Letters, 10/19: Nothing fair about Obama
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The Democratic Party espouses the virtues of fairness and equality. Barack Obama believes all Americans should have the right to health-care coverage regardless of whether they can afford it. His plan is to implement universal health care at the expense of those who he believes can and should pay for it — the top 5 percent to 10 percent who work hard and are driven to succeed. Why is this fair?
Obama wants to work out an amnesty plan so illegal immigrants can remain in our country and continue to use our health-care system and benefit from our liberal social programs without having paid their dues. How is this fair to all those who became American citizens through hard work and legal means?
Obama wants to expand and create more social programs that support anyone who needs a helping hand regardless of whether or not they truly require assistance.
He plans to raise taxes on the upper class to spread the wealth. This is equality? Where is the justice in taxing a $250,000 income earner at the same rate as a $2.5 million earner? Many Obama supporters do not realize that by taxing the higher-income population, they are hurting themselves.
Incentive and the free market economy are what made our country great and successful.
Many of those people who live in expensive neighborhoods and drive nice cars worked their way up from the bottom. They do not rely on social programs for support and should not be penalized for making a good living.
Obama wants fairness, but only as a tool to suppress the poor and uneducated. If the upper class is taxed as Obama wants, the economy will collapse because those people will no longer be able to keep their small businesses open; developers will lose because the housing market will dry up; farmers will no longer be able to compete with big corporate farms; the high level of health care will evaporate, and physicians will leave the profession en masse because of increased regulation; and those who had purchasing power will reduce their spending to hold onto whatever income they have left. I hope people help keep the hardworking upper- and middle-class American alive and vote no to Obama.
Jodi Delozier, Lincoln
Intermill, Baier for board
In response to the editorial endorsement of the two Lancaster County Board incumbents (LJS Oct. 10), I’d like to put forth some facts about the challengers, Barb Baier and Nancy Intermill. I attended the debates between the candidates. Both Intermill and Baier were better prepared, more enthusiastic, had fresh ideas and appeared more committed to serve the voters of Lancaster County. They challenged the tired, business-as-usual mindsets of Hudkins and Heier.
Why do we need a change on the County Board and replace the “good ol’ boys”? In addition to new ideas and fresh faces, both Intermill and Baier have challenged both the process and the wisdom of spending $65 million on a new jail that, in the eyes of many — voters included — is unnecessary and extravagant. They question the huge tax increase that would result in the construction of a jail and the increased cost to run it, not to mention the increased time and transportation costs to law enforcement’s budget to access this remote facility. And now, because of the credit crisis, it seems financing again has become a problem.
The county already has a community corrections program that has decreased the jail population and alleviated overcrowding. It should be allowed to work. It is a little publicized fact that the vast majority of the inmates of the county jail are not a danger to society. Electronic monitoring is about 80 percent less costly than incarceration.
And perhaps more important than the unenlightened decision to build a jail is the lack of accountability in the planning. The county prosecutor, the public defender, the police captain and the sheriff have told me they were not included in the early discussion of the project. Like the public, they were not consulted until the project was almost a done deal. Intermill and Baier have promised that this would not happen if they were board members.
Finally, from what I heard in the debates, the incumbents represent 10 percent of rural residents of Lancaster County much better than they do 90 percent of urban constituents. It is for these reasons that I am supporting Nancy Intermill and Barb Baier for Lancaster County Board.
John Krejci, Lincoln
Supporting an engineer
I read the article in the Oct. 12 paper, “From space engineer to bailout czar,” identifying the man who was called to clean up the mess that Washington made of our economy. Engineers are problem solvers, and an engineer was called to solve this problem.
“I wish we had more engineers in Congress,” said Scott Texter, Neel Kashkari’s former supervisor at a NASA contractor.
It occurred to me that Nebraska is in the opposite shape with regard to our state’s financial position. Nebraska is one of the few states with a balanced budget; indeed, we have a cash reserve. It also occurred to me that my state senator, Tony Fulton, is on the committee that sets the state’s budget. He happens to be an engineer. So it seems that engineers not only solve problems, they can prevent them from happening! I’ll be supporting Tony Fulton for re-election.
