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Letters, 5/2: Think before voting

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Friday, May 02, 2008 - 12:29:57 am CDT

A new TV ad urges Nebraska voters to approve Amendment 1 in the upcoming election.

This proposal would allow public endowments to expand their investment criteria from the present level. The new level would include investments that a “prudent man (woman)” would make when investing monies entrusted to them by the taxpayers of the state.

Well, folks! A lot of “prudent men and women” invested billions of dollars in the now infamous CDOs, which are comprised of bundles of “subprime mortgages” made to borrowers from 2003 through 2007. These CDOs are virtually worthless on the market today, even though many of them carried the highest credit rating of “Triple A” by the major rating agencies in the country.

The politicians and bureaucrats will reply that they would never make that kind of a mistake while investing here in Nebraska. My response to them would be that knowledgeable people made the same statement after the junk bond fiasco of the late 1980s; they made it again after the dot-com era, so what makes us all infallible now?

Please, consider carefully when voting on Amendment 1.

David Patrick, Lincoln

Terrible drivers in Lincoln

I have driven in lots of cities all across the country and never have I seen worse drivers than I see in Lincoln.

First off, it does not help that the city’s engineers have done a terrible job as far as making traffic flow smoothly.

Most of the time, you are made to stop at each light on your journey, which jams up traffic. Add that to drivers who are yakking on cell phones and sit there for 10 seconds after the light turns green before they bother to move, and driving across town is a nightmare.

Lincoln drivers do not get the concept that slower traffic should keep to the right. You have slow drivers in the passing lane, slowing up the progress of others. Cars will often drive side by side for blocks well below the speed limit, not allowing faster traffic to pass. Most drivers drive well below the speed limit, which makes them and other cars miss stoplights that they should make if they were driving the right speed.

It’s a joke that I can drive to Omaha faster than I can drive across town and back. I am shocked that Lincoln police write any speeding tickets, because 98 percent of the cars I see are driving below the speed limit!

Jeff Richardson, Lincoln

Welcome, spring

A big thank you and sigh of appreciation to the folks at the Lincoln Parks and Recreation Department. The daffodils are dazzling at the Sunken Gardens. What a treasure to see so many yellow blossoms and know of the foresight in planting the bulbs. The blooming Bradford pear trees on nearby Capitol Parkway are equally majestic.

Welcome, spring, finally!

Nancy L. Savery, Lincoln

Name the architects

The Lincoln Journal Star should acknowledge the appropriate people for the new arena project in Lincoln. The arena job as noted on the front page of the paper April 29 actually went to DLR and is in partnership on this job and interviewed with Clark Enersen and Bahr Vermeer Haecker Architects.

The architects often have renderings of projects in the paper and are not acknowledged at any level in the article or under the drawings of a particular project, which I might add takes a lot of time and effort to create.

I know journalists prefer their name to be connected with their particular photos and articles, and the same respect should be paid to the architects who are responsible for renderings.

Samantha Peace, Lincoln


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Its true Jeff wrote on May 2, 2008 7:08 am:
" Yes Jeff, Lincoln drivers are amongst the worst in the country that I have seen. But why complain? You think they are paying attention to this anymore than they are paying attention to their driving and the cars around them? "

 mitchy_v wrote on May 2, 2008 7:35 am:
" It is not the people drive too slow in town that are the problem. It is the people that are in such a hurry to make every stop light and those on the cell phones. And for your concept of slower traffic should keep right, that applies to the interstate, not in-town drive. People like you would just as soon run these "slow" drivers over then to stop and think of them. Would you run you grandparents over? Do us all a favor and leave a little bit earlier. And 98 percent of the cars you see are driving below the speed limit, and not breaking the law. Remember, it should be 100%. "

 Sue F. wrote on May 2, 2008 7:44 am:
" I have to respectfully disagree with Jeff. It never fails when I drive the speed limit to 5 miles over the speed limit car after car fly past me like I am barely moving. The biggest problem I see is the people running red lights and turning long past their arrow turning red both of which hold up all other drivers. I do agree with Jeff that too many people are paying much more attention to the cell phone calls than their driving. "

 David G wrote on May 2, 2008 8:19 am:
" Jeff, I have also noticed that a good majority of people here drive at or below the speed limit. After working in Chicago and Detroit metro areas I find this to be great. I'd take a nice slow relaxing drive any day over the cut-throat stuff I see in larger metro areas. If you really want to see bad driver go to Chicago. I've seen it all over there. People shave, read newspapers, do their makeup, talk on the phone, eat, drive 20 over the speed limit, tailgate, and cut across 4-5 lanes without turn signals (usually more than 1 of these at a time). Sometimes it is annoying that I am not driving as fast as I want, but then I think about my trips in Chicago and realize that it's really not that bad. "

