Early this spring I wrote letters to Sen. Chuck Hagel, Rep. Jeff Fortenberry and senatorial candidate Mike Johanns. I expressed my concern over our nation’s health care crisis: 47 million uninsured Americans, and my personal health insurance costs of $65 per day for a traditional $1,500 deductible policy for my family of three. This premium reflects a 700 percent increase during the Bush administration. As a registered Republican, I was disappointed but not surprised by the absence of replies.

For the next few weeks, we will be forced to endure our candidates parroting their intentions to provide affordable health care and boasting of their unequivocal experience in this area.

The experience of these career politicians does not include: going without health insurance; being unable to afford health insurance; being denied coverage for pre-existing conditions or forced to sign an exclusionary rider for the same; ever paying a dime out of their own pockets for health coverage; forgoing necessary medical treatment because they cannot afford it; facing financial ruin because of catastrophic health costs.

Maximum annual out-of-pocket costs for a privately funded traditional policy for my family of three, including premiums, deductibles and co-pays, is $27,000. This plan does not have vision or dental coverage, and a pre-existing condition precludes a policy switch.

Republican proposals for health care reform and government are one and the same: Of the wealthy, by the wealthy and for the wealthy. Their Band-aid approach of pittance tax credits sends the self/uninsured the resounding message: You are on your own!

Frank Ekstein, Ulysses

Obermeyer has new low

Neal Obermeyer has hit a new low in political cartooning with his ignorant and mean-spirited ad hominem attack on Professor Marc Schneiderjans on Oct. 12. He makes a personal attack on Professor Schneiderjans for not naming the many minority and women faculty at UNL who were hired because of their race and sex, and without having to compete for their jobs.

The names of these faculty are well known in their departments and colleges, and a list could, of course, be easily compiled. In fact, it may well have been. The fact that this list has not been publicly released is because of the kindness of those who are able to compile such a list. Why embarrass our colleagues? It would lower the debate over reverse discrimination to the level of the personal attacks that so delight Obermeyer.

The Lincoln Journal Star would do well to reconsider its relationship with Obermeyer, who uses ad hominem attacks as his primary device. It is not the way of most Nebraskans to appreciate unjustified viciousness.

Dwayne Ball, Lincoln

Schmieding for board

It appears that Mary Harding, like many of our elected politicians, has let the perks of office become more important to her than the responsibilities of office.

I wonder whether knowledge of the management of hydro plants (of which NPPD has none nor is any available) in the face of climate change scenarios is more important to an NPPD board member than the consideration of the future power supply options of the district. I also wonder what other excuses there may be for missing other meetings (letters, Oct. 9 and Oct. 10).

It is helpful to both board members and employees to attend seminars and meetings that may broaden and extend their knowledge of the industry for which they work, but such participation should not be in lieu of responsibilities of their office.

It is not possible for a board member to be knowledgeable and effectively contribute to decision making on technical aspects of an industry without regular attendance of board and other meetings.

Glen Schmieding’s extensive experience and corresponding knowledge of the electric utility industry would make him a valuable board member to the Nebraska Public Power District.

Virgil L. Schafer, Lincoln