Trish Jarnagin, Lincoln
Can’t trust Scudder
Tim Clare made it quite clear at the League of Women Voters debate on Sept. 22 that he was for adult stem cell research. His opponent Earl Scudder keeps misleading people and indicating that Clare is against stem cell research.
Tim Clare is very much in favor of adult stem cell research. This type of research is where advancements are being made in humans and the prospects are great for finding cures in an unlimited number of devastating diseases. Earl Scudder is also misleading viewers with his TV commercials about embryonic stem cell research being able to cure Alzheimer’s.
I don’t appreciate this type of politics. My mother died in 1985 with Alzheimer’s, and I presently have a sister in the advanced stage of Alzheimer’s. It is hard enough to deal with a family member suffering from Alzheimer’s, but it is harder when vote-searching politicians tug at our heartstrings and attempt to mislead us into thinking there is a cure.
It makes me wonder, if we can’t trust Scudder to tell us the truth with something so sensitive as Alzheimer’s, can we trust him on the NU Board of Regents? I don’t want to risk it; I am voting for Tim Clare.
Pat Eiche, Lincoln
Scudder would help UNL
George W. Bush restricted federal funding for embryonic stem cell research in 2001, drastically limiting progress. Now Chip Maxwell (LJS, Oct. 5) comes along, after seven years of stunted research, and complains that this approach has not produced cures. He further claims that starting with adult stem cells works just fine, but virtually all scientists say there is just no evidence for such a claim.
In the current Board of Regents election, false arguments put the University of Nebraska’s research and reputation in great peril. One candidate, Tim Clare, proposes to ban further ESC research from university premises; the other, Earl Scudder, vows to protect all researchers’ academic freedom. Because Clare would cast the fifth anti-research vote on the eight-member board, his view would prevail, putting NU at a great disadvantage to other states.
Clare’s election first would damage the NU Medical Center, which does important stem cell research. Both presidential candidates promise to overturn President Bush’s ESC limits, so we are likely to see a great flourishing of this research. Unlike other states, Missouri for example, that are poised to take advantage of the new opportunities, Nebraska researchers would have their hands tied behind their backs. By spreading word across the country that Nebraska is closed to research some don’t like, it will make recruiting and retaining top researchers much more difficult. Tigers defeat Huskers again.
But UNL will not escape the damage — a new reputation for closed labs and closed minds will hurt us, too. Universities work poorly when constrained by narrow ideological or religious agendas. Today it is stem cell research, but tomorrow such agendas could target the teaching of evolution or the censoring of student drama.
Clare would return the university to those days, a generation ago, when NU stood for good football and mediocre research. Since then we — both UNL and UNMC — have made great progress. Scudder would help us build a 21st century university — great research and (we hope) great football.
Rick Edwards, former UNL senior vice chancellor for academic affairs
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Right you are, some people think that if you tax the wealthy who own the businesses that it won't result in higher prices for consumers. That has already been tried by the dems, if you don't remember the Carter years it was years of long lines at filling stations, rationed gas and economic depression. Of course the 45% of "americans" who don't pay taxes can't wait for another government handout. If you vote for obama and he wins,, remember to tell me what you think of him in two years. "
Methinks that Ms. Delozier will sprain her shoulder from excessively patting herself on the back. "
The GOP knows they can't win based on similar arguements that Jodi gives, so they resort to negativity and accusing Obama of "pal-ing" around with terrorists. It is an act of desperation. "
You write that "Obama wants fairness, but only as a tool to suppress the poor and uneducated." This is a ridiculous statement. Senator Obama is a champion of the middle class who believes that shifting some of the tax burden to those who can afford it will strengthen the economy. The idea is to empower the middle class morally and financially, not to suppress the "Joe Sixpacks" of America.
To place my comments in perspective, you might ask whether I will be in a higher tax bracket if Senator Obama becomes president. Quite possibly. "
Some people work very hard, and make a lot of money. Some people lie, cheat, manipulate, gamble, beg, borrow, and steal, and make a lot of money. (Look at everyone foaming at the mouth about CEO pay.) Some lucky people win what one famous Omaha resident has called "the ovarian lottery."
Conversely, I don't think you want to make the argument that people who don't make a lot of money are typically lazy, undriven slobs. You'll offend a lot of teachers, police officers, farmers, auto-workers, small-business owners - "regular Joe Six-pack Americans."
Is it fair that these people can't afford health care?
