David Broder (LJS, Sept. 7) gets it right in exposing the whole Valerie Plame “leak” case as the fraud it has been from the beginning. 

Anyone whose view of the world is not incarcerated in the New York Times-CNN-NPR matrix has known all along that this much hyped “case” of Bush administration “bullying” is nothing other than a strategy of knee-jerk Bush-hating robots who want to claim, against all evidence, that the Bush administration is “suppressing” dissent and engaging in character assassination. 

And, sad to say, the Journal Star played its own role in hyping the Joe Wilson-Valerie Plame lie. Readers will recall the ridiculous, out-of-proportion full-page spreads about Scooter Libby, as if a major scandal was breaking. Perhaps the lesson to be learned here is that those who holler the loudest about dishonesty and lies are perhaps projecting their own awareness of themselves on others for whom they harbor nagging hatreds.

Broder says that the people who have promoted the Wilson-Plame lies owe Karl Rove an apology.  Don’t hold your breath.

Richard Terrell, Lincoln

Voters: Reject ballot item

This November, Nebraska voters will be faced with the Stop Over Spending (SOS) ballot question. Under the amendment’s inflation plus population formula limit for state spending growth, SOS does not account for rapidly increasing health care costs that are growing much faster than the rate of inflation. Nor does it take into account the aging of the population, which uses more health care.

SOS will pit state programs and services against each other. It limits funding to address unmet or emerging needs when there is an economic downturn and the inevitable budget shortfall. SOS will slowly starve services on which state residents rely. Local property taxes will also have to be raised even more to make up for the loss of state aid to cities and counties.

The process of having Nebraska citizens vote on any tax increase is extremely cumbersome, expensive and, in the case of emergencies, potentially fatal. Nebraska voters should reject SOS.

Kenneth T. Ring, Lincoln

Witek snubs democracy

State Auditor Kate Witek is just another example of a politician wanting to keep that high-paying cozy position! I think it’s absolutely absurd what she is trying to do!

Anyone with even minimal common sense should be able to see through this masquerade of changing from Republican to Democrat, when the general election is just two months away. I say she’s just another politician snubbing her nose at democracy.

America needs to rid itself of the “career politicians” because they are not getting the job done.Does anyone see this other than myself?

Tom G. Maul, Lincoln

Free computers available

I heard a call to action in the Sept. 6 article regarding the digital divide among students. Access to information on the Internet for class work is only one benefit.  Without regular Internet access, many families miss out on great opportunities to increase their economic independence and improve their quality of life. 

There are solutions.  At Lincoln Action Program, with the help of corporate and private donations, we are shortening this gap. This year alone, Lincoln Action Program has distributed more than 330 computers to individuals that successfully completed 30 hours of basic computer competency classes and homework in our computer lab. Donated computers are refurbished and presented to class graduates. All systems come Internet-ready with a modem. There are about 500 computers ready for distribution now.

The ability to access ideas new and different from our own enables us to learn and reach our potential. It should be a goal of this community to ensure each of its members has this opportunity regardless of race or income. A stronger Lincoln benefits us all.

Sue Hinrichs,

Executive director, Lincoln Action Program