So the Democratic Party chairman thinks Nebraskans should like the cap-and-trade legislation being shoved down our throats because it might bring some money into the state. Fat chance.
Posted: Thursday, July 9, 2009 12:00 am
So the Democratic Party chairman thinks Nebraskans should like the cap-and-trade legislation being shoved down our throats because it might bring some money into the state ("GOP takes issue with 'rural tour,'" July 4). Fat chance, and if it does it will probably be much, much less than what the whole program will cost in new taxes that will have to be paid out.
Actually, that's what the whole program is all about - that and government control over everything you can do. Not only will there be more taxes paid out, but there also will be much, much higher costs for everything you need for living - including food, water and everything else - and there will be endless government interference in even what kind of light bulbs you can have and how much electricity you can use without paying extra penalties.
So if this is such a good program, be prepared to suffer greatly for nothing but government control. If that's good, I'll eat my hat.
Besides, Vic Covalt's idea that money makes it all right is what we need to get away from, because it's our money in the first place before the Democrats get ahold of it.
James Hartmann, Seward
Get Tierra Park fixed
I would love to know the mind-set of the watershed agency concerning Tierra Park.
We now have two large drainage areas with trash-filled grates leading out of them.
If you chase a Frisbee now, you'll fall in a hole. In addition to the loss of open park space, the concrete runoffs have been removed where we now have stagnant water (mosquito hatcheries). We don't get the kind of rains to accomplish what I think these drainage areas were structured for.
I hope the city gets the dirt back in those empty holes and replaces the runoffs with concrete.
Jan Simodynes, Lincoln
Alternative for fireworks
The huge sales are over, the bombs are done bursting in air, and the flag is still there. Our typical celebration of July 4 winds down, yet do we stop to put this into perspective? According to one source, U.S. citizens spend $1 billion each year to buy mostly Chinese-imported fireworks.
Is there any wonder that our balance of payments is in the red with the purchase of these nonessential explosives, made by people who earn less than $2 per day in difficult working conditions? The residues left in the streets of Lincoln are washed into storm sewers and then to Salt Creek, where they pollute these already questionable waters. Eleven people died in 2006, and close to 10,000 were injured in the United States because of fireworks. These unintended consequences of our annual celebrations are not recognized by most, as we gaze into the sky with wonder at each new blast, unless an injured child happens to be our own. So it would seem to be a lose-lose-lose situation, only for a few moments of pleasure.
For some people, this is a tradition that adds quality to life. For me this is a dangerous habit that is costly to each of us and to our country, and an unnecessary expense especially for those without work or living close to the edge financially. Making and blowing up fireworks is also unhealthy to the environment and is a grievous waste of resources we will need in the future.
Can we devise something more meaningful, less dangerous and less costly that will have more lasting impact in improving the human condition? We owe this to our children, while we celebrate the fact that most emerged without injury this year in Lincoln.
Charles Francis, Lincoln