"Conservatives" ought to disconnect the concepts of hard work and money. They are not unrelated, but there is certainly no direct correlation.
And I find it simply preposterous to suggest that people would make less money so as to fit into a lower tax bracket. Except at the fringes of each bracket, no matter what percentage of your money you contribute to the federal coffers, the more you make, the more actual dollars you get to keep. I find it hard to believe that people deliberately earn less money just to spite the government.
Does Obama plan to impose the same rate on $250,000 and $2.5 million earners? I was unaware. Nonetheless, it's curious that you find this unfair, and yet argue that the upper 5% should pay closer to what the lower 95% pay. Which do you want, a flat or close-to-flat rate, or a graduated scale, with the wealthy putting in larger chunks of their income?
The trickle-down, voodoo economics, "give to the rich and they'll make everybody richer" theory has only exacerbated the rift between the upper and lower classes. Its effectiveness is under serious consideration, if not completely debunked.
And if you look closely, you'll realize that we first have to GIVE to the rich. We're redistributing wealth now, we're just doing it in a direction that benefits one (small, powerful) group rather than the other. "
Maybe you're right. People who writhe in pain for hours in emergency room waiting areas are just lazy and haven't worked hard enough to afford the premiums. You and all of your friends are just better people. You have pulled yourselves up by your bootstraps and made a life for yourself. You haven't had help from anybody in your lives. Everything you have you earned all by yourselves. You deserve to keep all of your money. The market will naturally make sure that we are paying the lowest possible price for goods and.... labor. We don't need federal regulation. Survival of fittest is what made America great. Not the G.I. bill. Not land-grant universities. Not public education. Not the federal commitment to national defense. Not the Center for Disease Control. Not the TVA and Public Works which brought us out of the Great Depression - a depression that was caused by a massive concentration of national wealth in the richest 1% of the population. You may be right.
But a growing number of people don't think you are. A growing number of economists - a huge majority in fact - who teach and believe that Reagan's 'trickle-down' theory is complete and utter bunk. A growing number of blue-collar retirees who, dare I say, worked very hard their whole lives only to make the choice between food and medication. A growing number of regular people who have seen what little opportunity they have to invest in our wonderful, unfettered and unregulated free market wash down the drain. A growing number who's children's best and only hope for breaking out of the cycle of poverty is to join the military and witness the operative incompetence of our leaders who put them in harm's way for questionable reasons.
Maybe you're right. People in the gutter need to be left alone until they 'get it' and fend for themselves or die. It's the American way. Vote for McCain and keep the hardworking upper- and middle-class American alive. "
going to be taxed to cover the under $50,000. earners, 95% as Obama says,
do you think I would work as hard, or try to grow my business so more people could be employed. No sireeeee!! As a $50,000. and under earner,
I would be made to feel unworthy, poor, not contributing to the American
way of life. So with McCain, I'd pay some tax, but then I would at least
feel like I contributed something to this world and not put out to WELFARE!! Jeepers, even in the Bible, the Lord Blessed the poor woman
that gave her one pence, he didn't say, Oh you shouldn't give anything,
your poor, In other words Obama would be saying, because your not rich
you don't deserve a place in this society. There is a commentary on FOX
at 8: or 9: P.M. Sunday night on Obama that everyone needs to watch!! I
don't care for McCain's health plan and not too secure with the feeling
of Palen as President if something happened to McCain. But then I would
hate to see Obama's V.P. become President too. Whats a bod to do!!??? "
If you listen to something else than Fox News you will see that Obama proposes tax cuts for the middle class AND give tax cuts to businesses who create jobs and not tax them. He only wants to tax the businesses that send jobs overseas where McCain doesn't. McCain is willing to send jobs overseas so the corporate big wigs can make millions in bonuses.
