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Letters, 11/23: Take care of yourself

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Sunday, Nov 23, 2008 - 12:49:47 am CST

When did “A penny saved is a penny earned” become “A penny saved takes too long”? Somewhere along the way, we let impatience and selfishness take over.

How many more government programs do we need? How many bailouts and interest cuts are going to be enough? Why does the government keep spending money it clearly doesn’t have?

Because it can, and government leaders have gotten away with it. Shame on all the senators, governors and representatives, past and present, who let this happen.

Shame on us.

We’ve let them get away with it because we only cared about what was in it for us. Our great country should never have been in this much debt and, individually, neither should we. I hope people stop letting the government take care of us and start taking care of the government and ourselves.

Christopher D. Anderson, Lincoln

Bigger mandate than Bush

Has Barack Obama won a mandate to bring change to the country? Election watchers who saw how wide the margin of victory was Nov. 4 might think so. But they wouldn’t know if they asked some John McCain supporters, such as Jim Harnly (letter, Nov. 16), who argues that our next president has won no such mandate.

Harnly argues that Obama does not have a mandate, because Obama won 53 percent of the popular vote, while McCain won 46 percent — not a big enough difference to represent a mandate, he says. But what Mr. Harnly seems to have missed is what that 7 percent margin of victory means. It means that Obama won roughly 8.5 million more votes than McCain did.

That is about the size of New York City, or of Los Angeles, Chicago and Phoenix put together. So the margin of victory was pretty large, both in the popular vote and in the electoral vote, and it was certainly more of a mandate than the one President Bush claimed to have won in 2004 (in a 50.7 percent-48.3 percent popular vote, 286-251 electoral vote victory). If our current president won a mandate then, as he seemed to have thought, our next president has most certainly won a stronger one.

What you might wonder now is whether only Republicans get to win mandates. That seems to be what McCain supporters are thinking these days, but it’s not at all clear why.

Justin Moss, Lincoln

Gratitude for President Bush

This presidential election was about a decided contrast in values. The candidate who was elected does not value life for the unborn but favors sweeping pro-abortion rights legislation, and it remains to be seen if he values freedom and democracy.

A man with no military or foreign policy experience has been elected as our commander-in-chief. More than 58 million Americans did not vote for him, and though he says we are united as Americans, we are more divided than at any time in our history since the slavery issue before the Civil War.

Just like then, there is still a group of Americans who are seen by many as less than human and do not have even the right to life. More Americans have been killed by abortion than in all the wars we have fought.

We owe President Bush a great debt of gratitude for keeping us safe for seven years from further terrorist attacks, and for the culture of life he has worked to build. He will be remembered as one of the greatest presidents of our nation, and I, for one, want to express my deepest appreciation for his great service to our country.

Charlotte Vieth, Martell

Finding the words

I have spent the bulk of the past eight years in despair trying to fathom the workings of the governmental minds that trampled the Constitution, practiced in-your-face corruption, took away civil rights of its citizens and, as a final act, ran the country aground financially.

With the advent of Barack Obama’s election, we now have the opportunity to hope, to regain a sense of national purpose with dignity and honor.

I have been hard put to find words to express the correctness of what I perceive to be the opportunity we must not slip from us, the opportunity to redefine what it means to be an American and a world citizen. Then, a friend sent me these words from Marianne Williamson, a spiritually based writer and lecturer. They were the words I could not find:

“At that point (1960s) a generation of young people — looking much like the youthful army so out in full force today, only grungier — marched in the streets to repudiate an oppressive system and to try to stop an unjust war. Yet bullets stopped us. The shots that killed the Kennedys and King carried a loud, unspoken message for all of us: that we were to go home now, that we were to do whatever we wanted within the private sector, yet leave the public sector to whomever wanted it so much that they were willing to kill for it. And for all intents and purposes, we did as were told …

“In the 1960s, we wanted peace, but we ourselves were angry. Yet this time, after hearing Gandhi’s call that we must be the change we want to see happen in the world, we came to our political efforts with a deeper understanding that we must cast violence from our hearts and minds if we are to cast it from our world; that we must try to love our enemies as well as our friends; and that when a genius of world-historic proportions emerges among us, we cannot and we must not fail to do everything humanly and spiritually possible to support him. For his sake … and for ours.”