 Wake Up Jeff wrote on May 2, 2008 8:23 am:
" Hey Jeff, I think you missed the mark when you blamed the drivers for the congestion. If the traffic engineers of this city would take some time to evaluate major N-S and E-W streets to ensure you can get from one end of the city to the other without having to race or turtle between the lights, the drivers would have a reason to change their behaviour. As it is, there is no rhyme or reason for the way the signals of this city operate outside of downtown proper. Heaven help you if you live on the outskirts and need to traverse the entire city for any reason, unless you have at least 30 minutes of your life to forego. I completely agree with you on the inability of drivers in Lincoln (not necessarily residents) that have no concept of "slower traffic keep right." If there are two or more lanes, you should lollygag and rubberneck in the far right lane. This rule does not just apply to the Interstate, it is common sense. And yeah, I listen to the Wiggles! "

 No Passing Lane in Town wrote on May 2, 2008 8:30 am:
" Attention Jeff, who seems to be a higher power's gift to driving, but there is no such thing as a passing lane in town, but you being such a perfect driver should have known that. And while you may GET to Omaha faster than you can get across Lincoln, I imagine you'll find driving across Omaha is as much or more of an adventure. I shudder what you would do if you ever had to drive outside of Nebraska state lines, I know you haven't because if you had you would realize you have it pretty good. "

 Comm UnSense wrote on May 2, 2008 8:42 am:
" There is no law that says you have to drive in the right-hand lane if you're going slower than traffic. However, it is the courteous thing to do. That being said, the real reason traffic is slow in Lincoln is their unexplained fascination with stop lights. C'mon traffic engineers - take a little time away from scouring the city looking for an intersection that doesn't have a light yet, and look up 'synchronize' in the dictionary.
"

 JMK wrote on May 2, 2008 9:10 am:
" On any given morning, I will see people shaving, putting on makeup, reading, talking on the phone. It seems as though driving is getting in the way of everything these people are trying to do. Maybe they should get up a half hour earlier and do their primping at home instead of while they are driving(?). No wonder there are so many rear-ending accidents. "

 Jake wrote on May 2, 2008 9:11 am:
" Traffic has been a complaint for years. As ususal, government is to busy raising taxes, building new stuff taxpayers can't afford instead of focusing on what people want and have complained about for years, like fixing the traffic flow problems with the lights. Maybe some government agency should bond out a new lighting system since they love to bond money and spend taxpayer money like there is no tomorrow. "

 Joe wrote on May 2, 2008 9:12 am:
" Jeff, how can you complain about all the super important people that have to talk on their cell phones? Why should they be bothered with that pesky driving thing and paying attention to the road when the whole world revolves around them and their cell phone? (please note my sarcasm and agreeing with you) I have a cell phone and either pull over on a side road or wait until I get to my destination to call back. "

 Gotta disagree wrote on May 2, 2008 9:25 am:
" I have to disagree with Mr. Patrick. What he doesn't understand is that under the current Nebraska constitution, public endowments COULD invest in junk bonds. With the prudent investor standard that is proposed, they COULD NOT. This is all about allowing long-term public funds, like endowments, to be diversified so that they are NOT at risk like they are currently. I'll vote YES. "

 Why Not though wrote on May 2, 2008 10:09 am:
" Sue is right about the people passing her, but the question is, why not?

Lincoln Police are never around, and those that are condone the practice by not ticketing the speeders. So the sign says 40? If I drive 65 in my 3500lb monster while talking on the cell phone and fishing a CD out of the backseat, that just gets me off the road that much sooner, right? And as long as I don't hit anyone, as long as I don't take a life, there are no repercussions, right? There's no penalty for running a "dark yellow" light and you can excuse anything by saying you were "just". You were "Just" driving 15mph over the limit. The light had "just" changed twenty seconds ago. You were "just" parked there fifteen minutes over your time. You "just" changed three lanes to make your corner. It doesn't sound so bad that way, right?

Unless and until Lincolnites make traffic enforcement a priority, we will have what we have now, and worse. Until then, there is no incentive to obey the laws. "

 Angelino wrote on May 2, 2008 10:59 am:
" Jeff, you're dead-on right about the cell phone issue, but really, you've never been anywhere where people drive worse than in Lincoln?? I commuted for six years in Los Angeles; clearly, you've never been there. I also lived and worked in New Mexio, home to some of the scariest drivers on the face of the earth. Where are these places you've been with better drivers? "

 Too Slow wrote on May 2, 2008 11:07 am:
" I have to agree with Sue...drivers in this city drive too fast! What's wrong with going the speed limit? Correct me if I'm wrong, but the posted speed limit is the suggested MAXIMUM speed allowed. There is no minimum speed (except for on the interstate where the slow traffic is to stay to the right...there is no such rule in the city streets). Sure, it is frustrating when you get behind someone going 20 in a 40, but I'd rather deal with that than the people going 60 in a 40 while talking on their cell phones and just generally not paying attention. "

