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Letters, 9/2: County retirement match

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Tuesday, Sep 02, 2008 - 01:08:30 am CDT

Union President Melvin Moore’s Aug. 25 letter to the editor criticizing LIBA’s request that the Lancaster County commissioners consider reducing the county’s employer-employee retirement match begs a response.

First, it is correct that, by statute, all but one Nebraska county is required to match employee contributions at 150 percent. Douglas County, based on its population, is allowed to create and fund its own retirement system and by doing so provides a one-to-one match to its employees’ contributions.

However, Lancaster County provides one of the two highest contribution rates among Nebraska counties. Generally speaking, other Nebraska counties contribute 6.75 percent to an employee’s 4.5 percent contribution. Lancaster County contributes 7.8 percent to an employee’s 5.2 percent contribution. This is done at the expense of the taxpayer.

It is also important to recognize that while most of these rates are set in Nebraska statute, LIBA most often voices issues of concern to the appropriate local governing body. Those familiar with the legislative process know that the county prepares a legislative agenda for which its lobbyist advocates to the Legislature. Thus, while the county cannot independently implement a lower retirement matching rate, it can place such a request on its legislative agenda. We have asked the county commissioners to lobby on other issues (state reimbursement on jail costs), and perhaps we should have articulated this issue more clearly.

We stand behind our past statements that a 100 percent immediate match on retirement funds would be considered generous by most Lincolnites.

Coby Mach, executive director, Lincoln Independent Business Association

Book full of lies, distortions

First off, thanks to the Journal Star for continuing to give the readership weekly book reviews that cover a broad range of genres and topics. In the article (Aug. 24) about negative Obama books, no mention was made that the biggest best-seller of the books (Jerome Corsi’s “The Obama Nation: Leftist Politics and the Cult of Personality”) is riddled with inaccuracies that go beyond “anti-” anything, even beyond heated political arguments, and into smears and outright lies. From Barack Obama’s citizenship, to the day he married Michelle Obama, to his relationship with his Kansas grandparents — the list of Corsi’s mistakes, lies, and distortions is a long one.

Whether or not he is just giving his readers what they want, the people buying his book should know that this is not a work of political analysis and careful research.

Leslie Working, Lincoln

Worst of hypocrites

In recent days, the Democratic candidate for president, Barack Hussein Obama, was campaigning among a group of evangelicals in hopes of getting their vote. In his attempt to present himself as a good, compassionate Christian, he quoted scripture whereby Jesus said, “Whatsoever you do to the least of my brethren, that you do unto me.”

Now I ask you, Mr. Obama and the rest of the pro-choice Democrats, who are the least of your brethren? Without a shadow of a doubt, they are the unborn babies who are being murdered every day through the support and promotion of legalized abortion by the likes of Obama and the Democratic Party.

Obama voted in favor of every pro-choice measure that was introduced, and he even failed to vote for a measure that would help save the lives of babies who survived an abortion.

Obama and the rest of the pro-choice Democrats are the worst of all hypocrites. Did any of them ever hear Christ’s words, “Love one another as I have loved you”? That includes not killing the least of your brethren, namely little unborn children.

Bert B. Hrnicek, Seward


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Thanks Leslie wrote on September 2, 2008 6:38 am:
" Unfortunately, the radical, racist faction of the Republican Party, (Watch the Sound Off blog for examples) are all too eager to hear something they would like to believe if it is negative about Sen. Obama. They are the Chicken Littles of the modern political scene, waiting for the next acorn to fall. Corsi has taken his place in the trees, dropping the acorns from a maple. "

 something smells wrote on September 2, 2008 6:58 am:
" It seems like Coby has an agenda. I don't work for the county, but I have no problem with the current policy. There has to be some type of incentive for government agencies to recruit workers. The pay is generally lower than private industry, so retirement programs are a way to make employment more desireable. Like I said, for Coby and LIBA to go public on this makes it seem like they have alterior motives. "

 Zoomie wrote on September 2, 2008 8:00 am:
" Gee, Bert, have you read the Bible? I mean, it clearly says if you kill a pregnant woman, you get the death penalty (eye for an eye), but if you only cause her to lose the fetus then you only pay the penalty set by gov't (generally in ancient times a fine). And in some religions (ie. Judiasm) a fetus is NOT a whole person until well into the pregnancy.

