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Letters, 5/15: Turnout shameful

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Thursday, May 15, 2008 - 12:31:13 am CDT

What is wrong with us? America, the greatest country in the world, the country that has sacrificed more than 4,000 men and women in Iraq to “protect our freedom,” yet only 26 percent of the people registered to vote in Lancaster County showed up on Tuesday to cast their vote.

There are people in other countries who risk their lives to cast a vote. We have made every attempt to make it easy and convenient for everyone with mail-in ballots. Yet this is the best we can do? We can’t take 5 minutes out of our day to blacken a few circles?

This apathy is the reason we have gotten ourselves into this current mess, and three of four of us should be ashamed.

Candy Exon Wolf, Lincoln

Mead news encouraging

The recent story (“New technique is removing contamination under old plant”) about technology, similar to ground-mapping radar, used to characterize a small portion of the Mead Superfund site, was encouraging.

Electrical resistivity imaging, used on a pilot-scale study led by University of Nebraska researchers related to the explosive RDX, may be useful to help map the nature and extent of the dozens of other highly toxic chemicals, like TCE, that continue to contaminate the Superfund site. 

It’s a major concern that, despite being on the Superfund list for 17 years, this site is still not fully characterized. Until then, it’s impossible to make competent determinations regarding what cleanup should include or to produce reasonable estimates of how long cleanup will take.

Corps of Engineers estimates project it will take 130 years to clean up the groundwater. However, thorough investigation for high concentrations of chemicals (dense non-aqueous phase liquids) has not yet occurred. If such liquids are found, cleanup strategies may need to change and cleanup time frames could be longer.

Inadequate investigation at the Superfund site is placing at risk the drinking water of many more than the six families who are currently using alternate water supplies. 

The corps recently acknowledged that site contamination is not contained in three areas. One of the uncontained areas is on the eastern side, just two miles from Metropolitan Utilities District’s new well field for Omaha, slated to begin operation shortly. Lincoln’s well field is a few miles southeast of the known extent of contamination.

Lynn E. Moorer, Lincoln, Restoration Advisory Board member

Ethanol lesson learned

The filling station where we traded had gas and ethanol. The ethanol was a little cheaper, so we started using ethanol.

In four months the motor was knocking so badly we had to take it to a mechanic for repair. He asked, “What kind of fuel do you use for driving?”

I said ethanol.

He said ethanol is fine for newer cars, not for an older car. There’s not enough oil in it. You need a new motor.

Live and learn the hard way.

Melba Segoviano, Lincoln

Events held year-round

As regular lessees of facilities at Nebraska State Fair Park, promoting three antique shows a year, we are perplexed that no one has addressed the fact that State Fair Park is utilized far more than the 11 days per year that the fair is running. Numerous events are held throughout the year that bring in crowds from out of town, who also frequent Lincoln’s motels, restaurants, retail stores, gas stations, and so on.

We have not read of anyone addressing usage of the grounds and facilities other than the yearly State Fair and swap meet. We are talking about a lot of lost revenue for the city and state when State Fair Park becomes a research park. These events will not go to Grand Island.

Many of these events will fold in Lincoln because of lack of adequate facilities. Lancaster Event Center by no means has comparable facilities and cannot absorb all of the events’ dates because of the center’s already booked schedule.

I guess we will just have to see how much revenue the university research center can make up, when many of Lincoln’s businesses suffer, and possibly go under.

Russ Blank, Lincoln


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CW wrote on May 15, 2008 3:29 am:
" Candy, it is a little disturbing to see that only 26% in fact did vote. But as evidenced by the jail bond issue that was on the ballot, maybe that's not such a bad thing. Everyone always says you should vote, but one thing that gets lost too many times in the hoopla of getting out the vote, is that just because you CAN vote, doesn't mean you SHOULD vote. Not everyone knows what's at stake with everything they vote on. They see either D or R, or look for tax increases, or familiar names, or whatever else and have no business voting when they're so uninformed. Until people take civic virtues seriously, it will not change with the supposed "rigors" of modern life being an easy excuse for people to not take such a duty into consideration. "

 Voter wrote on May 15, 2008 4:22 am:
" It is far easier to point and blame than actually sacrifice that 5 minutes to vote. If you do not use your right to vote, what gives you the right to complain on the situations in question?
You usually get what you didn't vote for, so in November lets not again point and blame, do something about it, VOTE. "

