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Letters, 10/6: Finish MoPac trail

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Monday, Oct 06, 2008 - 12:42:01 am CDT

I realize there are bigger issues facing Nebraska residents these days, but our failure to finish the MoPac East Trail deserves further attention. The Journal Star (Sept. 24) reported on the issue and the general opposition to it among the landowners between Wabash and the Platte River. As an avid trail user, I urge fellow bicyclists to help the greater Lincoln-Omaha community understand the true value of this link.

The end of the trail in Wabash is a definite anti-climax. Just a few miles further and cyclists could be connected to a number of the state’s top recreational attractions including Platte River State Park, Mahoney State Park, Louisville Lakes State Recreation Area, Schramm Park, Two Rivers State Recreation Area, Camp Kitaki, and a number of private recreational lakes, not to mention hundreds of miles of trails in Omaha. Even the most casual rider would be surprised at how quickly and easily this smooth, flat trail pedals. But currently, one must endure a rough and muddy 334th Street and/or segments of highways with no shoulder (highways 1 and 66), or heavy truck traffic (highway 50).

And then there is the beautiful Lied Platte River Bridge, already built and paid for. But until we finish MoPac East and an equally small stretch of trail on the Omaha side, we can safely describe it as our very own “bridge to nowhere.”

The Lower Platte Natural Resource District and county commissioners involved should move to finish this trail, link Omaha and Lincoln to the parks on the Platte and provide hundreds of miles of free, healthy outdoor recreation. If the landowners can’t give up a few feet along an existing road, let’s do it without them!

Dave A. Peters, Lincoln

Clare understands research

I am excited to see the University of Nebraska-Lincoln is breaking its research funding records, earning more than $100 million this year. By comparison, the University of Michigan is a national leader in research funding, surpassing $800 million this year.

Nebraska can be competitive with schools like Michigan, but it will take strong leadership. NU regent candidate Earl Scudder argues that embryonic stem cell research at NU will help bring in more research money.

What Scudder doesn’t say is that the state of Michigan has restrictions on embryonic stem cell research that are at least as restrictive, if not more so, than Nebraska’s, yet they rake in hundreds of millions more than Nebraska in research funding.

It is because adult stem cell research, which regent candidate Tim Clare supports, is more effective in providing possible cures for life-threatening disease and therefore is more financially viable. Research dollars to support research that works; that’s why the University of Michigan and other universities that do adult stem cell research will continue to bring in research dollars.

I support Tim Clare for regent because he will grow our university by supporting effective research.

Ashley Rappana, Lincoln

No Spring Creek roads

To make no mistake, yes, we are in favor of good roads! But great places don’t always need through-traffic roads.

Audubon’s Spring Creek Prairie south of Denton is one of these great places. Its beauty and serenity doesn’t need a road going through it. Other beautiful and quiet places around Lincoln, such as our parks and cemeteries, do not have such roads. The greater public good here is to preserve the environmental integrity of Spring Creek Prairie. I hope county commissioners permanently close the county road in question and divert traffic around this great natural wonder.

Bruce Kennedy, Malcolm

Interesting ‘pro-life’ stance

Paul Knopp (letter, Oct. 1) has an interesting approach to his “pro-life” stance. I would ask what other individuals in society we should consider bumping off in the interest of keeping taxes low by using his math?

Steven R. McManus, Lincoln

We need good judgment

John McCain’s experience is as a D.C. good ol’ boy; however, he tries to paint himself as a maverick.

He helped President Bush drop the ball in Afghanistan, leaving the job unfinished. Osama bin Laden and al-Qaida are still alive and regrouping. Instead McCain supported the war against Iraq, which had nothing to do with Sept. 11, 2001. Many were fooled by Bush’s “evidence” of WMDs, but Barack Obama saw through the lies and opposed the war.

McCain opposes planning an American withdrawal, equating that to losing the war. Obama, most Americans and even Iraqi officials want a timeline. Not immediate withdrawal but planned. It would force the Iraqis to settle their differences and provide their own security at their own expense.

McCain has almost constantly fought government regulation. Now we face the results of such failed philosophy in the credit crisis, home foreclosures and Wall Street meltdown. Obama has always supported reasonable regulation, “adult supervision.”

