed to have some say about moving the Nebraska State Fair.

I, for one, think it would be a shame to take it away from the present fairgrounds with its trees and buildings and roads and parking, etc., already in place.

There is such a thing as tradition, and the memories that go with the “old” fairgrounds.

We did not like it at all when the county fair moved out to the new location. There is no shade there on the west side of the grounds; therefore, it is very uncomfortable to go there in the daytime. At the present fairgrounds there are benches under trees in the shade to sit and relax and watch the people stroll by.

This year attendance went up and the people were pleased with the free parking. Does that not count for anything?

I do feel that the “special interest groups” that want to take over the present state fairgrounds could surely find other places that would suit their needs. Or will our State Fair Park be declared “blighted” as so many other places have been?

Speak up, people, if you don’t want this change!

Barbara Ely, LincolnHere's an ideaAttorney Amy Peck states in her recent letter to the editor, "business leaders also understand that we need more nurses, more scientists and more field workers. Our country is losing talented people and viable businesses to India and China."

 

 

You bet business leaders understand that. Must be why they brought in immigrants to take jobs from meat-packing workers who during the early 1980s were making $15 an hour "doing jobs Americans won’t do."  Must be why American trucking companies pushed to allow Mexican truck drivers to deliver freight anywhere in the United States.  We couldn’t find enough Americans willing to take $50-$60 thousand per year to drive.  Must be why during the dot-com recession of five years ago companies like Microsoft were crying to Congress for more visas for high-tech workers.

What we need to do to even out the unfair advantage India and China have over us, however, is to export a few hundred thousand of our overpaid meddlesome lawyers in this country — and let’s start with the immigration specialists!

Stanford L. Sipple, Lincoln


$1 Sunday Delivery - Subscribe Today!
Letters > Back to Top of Story

Post Your Comment

Standards and Rules
All posts to JournalStar.com are subject to our Terms and Standards.
Your posted comment will appear after it has been approved.
Frequently asked questions about story commenting.
(optional)
   
Hide Comments Hide Comments   Newest First Newest First  
Realist wrote on November 10, 2006 8:22 am:
" Why do people keep asking this... Grand Island and Kearney CAN NOT SUPPORT THE STATE FAIR! They're just too small and don't have the infrastructure (hotels, restaurants, etc). People who live in these towns (because thats what they are... TOWNS) will argue that they can do it. But you really have no idea what it takes to host an event of the state fair's magnatude. It can't happen. It won't happen. Stop asking. "

 Hank wrote on November 10, 2006 9:13 am:
" Mr. Snofsky, illegal immigrants are not the only guilty ones here. The presence of undocumented immigrants in the U.S. requires the complicity of all Americans. Why are you so willing to give amnesty to 300 million Americans who enjoy the services and consumer dollars of the hard working immigrants but not the hard working immigrants who came here for the simple goal of bettering their lives? The immigrants are here, and since we have all abused the situation, we are all responsible for accommodating them in a long-run solution to the broken immigration system. Bashing only immigrants is a disciminatory, if not simply bigoted, approach to the issue. Illegal immigrants are people, and they deserve to treated with the respect they deserve, especially because we have effectively welcomed them to our country through our actions as employers and consumers. "

 CS wrote on November 10, 2006 9:32 am:
" Im sure that if its decided to move the State Fair to Kearney it will just happen overnight and not in a few years, so there is no possible way the Kearney could build some hotels in the area. Good grief-so limted in scope and vision some of you Nebraskans are. Don't move it becuase of tradition? Traditions adapt. Kearney is not a one horse town-its good enough for a major university campus, but not for the fair? Get over yourself, Lincoln. Most of the fairs participants arent even from the eastern part of the state. "

 A fairer question wrote on November 10, 2006 9:45 am:
" Tell me this, would you go to Grand Island or Kearney to attend the Nebraska State Fair if it were moved? The great benefit to having the State Fair in Lincoln is that it is centralized to the larger population and can garner the attendance numbers it needs to keep running strong. And in its current location, has a much greater opportunity to bring city-dwellers a better picture of what the majority of our great state is made up of, small towns and rural farming communities. The state fair is a great tradition our communities just cannot afford to let die. I have small children and desperately want the State Fair to be around so that they can attend with their own children. "

