I feel this is all the fault of mayor Margaret Hornady. She appointed five of the eight councilpersons who voted for the smoking ban . I think she rigged the whole thing. I don't trust her or any other politician they all speak out of both sides of their mouths.

As a result of the council vote, smokers will now go to St. Libory, Chapman, Doniphan, Alda and Wood River to have a cigarette and a few beers. This also will put many more drunks on the road when they return home to Grand Island.

I am a Ward 5 voter and will not be voting for Councilwoman Haase's husband when he runs for council. Haase has made the smoking ban her personal agenda item and it will harm the entire city.

I think there needs to be a recall election to remove the mayor and the council members who voted for the smoking ban. It is time to get rid of the whole bunch.

I do have a lot of respect for Councilmembers Nickerson and Meyers for having the guts to vote no on the ban. I agree with them that the city should have waited until the state smoking ban kicks in effective June 1, 2009.

Frank Stahlnecker

3223 Kelly St.

State smoking ban removes rights

I heard the Governor of Nebraska decided to sign a bill to ban smoking in public places. This is ridiculous! I guess it's ok to take away the rights of people as long as it makes it better for you? Our country seems to be becoming more of a dictatorship instead of a democracy. We are allowing law makers to take our rights and freedoms away from us.

I used to smoke, but no longer do. There are many places I don't like to go anymore just because the smoke smell bothers me. And yes, second hand smoke is bad for you as well. But, if you don't like it, then don't be around it! I don't like it, so I don't go in. It's not that hard.

The choice to not have smoking in an establishment should be up to the owner. If they prefer to allow it then that's their right. We shouldn't trample on there rights to have smoking if they choose to.

I'll say again, if you don't like being around cigarette smoke, than don't go into that business, it's that simple! Just because somebody doesn't like something, doesn't mean that everyone else has to give up there rights for those who think everything should be a certain way just to make there lives easier.

Sara Graham

Kearney

Legislators, amend your ways

Regarding last Saturday's Independent front page article "Heinemann Blasts Lawmakers for Killing Bill," Governor Heineman was correct about angering people. I am one. I hope to be clear enough for our lawmakers to get the point.

Last week a Nebraska legislative committee killed bill LB963 that would exclude illegal immigrants from receiving state benefits. I feel this shows what a bunch of spineless clowns we have elected to our state government. I personally challenge you (state lawmakers) to start being prudent with our tax money.

I do hope Grand Island's Senator Aguilar will show integrity and leadership by convincing the responsible committee to reverse their vote on LB963.

What part of the word illegal do our lawmakers not understand? Illegal immigrants are breaking the law by just setting one foot onto American soil and are not entitled to benefits, period. Americans should not tolerate or be required to support the illegal immigrants whose own countries should be supporting them.

Lawmakers, do you understand the money and benefits you so freely give away to illegal immigrants comes from us, the legal citizen taxpayers of Nebraska? You lawmakers need to get backbones and quit pandering to the rich special interest groups wanting cheap labor. I challenge you to start working for the quiet (so far) majority, the legal citizens who elected you to office, those who spend their time working for a living.

Illegal immigration is only one of America's problems, but it's as good an issue as any to start fixing. Look, I don't want to see anyone on earth go hungry, American or otherwise. However, our country is broke and not the rich Uncle Sam of days gone by. America can no longer afford to accept and take care of the world's poor hungry masses. We cannot currently afford to take care of ourselves, just look at our budget and trade deficits.

As of March 03, 2008 America was nearly 9.4 trillion dollars in debt, $31,000 for every man, woman, and child in America. A family of four owes $124,000. America must put its house back in order or we will all be hungry in the future. Americans must regain control of politicians from multinational special interest groups and mega corporations who have no interests but their own balance sheet, power, and mega bonuses. They heavily influence most politicians for their own short term gain without regard for the good of the people. Their practices are helping bury our children, grandchildren, and only God knows how many more generations deeply in debt.

R. L. Ericson

656 Joehnck Rd.