McCain’s choosing Sarah Palin as running mate best shows his poor judgment. He chose her to draw Clinton supporters and conservatives. But they didn’t want just any woman or social conservative. They wanted a competent one. Now many in both camps are calling for Palin to step down.

If elected she would be one heartbeat away from the presidency. And it’s a 72-year-old heart. Does she have the depth, as opposed to energy and self-confidence, to deal with the complexities of the economy, trade deficits, climate change, foreign policy and military decisions? Would you feel safe with the reins in her hands?

Forget experience. We need a president with fresh ideas who puts the good of working people over ideology and self-interest. Above all, a president with good judgment. Barack Obama.

J. Thornton Jaringe, Lincoln

Kleeb has leadership skills

The stock market is crashing. Gas prices are rising. Student loans are becoming nearly nonexistent because of the current state of the economy, and the country’s biggest concerns include Sarah Palin’s pregnant daughter, Joe Biden’s speaking skills and Barack Obama’s “pig and lipstick” comment. What’s the point? Where are the leaders who are willing to take a stand?

What this state, and even this country needs is a leader who realizes the country’s mishaps and wants to take a stand and fix the problems.

Scott Kleeb is a strong leader who wants to fix Nebraska’s problems and have Nebraska help fix some of the country’s problems.

As a college student, I appreciate Kleeb’s views on education. He has two young daughters and understands that you can’t put a price on education, like most colleges are more than willing to do. Kleeb has proposed several ideas for cushioning the price for college tuition by expanding access to student loans and grants for middle class families.

Kleeb is a middle class worker himself and realizes that the economy plays an important role in our lives. With the current economic crisis and stock market scare, Kleeb understands that we don’t just need to help Wall Street, but also Main Street.

Kleeb also understands that the rising gas prices are a big burden on hard-working Nebraskans. Kleeb has a plan to help alleviate high gas prices and tax breaks to big oil companies.

I truly believe Scott Kleeb has the kind of strong leadership we need.

Emily Giller, Lincoln

Keep quality of life in mind

In response to Patricia Pierson’s letter “Remember the women” (Sept. 29), I am also an American citizen and a woman. I, however, wonder how anyone feels it is their right to kill a child in the womb. Pierson said it is her body and she can do what she wants with it. What about the unborn baby’s body and choice?

Pierson also talked about keeping her quality of life as well as all women’s quality of life in mind when voting this November. Ironically, I would say this is a great pro-life statement. Don’t we want to keep everyone’s quality of life, even the unborn child’s, in mind as we look to vote this November?

Amy Baumert, Saronville

 


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Well Amy wrote on October 6, 2008 4:37 am:
" Voting for the "pro-life" candidate with get you 2 to 4 more years of abortion. The pro-life candidates don't want to "fix" abortion because they know people like Amy will flood to the polls every 2 years to vote for them. GW Bush and 4 years of Republican Congress could, or would not make a dent in the law. So Amy, voting "pro-life" means voting for continued abortion. "

 to J. thornton wrote on October 6, 2008 7:25 am:
" GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT. In 2005 Chuck Hagel introduced a bil in the senate, co-sponsered by McCain, to regulate Freddie and Fannie. It was blocked by the dems. I think that Barny Frank, Dodd, Harry Reid and Maxine Waters should be brought up on charges. Last week Harry Reid, in trying to get support for the Senate bail out bill, said that there was an insusrance company ready to go belly up. the next day, all of the insurance companies were spiraling down on the NY Stock Exchange. One company lost 15 per cent of its value. They came out with a statement that said that whoever Reid was talking aboutit was not this company. So reporters called the Reid office. And. . . guess what? There was no insusrance company on the brink. So Harry Reid's comments just cost me and most of you value in your 401(k)s. Please tell me why he should not be charged???

And Barney Frank told investors that Freddie was inb good shape when he knew better. Again, the common person lost money.

