No free needles
I am writing to express frustration with State Sen. Megan Hunt’s effort to pursue the distribution of taxpayer-funded hypodermic needles to drug addicts. Gov. Jim Pillen said no. We all know that providing taxpayer-funded tools to individuals who are violating society’s laws is ineffective. Build further upon this initiative’s foundation and it’s not hard to imagine advocating for taxpayer-funded automobiles that have safety features to protect alcoholics who decide to drive and hurt themselves in car accidents. What about providing safe firearms to bank robbers and muggers, to preclude self-harm? These are extremes but illuminate the slippery slope Sen. Hunt wants Nebraska to start down. I don’t want Nebraska to learn what Oregon recently discovered, as they revise their drug decriminalization experiment due to a rise in drug use and deaths. I especially don’t want this done on my dime!
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Drug use and addiction are serious crimes that impact addicts, their families, neighbors, and the society these people have a responsibility to contribute to. Enabling drug use by giving out needles at society’s expense is not going to fix these people. We need serious solutions that are within available resources and embrace personal accountability.
Michael R. Fischer, Bellevue
Military warnings
In the last six years, more than 700 former defense department leaders have spoken out against Donald Trump.
A New York Times editorial condemning Trump was signed by Admirals Steve Abbot, James Loy, John Nathman and William Owens; and four-star Generals Peter Chiarelli, John Jumper and Johnnie Wilson.
Marine Corps Gen. James Mattis, former secretary of defense under Trump, said “Donald Trump is the first president in my lifetime who does not try to unite the American people – does not even pretend to try. Instead he tries to divide us.… We are witnessing the consequences of three years without mature leadership.”
In a Washington Post letter, Ash Carter, Leon Panetta and Chuck Hagel, all former defense secretaries, joined more than 85 other former defense officials, saying “As former leaders in the Defense Department — civilian and military, Republican, Democrat and independent — we all took an oath upon assuming office ‘to support and defend the Constitution of the United States’ as did the president and all members of the military, a fact that Gen. Milley pointed out in a recent memorandum to members of the armed forces. We are alarmed at how the president is betraying this oath by threatening to order members of the U.S. military to violate the rights of their fellow Americans.”
Others who have condemned Trump include:
- Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, Air Force Gen. Richard Myers, and Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, all former chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
- Marine Corps. Gen. John Kelly, former chief of staff to Trump.
- Army Gen. Raymond A. “Tony” Thomas, former commander of U.S. Special Operations Command under Trump.
- William Perry, former defense secretary.
- Navy Adm. James Stavridis, former Supreme Allied Commander of NATO.
- Air Force Gen. Mike Hayden, former director of the CIA and NSA.
We should listen to them.
Barry Anderson, Omaha
Power over democracy?
After Jan. 6, 2021, Mitch McConnell, Lindsay Graham, Ted Cruz, to name a few, came out strongly against Trump. They said it was time for him to go. They all ran for their lives as the insurrectionists violently stormed the U.S. Capitol. We all watched this unfold on TV. However, these Republican senators, including our own, Deb Fischer, caved when, after Trump’s impeachment, they failed to convict. That would have put an end to this Trump nightmare.
Instead, now these same people are part of 33 GOP senators and 137 House Republicans who have endorsed Donald Trump for 2024. Our senator, Deb Fischer, who has sworn to uphold the Constitution, has betrayed us. She abandoned Republicans like Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger who put country before party and stood up to Trump. Sen. Fischer endorses a man who has been indicted in four separate criminal cases and charged in a total of dozens of felony counts. She endorses a man who has been convicted of sexual assault and also tried twice for defamation of character. Two of those convictions were decided by juries.
Fischer is endorsing a man who has been convicted of falsifying business records. Trump loves and respects autocrats like Putin and Erdogan, and he wants to run our country as an autocracy. He has started his autocratic approach as he strips the Republican National Committee of long-term staff so he can replace them with “loyal” persons. Trump has demonstrated that he cannot be trusted with our country’s most classified secrets, and obstructed collection of those documents. I do not understand how someone who has worked in our government can ignore the reality of Trump. I can only conclude Deb Fischer and all other Republican lawmakers who are endorsing and enabling Trump value power more than democracy.