Ivan D. Goochey, Lincoln

Equal treatment deserved

Our country made a historic decision to elect the first African-American president on Nov. 4.

Unfortunately California, by voting for Proposition 8, decided not to uphold their state Supreme Court’s historic ruling to allow gay marriage.

No matter how you feel about certain types of lifestyles, homosexuals should be allowed the same civil rights as heterosexual people. All they’re asking is to be treated as equals, and the California voters said “No.”

Andrew Larsen, Lincoln

University failed

“I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend, to the death, your right to say it,” is a quote often attributed to Voltaire. Most of us had to memorize it when we were younger. By now we all know the University of Nebraska-Lincoln rescinded a speaking invitation extended to Bill Ayers, education professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago and former Weatherman.

What is the takeaway lesson? Ayers’ critics should not be impugned for their views. They are, of course, entitled to express them. But the university should be chastised for failing in a core mission. As an institution of higher learning, it has an obligation to offer students and alumni the chance to think for themselves. We learned that in grade school.

Laurel S. Marsh, Lincoln


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Looking Back wrote on November 23, 2008 4:18 am:
" I too feel that Bush did a good job through all the problems in his 8 years. I hold no bad feelings on the upcoming Obama Presidency, but am disappointed that my candidate did not win. But I will take the high road and keep faith in God and Country, and will try to the best of my ab ility to unite the country. Now I will not be surprised at the usual suspects here attacking Bush and the letter of opinion showing one American's gratitude. Truely showing to what degree these individuals are willing to unite the country. But I doubt I will be disappointed with the responses, for these people only desire to belittle anyone who do not share thier beliefs. Anyway, I will look back on these 8 years, my two deployments, and all of what has happened and for me "It was the best of times, yet it was the worst of times". And I will leave it there. "

 Actually Charlotte wrote on November 23, 2008 5:38 am:
" We were more divided in 2004. We seem divided now because of John McCain/Sara Palin politics, the kind McCain swore he would not get involved in. Since your savior "W" was in office with Republican majorities in both the house and senate for at least four of those years and did nothing about abortion, I wonder who your real political enemy on that front is? He counted on your vote, as do other Republican politicians. They won't fix something that brings them votes every year. And I see no gratitude owed to Bush. He has done precious little for our country. He has been an embarrassment every time he has opened his mouth, he has made sure the richest Americans have gotten the biggest breaks, and like the corporate leaders who have destroyed our economy, he will leave office on his golden parachute. No Charlotte, I won't offer gratitude to the man who has raped his own country. "

 Disgusted wrote on November 23, 2008 6:26 am:
" Debt of gratitude to Bush? You've got to be kidding me. He has brought the country to its knees. He should have been impeached a long time ago. Safe. What about the safety of the people who lived in New Orleans? One of the biggest blunders ever. What about the 4,000 American lives lost in a war that started because the commander in thief ingored intellegence. You've got to be kidding me. Thank God 66 million, yes 66 million people - had the wisdom and courage to elect Obama president. So Charlotte, you keep focusing on abortion, guns and gays while the rest of us get busy cleaning up the mess your guy left behind. Free at last, free at last. Thank God we're free at last. "

 Kip wrote on November 23, 2008 7:09 am:
" Good job President Bush, California, and UNL. "

 MarkyMark wrote on November 23, 2008 7:30 am:
" Don't worry Charlotte. President Obama will be just as much pro-life as President Bush. Think about it. "

 Edgar Pearlstein wrote on November 23, 2008 8:22 am:
" Ms. Vieth: No person and no law is "pro-abortion". That would be like being pro-tonsillectomy. Either procedure should be a matter between doctor and patient.

If you are disappointed with the election results, you should take the advice given to some Democrats in 2000 after Bush won the presidency with a minority of votes: GET OVER IT.