 Lincoln Taxpayer wrote on May 15, 2008 5:21 am:
" Russ, I agree with you about small businesses but no one seems to care in this town. Look at how many small businesses have gone out of business due to the building of the new City-County parking garage and the Antelope Valley projects? And now all the small businesses affected by the loss of the State Fair and the other functions at that site. The City propaganda always reports on their projects that the businesses have "been relocated". That doesn't mean they were able to stay in business. "

 Too Bad Melba wrote on May 15, 2008 5:51 am:
" I am sorry for your experience. My wife and I have used ethanol for as long as we remember it being around. Have over 400,000 miles on ethanol that I can think of off the top of my head and have never had a problem. It has worked fine for us, always. "

 Citizen wrote on May 15, 2008 5:51 am:
" Candy, most voters don't go to the polls because our politicians don't listen. Don't get discouraged, this has been happening for decades. My suggestion is that we clean house and start with the city council. "

 Terry wrote on May 15, 2008 6:16 am:
" I am one that DID vote, but it was different this time.
Since I turned 18, I have never missed an election. I even voted by absentee ballot when I was in Basic Training. Whenever I'd enter a polling place, it always felt to me like entering a church. Voting seemed to me like a sacred duty, one of the most important things a US citizen can do. Not this time. After the way the Nebraska Legislature, courts, and elected officials have ignored or outright rejected several initiative and referendum issues that were voted on, and passed, by the people, and the way the Political Party insiders are set to appoint their presidential nominees, regardless of how the people voted, it all seems meaningless now. I would always argue with people who'd say "I don't vote, because it doesn't count anyway." I stopped arguing, because more and more, it looks like they've been right all along. "

 sam wrote on May 15, 2008 6:37 am:
" 1997 sable, 145,000 miles has run great on ethanol without any problems. Either check with different mechanic or make sure you maintain your car. "

 CR wrote on May 15, 2008 7:30 am:
" CW, Maybe we should go back to literacy tests before you can vote. Or just educated white males. Another giant step backwards in Civil Rights. Yes, you should be able to vote no matter what circumstances deamed politcally correct for the issue at hand. Perhaps if the polititians take the issues seriously rather than thier personal goals the system will also work better. The current system prides itself to keeping the public un/misinformed or apathetic. "

 Mike wrote on May 15, 2008 8:13 am:
" I didn't vote this Tuesday as I didn't feel there were any candidates worth voting for. "

 Big D wrote on May 15, 2008 8:26 am:
" 1992 Chevy pickup, 265000 miles on it, still running strong. Ethanol all the way. Your engine troubles are something other than fuel. If your mechanic is blaming the fuel, I'd find a better mechanic. Ethanol does have issues. The BTU content in ethanol is less than regular unleaded gas, so gas mileage is less, and it can cause some issues with gasket material in older cars, but it won't cause an engine to fail all by itself. When an engine starts to knock, 99.9% of the time it's caused by improper maintenance of oil and filter. Regular oil changes are the single most important need of any car. "

 mitchy_v wrote on May 15, 2008 8:33 am:
" I had a 97 grand prix and it didn't like ethanol. Just remember, don't blame the ethanol. Check your manual.

You say that many of these events will fold in Lincoln because of lack of adequate facilities. The fairgrounds is the only place you can have these events? The evert center is expanding. There is a new arena proposed. This is an opertunity for business men to step up and find a new location. "

 db wrote on May 15, 2008 8:49 am:
" Melba, I have used ethanol in new and used vehicles ever since it was out on the market and not once have I had problems. In fact, I actually get better gas mileage with it.

As for ethanol causing problems, yes, that can happen especially with older vehicles that always burned regular gas and haven't been maintained. A fleet manager told me over 25 years ago that regular gas causes a laquer to build up in gas lines and switching to ethanol will actually remove that buildup and that may clog fuel filters. Just keep the filters clean on those vehicles and you will have no problems. He even recommended using ethanol over regular gas. "

 if one is... wrote on May 15, 2008 8:57 am:
" if one is a democrat in this state for a presidential candidate they want to vote for, it's basically null and void because the state will go to who ever the republican candidate is so what is the point? This state needs to grow up, still stuck in the stone age! "