 Keep the Fair in Lincoln wrote on November 10, 2006 9:57 am:
" Does Grand Island or Kearney have a big place like the Devaney Sports Center to house the people selling items? Everything from homemade crafts to speciality mixed nuts to hot tubs? Do they have the space to house the tables for candidates and other special interest tables? How about the space for free open air concerts? I've been to Kearney. Its a good sized town, and bigger than Grand Island, but its at least 2 hours away from Lincoln. When I go to the fair, I've stayed til 7 O'Clock in the evening at least. I'd have to drive two hours to get home instead of 20 minutes or so. I'd hate to lose the chance to go to Heritage Village, where I attended Pioneer school one day in the 4th grade. I didn't get to see the school house this year, but in the last few years I always tried to stop there. I don't think Grand Island OR Kearney have the facilities needed to support the state fair. And North Platte is WAY too far away. "

 JR wrote on November 10, 2006 10:03 am:
" Grand Island is more than capable of hosting the Nebraska State Fair. The community already plays host annually to Husker Harvest Days and has previously hosted international ag industry shows. These events have a comparable if not greater average daily attendance than the State Fair. And with the addition of the Heartland Events Center, Grand Island also has a forum for hosting the concerts associated with the Fair. As a Lincoln resident, I would be thrilled to see the State Fair pack up and move to a locale that truly appreciates its heritage, while at the same time making land available within Lincoln to be put to more effective use. "

 L wrote on November 10, 2006 10:18 am:
" Something else to consider--if you take the State Fair elsewhere, the city misses out on all of the money that people from Greater Nebraska spend when they come here for the Fair--hotel, shopping, food, etc. That means less money for the businesspeople here AND we don't reap the sales tax benefits. The fair needs to stay. "

 Geography or people? wrote on November 10, 2006 10:26 am:
" I honestly don't know the numbers, so I won't spout off as though I do. But an important facet to consider for all of those who want to move the state fair to Kearney or Grand Island ought to revolve around attendance at the fair. What percentage of the folks at the fair come from eastern Nebraska vs. those from the central and west? Given that eastern Nebraska is much more densely populated (1/2 of Nebraska lives in Lincoln & Omaha metro), it wouldn't be outrageous to assert that by moving the fair to Kearney or Grand Island you would make more people have to drive further to the fair--hence, decreasing attendance. For example, if two families from Crawford have to drive 10 hours to the fair, that's actually less total miles/time traveled than if 50 families from Lincoln have to travel 2 hours or more to Kearney. Again, I don't have the attendance numbers, but it is something to consider. The state fair should be situated centrally to *population*, not *geography*. "

 CS wrote on November 10, 2006 10:26 am:
" Oh, so you have to drive two hours to go to GI or Kearney. What about the school kids that exhibit at the fair and have to take three days off from school and drive 4-5 or more hours to put on this fair of yours? And to keep the fair in Lincoln so you can sponge off of the visitors' sales taxes? Thats the most selfish thing ive ever heard. Two hours isn't that long of a drive. I went to college in Hastings and my family lives south of Beatrice. I drove that every week or two for three years. "

 Seriously! wrote on November 10, 2006 10:46 am:
" Tell me, Mr. Sipple, will you be the first overpaid meddlesome lawyer to go? "

 Andrew wrote on November 10, 2006 11:22 am:
" "the Arch, which is need of support" Thats hilarious! I would have thought that people were coming from the coasts to visit it. "

 T wrote on November 10, 2006 11:29 am:
" The argument about the children taking off school is irrelevent. Those children will be at the fair, showing whatever it is they show, regardless of how far the drive is. "

 an even fairer question wrote on November 10, 2006 11:42 am:
" Do those folks from western NE want to come here for the fair? probably not, but they have no choice, do they. and probably most of the people do live closer to lincoln or omaha, but so few who live here actually go to the fair. I say move the fair and the capital also. who cares.. and our taxes already pay for the gas for the school bus to haul the kids so let them haul them to gi or hastings, at least then we will get something for our overtaxation "