I won't even go into your comments about Barack O having good jusgement. He most clearly does not! "

 And to Emily wrote on October 6, 2008 7:29 am:
" Kleeb may have leadship skills, (in your opinion) but he has no drivers license. Lost it due to speeding. Poor jusgement. He can't even keep his drivers licensde, but we are to trust him with the Senate. It is all about personal responsibility. And NO, I do not support Johanns. I will vote third party for the Senate. "

 Go Dave Peters wrote on October 6, 2008 7:38 am:
" Get out your checkbook--If you want it done that bad-- i'm SURE they'll take a donation... Or were you just one of those people that tell others how to spend their money instead of opening your own checkbook?? It's not done because it's obviously not a priority nor a need. If it were "needed" it would have been done a long time ago. "

 RJ wrote on October 6, 2008 7:48 am:
" J.--I see McCain as another Bush. Wants to be a WAR PRESIDENT. I still see no need for us being in Iraq. Afghanistan, yes. McCain spent all his time in prison during the war, so what does he know, only how to protect himself. I feel no more safer now then I did on 9/11. A president who
was out of town reading to the children, know something was going to
happen. We don't need another 4 years of Bush. Nor do we need the likes
of folksy Palin. "

 Max A. wrote on October 6, 2008 8:39 am:
" Mr. Peters, I would support funding the completion of the trail, if and only if there was a law that stated that all bike riders had to use trails. Too often, there are bike riders, riding on Highway 34, when they could be riding the trail that runs almost next to the highway. There are also those that ride on A Street and Highway 77. All cyclist must start using the trails instead of the highways. The cyclist are a dangerous distraction to motor vehicle drivers, not to mention the people who haul freight. Mr. Peters, please think of the safety issues before you think about completing the trail. "

 LR wrote on October 6, 2008 9:35 am:
" I'm sure nobody wants to hear about Hagel, & co-sponsor McCain who introduced a bill in 2005 to regulate Fannie & Freddie! For two years the
Democrats have had control of the senate, did nothing and yet want everybody on their band wagon blasting the Republicans for the job the
Democrats should have been doing. I agree, There should be charges brought
against Harry Reid, Barney Frank, Frank Dodd and Pelosie & Waters. Thru
this whole mess of the $700 Bilion, they couldn't even talk and look
anyone straight in the face, it was lie after lie, and roadblock after
roadblock. They added another $150 billion of pork and they'll be blaming
the Republicans! Barney Frank didn't even pay taxes on a home yet if I
did that it would be Big time news and I'd be in prison. Look at the
money Pelosie spends on a private jet to Calif because she wouldn't fly
commercial!! Its not just Bush, the whole bunch is in D.C. for R & R
and if they were in a corporation and did that the corporation would be
bankrupt. EXACTLY what they have done to the financial institutions.
I've said for years, why isn't the government putting the brakes on this
mortgage & loan mess. Everytime I'd get a mailbox full of "already
authorized credit cards" I'd about pull my hair out. This should not
have existed and the big splurge of shoving credit cards on college
students. Where are these peoples brains? They shouldn't even be allowed
on government property!!!! Now they have caused every age group to try
to figure out how they are going to live, retirees needing to move out
of their homes to retirement or nursing homes, can't even sell their houses!!! "

 confused on Kleeb wrote on October 6, 2008 9:52 am:
" Emily, I struggle to find where Scott Kleeb has ever led anything - a business, a governmental body, a football team or even a scout troop.

And what job is it that he has? You say he's a middle class worker, but I don't think he's ranching anymore, and I don't think he's at Hastings College anymore - what work is he up to these days? Is he a cop? A physician assistant? Aircraft mechanic? Plumber?

I want to vote for him, but I can't find anything to hang my hat on besides his big talk and nice hair... "

 dewboy wrote on October 6, 2008 10:03 am:
" Evidently, Mr. Peters does not think very much of private property owners rights. We do not need another mess like we have on the legal status on the trail to Beatrice where property was illegally taken from property owners. The NRD should not be spending money on trails in the first place. Lets have the trail users pay for the completion. Keep in mind, over 80% of Lower Platte South NRD funding comes from residents of Lincoln. "

 Yes Amy I am wrote on October 6, 2008 10:08 am:
" Yes, Amy, I am "pro-life", but I am also "pro-choice". However, I would NEVER force my beliefs on someone else, especially in the form of a LAW. Roe V. Wade only provides the right to choose, it does NOT tell you what choice to make. It goes back to a little thing called separation of church and state. "

 kleeb skeptic wrote on October 6, 2008 10:11 am:
" can anybody who supports scott kleeb tell me if he can drive himeself to any of his fundraisers or campaign stops? it must be tough having your license suspended. maybe we should vote this guy in, because he'll be right at home with all of the other democrat law-breakers in washington. the government will even supply the driver. "

 Lets Blame wrote on October 6, 2008 10:30 am:
" The democrats for hurricane Katrina while we're at it. Every one claims the dems blocked the Hagel bill in 2005 and yet the republicans had control over both houses of congress and could have passed it if they wanted to.

