The Public Pulse, February 5

Let's have politics at high level

I'm afraid we are digging ourselves deeper and deeper into the muck of politics. Granted, Mitt Romney's latest comments about not caring about the very poor were probably not the best. Taken out of context, they sounded terrible. But if you listen to his entire sentence, they sounded fine.

Can we give politicians a break? Presidential candidates are on stage for most of their waking hours for the better part of two years. Whoever survives this long is bound to have a minor slip-up. I suppose candidates should understand that their opposition is waiting like piranhas to attack.

Being a lifelong Democrat, I was totally energized by Barack Obama's campaign four years ago and did some volunteer work.

But this year, with all of the sound bites and caustic messages being pushed through the Internet, I am getting disgusted and don't want any part of a campaign that encourages this sort of activity.

The Republicans play just as nasty as the Democrats. Where do we go from here?

John Glazeski, Omaha

Super PACs hurt our elections

I'm sure our Founding Fathers never had the foresight to see the Supreme Court that we now have. These justices have supreme power over the laws of our land, more than any president, and lately have ruled without any common sense.

Making super PACs a part of our elective procedure has to be the most unproductive idea ever. Allowing any and all corporations to funnel millions into our election process with no transparency or obligation to the public is unethical and unbelievable.

The purpose of lifetime appointments to the Supreme Court was to ensure integrity of the justices' power. I believe they lost that integrity with super PACs. Now is the time to reconsider those lifetime appointments.

John D. Condon, Omaha

What helps one, may help others

As a native Nebraskan, I am very disappointed in a shortsighted editorial from the Scottsbluff (Neb.) Star-Herald (Feb. 3 More Commentary) about air service in Nebraska.

My grandparents reside in Henderson, Neb. So I'm familiar with and sensitive to the issues that rural Nebraskans face, including air travel.

However, the editorial, while upset about air subsidies and choosing to lash out angrily at the Washington Metro and Amtrak, mentioned nothing about the federal subsidies that many Nebraskans directly benefit from, such as farm subsidies.

I doubt many in the D.C. area are direct recipients of those subsidies. So, using the editorial's logic, why should we subsidize farmers? But by eating food that has been farmed and using soybean-based products, we're indirect recipients of those subsidies.

It's very provincial to suggest that just one source of funding be reduced when government spending as a whole needs to be checked.

Adam Froemming, Alexandria, Va.

Forced attendance isn't answer

At the University of Nebraska in the 1960s, my work-study included grading and monitoring tests for a doctorate of psychology. One day he told me that he'd dropped out of high school and joined the Merchant Marines at age 16. High school wasn't working for him.

Dropout rates and truancy issues will be solved not by more policing but by more options. Forcing children to stay in school wastes resources and creates resentment.

If public schools are jails to be endured at all costs until a child reaches 18, then say so. Metal detectors, police on campus and prison terms like "lockdown" bear witness to increased punishment replacing guidance, options and role models.

Teachers are victims of restrictions on teaching, too. If we are truly pro-education, the Legislature must put school-choice bills on the floor and debate them.

Legislation that requires children to stay in school until they are 18 isn't the answer.

Nydra Karlen, Bellevue

Help to find right career path

We do a great disservice to a significant portion of our students in our classically oriented education system. We have come to the conclusion that if they don't pursue a college degree, they are second-class citizens. How unfortunate and incorrect that is.

All students do not need to attend college. Therefore, it is a waste of time and misuse of human capital for them to be required to follow the same curriculum as those bound for a higher education.

State Sen. Brad Ashford's Legislative Bill 1144 could do so much for our education system. The bill would allow school districts such as Tech High School to establish career academies.

Students would be more productive in pursuing a career that would lead to a win-win for both sides — careers and employment for them, and a much more effective and efficient educational system.

Both would lead to an improved and productive economy for all concerned.

Tessa Turner, Bellevue

Repeal state inheritance tax

John McCollister (Jan. 26 Midlands Voices) is right to encourage lawmakers to pass Legislative Bill 970, which would repeal the inheritance tax. Douglas County Board Chairman Marc Kraft opposes the bill, arguing that "the death tax is used to care for the living" (Jan. 26 Midlands Voices).