And sorry, but Barack Obama (notice, FYI, the use of his middle name that he never uses as a ethnic slight) is absolutely right that Jesus displayed great concern for the poor of the earth. Contrast that with the Evangelical Christians in the conservative wing of the GOP who teach a wealth ministry. That is, they teach that the rich are rich because they are blessed by God, so we should actually revere the rich and seek to make them richer! Count Pat Robertson, for example, amongst this group (I once heard him explain the parable of Jesus giving a coin to three men with instructions to take his gift and grow it as evidence Jesus wanted his believers to make lots and lots of money, literally). So instead of looking for excuses to dislike Obama, why not embrace the areas of overlap and mutual agreement? Or are you simply opposed to bipartisan agreements overall? "

 LDE wrote on September 2, 2008 8:11 am:
" It is unfortunate that the Roman Catholic and Right Wing Evangelical movement has co-opted and propogandized the issue of abortion to the extent that many persons view it as an established doctrine of all denominational and religious bodies. Many denominatons and religious bodies take a more enlightened position with less emotional appeal because we all want to reduce abortions and we see the hypocracy of a lack of care for children already born and the postential birth of those who are in the gestation process which may or may not lead to their birth. We see the abuse of women that places a requirement upon them that is not born into the life of the man who was a part of the initial act that results in an unwanted or problem pregnancy. It is ironic and sad that an issue that requires deep compassion and enlightened thought has been promoted as a politiacl football because of its emotional content and the manipulative appeal it can garner. The insentivities of the Right Wing Political Pundits who exploit this issue certainly matches and in many instances supercedes the concern they might have for the women who must wrestle with this difficult decision. Perhaps if the men (have you noticed how many there are who write on this issue?) who so blandly blame the women for this situation would be required to participate in the consequence with a required financial obligation or perhaps even a change in statutory rape laws that required jail time; we would have a different tune being sung in the politiacl arena. "

 Colleen wrote on September 2, 2008 9:03 am:
" Bert, please. As a woman who is expecting her first child in a few weeks, I have to disagree with you on several points. First, life is much more complex than you acknowledge. On my path to having my first child, I had two chemical pregnancies--short term pregnancies that ended and had I not been seeing a doctor, I would not have known about. Should I mourn those losses as children? Should I have named these cells that did not even implant in my uterus? Do you know the miscarriage rate? Many women miscarry and they feel worse about it because there is this notion that they lost a child, when in fact, they have probably experienced one of the rare mercies of nature--an early (and sometimes unknown) loss of a set of cells that would have never been born as a healthy child. Making these women feel as though they have lost children is cruel and compounds the heartache and disappointment and sometimes physical discomforts that accompany a miscarriage. Second, unborn children you seek to protect become "born" children who need constant care and an incredible amount of resources (in terms of love, time, energy, money and stuff) in their lifetimes. Many babies who are born don't have access to what they need. I know this because I donate my time and money to helping these kids after they are born and many leave hospitals in Nebraska with little more than a few pieces of clothing--I am shocked at the need in our state and the fact that there are groups who seek to have more babies born, but the same groups seem to have more time to protest than to help the "born" babies make it. Third, no one promotes abortion. Even those of us who see it as an essential option for women see it as something that should be rare (as well as accessible and safe). Women and men should use birth control and should treat their bodies and the creation of a child with respect. The world is a complex and sad place at times. While I think it should be the option of last resort (after affordable, accessible birth control as well as education) and in unusual circumstances, it has to be an option along with adoption. Some women are victimized and conceive a child. Some girls are as well. Sometimes the mother's life is at risk. You can try to turn the the focus and the emphasis on "the little unborn children" to get sympathy and make people seem like monsters for considering abortion, but the fact is--there are other monsters out there as well. "

 Jeff wrote on September 2, 2008 9:36 am:
" Bert - you were doing fine up until you used the word "promotion" of abortion. Since most thinking people know that is a gross misrepresentation of Obama's position, you lose your credibility there. The harsh reality is that there is no court of law that will solve this problem. What anti-abortion folks need to do is win the hearts and minds of society and work on effective programs that will prevent unwanted pregnancies as much as possible (e.g. abstinence only as a sole program seems to have a few issues). The other harsh reality for you is that democrats such as Obama have policies that do a better job at preventing unwanted pregnancies when compared to Republicans in general. "

 Jack wrote on September 2, 2008 9:37 am:
" Hey Bert, thanks for the comments. It's letters like yours that keep me looking closer at Mr. Obama, and the liklihood that he'll get my vote in Novemeber. "

