Letters, 10/2: Attacks on Palin unfair

 72 comment(s)  
 E-mail Story
 Print Story
  Share

 digg it!
 Facebook
 del.icio.us
Seed Newsvine
Fark It
Reddit

Text Size: 

Tools Sponsor

I have watched politics since I was old enough to know what politics are, and I have never seen such hate for a candidate that I’m seeing for Gov. Sarah Palin.

She is under attack because of not having traveled overseas, having a special needs child and a daughter who is pregnant, among other senseless things. What are the attackers afraid of?

Before throwing too many stones, people should take a look at her opponent. Joe Biden thought Franklin D. Roosevelt was president in 1929 and that he spoke to the American people on television about the Great Depression. Television?

Dan Quayle was crucified in the media about misspelling “potatoe.”

Let’s be fair here.

Doug Vandervort, Lincoln

Safe haven a good idea -- in theory

In theory the safe haven law was a good option. Having the option to place an infant in a safe place rather than abandon or worse, leave it for dead, does address that specific issue. I certainly find comfort in knowing that an infant will be safe in the care of hospital staff.

However, the lack of information about who and how the law should be used has been severely neglected. But it does bring a serious and significant problem to the forefront for Nebraska. Fourteen children have been dropped off at hospitals in Lincoln and Omaha. Can you imagine just being dropped off by your family?

I think the real problem is lack of support and resources for families in crisis. First we have the proverbial waiting list. We can’t just say, “Hey, we need to wait for this crisis because was are on a waiting list to get some help!” What are families supposed to do during a crisis? We have some great programs in Lincoln that truly help, but you have to wait. And cost is always an issue for services.

I think the use of “abandon” to describe how families are utilizing the safe haven law is very degrading to both the children and their families. These are folks with nowhere else to turn for help. It is responsible to take the children somewhere safe.

The problem here is not the safe haven law but an issue that has been facing many Nebraska families for a long time. Families struggle every single day with little to no support.

Families need to become a priority for our state. Developing programs for families in crisis should be the priority. I will not judge the families who have used the safe haven law to take their children to hospitals. I will, however, say this is not a new problem. It has simply been brought to light for the public to see, and maybe, just maybe, the real issues that families in crisis face every day will get the attention and appropriate action that is desperately needed.

Teresa Vanderzee, Lincoln

Focus on Congress this election year

The country is in the middle of one of the most serious financial crises in its history, and power politics is again raising is ugly head in the Congress. As usual, it’s the Democrats against the Republicans and the Senate against the House, and enough roadblocks are thrown up by the sides that nothing gets done and the country suffers. The do-nothing Congress wags its jaw until the next excuse to go home and look for campaign donations.

This current circus makes me wonder if we are spending too much time, money and effort selecting a new president and not enough on changing the makeup of the Senate and the House. The current members of those once august and respected bodies have done little to nothing for the benefit of the people of the United states for a number of years.

They have run up excessive debt, have messed up taxes and have found ways to spend money without having public hearings. They are among the highest paid people in the country, have a health insurance program none of their constituents can afford, and work only three or four days a week. Most seem to do little other than that which their party leaders direct them to do for fear that by showing some independence of thought, campaign money from K Street will not be available.

The mortgage loan crisis has been building for a long time. A plan to recover is necessary. The risky loans that are the basis of it have been used for more than the eight years President Bush has been in office, and nobody has had oversight responsibility. Members of the various committees of the Senate and House, while not having specific oversight of these practices, should have been asking questions (the lack of responsibility has not stopped them in the past).

This situation will only get worse if congressional infighting is the only action we see. It may be time to think about removing the bunch.

Patrick J. Henry, Lincoln

Haar stands up for families

I was glad to see candidate Ken Haar talking about a plan to lower taxes in the state Legislature (Sept. 22, LJS). Too often campaigns are filled with attacks and distortions instead of thought and innovation. It is refreshing to see a candidate like Ken Haar presenting ideas and plans that will actually benefit Nebraska families. Ken has a record of standing up for families and working with others to find solutions.  Ken Haar will be a great asset to the Nebraska Legislature.

John C. Harper, Lincoln