If you're going to bring up charges on people, why not start with the president for his American Dream Downpayment Act that the republicans passed and signed. That alone made it possible for low income people to qualify for homes.

As for the dems not doing anything the last 2 years, remember, the republicans have filibustered over 70 times in 2007 alone where, when the dems were in a minority, they only filibustered a max of 56 times in a 2 year period. The filibustering repubs are the reason nothing is being done in congress.

I can't think of one reason why Johanns deserves my vote when he can't even finish a job he was elected to for the past 10 years. He quit as Lincoln's mayor, he quit as Nebraska's governor and he quit as Ag Secr'y. He is nothing but a quitter and does not deserve my vote. "

 Zoomie wrote on October 6, 2008 10:50 am:
" Unlike some, I DID get my facts straight. Here (http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=s109-190) is the text of that 2005 bill McCain supporters keep mentioning (written, FYI, by Hagel, Dole and Sununu; McCain was a last-minute co-sponsor who had no involvment in writing the bill). Basically, it abolished HUD and replaced it with a "Mortgage Czar" appointed by the President for 6yr terms. It removed all Congressional supervision and essentially all regulation EXCEPT as defined by the new Czar (and under "voluntary regulation" Presidents like Bush and McCain, means there would have been NO regulation of Fannie and Freddie)! And it was NOT voted down by Democrats! It never got out of committee! Written in January 2005, that was a REPUBLICAN controlled Committee (Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs) which failed to move it forward!! NOTE THAT - A REPUBLICAN-CONTROLLED COMMITTEE!!! So "to J Thornton" and LR, perhaps you should actually get the FACTS before trying to blame others for the GOP's failings! While Dems might have later filibustered the bill, they never had to since the GOP failed to ever bring it up for a vote! "

 Fannie and Freddie wrote on October 6, 2008 10:53 am:
" For those posters who are praising McCain's alleged efforts to tighten regulation of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, you should research the history of the legislation that was introduced by Sen. Hagel in 2005.

The bill in question, S. 190, was sponsored by Sen. Hagel on January 26, 2005. The bill was passed out of the Banking Committee on July 28, 2005 and referred to Sen. Santorum, R. PA., for further action. Mr. Santorum then sat on the bill. It was not filibustered by the Dems nor was it defeated by the Dems, because it was never scheduled for a vote of the full Senate by the Republican in charge.

As for McCain's effort, he joined as a co-sponsor of the bill on May 25, 2006 (that is not a typo: McCain sat on the sidelines and did nothing until 16 months after the bill was introduced and 10 months after it was passed out of Committee and doomed to extinction by Santorum). In his PR speech on the Senate floor, McCain did not urge his fellow Senators on either side of the aisle to support the bill, nor did he call for a vote of the full Senate. To further amplify this point, note that the same bill was reintroduced in the current Congress in 2007. McCain did not sponsor or support the new effort.

McCain's efforts to regulate Fannie and Freddie were the same as his efforts on the recent bailout bill. He joined the action late in the game, rushed in to grab a headline opportunity, and then did nothing substantive to advance the cause. Quick to chase headlines, slow to act, and ineffective when he does - that is the recent leadership record of John McCain. "

 Jeff wrote on October 6, 2008 11:10 am:
" I suggest that folks like "confused on Kleeb" who ask if Kleeb has ever lead anything simply go to his web site and read his resume. It is quite diverse and impressive and you start to realize why this intelligent young man as the "big talk", you know ... the kind where he actually seems to understand what the typical Nebraskan needs and wants. "

 Kathy wrote on October 6, 2008 11:16 am:
" The thought of Sarah Palin being the President of the United States is a scary one. We are in the extremely challenging times at home and abroad. Now is the time for someone with the most breadth of experiences and understanding. A broad education with diverse experiences is needed. McCain has provided us with a choice that illustrates the "dumbing down" of America, and the lengths that our political system will go to get elected rather than doing what we know is right for the country and the world. The GOP seems to be oblivious to what the rest of the world thinks of us. It is unpatriotic to acknowledge that we've lost respect worldwide. We are supposed to continue waving the flag, shouting USA, USA....which only worsens the problem. We are losing our ability to influence and lead outside of our own borders. If we end up with Palin in the White House, it would be a calamity beyond proportions. Who is she going to bring back to guide her? Newt Gingrich? Carl Rove? "