As for Bush being "remembered as one of the greatest presidents", WOW! "

 Sarah wrote on November 23, 2008 9:24 am:
" Charlotte: Since the only issue you seem to care about in a president or presidential candidate is his or her stance on abortion, it seems quite strange that you would laud Bush so highly. Did Bush make abortions illegal? Hmm. "

 JT wrote on November 23, 2008 9:54 am:
" Charlotte, I will bet you any amount of money that George W. Bush is not remembered as one of the great presidents in history. Also since when does torture and war equal a "culture of life." "

 Sam wrote on November 23, 2008 10:13 am:
" I can't believe that peole like Charlotte Vieth would have the unmitigated gall to say that "it remains to be seen" whether President-Elect Obama values freedom and democracy. Perhaps she means the version of "freedom and democracy" in which we invade a country on the pretext of nonexistent weapons of mass destruction. Or the version wherein we engage in torture, spying on our own citizens, secret tribunals, suspension of habeus corpus, and other violations of the Constitution. That kind of "freedom and democracy" we don't need.

Equally insulting, and patently untrue, is Vieth's claim that Barack Obama "does not value life for the unborn but favors sweeping pro-abortion rights legislation". In fact, Barack Obama voted against a bill as a member of the Illinios legislature that restricted abortion but provided no exceptions for the life or health of the mother. Unfortunately, many of the fanatics who call themselves "pro-life" are totally unconcerned with the life or health of the mother.

And finally, Vieth whines about this country electing a president with no foreign policy or military experience. I would remind her that George W. Bush had no foreign policy experience when he was elected. In fact, he didn't even know the names of many foreign leaders and to this day still cannot pronounce the word "nuclear" correctly. As for military experience, the only experience he had was finding ways to avoid serving his country in time of war.

Only deluded people like Vieth could possibly believe that George W. Bush will be remembered as one of the greatest presidents of our nation. The history books are being written as we speak, and Bush is not being remembered fondly. The passing of time will not change that for this country will still be digging itsself out of the deep hole that Bush and his incompetent, arrogant administration put it in. "

 Pete Allen wrote on November 23, 2008 11:59 am:
" Before anyone starts the "mandate" drum beating, consider a few things. First, Obama and McCain both accepted public campaign financing, essentially capping their election campaign at 100 Million dollars.

Obama backed out - and by various means collected well over a half billion dollars. McCain was true to his word - so Obama had almost a 7 to 1 advantage in campaign cash.

Next, almost every American media outlet was on the Obama wagon. At commercial rates, the value of the media's "free advertising" was well over $300 million. So Obama's handlers ran the first billion dollar presidential campaign in history.

That same media was all too eager to spread any negative story about McCain, such as the one that McCain is so old and out to touch he does not use E-mail. With all the negative publicity, the total value of the media to the McCain campaign comes to a minus 75 million. So McCain ran a $25 million dollar campaign - compared to Obama's billion dollar one.

And it does pay to have friends in the media. Look at the headlines for November 1 and 2. "Obama lead 10%, growing" is very typical. Compare the 2008 turnout to the 2004 turnout. It quickly becomes obvious that negative headlines kept a great many voters home on election day.

So Obama won. He should have, his campaign outspent McCain by 25 to 1. But he did not win by 10%. Or anything close to 10%. Given a level playing field, the results would have been very different. And, given the quality of the Clinton retreads Obama has announced, I rather suspect 2012 will also be very different.

Pete Allen "

 Beranek wrote on November 23, 2008 12:16 pm:
" If George W Bush is remembered as "one of the greatest" presidents, I expect to be remembered as "one of the greatest" comment posters. "

 Jan wrote on November 23, 2008 12:27 pm:
" Please no one respond to Charlotte. Facts and truth don't enter into anything she thinks and you will never open a closed mind like hers. "

 steve wrote on November 23, 2008 12:28 pm:
" Charlotte, your joking, right? Please tell me your joking!! That was a good one, you almost had me! Ahhh..... You are joking right because no one in their right mind would... naaa your joking! Whew!! "

 Edgar Pearlstein wrote on November 23, 2008 12:36 pm:
" Ms. Vieth: You should heed the advice given to Democrats, in 2000, when Bush got the presidency with a minority of votes: GET OVER IT.

