Abortion
I oppose abortion. I believe that every baby has a soul. I also believe that the mother als has ultimate authority over her body. Many women have been abused.
Federal Farm Policy
Since 1998 Nebraska has lost 6,500+ family farms, similar to Iowa. In the 3rd Congressional District we have lost population and farms have gotten bigger and bigger. My personal concern is that eventually, under this trend, foreign money will come into our market and buy out these large corporate farms with "foreign equities."
Federal Spending
It must be managed better! Our politicians (including the President and Federal Regulators) have done a very, very poor job with only emergency patch jobs for quick fixes! it will not be easy! We are in debt beyond belief, totaling trillions. I am from the greatest generation and lived through the Great Depression. If we do not use smart, long-range thinking, we will have difficulty getting things back in order.
U.S. Economy
We have had an imbalance of trade for many years. Our econmy must have a combination of a number of issues happening: (a) confidence of living, (b) solid opportunity for each one of us, (c) a solid dollar, (d) solid education and personal values. We need them all!
Education Includes Family Values
We have witnessed high school graduates who cannot handle making change; they struggle with simple addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. They fail at reading and, of course, writing. Also, what has become of manners, hygiene, personal grooming, knowing right from wrong, having an awareness of history and patriotic disciplines?
Health Care
The United States has the best health care in the world! Costs may be reduced if we allow the freedom of competition. We must do a better job of managing the system.
Immigration
All of our ancestors were immigrants, each of them migrated into this land from some place else. We must adopt a plan to know who is entering our country, similar to the Ellis Island registrations, we must have a system, not open borders.
I have been told there is a short street named "Stoddard Street" in Plymouth, Massachusetts. A blood relative, Amos Stoddard, was in charge of the St. Louis signing of the Louisiana Purchase. Isn't it wonderful that our country is made up of various nationalities and races? Look what we have accomplished in just these past 100 years . . . pretty wonderful!
The War in Iraq
Alan Greenspan has stated that the Iraq war is over Iraq's oil. From what I have seen or heard from reliable news sources, the cost of the war is unreal and is giving us much financial difficulty.
What do I think? I feel it is much like Vietnam. We must conclude the war with as much dignity as possible. We may not be able to do that with the different religious sects they have - arguing amongst themselves. I must get all the facts. I know they are different than we are. They have beheaded and tortured people.
The war may not be able to be bought ot a good conclusion, but I would work towards that goal!
Social Security
Social Security is one of the very best things our country has ever passed. It was passed in 1935 without a single Republican vote. The largest beneficiaries are families, widows, and children, as men do not live as long as women. Social Security allows them to live in dignity.
We all should know it is "our" money that we pay into the sysem and not government money. Our employers paid into the system for us as well. The Social Security Trust has been abused by our politicians, regarless of party affiliation. They have taken money from the trust . . . and never paid it back!! I do know they have taken from the trust and directed millions of it to the Iraq war.
Taxes
Federal Income Tax, Nebraska Income Tax, property tax, sales taxes, railroad taxes, auto and truck taxes, water taxes, Federal Clean Water Act taxes, electric sales tax, auto gas and diesel taxes, home heating gas tax, city taxes, county taxes, other state taxes, employment taxes and I believe the list goes on and on. Believe me, there are others - elevator taxes, grain, building, sewer, liquor, cigarette, airline tickets, tec., etc.
Yes, the tail is wagging the dog!! An August 21, 2005 Omaha World Herald - front page article stated that the Nebraska Teachers Retirement Fund was $750,000,000 short. Yes, they just added another 25 year, $15,400,000 tax. We have never had an update.