 Huh wrote on October 6, 2008 12:45 pm:
" Ah yes, once again the statement-If elected she would be one heartbeat away from the presidency. Dr's have found both Obama and McCain to be in excellent health. However, don't you worry about Obama. Afterall, he's a smoker (gasp). He's smoked for years now, gave it up to run for president, fell off the wagon and started smoking again. Couple that up with the fact that he's black and the American Heart Association says "The 2004 overall death rate from HBP was 18.1. Death rates were 15.7 for white males and 51.0 for black males. And of course high blood pressure leads to strokes and heart attacks. Get the picture. He could just as easily not live through his first term, and no one - not even the democrats - want Biden for president. After all,he's already tried twice to run and the democrats won't even support him in the primaries. Find another reason to not vote for McCain, but give the health one up. As for good judgement, why has he associated himself with the likes of Wright, Rezko, Ayers, Farrakan? "

 Sam wrote on October 6, 2008 1:01 pm:
" As someone who has had family members that would benefit from research in embryonic and "adult" stem cell research I find your letter to be insulting. Clearly you haven't seen a loved one whither away from diseases like Parkinson's, Lou Gerick's or Alzheimer's. The research needs to be done and should not be limited, that is the only way we can find a cure or even find some relief for those that are suffering. It is shoved down our throats that we must save every fetus but turn our backs on 50 year old Fathers or Mothers that have paid their taxes, been a productive member of society and are suffering from these diseases. My Uncles life is just as valuable and the research must be done without limitations and that is why I will be voting for Earl Scudder for Regent! It may not be in time to save my Uncle but my hope is that it is in time to save my children if they should fall to such a disease. Please vote for Scudder! "

 Andrew wrote on October 6, 2008 1:46 pm:
" Dear J. Thornton Jaringe,

McCain picking Palin was a great choice showing unmatched leadership. I wish Palin was #1 and McCain was #2. Palin is the only one of the four candidates that has PROVEN that she can change things and fight corruption in our government. Most of you listen to Obamas lies because it makes you feel all warm and fuzzy. He relates to people because he wants to give them a free handout. Is this why he has 90% of the African American vote? Is this why 90% voted for democrats before. I wish people would understand that America is not a socialist country and we need to work hard and EARN what we get. Playing Robin Hood politics may get you into office Mr. Obama, but this is NOT what our founding fathers had in mind. "

 JohnR wrote on October 6, 2008 3:02 pm:
" From the Obama campaign today: ""On a day when the markets are plunging and the credit crisis is putting millions of jobs at risk, the one truly angry candidate in this race kept up his strategy of 'turning the page' on the economy by unleashing another frustrated tirade against Barack Obama. And if John McCain is wondering why he's lost his credibility, he should look no further than the out-of-context quote he took from a 2007 speech in which Barack Obama warned of the subprime crisis we're now facing. Since then, John McCain has called for less regulation no fewer than 20 times, proving that he hasn't learned any lessons from the last banking scandal he was involved in and would give us more of the same failed economic policies as President,"

John McCain - calling for MORE deregulation even after his close involvement in the S&L collapse of 15yrs ago, brought on by (yep, you guessed it) deregulation! Talk about tired and old ideas! "

 Harry the antenna guy wrote on October 6, 2008 3:33 pm:
" It is simple. The trail should be completed. Let the biking link between Omaha and Lincoln be complete. "

 Pete Allen wrote on October 6, 2008 3:34 pm:
" I wonder if J. Thornton Jaringe had read of the split between the Taliban and Osama Bin Laden. According to last weeks news, the Saudi's were moderating peace talks between the Talib and Karzai. Leaving Al Qaeda out in the cold instead of "regrouping."

I also wonder if Mr. Jaringe has read the "Rockefeller Report," here:
intelligence.senate.gov/080605/phase2a.pdf or Fred Hiatt's Washington Post article on that report, here: http://tinyurl.com/6oz5xv
After all, there's nothing like having at least a little knowledge of the subject before you expound on it.