As for Bush being "remembered as one of the greatest presidents of our nation". WOW! "

 Historcal disaster wrote on November 23, 2008 12:54 pm:
" President Bush will not be remembered fondly, but as a historical disaster.We were already in a financial crises by 2005, in 2004 several people sounded the alarm which then President Bush ignored.
I think Ms Vieth will be disappointed in how history will paint President Bush: A constant blunderer, who ignored obvious signs, who surrounded himself with cronies who were afraid to tell him that the country was going to hell in a hand basket, not by abortions, not by gay people getting married, but by his other cronies in "Big Businesses".
When it's all written down. He will be what many consider him to be: A huge embarrassment to the United States! "

 Hilarious wrote on November 23, 2008 1:28 pm:
" I can't believe people are still blaming Bush for Katrina. It is clear that the ones who dropped the ball there were the state and local authorities, not the Feds. The Feds were the ones who wanted the levies fixed. However, state and local gov't's didn't do anything about them "

 Oh Charlotte wrote on November 23, 2008 2:26 pm:
" Name one thing President Bush actually did to prevent abortion. Truth is, there isn't anything. In fact, by pushing through abstinency only education, we have seen our first increase in teen pregnancy rates in years, likely leading to even more abortion. So who's the pro-abortion president now? If you actually cared about preventing abortion you'd want to make sure each and every teenager knew all the ways you can prevent pregnancy, and make birth control readily available to those who want it. Until the pro-life movements starts getting serious about preventing unintended pregnancies, crying foul about anyone else's abortion views is simply laughable. "

 W wrote on November 23, 2008 2:28 pm:
" Gotta agree with you, Christopher-your words were right on the mark. Too many Americans believed that they were "owed" belongings, houses, nice cars, etc & now they're again believing that the government "owes" them to get them out of the mess they created. If you chose to have numerous children you could not afford, were too lazy to go to college & live on welfare, you aren't "owed" anything! Rent your apartment, drive your old cars & don't buy the big flatscreen TV's you can't afford-earn those things the old-fashioned way-get off your bum & get a job!
I went to college on scholarships with no help from anyone, delayed having children until after I'm married & can afford them. Now I can finally afford a house, nice car & big TV-key word-"afford." I didn't buy them on credit cards & I'm never late on my house payment.
People, quit thinking you "deserve" a house-if you can't afford it, then don't buy it & expect the rest of us taxpayers to pick up the slack! "

 Hey Pete wrote on November 23, 2008 2:55 pm:
" Nice spending numbers on the campaigns. Did you get those from Rush or Hannity? According to OpenSecrets.org, which uses actual campaign finance reports, Obama outraised and outspent McCain less than 2 to 1, although Obama did have a 5 to 1 advantage in media advertising expenses. Of course, your version makes it much easier for the party of the "haves and have mores" (characterization courtesy of GW Bush) to whine.

Not sure what your comment you are trying to make about the correlation between negative advertising and voter turnout. More people voted in the 2008 election than in 2004 even though McCain's campaign was at least as negative as Bush's. So what, exactly, was suppressed and by whom? "

 watch wrote on November 23, 2008 3:13 pm:
" Oh charlotte how could you be so brainwashed. It follows the republican doctrine I guess. Guess you favor 4000 kids killed for busheie and cheney to get even and get oil. These two losers should be blackballed and ran out of the country. I seriously doubt they get above a f for failure in history. Some folks are just born and bred republican sheep who love anyone who puts an r in front of their name. R=repulsive "

 Sorry Pete Allen wrote on November 23, 2008 3:14 pm:
" But all of your ignorant blather about the media being for Obama might actually mean something if the facts didn't say otherwise. Apparently you've forgotten the intense media scrutiny over everything the McCain campaign dredged up. Did you forget about Jeremiah Wright and William Ayers? How about all that false "Obama is a Muslin" stuff?

