Southeast Nebraska speaks up: Letters to the editor for the week of Oct. 31, 2025
- Updated
Our weekly round-up of letters published in the Lincoln Journal Star.
The perception of a ballroom is totally insensitive to people during a government shutdown, who may not be receiving a paycheck, or are standing in line at food banks, or having to talk to creditors about extenuating circumstances that don’t allow them to meet their bills in time. Perhaps calling it a conference center would have been better received?
I am not a fan of the current administration, but I have noticed that any large gatherings for any administration must be held in either a hotel space or in a tent on the White House grounds, so such a building can serve a purpose. However, I would ask that the administration furnish all receipts for the building of this monstrosity to be shared with the American people who are the owners of this property for full transparency, not just the tenant.
“Must be prompt, get along with others, and complete tasks.â€
In any other job, failure to comply with expectations would mean documentation and letting that employee “go.â€
The recent allegations of sexual assaults at the Youth Rehabilitation and Treatment Center (YRTC) in Kearney are alarming and unacceptable. When the state assumes custody of young people, it also assumes full responsibility for their safety, well-being, and rehabilitation. Failing to protect them is a moral and systemic failure.
These allegations are not isolated; they echo years of reports about unsafe conditions, staff turnover and inadequate oversight in Nebraska’s youth facilities. It is clear that internal reviews and promises of reform are not enough. Transparency, accountability, and independent oversight must become the standard — not the exception.
It all has been said before. Our country is in trouble and Congress is afraid to act against the president who likes the authoritarian approach. His blatant refusal to follow the Constitution is dismaying.
Even if you hold the values of the former Republican Party, this is a chance for them to begin anew. We need to have back the system of checks and balances.Â
When I first saw the $20 billion in funds being sent to Argentina to prop up their inflated currency as well as Trump’s buddy, Milei, alarm bells sounded for me. This was not going to go well for Nebraska. Since then the story has only grown more suspect. Another $20 billion has been added to the offer, though apparently not from taxes. Trump made it clear he wants Milei to win, and Trump’s cabinet members and cronies have investments that will be shored up by these infusions of cash.
Our senators have supported this administration as it has enacted one destructive and unconstitutional policy after another. It should have been clear to anyone who is the least bit observant, that Trump is a totally unethical, self-centered liar. First Trump imposed tariffs decimating soybean sales. Next he forked out money to bail out Argentina, a country that is taking full advantage of the self-inflicted damage done by the tariffs by increasing their exports to China. It was the proposal by Trump to increase imports of Argentinian beef to lower beef prices that finally caused Sen. Fischer to rub the sleep from her eyes. As she thinks of her family’s beef cattle, she says to herself, “Maybe this administration does not have Nebraskan’s best interests at heart!†As much as hate to disappoint them, I must conclude, “No Deb and Pete, there is no ‘good’ Trump. There’s only the Grinch.†Don’t go back to sleep, rather take a good honest look at our current reality and act accordingly.
Today, we Americans should be alarmed by the flagrant lack of respect our federal and state governments have shown for our democratic form of government and their lack of communication with the American citizens.
The old adage that says, “It’s easier to ask for forgiveness than it is to ask for permission," assumes the would-be perpetrator cares what others think. The Governor’s Mansion next to the Nebraska State Capitol building is hardly being used. It could be razed and replaced with a fancy-dancy ballroom that most Nebraskans will never use.
It’s about time Sens. Fischer and Ricketts stepped up to stop some of President Trump’s devious ways. I thought he was all about using U.S. products, not buying from other countries, like beef from Argentina. I guess he doesn’t want the price of his quarter-pounder going up. Who OK'd the $20 billion being sent to Argentina? This money could be better spent helping homeless veterans, covering insurance, Medicaid, and providing food for those who need help in the U.S. Where were our senators when the bill was passed taking food away from children? Where are they now when they could vote to reverse these takeaways and get the federal government working again?
As to the ballroom being built at the White House: I imagine it might be necessary, but it’s the way the president rams things through without any input from others that gets me riled up. This ballroom is going to be larger than the White House, and he is tearing down the East Wing, which he lied would not happen.
Trump has lied yet again to the American people. In building his big, wonderful ballroom he said he wouldn't touch the existing building that he loved! Next comes the wrecking ball and the peoples' house is in rubble. He is in the process of taking the wrecking ball to our Constitution and has been for the past nine months or more. He is building his house, or a Taj Mahal, in which he has no intention of leaving, period! But nary a peep from any GOP members of Congress. They are all culpable in his disastrous plan of the destruction our Constitution and by trying to dismantle our universities, schools, justice system and anything or anybody who does not bend the knee or do his bidding.
He is a nihilist, by definition of Webster's dictionary, and is rebuilding his own idea of our democracy. His competency needs to be reviewed instead of investigating President Biden's for misuse of the presidential auto-pen! The GOP is holding the American people hostage by refusing to come back to Washington to end the shutdown instead of taking their vacation on the backs of the people. They are afraid to face the people who voted them in office to uphold our Constitution and save our democracy.
Trump is only the Grinch
When I first saw the $20 billion in funds being sent to Argentina to prop up their inflated currency as well as Trump’s buddy, Milei, alarm bells sounded for me. This was not going to go well for Nebraska. Since then the story has only grown more suspect. Another $20 billion has been added to the offer, though apparently not from taxes. Trump made it clear he wants Milei to win, and Trump’s cabinet members and cronies have investments that will be shored up by these infusions of cash.
