Letters, 10/12: Behavior isn’t American
The recent rhetoric at McCain/Palin rallies is not only disgraceful but dangerous. John McCain and Sarah Palin supporters have grown so desperate to win the upcoming presidential election that at rallies, crowds are accusing Barack Obama of being a “terrorist” and guilty of “treason.” The worst of course is the rally attendee allegedly yelling “kill him” toward Barack Obama.
At Palin rallies, attendees have become hostile to the media, including yelling a racial epithet at an African-American sound man.
Neither McCain nor Palin responds to these shouts from their crowds. I am concerned that by their silence they must condone such behavior.
Eight years of failed Bush economic policies have left some Americans in dire situations. Some are without jobs and losing their homes, have no or poor health care and a government more intent on helping the extremely wealthy rather than those of us who are the backbone of this nation.
It’s scary to think the person who allegedly yelled “kill him” at a recent rally could be desperate enough to actually commit an act of violence against Obama or his family.
This type of behavior at the rallies isn’t American, and it isn’t putting country first.
Donald White, Lincoln
We need McCain, Palin
Americans, stand up and salute our flag! We need to elect John McCain and Sarah Palin so we can continue to be proud American citizens. Obama wants to turn Americans into global citizens, and he admires China’s infrastructure! Obama didn’t put his hand over his heart or wear the flag lapel pin until just a few months ago when his not doing so was made public.
McCain/Palin want to keep everyone’s taxes low, reduce government, reward American work ethic and enterpreneurialism, cut special interest spending and get our economy back on track by putting more money into our pockets that we can, in turn, pump into our local economy. Obama wants to increase taxes. Obama claims to only be taxing the rich, yet in a free market, if he increases the cost of doing business for the rich, then those business/corporation owners will pass those new taxes down to the middle class through one of the following: higher costs of goods, lowering of benefits or laying off workers. That’s how it works.
McCain/Palin understand the conservative principles that made our country great. They understand that our freedom is in jeopardy with the hatred our enemies have toward America, and they will do everything needed to protect our country and our freedoms.
McCain/Palin have always put the American people first and have always been proud Americans. Citizens’ votes are extremely important in this election.
Cindy Hochstetler, Lincoln
Seek potential cures
In response to Chip Maxwell’s letter (LJS, Oct. 5), “Keep stem cell facts straight,” I want to give a layman’s understanding of the differences between adult and embryonic stem cells. Adult stem cells come from a number of sources, including umbilical cord blood and other tissues, and are already specialized — or programmed — to become certain cell types in the body, such as muscle or skin. Embryonic stem cells, on the other hand, can become any cell type in the body. Embryonic stem cells come from the inner cell mass of microscopic embryos that are created in a dish in fertility clinics. Those that scientists seek to use are embryos that otherwise would be discarded.
As to adult stem cells, a Sept. 29 article from the University of Michigan’s The University Record On-Line quotes Lawrence Goldstein, director of the stem cell program at the University of California, San Diego, as saying he would like to take unused embryonic stem cells and introduce genetic mutations for Alzheimer’s disease to discover better treatments and drugs. He says it’s not possible to do this research with any other kind of stem cell. The article, the source for some of my earlier comments, continues: “It is mistakenly said that there are 50, 70, 100 diseases that are cured with adult stem cells,” Goldstein said. “But it is simply not true.
“Nobody wants, more than I do, to find treatments for people with these diseases. If I thought there was an adult stem cell treatment that would work for people with Alzheimer’s disease, we would be working on it. It is not there,” he said, explaining the importance of being able to use embryonic stem cells in research on disease.
The foregoing summarizes the reason behind our need to do embryonic stem cell research. I rely upon scientists who report promising results from using human embryonic stem cells to treat Alzheimer’s, ALS, diabetes, Parkinson’s and spinal cord injuries in rodents, and they also say there is no evidence of successful use of adult stem cells to treat such diseases and conditions. Research is about exploring new areas of scientific inquiry, and universities should be encouraged to seek life-saving cures.
Earl Scudder, Lincoln
Keep watching Russia
I admire Sarah Palin’s talents and her ability to put things across, and of course she’s an attractive, likable person. But it seems to me her ability to make good things happen should be to remain as governor of our great state of Alaska, a state full of natural resources.
What bothers me is that Russia is “next door” — that country has a strong military and has been marching into smaller countries — and it would be easier for Russia to attack Alaska than for us to be sending supplies overseas to those war-torn areas.
I think Palin would be doing our country a much better service by being at home and keeping a watchful eye on that “big neighbor” close by.
Helen Jochim, David City
Bailout theft from Americans
History will show the following as the proper headline for Oct. 4, 2008: “Largest heist ever — $1 trillion stolen in single day.”
President Bush gave a parting gift to many supporters and friends by looting the U.S. taxpayers of close to $1 trillion when Congress voted to allow the Hank Paulson bailout. The American people were powerless to stop this action.
