Letters to the Editor

MEDI-“SCARE” has now officially appeared in Nebraska. Yep, I heard it on KICX radio in McCook (how appropriate) last Saturday while driving to work at Quality Urgent Care, in McCook, from my home in Gothenburg.

Ben Nelson was “approving” a message from the Nebraska Democratic Party. In summary, he will vote to control costs but not “on the backs of our seniors.”

Medi-scare is a play on words. It is what the Democratic party wants to use to take our minds off the horrible economy, soaring deficits and rising unemployment.

The Democrats have nothing else to campaign on. They have to “change the subject.” And scaring seniors about Medicare and social security is what they have chosen to use in this election.

Now, here’s another new word, MEDI-FACT! It is a fact that Medicare is going broke. I’m turning 55 years old in October of this year. Without, substantial changes, Medicare will not be solvent in 10 years.

Here’s another fact, the suggested changes to Medicare do not affect our current seniors. They will continue on, as though nothing has changed. The only changes will be for those of us, not yet closer, than 10 years, to Medicare age.

And here’s another fact left out of the radio spot, “obamacare” will, in part, “pay for itself” by taking $500 million, (a half a billion dollars) out of, an already financially teetering, Medicare.

And finally, the most important fact, the fact that the Nebraska Democratic Party left out of their Medi-scare announcement…Ben Nelson is the reason that we have a brand new bureaucracy that will further bankrupt our economy. We have obamacare, because of Ben Nelson.

We all remember, the nation as a whole did not want this new “entitlement program,” but Ben took a $17 billion “bribe” and he was the vote that gave us obamacare. That whole episode didn’t pass the smell test. The quid pro quo for which that “deal” was all about is just the thing that makes us all dislike our senators and congressmen so much.

Well, Sen. Nelson, this Medi-“scare” angle also doesn’t pass the smell test either. It’s not the truth, and you and your Democratic Party buddies know it. So let’s get to the real issues for this campaign, to quote a Bill Clinton---It’s the economy….stupid!

Jay Matzke, M.D., Gothenburg

I have been trying to decipher the 7-6-11 letter to the editor.

What I have come up with is that the writer believes that Barack Obama is a weak leader because he cut back on funding for the Egyptian people, even though the Egyptian government resisted our aid and placed many obstacles making it difficult to complete activities for both USAID/Egypt’s bilateral programs and civil society direct grants programs. Most of the debate around the democracy and governance programs focuses on the question of whether they work.

Between 2005 and 2009 when democracy funding was at its peak, the Freedom House ratings showed Egypt in the “not free” category. The writer said that Obama helped bring about the likelihood that radicals will come to power there. Maybe the writer believes we should have helped to keep a corrupt dictator (Mubarak) in power. He said “at least there was peace”; if you can call corruption and allowing abuse of his own people peace.

The writer obviously feels that Obama should not have reduced funding to the Egyptian people but believes that entitlements (Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, educational benefits, farm programs, etc.), which help our own people, are socialism.

Penny Fattig, Gothenburg

I had the pleasure of touring Gothenburg Public Schools on Saturday, July 2, with the GHS Class of 1991 20-year reunion group. Even though I currently have two children in the system and go to events there regularly, I still wanted to take part in that tour because I am just awestruck by that facility. It is still unbelievable to me that a town of 3,500 people has such a wonderful facility and that the administration now has to deal with the “problem” of a student population that is growing faster than ever projected.

Another thing that struck me was the pride and passion that superintendent Mike Teahon had when he gave that tour. As a taxpayer in District 20, I am truly proud of the way in which my tax dollars are being spent.

I appreciated the openness and transparency displayed by Mr. Teahon when talking about all aspects of the school system. He is proud to tell anyone the whole story anytime they want to take the time to listen.

Mr. Teahon commented that he has given a tour nearly every weekend this summer. He does not have to do that. He did not have to give up part of his holiday weekend for me. He did that because he has a passion and love for his school and his community and he is proud to share the story.

The heart of every small community is their school. In a day when many small schools are struggling to keep their doors open, Gothenburg is not only keeping the doors open, they are remodeling and adding on to parts of the facility while not placing any further burden on the taxpayers. The planning and forethought of our superintendent and his board is second to none.

Scott Bartels, Gothenburg, GHS Class of 1991

In my June 22 letter I wrote about the Bush administration’s handling of funding for democracy promotion and civil society groups in Egypt. The writer of a June 29 letter quoted, “The Government of Egypt has resisted USAID/Egypt’s democracy and governance program...” and “Per the Egyptian government’s complaints, the U.S. now limits it’s funding to NGOs registered with the (Egyptian) government, therefore excluding most human rights groups...” They wrote, “Most times there are two sides to a story.”

I fail to see how this added information is another side of the story. It only reinforces my point that (as perhaps the weakest president we have ever had) Obama didn’t want that fight and cut funding for the people of Egypt. I was under the impression that Democrats are the “party of the people.” Obama helped bring about the likelihood that radicals (Muslim Brotherhood) will come to power there. He seems to have no problem funding whatever government that might bring. Will they keep the Suez Canal open?

Bush was under the same pressure from the Egyptian government, but had the determination to go around President Mubarak, who I wrote, was no humanitarian toward his people. From a Washington Post article: “The George W. Bush administration tried to change the dynamic regarding civil society funding, though its effort met with fierce resistance by the Egyptian government.” and “The Bush administration’s effort was also backed by Congress, which...directed that assistance shall not be subject to the prior approval by the government of any foreign country.”

In the same article: “Toward the end of Bush’s term, his fiscal year 2009 budget proposed spending $45 million on democracy and good-governance programs…$20 million on promoting civil society…the same as 2008.” and “A 2009 audit of Egyptian aid by the USAID inspector general found that the results of the U.S. government’s democracy effort were mixed, though the greatest success was achieved in programs funded directly by the United States.” Since we were already giving them money, it seems to me that Bush’s policy was more effective (and less harmful).

The writer found it ironic that Republican tea partiers are against funding socialism in our country, “but don’t seem to mind the aid that goes to foreign countries.” First of all, tea partiers are not exclusively Republican. Many are also Libertarians and fiscal Democrats. Secondly, the broad statement about foreign aid shows ignorance of tea party views. Many oppose involvement in foreign ventures, e.g. presidential candidate Ron Paul. Nothing in my letter implied that I was for or against the funding. I wrote, “at least there was peace.” But, there was also corruption and suffering.

Bruce K. Rutherford, author of “Egypt After Mubarak,” commented on Obama’s cuts in contrast to his Cairo speech. “There was the perception that he did the opposite of what he said he would do and there is anger and disillusionment at the U.S. and Obama in general among almost everyone I talk to in Egypt.” Thanks Barry!

Neil A. Davis, Gothenburg