 Bill Gauthier wrote on May 15, 2008 10:23 am:
" Candy Exon Wolf ........you are right on. It's amazing that the state of todays affairs that people would sit on there hands and not vote. It's a joke the number of people who showed up at my precinct. Something needs to motivate this country immediately because the soaring prices of everything is working against the very people who are being asked to vote. High milk....high gas......higher electricity.....higher taxes.....higher food prices.......higher health care premiums.......higher everything with no relief in sight! I'd personally like to know exactly what the heck is going on in this country. Do we need to fall a bit deeper before we address this? Politicians with all talk are not the answers. We need doers and motivaters that can bring a start to a significant change in this country for the working class. Actually......there's the answer......the working class people need to vote in these kind of leaders......but the apathy is getting the best of this scenario. Get to your precinct and vote!!!!! "

 peb wrote on May 15, 2008 10:40 am:
" 1998 Chevy Lumina, 147,000 miles; 1998 Pontiac Grand Am 157,000 miles, neither run on ethanol. "

 Independent wrote on May 15, 2008 11:37 am:
" Nebraska needs to open the primary. I belive it is one of the only states that still has a closed primary (meaning you only see the candidates that are in your registered party). The caucus should also be eliminated. We need to get back to the days when each individual vote really counted. "

 Grundle wrote on May 15, 2008 11:46 am:
" Vote for what? The Republican presidential candidate has already been decided, and the Democratic presidential primary was meaningless in lieu of the caucus. The jail bond issue was a joke, as it has already been decided that a jail will be built. I don't own a home yet, so I don't think it would be fair for me to vote on whether taxpayers pay now or pay later. The Republican senate candidate had already been decided, and I can't vote in the Democrat senate primary because I'm registered as a non-partisan. On top of that, there were so many uncontested incumbents, again, it defeats the purpose of showing up. I don't care about the regents, and this isn't the election year for my legislative district. I imagine quite a few people are in the same boat as me...which would probably explain the turn-out. "

 Sue F. wrote on May 15, 2008 11:51 am:
" To everyone who says there is no one worth voting for, maybe you should run for office. To everyone who says no one is listening, maybe you should get more active. It is suppose to be our government. But if you don't get involved it is not your government. It is and always will be the government of those who actually get involved. "

 To All wrote on May 15, 2008 12:12 pm:
" who say ethanol is good. I was a auto tech for 30 years many of it working on Ford cars. I attended many ford training schools. As I left the field in 2003 ford said 10% ethanol mix was ok. On the other hand, they said that most of the time to many people add a little at the refinery, storage depot, local wholesaler so that when you actually get the fuel it may have as much as 25% ethanol. This is not approved by ford unless you buy 85% setups. With the 50 cents a gallon subsidy and the 10% loss in mileage, along with the gas, diesel plus water it takes to produce, it is not a viable resource. "

 GMP wrote on May 15, 2008 12:48 pm:
" Voter - that is always a question I ask people who are complaining about an elected official, etc. "Did you vote"? If they say no, then I tell them they have no right to complain. To make their voice heard in the voting booth, not later when it makes no difference. Although I do agree that all should be more involved than just voting, attending city hall meetings, writing letters to official, letting our voice be heard when it could matter. "

 Proud voter wrote on May 15, 2008 1:03 pm:
" To all of you who are complaining, did you vote? If you don't vote you don't have any place complaining. "

 mitchy_v wrote on May 15, 2008 1:05 pm:
" They say you get worse gas milage with ethanol. I get the same with 87 oct as I do 89 w/10% ethanol "

 Nina wrote on May 15, 2008 1:22 pm:
" Yes, voter turnout was pitiful, and often has been in the past, also. Too bad that it may take the time when life is not so easy here to start caring. That time may be closer than you think; with China suffering up to 50,000 deaths, they may call for repay of some of the billions they loaned us. And oh, yes, this concern comes from someone who drove her '89 Ford 158K miles mostly on ethanol, and traded it off, still not using any oil. "

 Edgar Pearlstein wrote on May 15, 2008 2:02 pm:
" It's not enough to simply go to the poll and fill in some ovals. What's important is to vote with knowledge! People who vote randomly, or just because they like the sound of someone's name, are NOT doing their duty as citizens, In fact they are just making noise, and therefore doing harm. It would be best if such people stayed home. "