But by all means Pete...don't let the facts get in the way of a good work of fiction. "

 Mark wrote on November 23, 2008 4:32 pm:
" The only peope letting fiction get in the way of good facts are Obama supporters and their lame excuses day after day for supporting that looser. This is going to be a fun 4 years watching many of you Obama supporters justify all his campaign flip flops, which by the way have already started.
On a side note, I think it's very apparent Obama did not come close, has not come close, nor will he ever come close to uniting this nation. If anything, the opposite has occured.
History will judge whether or not GW will go down as a great leader. None of you on this blog today have a say in that, although some of you like to think you do. Those would also be the same people afraid to blog under their own names in case someone who knows them see's first hand just how stupid they really are for posting some of the b.s. they do.
The bigger the lie, the more people believe it. It's happening again now with Obama.
Can't wait to see who some of you will blame when the economy gets worse thanks to Obama and his wacked out policies. He makes an appointment, the market goes down. He says he wants to spend and tax, the markets go down. Can't blame that on on GW. "

 To Hilarious wrote on November 23, 2008 4:44 pm:
" Your name describes your post. Nobody ever said the federal government under George W. Bush was responsible for Hurricane Katrina. They're primarily responsible for FEMA's poor response to this disaster. Sure, the state and local governments bear some degree of the blame but it is the federal government dropping the ball that created most of the problems.

As for levies being fixed, nice piece of revisionist history. The truth is, the State of Louisiana sounded the alarm to the problems with the levies and the federal government that didn't do anything about them. The Army Corps of Engineers, a FEDERAL agency, is responsible for the flood plan, which includes the levies. "

 No Mark... wrote on November 23, 2008 4:54 pm:
" it's people like you who don't like to be bothered with such trivial little things as facts. Obama hasn't even taken office yet and here you are talking trash about alleged flip flops and a failure to unite the country.

The only correct thing you've said is that history will judge GW Bush. But as one other commenter has already noted, that history is being written RIGHT NOW. The invasion of Iraq happened 5 years ago, not yesterday. Do I even need to mention the response to Hurricane Katrina, the U.S. Attorney firing scandal or the outing of Valerie Plame by the vice-prresident's chief of staff? How about the horrid conditions at Walter Reed that our injured troops are coming home to?

The bigger the lie, the more people believe it. It started with Charlotte Vieth's letter and continues with your comments. At least you have the gall to stand by the stupid remarks you make. "

 American wrote on November 23, 2008 5:27 pm:
" Charlotte: The only Americans who have been killed by abortion are the American women who had botched abortions or complications thereof. Read the Constitution if you doubt this.

One more suggestion: keep your religion to yourself and do not try to enshrine it into law. You seem to have forgotten that our government is (supposed to be) secular, not religious. If you don't believe in abortion, that's your choice. You have every right to persuade others to avoid abortion, but you have no right to dictate it. If you want to live in a theocracy, move to Iran or Israel. "

 To Mark wrote on November 23, 2008 6:20 pm:
" Obama named his Treasury Secretary and the market rebounded over 500 points. "

 STF wrote on November 23, 2008 8:00 pm:
" And the day after Obama's election the market fell 486 pts. So, does that mean the market dislikes Obama, but likes his pick for treasury secretary? You can't have it both ways. "

 Jeff W wrote on November 23, 2008 9:29 pm:
" Bush and a culture of ...... incompetence? a culture of appointing people to positions for which they are not prepared or qualified? a culture of arrogance? A culture of secrecy? A culture of stretching our military and National Guard beyond reasonable limits? a culture of poor communication? looking down our noses at others in the International community? A culture of growing government and running up the deficit? "

 Sorry but wrote on November 23, 2008 10:29 pm:
" Gov. Blanco and Ray Nagin are every bit as responsible for the catastrophe in N.O. as Bush is. I would hope that someday we could overcome this partisanship bickering. But, I doubt that will ever happen. "

 Looking Back Again wrote on November 23, 2008 11:33 pm:
" Charlotte, from those of us who actually have a sense of dignity and respect the views of others please do not think all of those who read or post here are as narrow minded as those who feel the need to belittle someone who does not believe as you. Thus proving how great a start those on the left will work to again unify the nation. But understand Charlotte, any questioning of Obama after his four years, in the manner of Bush will be seen as racist, or bigoted by those who readily ridicule the current President. So tomorrow we will wait for the perpetual sunny day, the birds will sing, war will stop, the economy will instantly resolve itself all under the new messiah, have faith Charlotte. "