 LC wrote on September 2, 2008 9:41 am:
" Sorry, Mr. Hrnicek, you have your scripture reading wrong. It is not "...whatever you do to the least of my brethren..." it is "...whatever you do to the least of THESE, my brethren...". Christ was speaking about specific classes of people (the imprisoned, the naked, the hungry) in response to his disciples' confusion about whom they were to regard as worthy of their compassion.‘ Your opinion about when life begins, and when to inject your private religious beliefs into politics is noted, but your use of this passage from Matthew doesn't relate unless you change the wording to suit your needs. It's called "scripture twisting" and is a favorite tool of the religious to attempt divine justification for personal agenda. Bottom line: Jesus never mentioned the unborn at any time. This is a presidential election, not a church office election. Vote for your favorite party/candidate, and please save the religious opinion for Sunday mornings. "

 Psst Bert wrote on September 2, 2008 9:41 am:
" Hasn't anyone told you that John McCain supports embryonic stem cell research? Or did you know that and decide his hypocrisy was okay? "

 Think about this . . . wrote on September 2, 2008 10:09 am:
" I don't receive overtime for working 50 hours a week. I don't receive an annual or end of year bonus. I don't have an expense account or stock options. My employeer does not pay for a country club membership. I don't have a company car or am allowed to keep a bank of comp time for all my extra hours. I am continually working with a shrinking budget and smaller bank of employees to do more work for a city and county that keep growing. I am a city and/or county employee whom at a minimum deserves the retirement match that is being offered. "

 wow Colleen wrote on September 2, 2008 10:41 am:
" That is the most cold-hearted account of miscarriage I have ever read! You may not have mourned after your chemical pregnancies, but there are plenty of women who do--and for good reason. I have witnessed first-hand the devistation that can come after the loss of a pregnancy. I have seen a baby lost at 13 weeks, and no one can tell me that precious little being wasn't a baby. At just 9 weeks pregnant, I have already seen my baby's tiny beating heart on an ultrasound. If a beating heart isn't a sign of life, I dont know what is. "

 Please wrote on September 2, 2008 10:46 am:
" First question, Leslie, did you actually read the book or are you just passing on blogged information in your own disinformation writing. Political "hit pieces" are subject to the readers view, now if a book of simular content arose on let's say John McCain would the same "list" of lies, and distortions be readily found by you if you read that book? Or would you beleive what you read for it is what you care to believe, truth not withstanding. There is so much credible information on questionable information on Barrak Obama, as with all polititians. Right now your left wing blogger friends are doing thier best dirt digging expedition on Sarah Palin, looking for anything negative, part of the process, and you will believe anything they post. "

 Hey Bert wrote on September 2, 2008 10:56 am:
" That goes two ways. How about your born again christian bush? Hasn't he killed about 4200 american troops and no one really know how many innocents in iraq? How about that man who would be president, named mccain? Isn't he willing to kill more to keep the big oil companies going? Make it a fair comparison. Just because someone is democrat, they aren't necessarily a athiest. "

 Im thinking about it wrote on September 2, 2008 11:13 am:
" In the private sector, most employees do not: receive overtime (salaried employees) for greater than 40 hours/week worked, annual or year-end bonuses (or they are tied to profitability), Country-club memberships, company vehicles, stock options, and many other perks normally reserved for very upper management executives. Many times comp. bank hours is a better deal than accruing sick/vacation time. Who do you think you are? If you think you are deserving of all of the executive perks, then you need to ditch the gov't job and go to the private sector. Otherwise, I agree that a 1:1 retirement match is EXTREMELY generous in SE Nebr., and I also agree with LIBA that my tax dollars should not go to fund any above and beyond that. "

 SAS wrote on September 2, 2008 11:21 am:
" Mr. Hrnicek,
Does your letter mean you are against the death penalty for convicted murders? Because murder's would have to be considered the "least" of our society. "

 Dear LIBA wrote on September 2, 2008 11:28 am:
" If, as you state, it is by statue that all counties except Douglas county must match employee contributions at 150% (which a 7.8% to an employee’s 5.2% is), how is a 100% match generous? You do realize that 100% is less than 150%, right? "

 Bert wrote on September 2, 2008 11:49 am:
" Palin's 17-year-old unmarried daughter is five months pregnant & you are o.k. with this? Take off the Rush goggles my friend "

 Oh Bert wrote on September 2, 2008 11:53 am:
" Obama voted against the invasion of Iraq. You know, the military action that killed thousands of unborn babies. Pro-war is the opposite pro-life. Obama was the only senator to vote against the invasion. "