Pete Allen



. "

 Hey LR wrote on October 6, 2008 3:38 pm:
" You people better get your dates right. If the bill was introduced in 2005 it should have passed. The dems had equal seats in 2006 a year after. YOu people are like the pot calling the kettle black . I don't care who is running against mccain, I will vote for them. I really don't think my ira or bank account can take anymore of bush and mccains strategy. Notice the markets are below 10K today. First time in 4 years. Whos in the white house? Who wants to follow the clown to the white house? Personally thinking: There is no one in washington any smarter than the average (palin) joe six pack. They just have more money. I don't want another silver spoon in office. "

 Rose-colored glasses Amy wrote on October 6, 2008 4:10 pm:
" I wish life were as simple as Amy makes it out to be--that every woman who found herself pregnant would carry the child to term and they would all live happily ever after. Or, if the birth mother could not take care of the child, she would allow a loving, financially-stable couple adopt the child.

The reality is, not all pregnancies are planned. And, not all children are wanted. Some courageous women have the baby and give it up for adoption. Other courageous women have abortions. However, there are plenty of women who have and keep the baby but don't really want it, dooming the child to a life of horrible abuse and neglect. Please explain to me how it's better for a child to live a life of abuse and neglect and perhaps eventually death? Where are all you pro-lifers AFTER the baby is born???

Amy, obviously you've never witnessed or been subjected to horrible abuse by a parent such as broken bones, bruises, being thrown up against the wall, being told how awful and stupid you are, being beaten with a belt until welts appeared, being forced into a scalding bath, being sexually abused and mistreated since age 4. And for that, I'm glad for you. However, there are unfortunately millions of children who experience all of this and more.

It's very easy for you to sit in your warm home with your loving family-- with I'm sure plenty of food in the pantry and clothes in the closets--and dictate to every woman in this country whether she should or should not continue a pregnancy. Fortunately for a number of women, you don't make the rules.

And as others before me have pointed out, your Repuglicans had several chances from 2000-2006 to overturn Roe v Wade, but they didn't. You are more than welcome to your opinions, as naive as they are, but do yourself a favor and do not cast your vote based on which party is going to erase Roe v Wade from the books. Neither party will. "

 Dear Andrew wrote on October 6, 2008 5:09 pm:
" Before you chastise someone, you probably shouldn't twist what they are saying.

He didn't say Al Quaida was regrouping with the Saudis, or the Taliban, now did he? "

 Cognitive Dissonance wrote on October 6, 2008 8:02 pm:
" Thus said J. Thornton Jaringe, who finds Barack Obama's lack of experience something to embrace as "change" while Sarah Palin's lack of experience is "scary." I'll take my chances with the Maverick who has heart, not someone who can read well off a teleprompter to lead the country. Ronald Reagan was 70 when he was elected--to his first term. "

 Zoomie wrote on October 6, 2008 8:24 pm:
" Andrew - you like Palin? Why exactly? Have you checked out her tax situation? When I was in the AF, I would be paid per diem for those dates on which I did NOT sleep in my own bed. Per diem was meant to cover the extra expense of maintaining a home (where my family lived) while I was living elsewhere. And per diem is taxable income. Nothing difficult or new there. Yet Sarah Palin, as Governor, has collected almost $30,000 per diem...for nights in which was home, sleeping in her own bed!!! And, per her tax returns (quietly released late Friday evening), she failed to include the money on her tax return as income! Meaning she failed to pay Federal taxes on income. Numerous tax experts have already (and in full agreement) said she bilked the IRS of at least $6,000 in taxes (now plus interest). She also routinely collected money from the state of Alaska to cover her kid's travel expenses when traveling with her (normally, you can only claim the costs of taking family members on gov't travel if their presence is required, else you pay for it yourself (unless your name is Palin and the people enforcing the laws work for you). Oh, and there's the question of her hubby, who deducted the cost of his snomobile racing. Except, you can only deduct this stuff if its work related. If its a hobby, its not deductible. So, this icon of reform is a tax cheat! Wow! Reform we can believe in! "