 Tammy wrote on May 2, 2008 11:42 am:
" There are bad drivers everywhere, not just here. Until Lincoln widens 48th street south of O to 4 lanes all the way to Old Cheney, does the same with 56th and 27th, traffic N-S will be a nightmare. I have to agree that Chicago drivers are just scary, Boston is a take your life into your hands proposition, and I don't even want to THINK about L.A.!! My biggest pet peeve with driving in Lincoln is the amazing number of cars with apparently non-functional turn signals. It's amazing! "

 Jake wrote on May 2, 2008 12:14 pm:
" Re: Driving across town in Omaha.
Much faster to get further than in Lincoln. Why? Reasonably planned Interstate, freeway, and highway system. Many, many through E-W and N-S thoroughfares. It probably takes just as long to get across town in Omaha, but you are covering twice the ground. "

 Traffic wrote on May 2, 2008 12:15 pm:
" Jake, I drive all over town from one end to the other at the posted speed limit and hit over 90% of the lights green. The only time you hit all red lights is when you think the posted speed limit applies to all but you. Oh yes, another thing that slows traffic is people who think they think yellow lights mean they should speed up and run the red light. I was taught that you stop when the light turns yellow and there was no such thing as Drivers Ed when I was in school. Do they teach you to speed up when the lights turn yellow nowdays and run red lights in Drivers Ed? "

 LC wrote on May 2, 2008 1:18 pm:
" And don't forget those of you who are completely unaware of the "corresponding lane rule". Making a right turn into the far left lane or vice versa is not only inconsiderate, it is dangerous. The number of times I have turned into the correct lane, then signaled and moved into the lane I need to be in, only to have some genius who violated the law honk at me for accidently cutting him off as he tried to speed past me... When you are "inconvenienced" like this by someone obeying the law, you need to just learn to live with it and save your impatience for someone else. Break the law, suffer the consequence. "

 Meg wrote on May 2, 2008 1:44 pm:
" While I agree that Lincoln drivers are horrible, I disagree with the idea that it's because they are slow; I think it's just the opposite. Most of the traffic I encounter is well above the speed limit. I admit that I generally do about 5 miles over, but there are cars passing me doing at least 10-15 mph more than me. No one seems to know how to read signs either. I work downtown, and just this morning saw someone turn left on red onto a one-way street that was CLEARLY marked "no left turn on red."And don't get me started about about the fact that no one seems to understand the concept of a turn signal or that red lights mean stop, not continue to creep into the intersection to get an eighth of a second headstart on the car next to you! I've lived in Oklahoma City and Dallas, and while there is obviously more traffic and yes, they do drive fast, but collectively they are not as bad as Lincoln. "

 Rae wrote on May 2, 2008 2:12 pm:
" Try driving in Enid, Oklahoma. It's like speed limits don't exist and turn signals were never invented. "

 Right on Jeff wrote on May 2, 2008 2:15 pm:
" Obviously all the people here that disagree with you, are slow drivers you are talking about. I love it when I want to change lanes, so I slow down, the car next to me slows down, I speed they speed up. Or how bout the one where you are a number of cars back at a stop light and by the time all the old ladies in front of me finally get to 30 we are at the next light. I never understood why because there are a few cars in line we can't go the speed limit. To many scared drivers. I won't get into the out of town drivers, ie fair goers "

 no speeders wrote on May 2, 2008 2:18 pm:
" I don't see where you people see all these alleged "speeders". From my experience I couldn't speed in this town if I wanted to. Too many people driveing 30 miles an hour. I have places to go and things to do. Can't you at least drive the speed limit. "

 DE Teacher wrote on May 2, 2008 2:26 pm:
" When your light turns yellow....
If you can safely stop behind the stop line than you are required to do so.

As for Jeff's letter..WOW
-The Speed limit is the TOP speed you can travel on a road.
-"Passing" lanes are only applicable on Freeways and the Interstate HWY
-If you just slow down you will "hit" the Greens and save a little Green as well. "

 Chip wrote on May 2, 2008 3:05 pm:
" Before you complain about Lincoln drivers, try Paris. Been there. Done that.

My big pet peeve is all of the people who throw their cigarette butts out of their windows while driving. Why do you feel that the city of Lincoln is your personal ashtray?

