Letters, 7/13: Saving beetles a boondoggle

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This letter is in response to the Lincoln Journal Star’s editorial on July 9,“Saving beetle also helps more popular creatures.”

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing to set aside 1,795 acres in Lancaster and Saunders counties as habitat for an endangered beetle, spending an estimated $18 million to $23 million of our tax dollars over the next 20 years to save them. The Journal Star editorial writer begs the question: “Is spending $88,000 per bug that is in its last stages of existence really the best use of our tax dollars?” The editorial is a classic example of why taxpayers are so cynical on how their hard-earned tax dollars are used. 

In addition to wasting more tax dollars on another foolish federal boondoggle, the result of taking this land out of the private sector will reduce land values and restrict development in Lincoln and Lancaster County. Lincoln already has approximately 35 percent of all real property off the tax roll. We should be very cautious on the removal of even more property from the tax roll. 

This is an academic proposal of concept and theory, which in turn results in a solution depending upon functional and economic illiteracy. 

The tiger beetle contributes nothing to the relief of the beleaguered taxpayer. If the elite bureaucrats truly wish to show concern about creatures, perhaps they should be more concerned about the demise of the human species, which is very important to our society. 

How is saving these beetles going to help our kids in the future, lower the debt, or provide jobs?

What will it do for the overall economy? The only thing I can conclude is that it will increase an ever-expanding government debt, which means my grandchildren will be paying for saving a beetle that has long since expired.

Joe Hampton, Lincoln

In support of critical habitat

In recent months, we have seen several articles written about the Salt Creek tiger beetle and the efforts of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to establish critical habitat for this species.

The Nebraska Wildlife Federation supports this critical habitat designation for these reasons:

(1) The U.S. government has seen fit to preserve and protect all of the flora and fauna in the land via the Endangered Species Act. They have done this because there is a realization that we have no idea what species will add to the benefit of man, such as a possible cure for cancer or perhaps even the common cold. In short, it is the law. Protecting the habitat of a species in need of conservation is part of the plan to protect it. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is only doing its job under the law. Incidentally, over the years, there have been many attempts to lessen or do away with this act, but Congress in its wisdom has refused to do this.

(2) Endangered flora and fauna of the land along with our most common flora and fauna add to our diversity of life, which in turn gives our lives richness and meaning. What a sad place it would be if all we could look at were houses and buildings.

(3) The saline wetlands that are essential to the survival of the Salt Creek tiger beetle are also one of the rarest habitat types in Nebraska as well as the nation — a beauty and wonder in themselves and also a host to a number of rare plants and animals that count on them for their survival. 

For these reasons, the board of the Nebraska Wildlife Federation has taken a position of support for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s designation of these areas as critical habitat for the Salt Creek tiger beetle.

Bruce Kennedy, Malcolm, president, Nebraska Wildlife Federation

Disappointed by TV decision

I am writing to let you know how thoroughly disappointed I am at this moment in your paper. You may not think it’s much of a big deal, but I work many hours a week and when I get a chance to watch a little TV, I appreciate having the TV Week section of the paper available.

I didn’t complain when you cut out the overnight section, or even when you cut out the weekly daytime sections. It’s a nuisance not knowing what’s on during those time frames when you are home, but I dealt with it.

But now in my Sunday paper this week there was no TV section — other than the small section at the bottom of a page that only gives you TV viewing from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. I’m sorry, but my viewing isn’t just in that time frame. Maybe you don’t care what’s on TV, but I enjoy being able to check out the week in advance and see what’s on, or even see what’s on earlier than 6 and later than 11. I may want to tape a program if I will be gone. And, God forbid,  maybe even stay up past 11 to watch something else.

I certainly hope you reconsider and put that section back in the paper.

Renee Malone, Lincoln

Save beautiful home

I cannot believe that such a beautiful home (the Kush mansion) could be demolished (LJS, June 30).

Where are the smarts of some people? Why can’t these businesspeople make a bed and breakfast out of this home with all the beauty it has? And still put up some apartments around it (who needs 35 acres). And this zoning business most of the time is for the birds.

How many of these people heard the saying — Americans are the most wasteful people in the world. Boy, how true.

If it was a rundown place that had no hope at all, I could see, but I guess money is no object to some.

Mary L. Uldrich, Milligan

Roadwork suggestions

I read recently in the Lincoln Journal Star (July 7) that Nebraska has come up with more road funds than anticipated.

I have just two suggestions for the powers-that-be for distribution of funds.

First, allocate a slightly larger percent to the ongoing road projects to complete these existing money pits.

Second, remind Mayor Chris Beutler and the county commissioners that they promised to correct the fiasco that is Denton Road.

I can’t believe that it might need an act of Congress (or God) to correctly straighten out this 1,500-2,000 feet of asphalt.

Marc Gustafson, Lincoln

Too many elderly working

It seems like more and more elderly people are working at grocery stores, driving buses and doing things besides sitting comfortably in rocking chairs enjoying their progeny and their time left. I believe it is a gross injustice that they are forced to work simply to cover their health care.

The rest of society should provide a baseline of sustenance that we let not one retired person fall under after working their entire lives. We should not make them choose between working and dying early.

Brent Carmer, Lincoln