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Most Nebraskans seem to be nice people. We can pitch in and give our neighbors a hand as we often see in farm communities when some one is injured at harvest time. We can be generous when someone's house burns down. We can be friendly and concerned about our neighbors whom we know. But some how this doesn't translate into our politics. We elect government officials who do some really mean-spirited things. Congress wants to get tougher on welfare meaning stronger work rules and less training and education for those being pushed into the work place. This condemns them to the bottom paying jobs that don't help their situation.
Already the welfare rolls have been cut by half and those out there working are still in poverty because Congress refuses to adequately raise the minimum wage. And there is little thought given to seeking a really livable wage. Now Congress makes noise about pushing marriage as a solution. For some of these women marriage has meant an abusive alcoholic husband. Staying in such a situation or being pushed into it by the government would be an inexcusable cruelty. Recently the Congress allowed unemployment aid to end just at the holidays - merry Christmas! It also failed to pass drought relief for farmers and ranchers in dire straits. Some have had to sell out. (And when our government does aid farmers it seems the bulk of the money goes to those who are better off.
We had the resources to insure adequate medical care to all Americans but instead to gave tax cuts that mostly went to the wealthy. Or we could have put money aside for future Social Security and Medicare needs now instead we have growing government deficits and can do little about the problem.
And all this is just domestic cruelty. If you look at our relations with our Latin neighbors you find so many cruelties you can write a book on it.
Nebraska is doing its part in hurting low-income parents. Because of an administrative decision 1,000 Nebraska parents lost their child care subsidies on July 1. For one particular parent given as an example in the May 17 Journal Star it means having to spend 2/3 of her take home pay for day care. So what kind of choices do these parents have? Do we want them to become homeless? Leave their children home alone? Quit their jobs and go on welfare?
We severely cut the University system. The University then has to cut educational services and or raise tuition. The higher tuition rules out this avenue for advancement and better income for low-income families. Another cruelty. This educational disadvantage is compounded when we cut our money to our state schools, which are struggling to give a good education.
Jay Schmidt
Lincoln, NE
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