 BicycleMike wrote on September 2, 2008 12:44 pm:
" Once again, people quoting scripture makes be nervous. I'm completely wierded out now. "

 Jody P. wrote on September 2, 2008 12:59 pm:
" Um, how did Obama manage to vote against the Iraq invasion when he wasn't even in the U.S. Senate yet at the time? "

 LMR wrote on September 2, 2008 1:13 pm:
" Zoomie, please tell me who gives the most (money, time and charities) to the poor, the wealthy "religious right" or the wealthy lefties? It's not the answer you're looking for is it? Age old Marxism is just that. Evil CAPITALISTS! Must be rough living in AMERICA. "

 michelle wrote on September 2, 2008 1:17 pm:
" Bert, seriously get over it. Abortion is legal and will always be that way. In these times where people are killing the babies after they are born, dumping them in dumpsters, smothering them or abusing them for a lifetime do you honestly think your issue matters anymore? He is pro choice, and thats a good thing. Why is it always a man who preaches about abortion when they cannot even carry a child inside them? "

 Please wrote on September 2, 2008 1:19 pm:
" Bert- Obama's mother was 18 years old and un-married when she gave birth...so the point of your Palin's daughter comment is? And Palin's daughter is planning on getting married to the father. And if I read the news correctly Obama himself has stated that Palin's family life should as his, be off limits. This is the kind of muck-raking political hit pieces that I am talking about...My goggles are clear and not tainted, yours seem to be a little clouded with some form of bias. "

 Observer wrote on September 2, 2008 1:31 pm:
" Bert, lets look at the media today, NYT's has 3 front page articles on this who cares fact, yet when the actual candidate, John Edward's affair/fatherhood scandal erupted during his run it was dismissed and ignored by the same media, till finally proven by the Inquirer. So political bias is o Right Wing Rush issue, please......In today's Liberal sexually liberated society shouldn't the fact she is pregnant and un-married for the average liberal be wonderfull, and she is not getting an abortion and marrying the father is a wonderfull conservative issue. So a total win-win. "

 Rob wrote on September 2, 2008 1:47 pm:
" Over 4200 of our men & women been killed over in Iraq & Bert is whinning about pro-choice. Come on, who is the the hupocrite? Politics has no
business in the world of what a women's choice is. Men need to take
responsibility for there actions, Maybe we need to make some laws as
to how a man is held responsible then make him decided whether he has
a choice or not. Men do the most complainting about women that have
to make a choice, yet a man is part of the problem. "

 MarkyMark wrote on September 2, 2008 2:38 pm:
" I find it no surprise to see Bert blasting the Democratic party again. Maybe you see some hypocrisy in the scripture and in actual humans, but then again, who doesn't?

Perhaps instead of nit-picking, you may want to look at the big picture, to see the real hypocrisy.

For 6 years, Bush, the Congress, and the Senate, as well as 7/9s of the Supreme court, had full control of Washington. This group had full power to change virtually every law on the books. These phony Pro-Lifers did nothing.

The politicians, you seem to approve of, could have overturned Roe V Wade, each and every day, of the 2,100 day reign of power. If you have been voting pro-life, you must feel used. You must either have a lot of anger towards Bush, and his Congress, for betraying you, or you must be in denial about the Republican party. "

 Sue F. wrote on September 2, 2008 2:39 pm:
" Just a few facts that need pointed out. Obama was not in the senate at the time of the Iraq war vote. Although he did speak out against the war from the very start. Also Obama's mother was 18 when he was born, but she was married at the time. "

 Jen C. wrote on September 2, 2008 2:49 pm:
" Why is pro-choice so often mistaken for pro-abortion? I am a woman who would never consider an abortion, yet I am pro-choice. It's not my place to tell another person what to do with their body! Honestly, what does it matter to you if some woman you've never seen before has an abortion? Does it personally affect your life? Has the quality of your personal life deteriorated because of a stranger's choice to abort? And if that woman does decide to NOT abort, who is going to care for the child she didn't want/couldn't have in the first place? Are you willing to step up and adopt? Apparently not, just look at the number of children we have up for adoption and in foster homes now. Let's give THOSE living, breathing children homes first, then you can focus on the ones who haven't been born yet. "

 Hypocrsy and the GOP wrote on September 2, 2008 3:32 pm:
" As MarkyMark noted, Roe v Wade is the favorite political football of the GOP. It is an easy way to rally their stable of single issue voters, giving them the ability to win elections without having to confront the serious problems facing this country. Tom DeLay, Bill Frist and company had no trouble passing a law allowing government to interfere in the end-of-life decisions of the Terri Schiavo family, yet the GOP consistently fails to bring any legislation to overturn Roe. Politics over principles, because to do otherwise would sacrifice an effective wedge issue.

