Southeast Nebraska speaks up: Letters to the editor for the week of Jul. 3, 2026
Our weekly round-up of letters published in the Lincoln Journal Star.
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To the folks who want to change the government, do so, harm none. One request, stop flying the American flag proclaiming yourselves patriots. It's our flag, you don't speak for all of us. Find your own flag, represent yourselves. Sad to say, but you've become the Redcoats in this scenario, with a King George III at the helm. If you are really patriots, then I ask you, where among you is Jefferson, Adams, Franklin, Washington, Lincoln? Until then you have become merely patriots in name only. PINOs. Our country was founded upon not agreeing with a king. A mad one at that. Why do we continue to follow anyone who hasn't been in the midst of reality? Never have they worried about rent, food, gas, sick days, daycare, medicine, working two jobs, dying on that job. How can that person represent us? Remember, we have less of a fall when we have already dug the hole.
Brad Koontz, Lincoln
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From the Declaration of Independence: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed …”
At times, the U.S. has lived up to those lofty ideals and we have accomplished many great things during our history. We are the richest country in the history of the world and we have liberated millions of people around the world from tyranny. We helped save the world from fascism during World War II and brought about the end of the Cold War. We should be proud of those achievements.
- Updated
Since the writing of The Declaration of Independence 250 years ago, the document has been an aspirational guide for our Republic and every generation needs to consider the words that have given hope to millions of people. It is also necessary to recognize and remember that countless people who lived and still live in this nation are opposed to the meaning of the words of this declaration.
In 1776 a significant number of inhabitants wanted to remain loyal to the British king. The Civil War was waged because some citizens opposed the truth stated in the Declaration that humans are created equal and endowed with a natural right to life and liberty. Some thought they were better than slaves from Africa and the Native people who lived here for centuries. Those who opposed this document oppressed immigrants and consolidated their power with the accumulation of wealth that was derived from the labor of others.
- Updated
We are a nation founded on Judeo-Christian values. If we don't speak up and defend this, we are not any better than the people making comments against our great country that are not true.
We live in the best country and must defend it with our words and actions. Please tell anyone putting us down they are wrong. Period. I love my being an American in this USA and will defend it until I die.
- Updated
A recent letter catalogued waste and fraud in SNAP — the program many of us still call food stamps — anchored by the familiar image of someone buying groceries with food stamps while driving a Mercedes. As lawmakers continue to advance cuts to SNAP, it’s worth asking why that single anecdote carries so much weight when the fuller picture with facts tells a different story.
* Food stamp fraud is real, but small and shrinking. The USDA’s own figures put benefit trafficking at roughly one to two cents on the dollar, and verified recipient fraud at a fraction of 1%. The program’s “error rate” is mostly honest mistakes in a complicated system, not theft.
- Updated
As someone who has voted for Republicans, Democrats, Independents and third-party candidates, I am always open to whichever candidate I believe is best, regardless of affiliation.
The race for U.S. House in Nebraska's 1st Congressional District presents a unique situation then. With an incumbent Republican who's been in D.C. for years, and a Democratic candidate who has also worked in DC for years in the State Department, neither candidate from the main two parties offers the sense of change that most Nebraskans are craving.
- Updated
To Sens. Ricketts and Fischer and Rep. Flood.
Aren’t you tired yet?
More like this...
To the folks who want to change the government, do so, harm none. One request, stop flying the American flag proclaiming yourselves patriots. It's our flag, you don't speak for all of us. Find your own flag, represent yourselves. Sad to say, but you've become the Redcoats in this scenario, with a King George III at the helm. If you are really patriots, then I ask you, where among you is Jefferson, Adams, Franklin, Washington, Lincoln? Until then you have become merely patriots in name only. PINOs. Our country was founded upon not agreeing with a king. A mad one at that. Why do we continue to follow anyone who hasn't been in the midst of reality? Never have they worried about rent, food, gas, sick days, daycare, medicine, working two jobs, dying on that job. How can that person represent us? Remember, we have less of a fall when we have already dug the hole.
Brad Koontz, Lincoln
From the Declaration of Independence: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed …”
At times, the U.S. has lived up to those lofty ideals and we have accomplished many great things during our history. We are the richest country in the history of the world and we have liberated millions of people around the world from tyranny. We helped save the world from fascism during World War II and brought about the end of the Cold War. We should be proud of those achievements.
Since the writing of The Declaration of Independence 250 years ago, the document has been an aspirational guide for our Republic and every generation needs to consider the words that have given hope to millions of people. It is also necessary to recognize and remember that countless people who lived and still live in this nation are opposed to the meaning of the words of this declaration.
In 1776 a significant number of inhabitants wanted to remain loyal to the British king. The Civil War was waged because some citizens opposed the truth stated in the Declaration that humans are created equal and endowed with a natural right to life and liberty. Some thought they were better than slaves from Africa and the Native people who lived here for centuries. Those who opposed this document oppressed immigrants and consolidated their power with the accumulation of wealth that was derived from the labor of others.
We are a nation founded on Judeo-Christian values. If we don't speak up and defend this, we are not any better than the people making comments against our great country that are not true.
We live in the best country and must defend it with our words and actions. Please tell anyone putting us down they are wrong. Period. I love my being an American in this USA and will defend it until I die.
A recent letter catalogued waste and fraud in SNAP — the program many of us still call food stamps — anchored by the familiar image of someone buying groceries with food stamps while driving a Mercedes. As lawmakers continue to advance cuts to SNAP, it’s worth asking why that single anecdote carries so much weight when the fuller picture with facts tells a different story.
* Food stamp fraud is real, but small and shrinking. The USDA’s own figures put benefit trafficking at roughly one to two cents on the dollar, and verified recipient fraud at a fraction of 1%. The program’s “error rate” is mostly honest mistakes in a complicated system, not theft.
As someone who has voted for Republicans, Democrats, Independents and third-party candidates, I am always open to whichever candidate I believe is best, regardless of affiliation.
The race for U.S. House in Nebraska's 1st Congressional District presents a unique situation then. With an incumbent Republican who's been in D.C. for years, and a Democratic candidate who has also worked in DC for years in the State Department, neither candidate from the main two parties offers the sense of change that most Nebraskans are craving.
To Sens. Ricketts and Fischer and Rep. Flood.
Aren’t you tired yet?
More like this...
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