Paulson approached Congress one week prior to recess with a doomsday scenario that required immediate action. Congress in essence had a gun to its head and was given no option based on the mounting financial pressure.
Congress, feeling it needed to justify the heist, proceeded to dress the bill with very little that actually addressed the American people’s concerns and added the usual pork to a bill that would not dare to be held up. Congress has just one month until Election Day and needed to finish quickly so members could get home and campaign for their jobs.
A few investment banks will move sour assets off their balance sheets and stick them to the American people, while American families continue to see tightening credit, high inflation, dwindling property values and the inability to meet their mortgage payments, increasing debt, a falling dollar and a commodity crisis in full bloom.
Dave Wetzel, Page
Get out and vote
Did you ever think that maybe someday
There wouldn’t be a USA?
You think “Oh my, what a terrible thought”
Are we all doing the things that we ought?
There are so many things to think about
And sometimes I have a lot of doubt
Global warming, terrorists, should I recycle?
To save on gas, should I ride a bicycle?
Are the elected ones doing what they should?
Or maybe someone else would do what you would
From the top to the bottom and some in between
There were some better choices, or so it would seem
With all this in mind write yourself a note
This coming November get out and vote!
Jack Hendrix, Lincoln
Don’t attack messenger
Regarding the community column by Roger Conrad (LJS, Oct. 4): He paints liberals with a very broad brush. I consider myself to be very liberal. Neither I, nor anyone I know, would want to have Conrad banned from voicing his opinion. I may not agree with his views, but he has a right to them.
Regarding his claim of a liberal media, I would argue that most media are neither liberal nor conservative. They are for the most part driven by rating and advertising. The stories covered are the ones they believe will be of the most interest to their audience. The bigger the audience, the higher the ratings and the greater the advertising revenue. You would think this would be something conservatives would like because it’s market driven. As far as bias, as long as the story gives both points of view, which most news does, by the way, then it’s up to the reader to decide if it’s true or not.
The other problem with the column is that while Conrad cites the news as being biased, he uses “Saturday Night Live” and “The View” as his primary examples. Neither of these could even be remotely considered news programs. And while he cites NBC and MSNBC as liberal news sources, which I will agree have a liberal tilt, he completely overlooks stations such as Fox News, which I don’t think anyone will argue is not a conservative channel. So I would argue that those two news sources cancel each other out.
If people find the media to be biased, perhaps it’s they who are biased. I think we should all stop looking for bias and just be more concerned with what is true and what is not. With all the sources for information out there today, there is no reason to be uninformed on the issues. Claiming media bias is just a way to try and discredit the source. By attacking the messenger you don’t have to back up your arguments with pesky facts.
Brian Shaw, Lincoln
At Palin rallies, attendees have become hostile to the media, including yelling a racial epithet at an African-American sound man.
Neither McCain nor Palin responds to these shouts from their crowds. I am concerned that by their silence they must condone such behavior.
Eight years of failed Bush economic policies have left some Americans in dire situations. Some are without jobs and losing their homes, have no or poor health care and a government more intent on helping the extremely wealthy rather than those of us who are the backbone of this nation.
It’s scary to think the person who allegedly yelled “kill him” at a recent rally could be desperate enough to actually commit an act of violence against Obama or his family.
This type of behavior at the rallies isn’t American, and it isn’t putting country first.
Donald White, Lincoln
We need McCain, Palin
Americans, stand up and salute our flag! We need to elect John McCain and Sarah Palin so we can continue to be proud American citizens. Obama wants to turn Americans into global citizens, and he admires China’s infrastructure! Obama didn’t put his hand over his heart or wear the flag lapel pin until just a few months ago when his not doing so was made public.
McCain/Palin want to keep everyone’s taxes low, reduce government, reward American work ethic and enterpreneurialism, cut special interest spending and get our economy back on track by putting more money into our pockets that we can, in turn, pump into our local economy. Obama wants to increase taxes. Obama claims to only be taxing the rich, yet in a free market, if he increases the cost of doing business for the rich, then those business/corporation owners will pass those new taxes down to the middle class through one of the following: higher costs of goods, lowering of benefits or laying off workers. That’s how it works.
McCain/Palin understand the conservative principles that made our country great. They understand that our freedom is in jeopardy with the hatred our enemies have toward America, and they will do everything needed to protect our country and our freedoms.
McCain/Palin have always put the American people first and have always been proud Americans. Citizens’ votes are extremely important in this election.
Cindy Hochstetler, Lincoln
Seek potential cures
In response to Chip Maxwell’s letter (LJS, Oct. 5), “Keep stem cell facts straight,” I want to give a layman’s understanding of the differences between adult and embryonic stem cells. Adult stem cells come from a number of sources, including umbilical cord blood and other tissues, and are already specialized — or programmed — to become certain cell types in the body, such as muscle or skin. Embryonic stem cells, on the other hand, can become any cell type in the body. Embryonic stem cells come from the inner cell mass of microscopic embryos that are created in a dish in fertility clinics. Those that scientists seek to use are embryos that otherwise would be discarded.