Bert, if you are really concerned about "the least of my brethren," why don't you establish a foundation pledged to provide (i.e., pay for) the health, education and welfare of those who, but for your good graces, would have been aborted? I am sure that LMR and all the other wealthy "religious right" will provide the necessary funding. "

 listen up Bert wrote on September 2, 2008 4:04 pm:
" "The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the iniquities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he, who in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness, for he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who would attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know my name is the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon thee." translation is Bert needs a hug "

 Sorry Bert wrote on September 2, 2008 4:04 pm:
" There are many of us who totally oppose abortion but consider ourselves pro-choice. I am a white male (and catholic too by the way) and I'm sorry.. I really don't see it as my place to tell a poor, young woman who was completely ditched by the father of their child that she cannot have an abortion. Granted, I would still like to see her have the baby and give it up for adoption, but perhaps we should be focusing more on helping people like this and maybe coming down harder on men (or boys I should say- no real man would ever leave a woman who is pregnant) who leave. This is a very complex issue and I'm happy most of the comments here side with reason and logic. Bert, I won't even delve into the rest of your letter except to say that it is people like you that caused me to leave the republican party. "

 Hey Bert wrote on September 2, 2008 5:24 pm:
" From my observations of over 60 years the democrats follow Christ's words more closely than the republicans. You cite the phrase "Love one another as I have loved you", but do the republicans follow those words? Look at what the republican views of the homosexuals? If you truely belive that phrase you cite, do you embrace all homosexuals as equal or as people who have no rights whatsoever? What about immigrants or people of faiths other than christian?

I see the democrats following that phrase much more than the republicans and the republicans win the hypocrite battle hands down. "

 MC wrote on September 2, 2008 6:37 pm:
" A friend (of impossible-to-pinpoint moral/political persuasion) once suggested that there are folks out there who believe without a shadow of a doubt that life begins at conception, and that abortion is essentially legal infanticide, on par with something like the Holocaust.

I got this black & white mental image of babies' bodies in piles, like an awful "dead baby" joke, and I haven't forgotten why, for some people, abortion is the ONLY issue they vote on.

I am firmly pro-choice, but I can conceptualize their sense of urgency.

And so, I won't berate you for sticking with a party line that, as far as I can tell, doesn't do a lot for the average American, and is undeniably more stingy with the already-existent "least among us": the poor, criminals, immigrants, "enemy combatants", etc.

However, to question Mr. Obama's faith, simply because he doesn't oppose abortion as strictly as you do recalls about 3/4 of the reasons I grew up a flaming moderate-liberal-independent agnostic in a staunchly Republican, Lutheran household. I've got a feeling even Christian theologians still debate what the Bible *really* says about the unborn.

The jury is out on this one, so instead of hurling insults around, about who's the fundamentalist wacko, and who's the satanic baby killer...how about in the future you make your case. Reason is a lot more persuasive than ugly names and ultimatums. "

 Problematic wrote on September 2, 2008 7:38 pm:
" Single issue politics, Abortion....a choice....that should have been made by the word no before the act. Now in cases of rape or incest I agree, in the case of opps I was not responsible, the jury is still out. I do find it interesting that the same people that find the Death Penalty a savage act, yet can readily condemn a fetus to death for the sole crime of being in the wrong womb. To me it is not a biblical issue, it is a pure issue of comman morality and responsibility. "

 Its only a matter of time... wrote on September 2, 2008 11:22 pm:
" until we have to follow the Chinese model of population control here in America. Don't kid yourself. Its only..... a matter....of time. "

 Problematic... wrote on September 3, 2008 12:15 am:
" I don't think anyone is interested in killing babies for crimes they have or have not committed. Some folks just don't take for granted that those are babies being killed. When does human life begin...conception, after the first trimester, at birth?

And, if you believe that life begins at conception, why is it ok to abort in the case of incest or rape? The baby did not commit those crimes.

If I read correctly, abortion bothers you, yes, but even more, it's the irresponsibility of a woman who doesn't want to deal with the consequences of her choices.

To which I say: let's start by better sex ed for adolescent boys and girls, and more binding accountability for fathers, who all too often get to walk away from their irresponsibilities without so much as financially assisting the women who carry and raise the consequences.

Then we can talk about responsibility. "

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