 Jeff wrote on May 15, 2008 2:15 pm:
" 93 Saturn - 134,000 miles, 98 ford f150 - both run great on ethanol - that's all I use. "

 MarkyMark wrote on May 15, 2008 2:28 pm:
" The Caucus has to go. They are a barbaric, cave man way of voting, and as you can see, very innaccurate. "

 Mr Goodwrech wrote on May 15, 2008 2:30 pm:
" I have an '88 and '89 4 cyl autos that have burned nothing but ethanol and both now have over 200,000 miles. "

 I have yet to see wrote on May 15, 2008 2:47 pm:
" the point in voting in the state(although I did vote). So I can vote for someone who will get ran over by a republican? Our senetors never listen to the people and now just wait til Johanns wins! I for one can't wait! (sarcasm) "

 Grundle wrote on May 15, 2008 3:08 pm:
" MarkyMark wrote, "They are a barbaric, cave man way of voting, and as you can see, very innaccurate." And yet, strangely enough, the Nebraska Democratic Party chose this method as their determinant for delegate votes. What does this say about the Democratic Party? "

 Scott wrote on May 15, 2008 3:42 pm:
" Two things need to change. One, elections need to have a minimum legitimacy level. I'd say if 50% of registered voters don't vote, parties should have to go back to square one on everything. Two, we need to be asked to vote on more things. Entrusting our leaders to find solutions where no public problem exists (bond issues and big dollar projects of late) and then ask for money obscures the thousand problems that are left unfixed. Local government is as broken and illegitimate as the national one when local citizens aren't fully informed and consulted. "

 Wondering wrote on May 15, 2008 3:59 pm:
" I normally vote, but I have to echo Grundle all the way. I did my research on what was to be voted on, and didn't see any point. I got gruff from some people at work for not voting, but these are the people who see the name "Dave" and it reminds them of some guy they know who they like, so they vote for "Dave" with no idea if he would make the best man in the position.

The question is: Is it better to not vote when you do your research and figure out there is no point for this ballot, or to vote but have no idea about what/who you are voting for? "

 Gardener wrote on May 15, 2008 4:32 pm:
" The caucus is inaccurate? Why? Because people didn't show up? I went to the caucus, my vote was counted. It is just like any other type of voting, if you don't show up you don't get a say, and you also have no right to complain. "

 Laurie wrote on May 15, 2008 5:36 pm:
" CR, maybe we SHOULD go back to literacy tests before you can vote. The system prides itself on keeping the public misinformed? Give me a break. What "system"? The reason misinformation is rampant is largely because someone running for office hires people to listen, read and hear what the public is responding to, and it's not "the issues". It's a middle name or a marriage or speculation on their potential lifespan. Watch a pol try to engage regular people on "the issues" and watch that persons' eyes totally glaze over. People are all bent out of shape about their "rights"- but they don't want to accept the fact that with that right comes some responsibility. The people who struggled for those rights made it a point to know "the issues", for them it was serious business meant to be taken seriously, not cavalierly. Please don't use "civil rights" to defend ignorance. It's offensive. "

 Capt Obvious wrote on May 15, 2008 8:54 pm:
" Clearly the low turnout was nothing more than a popularity contest... In one race, you had a candidate clearly ready to DO THE JOB, yet the one who hadn't been seen for over 10 years, & one who didn't have the courage to run the last election cycle... clearly a popularity contest.. where rich & retired, now gets to have a voice in how I AM REPRESENTED... I am beyond offended.. but, how many didn't vote that could... I am ashamed of the voting in my district... to sad... "

 Frustrated Democrat wrote on May 15, 2008 11:18 pm:
" For those people who say their vote doesn't count because Republicans dominate the state of Nebraska...well I do seem to recall that for several decades we had several democratic senators and governors. The will of the people can over come the deplorable situation we are currently in. But, it will only change if people stop complaining and actually get out and vote. Republicans have done nothing for the majority of the people in this state. Everyone should read, "What's the Matter with Kansas" by Thomas Frank. You could easily substitute Nebraska in that title. "

 Jay wrote on May 16, 2008 2:48 pm:
" Melba: Was it E10 or E85? I have used E10 in all my vehicles for over the last 6 years. Never an issue. I could see your engine being destroyed using E85 if it was not designed for it. Funny that the mechanic states "There’s not enough oil in it", keyword OIL. Ethanol does not come from oil. America is too dependent on it. "

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