Letters, 5/13: Deportation math
There are several deceptive or oversimplified ideas going around on the problem of illegal immigrants:
* That there are 12 million (some say 20 million) of them. Where did that number come from?
* That illegal immigrants take jobs away from Americans. People who have jobs are not only producers (through their jobs) but also consumers (of food, housing, transportation, entertainment, etc.), which makes jobs for others. On the average, a person consumes as much as he produces.
* That we should deport all of the illegal immigrants. This neglects some simple arithmetic. For if we were to ship out 12 million people on buses, each of which holds 50 illegal immigrants plus driver and guards, it would require 240,000 trips!
Edgar Pearlstein, Lincoln
Bring back the Fourth
As a lifetime resident of Lincoln, I feel the need to voice my opinion about bringing the Fourth of July celebration back to Holmes Lake. I can’t remember the last time the celebration was held at Holmes Lake, but I do know it was moved to Oak Lake because Holmes was being refurbished.
The lake has been done for a number of years now. I urge Mayor Chris Beutler to make a decision to move it back to Holmes Lake for the year 2009.
Perhaps Holmes Lake could get the Fourth of July celebration with years ending in odd numbers and Oak Lake with even-numbered years. Does anyone have a better idea?
Jenny Clementz, Lincoln
Food-free arena
I wholeheartedly agree with those people who have voiced their opinion about whether beer or alcohol should be allowed in a new Haymarket arena. There are so many other places to obtain alcohol.
I assume those people agree with me that nachos and soda also should be banned. Those products are available in even more places.
Jim Novotny, Lincoln
Keep it clean, Lincoln
I found it noble and at the same time a shame that one of the runners in our marathon was able to pick up 20 pounds of trash along the route while running. This should be a day that Lincoln is pristine and on display for people from across the state and nation.
I’m now sure that my neighborhood is not the only area in the city that seems to be awash in litter. We need a user tax on the following: fast-food wrappers and packaging, plastic drink cups, plastic bags, plastic bottles, cigarette packages, liquor and beer bottles, and all candy wrappers and boxes. This way the people who use these products could pay to have them picked up. This tax could be put into a fund and groups could be paid from this fund, and the city could possibly hire people in need of some extra money to pick up litter on a regular basis.
Most neighborhoods have an annual volunteer cleanup day, but trash is a problem every day. In my area trash seems to be just as bad on city property as it does on private property. Just take a walk along the trail from 33rd Street west to 24th or take a walk on the overpass on Holdrege.
I have lived in Lincoln most of my life and have never seen it dirtier. In my area, I have seen a few of the businesses along 27th from Cornhusker to O Street make a daily effort to keep their property free of litter.
However, realistically can we depend upon marathon runners to pick up our litter? If we could have some extra tax funds to help pay for litter removal, it would be an advantage for everyone.
Don C. Sutton, Lincoln
* That there are 12 million (some say 20 million) of them. Where did that number come from?
* That illegal immigrants take jobs away from Americans. People who have jobs are not only producers (through their jobs) but also consumers (of food, housing, transportation, entertainment, etc.), which makes jobs for others. On the average, a person consumes as much as he produces.
* That we should deport all of the illegal immigrants. This neglects some simple arithmetic. For if we were to ship out 12 million people on buses, each of which holds 50 illegal immigrants plus driver and guards, it would require 240,000 trips!
Edgar Pearlstein, Lincoln
Bring back the Fourth
As a lifetime resident of Lincoln, I feel the need to voice my opinion about bringing the Fourth of July celebration back to Holmes Lake. I can’t remember the last time the celebration was held at Holmes Lake, but I do know it was moved to Oak Lake because Holmes was being refurbished.
The lake has been done for a number of years now. I urge Mayor Chris Beutler to make a decision to move it back to Holmes Lake for the year 2009.
Perhaps Holmes Lake could get the Fourth of July celebration with years ending in odd numbers and Oak Lake with even-numbered years. Does anyone have a better idea?
Jenny Clementz, Lincoln
Food-free arena
I wholeheartedly agree with those people who have voiced their opinion about whether beer or alcohol should be allowed in a new Haymarket arena. There are so many other places to obtain alcohol.
I assume those people agree with me that nachos and soda also should be banned. Those products are available in even more places.
Jim Novotny, Lincoln
Keep it clean, Lincoln
I found it noble and at the same time a shame that one of the runners in our marathon was able to pick up 20 pounds of trash along the route while running. This should be a day that Lincoln is pristine and on display for people from across the state and nation.
I’m now sure that my neighborhood is not the only area in the city that seems to be awash in litter. We need a user tax on the following: fast-food wrappers and packaging, plastic drink cups, plastic bags, plastic bottles, cigarette packages, liquor and beer bottles, and all candy wrappers and boxes. This way the people who use these products could pay to have them picked up. This tax could be put into a fund and groups could be paid from this fund, and the city could possibly hire people in need of some extra money to pick up litter on a regular basis.
Most neighborhoods have an annual volunteer cleanup day, but trash is a problem every day. In my area trash seems to be just as bad on city property as it does on private property. Just take a walk along the trail from 33rd Street west to 24th or take a walk on the overpass on Holdrege.
I have lived in Lincoln most of my life and have never seen it dirtier. In my area, I have seen a few of the businesses along 27th from Cornhusker to O Street make a daily effort to keep their property free of litter.
However, realistically can we depend upon marathon runners to pick up our litter? If we could have some extra tax funds to help pay for litter removal, it would be an advantage for everyone.
Don C. Sutton, Lincoln
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