Kraft's position is the typical exalted opinion of government officials who assume the right to do "good deeds" with other people's earnings. The truth is that government can't give anything to anyone without first taking it from someone else.

There are many unfortunate, needy people, but this does not give government the right to decide which Peter must pay Paul.

Some of the "haves" are able to leave an inheritance because of their frugality, labor, good business management and self-denial. Farm children have done chores and field work, painted buildings and shingled roofs. Their labor may have paid the mortgage.

As survivors, they should not be victims of the double taxation of the inheritance tax. It is a tax on virtue and should be repealed.

Ruth Lienemann, Papillion

Little Iowa winnings to share

We should go ahead and put casinos in Nebraska. Look at the "benefits" in Iowa.

Iowa wants to increase its gas tax to pay for road repair. Schools and local governments are cutting back because there's no income. There are fewer teachers, police officers and firefighters than there were eight years ago. Iowa wants to lower business property taxes to benefit casinos, but at what cost to residential property owners?

If State Sen. Paul Schumacher wants a piece of the action from Iowa, good luck. But he can't get what's not there.

Henry Krecklow, Council Bluffs

On taxes, casinos and keno

Instead of trying to get Iowa to share its gambling revenue or building casinos of our own, Nebraska should raise the tax rate of Nebraskans who win in Iowa casinos to 50 percent and drop their tax rate to nothing for any winnings in Nebraska keno parlors.

Terry Castle, Omaha

Just the facts on capital gains

I totally agree with Paul Cunningham's Jan. 30 letter about voter ignorance in regard to the capital gains tax rate.

If you have put away money in a retirement plan, the growth in that plan (capital gains and dividends) is not taxed until you actually begin taking the money out as distributions from your plan.

At that point, the money is taxed as ordinary income (same as wages), unless you have to take money out before you reach the age of 59½. Then you get to pay an additional 10 percent penalty on the distribution.

It is not true that anyone with a 401(k) plan or IRA enjoys the 15 percent long-term capital gains rate that an investor of after-tax dollars enjoys. This only adds to the misinformation that causes voter ignorance.

Susan K. Baillie, St. Paul, Neb.

Obama's assault on the church

The Obama administration has stepped up its insidious assault against the Catholic Church and religious liberty with the announcement that nearly all employers, including most Catholic entities, will be required to provide and pay for health care coverage that includes contraception, abortifacients and sterilization — in direct opposition to Catholic teaching.

President Barack Obama was elected to office with most of the Catholic vote. If he is elected to his second term, it again will have to be with the votes of many Catholics.

If that comes to pass, his election will be a mandate to dismantle the Catholic Church. I wouldn't want that on my conscience.

Maris Bentley, Omaha

More training is needed for all

On Dec. 20, two Omaha police officers staked out a parking lot known for underage drinking and pot-smoking. Using night vision goggles, an officer observed the flicker of a lighter in a small sedan.

Instead of police lights flashing, the car was hit with a high-powered searchlight, with the two officers approaching on foot, one evidently from the front.

The car backed up and began to leave. The officer approaching from the front was unable to jump out of the way. He jumped on the hood in the dark parking lot and started yelling, "Shoot! Shoot! Shoot!"

The car moved slowly enough for him to roll off the hood uninjured and fire either 11 or 14 rounds, since a total of 25 rounds were fired by the two officers.

What would have been wrong with pulling up behind in the cruiser with lights flashing and saying, "Police! Stop!"? I'm not sure it's only the juveniles who require retraining.

Joseph B. Hall, Bennington

Gilmore right about puppy mills

Many thanks to Janice Gilmore for her Jan. 31 column about puppy mills. It's all true, and the Midwest is a huge breeding center. Many puppies in pet stores all over America come from these horrible places.

Please remember this when considering a dog or cat. It's unbelievable that our society considers itself educated and sophisticated but still allows this to happen.

Barbara Ness, Omaha

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