As for socialism, what do you call this 700 billion bailout to Wall Street rich? Isn't that socialism and who pushed for it? McCain and Bush. "
Its only worth $664,000 according to the county assessor. Whoops. "
And I'm still waiting for an explanation of how, exactly, Democrats are "raising" taxes? In fact, the GOP tax cuts of 2001 and 2003 were voted -- BY REPUBLICANS -- to expire in 2009 and 2010. So right now, if Democrats do NOTHING, taxes will go up because Republicans set them to go up! In fact, Obama's plan, technically, is to cut taxes, not raise them! He plans to allow the taxes on the richest 5% to raise back up, as the GOP scheduled them to do, while making the tax cuts on the rest of us permanent (and in fact, reduce them ever more). Oh, and he isn't wrong when he says he'll cut taxes on 95% of working Americans, because part of his plan for the poorest workers will be to give them a tax credit on the SS and Medicare taxes. And if you missed this little fact, EVERYONE who works pays SS & Medicare taxes starting with the 1st $1 dollar you earn. In fact, the richer you are, the lower the SS tax rate you pay. Why is it believers in a flat income tax oppose a flat SS tax? "
The one that I vehemently dispute as it's personal is your statement regarding physicians.
I'm a physician and I can assure you we will not leave "the profession en masse because of increased regulation";apart from the fact we will not be trained to do much beyond scientific research (do you know how hard grants and thus an income -are hard to come by now) we can deal with regulation.Most of us did not follow this career path because of padding our pockets-believe it or not there are quite a few of who genuinely want to help people.Oh-I guess that defines us as socialists.
Also in medicine no matter the tax barcket we will always make an income better than most-so no-most of us will not be walking away. "
One other thing. At least Obama has been clear and concise. McSame isn't sure about much of anything these days. "
Just a thought. You go, Jodi!!!!!!!!! "
There are certain things I was taught decent people do or don't do. One thing I was taught that they don't do is to put a monetary price on human life. Yet, that's what our health care system has done. I know there are people who take advantage of the system but I also know a lot more that could and would work harder if they were healthy enough to do it. Unfortunately, those people can't afford to get proper healthcare. All other issues aside, the healthcare system in this country needs help. "
Your arrogance and sense of superiority based on a financial statement is enough to make a person gag. May I suggest a dose of humility to ease the affliction you seem to be burdened with. Perhaps you should seek it from those around you making less than $250,000 per year. That would include most physicians, lawyers, dentists, nurses, clergy, teachers, clerical workers, florists, hair stylists, farmers, factory workers, store clerks, truckers, chefs, lawn and garden specialists, etc., etc. etc. This great nation was built of the backs of people such as this and it's high time they get a break from carrying YOUR share of the load. "
However, if you look at the facts, instead of the am radio rhetoric, you will see a 3% raise in taxes for those over $250,000, is no where near a back breaker. Here is an example. From 2003 - 2005, on average, incomes for the top 1 percent of households rose by $465,700 each, or 42.6 percent after adjusting for inflation. The incomes of the poorest fifth rose by $200, or 1.3 percent, and the middle fifth increased by $2,400 or 4.3 percent.
So, think about it this way. Is it better to have one person with a million dollars, or is it better to have 10 people with $100,000 dollars? Who is going to spend the money in such a way to stimulate the economy? What purchases are better for America? One person flying off to a foreign country to vacation, or ten people buying food and staples at ten different local stores? Once again, trickle down did not work. Why not try trickle up. Give Joe six pack enough in his pocket to make him Joe 12 pack and let him take his family out to eat at a local establishment once in awhile, instead of one person spending money on French champagn and Russian caviar. "
Michelle Obama ordered room service at the Waldorf Astoria Wednesday Oct 15 and ordered two steamed lobsters, IRANIAN caviar, and champagne. This was in the NY Post, and reported in numerous media outlets. What if Sarah Palin had done this? Are Barack & Michelle Obama everyday people if they eat Iranian caviar, or is it just Russian caviar that makes someone rich and elitist? How did they pay for that? Probably with campaign donations that Joe Six Pack sent in! The Obama campaign is playing all of us like fiddles. Do you actually think his plans for wealth re-distribution will work? When they don't, what will his approval ratings be? I can't wait to see! "
When has anyone been denied care for not having insurance? Hospitals can't deny care, go sit in an emergency room and see for yourself! Major Medical policies are available for catastophic events, and are affordable. Don't hold your breath waiting for Obama health insurance. "
"And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves. for charity shall cover the multitude of sins." (I Peter,ch. IV, v. 8). If greed is a mortal sin, we could sure use a lot of charity these days! "
Wow;, I'm even more impressed with her now! She can really get things done!! "
O.K. So he will tax only those who earn $250,000 or more, than apply it to dividends so as not to discriminate. Get U.S. forces out of Japan, Germany, South Korea, and the former Czech republic now known as Bosnia. Bring your Kenyan brother to the U.S. or send aid to your actual 1/2 brother who lives on $1 a week. "
Hamon, I'd be exremely willing to have a higher portion of it taken because I'm willing to do my fair share as gratitude for the opportunities this great country gives me. The more you earn the more you benefit from this society and what it offers. Should I assume you aren't willing to do your fair share?