 DL wrote on October 6, 2008 10:06 pm:
" Scott Kleeb is an outstanding candidate and person! If you have had the opportunity to meet him, you know what I am talking about. He does not just shake your hand and move on. He will ask about your hopes, dreams, and concerns. Scott listens. Sometimes he listens too well and this makes him late for his next event and hence the speeding tickets. If getting speeding tickets makes you a bad person, then there are many of us"bad people" out there. What matters is that Scott is very intelligent and he has the energy and passion to serve us well! In these dark times we need exceptional leaders to represent us!
We know what Johanns is. He is closely tied to Bush. He is just part of the reason we are in the mess we are in today. His head is too easily turned by big money and power. This all happened on his watch. "

 Just a point to make wrote on October 7, 2008 12:44 am:
" I vote in every single election... I will NEVER EVER vote for a bond issue that has money for trails. Not because I don't think they are valuable but I just think that when we can't hire enough Police officers or firemen we do not need to be spending money on extras like trails. "

 Ryman wrote on October 7, 2008 9:20 am:
" Abortion is an issue that a person should take up with their church, not the government. If you don't like it, don't do it. We have capital punishment too which is killing a person so in the end the "person" is killed innocent or not. Keep religious things with your church and political things with the government. Anyone who bases their voted this year or any year on whether or not the candidate supports abortion should be ashamed of themselves. I agree that abortion is wrong but it should not be a political issue. It is a moral issue because the unborn fetus is not considered a human at that point. No one is saying that we should "knock off" anyone who potentially could make our taxes higher. If we did that half of the country with all the deadbeats who can't seem to get a job even delivering the newspaper in the morning would be "knocked off." Vote for who will get America back on track, listen to your heart about moral issues and hopefully the country will be a better place. "

 morals are important wrote on October 7, 2008 11:02 am:
" Have you ever thought that maybe so many of the problems in our world today are because we are forced to keep all of our moral issues in the church? I believe the original founders of our country created the separation of church & state in order to keep the government from running the church, not to keep church & morals out of the government or society. Look at all of the problems we have today because we have lost our moral compass. "

 Ryman wrote on October 7, 2008 11:11 am:
" If we take all moral issues out of politics, who decides what's right and wrong? I don't believe abortion is a church issue, I'm sure there are people who aren't necessarily Christians who disagree with abortion. Also, capital punishment is punishing someone who has committed murder, not killing someone who was never given a chance at life. I see no comparison between capital punishment and abortion. If we take all moral decisions out, maybe I'll just decide to go rob a bank, murder someone, etc. because there's nothing to guide my conscience. "

 Brock Landers wrote on October 7, 2008 3:45 pm:
" I'm sure if the money was spent to pave the entire Mo-Pac Trail then the bikers that ride the highway and shoulders on their road bikes WOULD ride the trail. Until all trails are paved and there is a trail that leads to all the places I want to go, I'll just keep on LEAGALY riding on the roads, thank you very much! "

 george wrote on October 7, 2008 6:07 pm:
" RE: Just a point. If you pay taxes a portion goes to the Lower Platte South NRD and the majority of its members cater to the trails people. "

 Rxwoman wrote on October 7, 2008 8:18 pm:
" Morals Are Important, to answer your question..NO. I do not think that there are so many problems today because "morals" are kept in the church. So far I have not seen so called morals sufficiently kept in the church in this country. As far as legislating morality the question becomes, then whose morals are we going to pass as laws? Mine? Yours? Maybe you will not agree with what I consider "moral"? Should you be required by law to abide by what I consider moral?
but here's an interesting fact as well. A group that studys societys and religion has done a comprehensive study regarding societys that are very religious, and ones that are less religious. The goals was to find evidence that a religious society is a moral society. Guess what they found?? Just the opposite! In societys where people attend church regularly, where folks tend to beleive in a god, where religion is inserted more into politics, and folks tend to say they believe in creation, the society has MORE problems. They have higher rates of out of wedlock and teen pregnancys, STD's, violence, abortions, domestic abuse, school drop out, suicide, and divorce.
In more secular societys these folks have all lower incidence of these problems.
Don't you all read this paper? There was a whole article on just this subject not too long ago in the LJS. If you dont' beleive me...google it yourself.
And as far as the question of which individual should be knocked off to save taxes? first trimestor abortion does not count as before sentience their is no individual yet. There is only one thing that makes each of us an individual, the one thing that each of us has that no one else in the world shares. That is our individual human mind. Before there is a mind, there is yet no individual, no personhood. "

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