As to adult stem cells, a Sept. 29 article from the University of Michigan’s The University Record On-Line quotes Lawrence Goldstein, director of the stem cell program at the University of California, San Diego, as saying he would like to take unused embryonic stem cells and introduce genetic mutations for Alzheimer’s disease to discover better treatments and drugs. He says it’s not possible to do this research with any other kind of stem cell. The article, the source for some of my earlier comments, continues: “It is mistakenly said that there are 50, 70, 100 diseases that are cured with adult stem cells,” Goldstein said. “But it is simply not true.
“Nobody wants, more than I do, to find treatments for people with these diseases. If I thought there was an adult stem cell treatment that would work for people with Alzheimer’s disease, we would be working on it. It is not there,” he said, explaining the importance of being able to use embryonic stem cells in research on disease.
The foregoing summarizes the reason behind our need to do embryonic stem cell research. I rely upon scientists who report promising results from using human embryonic stem cells to treat Alzheimer’s, ALS, diabetes, Parkinson’s and spinal cord injuries in rodents, and they also say there is no evidence of successful use of adult stem cells to treat such diseases and conditions. Research is about exploring new areas of scientific inquiry, and universities should be encouraged to seek life-saving cures.
Earl Scudder, Lincoln
Keep watching Russia
I admire Sarah Palin’s talents and her ability to put things across, and of course she’s an attractive, likable person. But it seems to me her ability to make good things happen should be to remain as governor of our great state of Alaska, a state full of natural resources.
What bothers me is that Russia is “next door” — that country has a strong military and has been marching into smaller countries — and it would be easier for Russia to attack Alaska than for us to be sending supplies overseas to those war-torn areas.
I think Palin would be doing our country a much better service by being at home and keeping a watchful eye on that “big neighbor” close by.
Helen Jochim, David City
Bailout theft from Americans
History will show the following as the proper headline for Oct. 4, 2008: “Largest heist ever — $1 trillion stolen in single day.”
President Bush gave a parting gift to many supporters and friends by looting the U.S. taxpayers of close to $1 trillion when Congress voted to allow the Hank Paulson bailout. The American people were powerless to stop this action.
Paulson approached Congress one week prior to recess with a doomsday scenario that required immediate action. Congress in essence had a gun to its head and was given no option based on the mounting financial pressure.
Congress, feeling it needed to justify the heist, proceeded to dress the bill with very little that actually addressed the American people’s concerns and added the usual pork to a bill that would not dare to be held up. Congress has just one month until Election Day and needed to finish quickly so members could get home and campaign for their jobs.
A few investment banks will move sour assets off their balance sheets and stick them to the American people, while American families continue to see tightening credit, high inflation, dwindling property values and the inability to meet their mortgage payments, increasing debt, a falling dollar and a commodity crisis in full bloom.
Dave Wetzel, Page
Get out and vote
Did you ever think that maybe someday
There wouldn’t be a USA?
You think “Oh my, what a terrible thought”
Are we all doing the things that we ought?
There are so many things to think about
And sometimes I have a lot of doubt
Global warming, terrorists, should I recycle?
To save on gas, should I ride a bicycle?
Are the elected ones doing what they should?
Or maybe someone else would do what you would
From the top to the bottom and some in between
There were some better choices, or so it would seem
With all this in mind write yourself a note
This coming November get out and vote!
Jack Hendrix, Lincoln
Don’t attack messenger
Regarding the community column by Roger Conrad (LJS, Oct. 4): He paints liberals with a very broad brush. I consider myself to be very liberal. Neither I, nor anyone I know, would want to have Conrad banned from voicing his opinion. I may not agree with his views, but he has a right to them.
Regarding his claim of a liberal media, I would argue that most media are neither liberal nor conservative. They are for the most part driven by rating and advertising. The stories covered are the ones they believe will be of the most interest to their audience. The bigger the audience, the higher the ratings and the greater the advertising revenue. You would think this would be something conservatives would like because it’s market driven. As far as bias, as long as the story gives both points of view, which most news does, by the way, then it’s up to the reader to decide if it’s true or not.
The other problem with the column is that while Conrad cites the news as being biased, he uses “Saturday Night Live” and “The View” as his primary examples. Neither of these could even be remotely considered news programs. And while he cites NBC and MSNBC as liberal news sources, which I will agree have a liberal tilt, he completely overlooks stations such as Fox News, which I don’t think anyone will argue is not a conservative channel. So I would argue that those two news sources cancel each other out.
If people find the media to be biased, perhaps it’s they who are biased. I think we should all stop looking for bias and just be more concerned with what is true and what is not. With all the sources for information out there today, there is no reason to be uninformed on the issues. Claiming media bias is just a way to try and discredit the source. By attacking the messenger you don’t have to back up your arguments with pesky facts.
Brian Shaw, Lincoln
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