The Public Pulse: ‘Proper use and respect of the United States flag is expected’

Not to challenge anyone on their patriotism, but proper use and respect of the United States flag is expected with public civil discourse. Please communicate this matter with your neighbors.

I have noticed many Omaha homes fly the flag of foreign countries, absent of a U.S. flag. However, in flying a foreign flag, you should also fly the U.S. flag and a higher height. This is not merely a matter of good flag etiquette but proper communication of symbols.

At the same time, numerous local parades fail to have flag bearers of the U.S. and Nebraska flags. Anyone organizing a parade should make a point of having such flag bearers carrying such flag, no matter how small the parade.

To some, this may seem trivial but many have answered our country’s call to arms and defense, and did so at great risk to their own lives. Absent a U.S. flag, the public civil discourse can become confusing and confrontational.

Andrew L. Sullivan, Omaha

Return Inflation Reduction Act money

Our uniformly Republican members of Congress could make a name for themselves, and Nebraska a leader in the true conservative action promised by the results of the 2024 election, by proposing that all the unspent money from the Biden era Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) be returned to the federal government. Those elected officials and the people who elected them all claim that it was those federal dollars that caused inflation, and all of them voted against the bill, so why not do what they can to prevent the harmful and wasteful spending of it now that they have the power to do it?

Nebraska is due to get over $50 billion from the IRA, and our governor has, instead of just refusing or returning the money, created a new state agency to pass it out for such wasteful things as paying for the installation of internet service to rural Nebraska so people can play games, or stream Netflix, or other such activity. As believers in the free market, I expect almost every Nebraskan thinks that the free market, not the government, should be the provider of such goods and services.

I often hear people complain that politicians say one thing and do another, so this would be a great opportunity for ours to show they are different and how we self-reliant Nebraskans are united behind them.

James Regan, Omaha

Casting votes in the Electoral College

On Dec. 17, I cast the Nebraska Congressional District 2 Electoral votes for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, and delivered the following comments to Gov. Jim Pillen and those in attendance.

“Governor Pillen: I am aware that one of your priorities for the 2025 legislative session is to return our split electoral vote to winner-take-all after 33 years. You may not be aware that, although initiated by Diana Shemik, that bill was co-sponsored by senators of each major party.

I am willing to assume that you believe in democracy and our democratic way of life. If that is so, it defies reason to not continue our current system which more closely represents one person/one vote. I have lived in and voted in Nebraska for 53 years and until the enactment of the split electoral vote my vote didn’t count, being a Democrat in this otherwise Republican state.

Not only is it the fairer way to let the voices of the people be heard, it puts Nebraska on the map, in the national news and brings otherwise absent-campaigners to the State, particularly, at this time, in Congressional District 2. Some 25 paid staffers, three campaign offices, news media personnel and countless Blue Dots contributed significant dollars to the state’s economy,

Because of the split electoral vote, Nebraska is no longer a fly-over state during presidential election season. Do you think Nebraska would be in the national news, even mentioned, if not for the potential split vote? You and I know the answer is no.

In closing, although this is not the celebratory event I had hoped for, I am proud to have cast the Congressional District 2 Electoral votes for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz. They were votes for the continuation of our democracy and our Constitution.”

Peg O’Dea Lippert, Omaha

Revisting woke

How in the world has it become a bad thing to be known as woke?

I’m still hearing this word from those on the right. In reality, it means being aware of issues concerning social justice and equality, or the injustices and inequality. It started long ago because Black people needed to stay alert to the bigotry and discrimination around them, they needed it for their own survival. Now some people (I might describe as the “White elite”) want to forget that part of this country’s past, which includes erasing it from our books or not allowing discussion of it. Not all history of the United States is to be proud of, but we should remain aware of all of it. States on their own should not be able to take history out of school academic courses. The Civil War decided that all states are united and the Constitution applies to all states, not that the evangelical right wing to decide issues for all people. There is supposed to be a separation of church and state.

It has been written, “those who do not remember the past, are condemned to repeat it.”

It’s sad that people think it’s a good thing to keep their eyes shut and not be awake to past history and what’s presently going on in the world.

Richard Kowalski, Omaha

Social Security benefits

I got my annual Social Security raise notice today via mail. I got a whole $46 raise! I really doubt if that keeps up with the inflation we are experiencing right now, but it will allow me to buy a couple dozen eggs next month!

Thank you, Mr. Biden.

R E Kistner, Omaha

Use tech to enforce traffic laws

I appreciate law enforcements’ recent calls to make November a month of enforcing expired plates, but it’s not enough and hasn’t been enough.

People in Omaha break laws because they know they can get away with it. We shouldn’t need special enforcement efforts and coordinated traps to catch these offenders. Having a vehicle with no license plates should be cause to be pulled over at all times. I think our city and state need to employ more enforcement technology. Officers can’t be everywhere at once. Red-light runners and people flying through right turns at red lights should be ticketed via cameras. The parking garages in this city ticket people when they enter without paying. We should similarly employ technology to catch and ticket traffic violations. Officers need to increase enforcement for unlicensed vehicles so recording technology is effective. We’ve had many hit-and-runs this year caught on camera, but unidentifiable because the vehicle was not plated. Plates on both front and back of the vehicle need to be enforced.

And the city and Omaha Police Department’s regular claim they are understaffed is no excuse. The voters approved every bond increase on the ballot, so they can’t claim it’s a lack of funding. They also state how many open positions there are, but they don’t tell us what departments. We need to know how many open positions there are in traffic enforcement and ensure it stays staffed.

Kayla Lamb, Omaha

Fortenberry trial delay

Seeking to delay his trial until after Donald Trump’s inauguration, I think Jeff Fortenberry clearly believes he’ll fare better when another convicted felon is in charge. Birds of a feather, and all.

James Reed, Omaha