More like this...
The perception of a ballroom is totally insensitive to people during a government shutdown, who may not be receiving a paycheck, or are standing in line at food banks, or having to talk to creditors about extenuating circumstances that don’t allow them to meet their bills in time. Perhaps calling it a conference center would have been better received?
I am not a fan of the current administration, but I have noticed that any large gatherings for any administration must be held in either a hotel space or in a tent on the White House grounds, so such a building can serve a purpose. However, I would ask that the administration furnish all receipts for the building of this monstrosity to be shared with the American people who are the owners of this property for full transparency, not just the tenant.
“Must be prompt, get along with others, and complete tasks.â€
In any other job, failure to comply with expectations would mean documentation and letting that employee “go.â€
The recent allegations of sexual assaults at the Youth Rehabilitation and Treatment Center (YRTC) in Kearney are alarming and unacceptable. When the state assumes custody of young people, it also assumes full responsibility for their safety, well-being, and rehabilitation. Failing to protect them is a moral and systemic failure.
These allegations are not isolated; they echo years of reports about unsafe conditions, staff turnover and inadequate oversight in Nebraska’s youth facilities. It is clear that internal reviews and promises of reform are not enough. Transparency, accountability, and independent oversight must become the standard — not the exception.
It all has been said before. Our country is in trouble and Congress is afraid to act against the president who likes the authoritarian approach. His blatant refusal to follow the Constitution is dismaying.
Even if you hold the values of the former Republican Party, this is a chance for them to begin anew. We need to have back the system of checks and balances.Â
When I first saw the $20 billion in funds being sent to Argentina to prop up their inflated currency as well as Trump’s buddy, Milei, alarm bells sounded for me. This was not going to go well for Nebraska. Since then the story has only grown more suspect. Another $20 billion has been added to the offer, though apparently not from taxes. Trump made it clear he wants Milei to win, and Trump’s cabinet members and cronies have investments that will be shored up by these infusions of cash.
Our senators have supported this administration as it has enacted one destructive and unconstitutional policy after another. It should have been clear to anyone who is the least bit observant, that Trump is a totally unethical, self-centered liar. First Trump imposed tariffs decimating soybean sales. Next he forked out money to bail out Argentina, a country that is taking full advantage of the self-inflicted damage done by the tariffs by increasing their exports to China. It was the proposal by Trump to increase imports of Argentinian beef to lower beef prices that finally caused Sen. Fischer to rub the sleep from her eyes. As she thinks of her family’s beef cattle, she says to herself, “Maybe this administration does not have Nebraskan’s best interests at heart!†As much as hate to disappoint them, I must conclude, “No Deb and Pete, there is no ‘good’ Trump. There’s only the Grinch.†Don’t go back to sleep, rather take a good honest look at our current reality and act accordingly.
Today, we Americans should be alarmed by the flagrant lack of respect our federal and state governments have shown for our democratic form of government and their lack of communication with the American citizens.
The old adage that says, “It’s easier to ask for forgiveness than it is to ask for permission," assumes the would-be perpetrator cares what others think. The Governor’s Mansion next to the Nebraska State Capitol building is hardly being used. It could be razed and replaced with a fancy-dancy ballroom that most Nebraskans will never use.
It’s about time Sens. Fischer and Ricketts stepped up to stop some of President Trump’s devious ways. I thought he was all about using U.S. products, not buying from other countries, like beef from Argentina. I guess he doesn’t want the price of his quarter-pounder going up. Who OK'd the $20 billion being sent to Argentina? This money could be better spent helping homeless veterans, covering insurance, Medicaid, and providing food for those who need help in the U.S. Where were our senators when the bill was passed taking food away from children? Where are they now when they could vote to reverse these takeaways and get the federal government working again?
As to the ballroom being built at the White House: I imagine it might be necessary, but it’s the way the president rams things through without any input from others that gets me riled up. This ballroom is going to be larger than the White House, and he is tearing down the East Wing, which he lied would not happen.
Trump has lied yet again to the American people. In building his big, wonderful ballroom he said he wouldn't touch the existing building that he loved! Next comes the wrecking ball and the peoples' house is in rubble. He is in the process of taking the wrecking ball to our Constitution and has been for the past nine months or more. He is building his house, or a Taj Mahal, in which he has no intention of leaving, period! But nary a peep from any GOP members of Congress. They are all culpable in his disastrous plan of the destruction our Constitution and by trying to dismantle our universities, schools, justice system and anything or anybody who does not bend the knee or do his bidding.
He is a nihilist, by definition of Webster's dictionary, and is rebuilding his own idea of our democracy. His competency needs to be reviewed instead of investigating President Biden's for misuse of the presidential auto-pen! The GOP is holding the American people hostage by refusing to come back to Washington to end the shutdown instead of taking their vacation on the backs of the people. They are afraid to face the people who voted them in office to uphold our Constitution and save our democracy.
Trump is only the Grinch
When I first saw the $20 billion in funds being sent to Argentina to prop up their inflated currency as well as Trump’s buddy, Milei, alarm bells sounded for me. This was not going to go well for Nebraska. Since then the story has only grown more suspect. Another $20 billion has been added to the offer, though apparently not from taxes. Trump made it clear he wants Milei to win, and Trump’s cabinet members and cronies have investments that will be shored up by these infusions of cash.
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