 Huh wrote on November 24, 2008 12:01 am:
" Pete Allen is right. Hope you all like all the lies Obama is already
emitting and he hasn't even been sworn in! All those that thought they
we tax free under $50,000 income, sorry but your gonna have to wait a
few years if at all. Now lets see, we're already way in debt but if we
spend another umteen trillion as Obama wants to do, ya that ought a get
us out of debt!!!??? Oh and I don't have any experience in being a
surgeon, but what the heck, I'm sure I could do your heart by-pass!!!! "

 Actually wrote on November 24, 2008 1:07 am:
" The State of Louisiana failed to take any action. The blame is on them. "

 Hey Edgar wrote on November 24, 2008 8:39 am:
" As for Bush being "remembered as one of the greatest presidents of our nation". WOW! "

You said the same thing 2 days in a row? Is your memory failing you? "

 Nina wrote on November 24, 2008 9:03 am:
" I doubt that Bush set out to ruin our country, but he is what he is. Being son of a president does not qualify one. He had, besides the poor academic, responsibility, and leadership record in his past, the baggage of being a son who could never quite measure up in his father's eyes. That he involved the whole country, ending thousands of lives in the process, to prove himself by 'mission accomplished' in Iraq reveals a severe lack of character and understanding, and a terrible outcome. Bush himself said when he was a little child and his parents spent months away trying to find a cure for his sister, who died of leukemia, he was never told she was sick, or why they left. Presidents have had emotional baggage before, but that is an astounding example. Let this be a lesson to us to choose qualified people for leadership, and not be swayed by hype. "

 Problem solver wrote on November 24, 2008 11:12 am:
" I hear complaining about the new president and the usual rhetoric about who is right and wrong. However, no one writes about what we need to solve problems. Let's take a look at some realistic moves. 1. if people have children, they can not get government assistance. That way people have to be responsible reproducers. 2. students who fail or drop out of school must enlist in the military to serve our country and learn discipline. After a few years of the service, they can come out and go to college or get a job. 3. the only people who are eligible for govt assistance are handicapped individuals. Getting pregnant is not a handicap. 4. CEOs are limited to making only 10 times the average employees salary. The more they pay their workers, the more they can make. Once people make better choices and the government controls what they should, then our country will be great again. "

 Ned wrote on November 24, 2008 12:40 pm:
" Charlotte, methinks you should venture out in the world a bit to see the reality of the last administration. To say that Bush kept us safe from attack in the last 7 years is akin to saying he kept the elephants out of your house because all you have to do is look and there are none. His was a completely destructive administration in every way from foreign policy to economics. You should do a bit of research before such ill thought out praise of such horrible failure. "

 Ned wrote on November 24, 2008 12:46 pm:
" Perfect example of an oxymoron: "I went to college on scholarships with no help from anyone."
Say what??? "

 re Nina wrote on November 24, 2008 12:53 pm:
" Quoted: "Let this be a lesson to us to choose qualified people for leadership, and not be swayed by hype."

CAN YOU TELL ME HOW ELSE OBAMA WAS ELECTED!?! It sure wasn't his voting record of "present" that showed leadership! "

 Nina wrote on November 24, 2008 3:35 pm:
" If you really want to know Obama's leadership qualities as noted from his college days forward, just look it up. There's enough there to fill quite a few pages, you'll see. "

 K. wrote on November 24, 2008 5:24 pm:
" It is so disappointing to read comments on here after a single politic issue is discussed. Jan called Ms. Vieth "closed minded", its pathetic when people seem to think that they are knowledgable, by one single letter written, enough to call a person close-minded or any other character-flaw for that matter. These ridiculous pot-shots only show how close-minded you also might be. Emphasis on might, because by your one comment, I don't know enough to judge you. Ms. Vieth is entitled to vote on issues that are important to her (as anybody else) and if it happens to be just abortion, so be it, you have your own reasons to vote the way you feel. "

 re Nina wrote on November 25, 2008 8:20 am:
" His college transcripts were never released, so we don't know how he did in college, could've been a D student for all we know. What does a community organizer do? South Chicago is still a train wreck. When he first ran for Illinois senate, he ran everyone else off the ballot. When he was in the state senate, he never took a stand by voting present. When he was in the US Senate, he was running for president. I could go on and on because I don't buy the hype like you do. "

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