Deanna Reilly, Omaha
Make our primary relevant
Like every other presidential primary season since I became eligible to vote, it has become fairly clear that when Nebraska’s primary rolls around again in May, our options will be limited to the Democrat or Republican who has already been effectively nominated by the delegate counts received in the primaries that precede ours. The Super Tuesday primaries which include California and Texas, and the other delegate-rich states of Florida, New York and Illinois, all occur before our chance to vote. For many voters in our state, the presidential primary has essentially become a “pick your poison” or protest vote as there are no other viable options.
Since Nebraska is one of only two states that allocates its electoral votes by district in the general election as opposed to winner-take-all (the other being Maine, a Super Tuesday primary), Nebraska has a very unique opportunity to have a greater say in choosing the next president by having a primary on Super Tuesday or earlier. In addition, we would benefit from the increased presence of the candidates coming to our state to campaign for our vote. And, as an added bonus, voter turnout would likely be higher — benefitting all of the other races and issues on the ballot including the Senate, House, and Nebraska Legislature, making those campaigns more competitive.
I encourage the powers that be to consider making this change. If you are in agreement with my stance, I also encourage you to make your opinion known to those decision makers. And finally, regardless of when the primary is and who the candidates are, exercise your right to vote.
Brian Leimbach, Omaha
Evangelical question
There was a time when “Christian” meant “follower of Christ.” A Christian (follower of Christ) endeavors to live according to the principles that Jesus taught in the New Testament, summarized in his words, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” One can find many examples of how Jesus demonstrated how to show love to our neighbors. He provided health care to the sick and suffering, food to the hungry, love to those who were not like him, and genuine concern for the people of his time, even those who made his life miserable. Suppose Jesus had met a woman who had an abortion — would he scream at her, or would he treat her with the same love and care he showed to all he met?
Today’s “Christian evangelicals” seem to be permanently angry, hate anyone who is different from them, are resentful of helping those who need food or shelter for their families. Can you imagine Jesus putting barbed wire up to keep people away? Voters have every right to demand action on our southern border; in fact, all citizens should have concern for the chaos there. But surely there are humane solutions available to politicians who want to implement them, as opposed to using immigrants for political gain.
Some “Christian evangelicals” seem to be uniting behind a candidate who cares little for anyone who doesn’t fully support him, who sees truth-telling as not useful to his own interests, who used a lie to create a false “truth” about our elections. Some years ago people wore bracelets that said “WWJD.” I wonder what Jesus would do at a Trump rally?
Patricia Ohlmann, Seward, Neb.
Affordable connectivity program
If you are, or know, a low-income or elderly citizen, you need to know that the program to provide some financial assistance started during COVID is about to be discontinued, pending possible funding renewal from the government. It is the Affordable Connectivity Program and is a possible lifeline that should be continued. Call your representative.
Linda Smith, Omaha
OWH Public Pulse February 2024
Public Pulse writers have views about former president Donald Trump, Gov. Jim Pillen and the conflict in the Middle East.
Public Pulse writers share thanks following the January snowstorm.
A Public Pulse writer recalls trying to get home during the Thanksgiving weekend blizzard of 1983.
A Public Pulse writer says the potholes around Omaha's streets are "deplorable" and give visitors a bad impression of the city.
Public Pulse writers give differing views on the Israel-Hamas war.
A Public Pulse writer says a military strike on Iran for its support of attacks on U.S. troops or unarmed ships would stop the problem, but the Biden administration doesn't have the guts to do it.
Public Pulse writers offer kudos for stories and photos in the Omaha World-Herald.
A Public Pulse writer says the Nebraska Legislature's vote on daylight saving time shows that lawmakers are out of touch with the voters they represent.
One Public Pulse writer is impressed with a "fabulous" photo in The World-Herald. Another writer has an idea for raising the sales tax without hurting lower-income people.
A Public Pulse writer reflects on what is good about Omaha's Eppley Airfield and offers ideas for its future renovation.
A Public Pulse writer laments health insurance costs and the current Medicare system.
A Public Pulse writer says the ultimate cause of the migration problem is climate change.
Public Pulse writers give their thoughts on the impact of climate change.
A Public Pulse writer wonders how Omaha police will use automated license plate readers on cars with no license plates.
A Public Pulse writer says that after its Feb. 20 upset of No. 1 UConn, Creighton is now a big school in the college basketball universe.
Public Pulse writers criticize lawmakers for not backing a bill to address the border crisis.
A Public Pulse writer says instead of spurring inner-city development, the streetcar will threaten the very neighborhoods it runs through.