 Josh wrote on November 10, 2006 11:57 am:
" Many, if not most of us- are NOT complacent about the ilegal immigration problem, most of us have wanted harsh penalties for employers who hire them for years, most of us have wanted tighter border security for years, but we are powerless to enforce these laws. It is not bigotry to say that someone who came to this country ilegally should not be here, it is simply stating a fact! Most of us don't care where ilegal immigrants came from, what color their skin is, they skipped the process- a process that is in place for many very good reasons- to come here, and that should NOT be accepted under any circumstances. Yes they may come from places where life is tough, trying to find a better life here. But you know what? There are millions of people around the world in that same situation who are being patient, working on coming here for that better life the LEGAL way. When people come here legally they have background checks done to make sure they do not have criminal records, they sign paperwork certifying that they will not become a burden to the state (in terms of financially supporting themselves, not requiring federal or state welfare or other aid) for X number of years, and they have medical checks to ensure they don't have any major communicable diseases. These things are VERY necessary to protect the health and well being of our nation, to welcome immigrants in to the country without it hurting our country! So no, of course I have NO sympathy for those who bypass all of this and jump over a fence to get here ilegally. And my wife, who is a recent LEGAL immigrant feels even more strongly about this than I do- she says each and every person who comes here ilegally should be ashamed of themselves, and I couldn't have put it any better myself. "

 Dick wrote on November 10, 2006 11:58 am:
" since when has unk been considered a major university? I was just curious. "

 CS wrote on November 10, 2006 12:43 pm:
" Its affiliated with UNL, which, according to people that live here, is the center of the universe, at least 4 months out of the year. The UNL system also has a pretty snazzy research dept. in biology and chemistry-a friend of mine just presented at Oxford. You DID know that more than football happens there, right? "

 Brooke wrote on November 10, 2006 12:49 pm:
" UNK is a major university and has been for quite some time. It has the same credintials as UNL. "

 Brian in Lincoln wrote on November 10, 2006 2:02 pm:
" I see how GI handles Husker Harvest Day as I have gone the last 3 years......Horrible traffic, no motel rooms (people have to drive to Hastings and Kearney to stay the night) and no facility for the event. If it were raining hard the 3 days, the event would be a disaster. Keep it where it is at "

 Gomer wrote on November 10, 2006 3:55 pm:
" UNK is a major university only because it is associated with UNL. The reason it is part of UNL is because the Kearney college could not suuport itself any longer. The same way UNO became part of the Nebraska University. Both colleges couldn't raise the finances to keep operating so Nebraska U. had to bail them out. "

 UNK wrote on November 10, 2006 4:06 pm:
" ROFL...UNK is only a "major university" in name. The only reason it got the name is a powerful regent from western NE. I'm sorry, but no matter how much UNK or UNO wants to try, UNL is and always will be the "flagship" major research university in the state. Period. "

 Kathryn wrote on November 10, 2006 4:51 pm:
" 5400 students is a major university? Yeah right. "

 Jerry C wrote on November 10, 2006 5:24 pm:
" I can see the headlines now.... "Grand Island declares war on Lincoln over movement of State Fair and UNK." I think it should be be moved to Omaha where things are happening and people would be impressed by their environment. "

 Lee wrote on November 10, 2006 11:17 pm:
" First of all, it is a mute point it was voted to keep the fair where it is. Second, Kansas has their state fair after school has started, so some kids miss school for a couple of days, so what? Third, schools do not provide transportation to the fair. Fourth, they have their fair smack dab in the middle of the state in a town not a whole lot bigger than Kearney or GI. Most of the NE fair participants come from out west! All 4Hers that earned the right to take their projects to the State Fair usually do, & I can guarantee there are alot more 4hers west of Lincoln & Omaha than those 2 cities have combined. These kids work & save money so that they can come to the State Fair. Their parents schedule their farming so that they can all come as a family together & support their kids in something that is far more better than hanging out on O street parking lots, which is where the majority of Lincolns teens hang out without their parents! So city slickers, until you have walked a mile in a rural americans shoes, get your facts straight! You are not the only ones in Nebraska, maybe the only greedy ones tho. "

More Stories In Letters

Ads by Yahoo!