And actually I already do 'bank' a nice paycheck and am thrilled to do my patriotic duty. But it's not all without some self interest. You see I realize that having a stable 'middle' class is what allows for the upper classes to exist. Who is going to purchase the goods, services, etc. that allow someone to become wealthy when all the jobs for the middle class are outsource to Asia and South America? "
If you give $100,000 to the ten people, 80% of them would have it spent in a month on big screen TVs, fancy cel-phones, all kind of computer games, etc. The other 20% would invest it in business and employ what ever portion of those 80% that are willing to work. Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day, teaching a man to fish (or give him a job) and you feed him for a lifetime.
And to Michelle Obama: Are you doubting the lobster bill ever happened? You are really in the tank for Obama and his brain washing. "
http://www.nypost.com/seven/10212008/gossip/pagesix/room_disservice_134490.htm
Brain washed, huh? I don't think so... "
I truly wish people would actually give when they get to help everyone rise above, but I have no real faith in humanity as a whole. It's easy to say you would while you're on the bottom, but the view changes when you climb to the top.
Should USC, Oklahoma, or Texas give the Huskers 35 points to start each game because they've had better luck with their programs or have been bringing in more money for equipment or simply because the advantage is theirs right now?
By the by, I do NOT believe in the redistribution of wealth. Life is not fair. Get used to it. "
Then we agree on something Haman because I don't believe in redistribution of wealth either (I am aware of Senator Obama's 'spread the wealth around' comment and am disappointed in it). I believe that the more you benefit from the structure of a society the more you should be expected to support it. Progressive taxation, but not 'redistribution of wealth'. And I also don't believe in any type of pure marxism/socialism/communism. But then I don't believe in pure capitalism either. Most who say they do don't really have a clue what that would mean. How many Nebraskans tossing around the 'socialist' label during this election season are cashing social security or farm welfare checks? Guess what? This liberal even wants able bodied people to work rather than sit at home collecting welfare. But I realize that any system set up to help the truly helpless in society is going to be subject to abuse by a certain percentage of people. That's just an unfortunate side affect that we live with and try to keep to a minimum.
Your football analogy is silly.
I'm very well aware that life isn't fair and very used to it as well. "
progressive tax rates are the norm in our country, and have been since 1919, so the argument that Obama is changing this is a falsehood. The progressive era ushered in the theory that it is the government's responsibility to protect and care for those whom the capitalistic system hurts, because the industrial revolution proved that there is inherent inequality in the economic classes that hard work and effort is unable to overcome.
Your blanket statement covering this is an affront to patriotic, hard working americans who struggle daily to feed their families because of an increased financial burden imposed by the Bush/McCain theories that have time and time again been proven to not work to the benefit of all.
As a society, the primary goal should be to create a utopia that is just, rewards effort, and promotes equality. Incentive and free market are not what made this country great, what made this country great are the liberal principles set forth in the Declaration of Independence, that all men are created equal, and gifted by their Creator inalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. These are the principles that made this country great, and those in power have done more to harm these principles over the past 8 years than ever before seen in our nation's history. It is these principles that people should be afraid of losing. "
You see Liberals aren’t concerned with results they are simply concerned with feeling good. It made them feel good to give home loans to people who couldn't afford a home and now it makes them feel good to blame their pathetic leadership on Bush.
Obama is by definition a socialist. Socialism is a stage of society in Marxist theory transitional between capitalism and communism and distinguished by unequal distribution of goods and pay according to work done. Obama in his own words proves he is a socialist. The scary thing is that with Barney Frank and Nancy Pelosi in the house and Cris Dodd and Harry Reid in the Senate this country is no doubt on the road to socialism and the lemmings on the left are certain to see to it that it happens. And when it does there will be no one for them to blame but themselves and they will certainly not "feel good" about that. "