"

 mitchy_v wrote on May 2, 2008 3:12 pm:
" To many scared drivers? I won't get into the out of town drivers, ie fair goers? You think that out of town drivers are the problem because they don't drive like maniacs? Drivers Ed 101.
1. It is a speed LIMIT, not minimum.
2. Just because you live in lincoln, you don't own the road.
3. Rear view mirrors are not for makeup.
4. If you "have places to go and things to do", leave sooner.
5. The problem is not the stop lights, it is the poor street planning.
"

 Yep wrote on May 2, 2008 3:41 pm:
" most drivers think the laws and rules don't apply to them. I do the speed limit and usually have a tailgater, like dude, are you going to get there sooner by doing that? People throwing out their burger king sacks and cups....what pigs! But Tom Cassidy needs to be held accountable too. The radar done in this city is pretty anal. There is constant speeding on Charleston due to the drivers who think the detour doesn't pertain to them [west 0 street bridge detour] and when do they do radar? Not mon-fri, but on a Saturday morning at 10:am.....Hey lincoln, you see these signs detour? Probably not since you are on the cell phone, putting on your make-up or speeding and pass it too fast to read it. This also applies to NU baseball fans. They think they are the exception and can park in a residential neighborhood and not at the ballpark or under the bridge like the other fans. As long as you have your disrespect, Lincoln will only get worse. Ever heard of "just do the right thing?" "

 natefrog wrote on May 2, 2008 4:03 pm:
" Nebraska Statute Section 60-6,193: (1) No person shall drive a motor vehicle at such a slow speed as to impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic except when reduced speed is necessary for safe operation or in compliance with law. "

 Grundle wrote on May 2, 2008 4:12 pm:
" Yes...the speed limit is the maximum...so with today's very safe vehicles, why don't the drivers take advantage of every bit of the speed limit. If you want to drive slow and take your time, then take side streets. Arterials are for moving traffic quickly and efficiently. I don't advocate for breaking the speed limit, but I do advocate that people who want to take their time should drive in the right lane unless they're getting ready to turn. Rolling roadblocks are not just an annoyance, they're outright inconsiderate and dangerous if you're driving in someone's blind spot. "

 Jan wrote on May 2, 2008 5:38 pm:
" I agree with some of the posters here. You people have no idea what bad drivers or gridlock really is. Try Egypt, they don't even know what a lane is. But here in the U.S., I've lived on the east coast, west coast, and in the south; this is the best traffic I seen. No gridlock, you can get anywhere in 15 to 30 minutes not and hour or two. No complaints here. "

 The worst drivers are... wrote on May 2, 2008 6:45 pm:
" Anyone under 30 and anyone over 60. Speeders on one end, slow-pokes on the other. And both groups seem to think they know it all.

Lincoln drivers aren't that bad. Omaha drivers are nuts. "

 Tod wrote on May 2, 2008 7:27 pm:
" Sam, you go girl! "

 Don wrote on May 2, 2008 10:24 pm:
" You think Lincoln and Omaha drivers are bad? Go to youtube and do a search for driving in India and watch that. Then you will know what crazy driving is like. "

 geewhiz wrote on May 2, 2008 10:43 pm:
" Lincoln's problem with driving is the road system. It takes forever to get anywhere. You can say it doesn't take as long as in big cities, but Lincoln is not a big city. In most cities, you can get further much quicker. Highway two has two lanes with stop lights, instead of exits. Apprehensive drivers will stay in the lane they need to be in for a turn in 5 miles -- instead of the normal right exit. This equates to slow traffic in both lanes. And then there are semis who have to stop and start for every stop light. This also means more people running stop lights and "driving crazy". "

 dewboy wrote on May 2, 2008 11:31 pm:
" The problem with Lincolns traffic can be blamed on the meatheads that design the road system. Take Capital Parkway for example Where does it go NOWHERE. Go ole money boys keep pushing downtown lincolns core which is actually where the traffic mess starts. HOWEVER, try driving on the East OR West coasts where a fender bender will back traffic up 10 to 15 miles then come back to Lincoln and complain. "

 Huh wrote on May 3, 2008 4:15 pm:
" I think this year for vacation I'll drive around Lincoln before 8 and before 5 and go under the speed limit. That will be good for a laugh! "

 JR wrote on May 3, 2008 7:20 pm:
" Interesting timing on Jeff's letter being published when it was. For the last four days I have kept track of stop lights and how many were red and how many were green. Amazingly, over 65% were red. Now, I drove on 84th, 70th, Vine, 33rd, 56th, Normal and Cotner. All seemed equally bad when it came to the timing. Today, coming down 84th, I had a guy in a pickup next to me who gunned it at every red light in order to beat the next one. I, took it slow and obeyed the speed laws. Sure enough, he got to the next red first, but I also had to stop beside him. I could see this happening when I would turn left onto a street from a green light, but when I am going straight, you would think at least one of us should have made some of the lights.

The second part of the problem lies with city officials of the past. When I first came here in 1976, I saw 84th st as a natural bypass. A street to be protected with limited access in order to handle future traffic. Unfortunately, our city council in the late 70's and early 80's was short sighted and only looked at today ... never with an eye towards tomorrow. Remind you of any of the people on here, sometimes? "

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