Health Care Reform: Republicans Helping Implementation (For Our Own Good)

“The essence of Government is power; and power, lodged as it must be in human hands, will ever be liable to abuse.” ~ James Madison, 1829 So, all quiet on the health care front? Definitely not. There were recent news reports about the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to consolidate and hear several health care law… more

Continue ReadingHealth Care Reform: Republicans Helping Implementation (For Our Own Good)

Reader: Nebraskans Voted For Constitutional Amendment About Marriage

One of GiN’s readers has kindly offered to share his letter written to the NU Board of Regents about President Millken’s proposal to extend medical benefits to domestic partners of University System employees. The letter appears below, and thanks to Michael for sending it in. I’d also like to report that this subject has garnered… more

Continue ReadingReader: Nebraskans Voted For Constitutional Amendment About Marriage

Questions: What Is Justice? Does It Exist?

We here at GiN have been focused a lot on the City’s handling of the Occupy Lincoln issue, first and foremost because of the need for justice – the need for justice for all. Since it’s Sunday, a day of rest and reflection seems appropriate. In considering what I might share here, I wondered what… more

Continue ReadingQuestions: What Is Justice? Does It Exist?

City Attorney RE Occupy Lincoln – Double Standard, Double Talk

Earlier this week, Julie Schmit-Albin, Linda and myself spoke with reporter Kay Kemmet from the Omaha World-Herald about the City’s handling of different groups and their use of public spaces, and specifically, of course, their handling of the Occupy Lincoln group. Her story was published on Friday; click the image to read it in full.… more

Continue ReadingCity Attorney RE Occupy Lincoln – Double Standard, Double Talk

NU Domestic Partner Benefits: Trying To Keep Up With The (Immoral) Joneses

753px-Gustave_Doré_-_Dante_Alighieri_-_Inferno_-_Plate_22_Canto_VII_-_Hoarders_and_WastersThanks to Nancy Carr and Reverend Shannon Chestnut for bringing this issue to my attention. I have been a little pre-Occupy-ed lately. Nebraska’s Board of Regents is apparently poised to approve a provision that would extend the University systems’ employee benefits to same sex and unmarried cohabiting partners. Reportedly, the rationale for extending those benefits is to ensure that Nebraska’s “institutions of higher learning” —– YES I use that term VERY loosely —– remain competitive with peers in the ivory towers of the upper crust elites known as universities and colleges. The pressure to be competitive, I now read, has increased since Nebraska became a member of the Big Ten. Geez. Making football the center of a state’s universe actually has consequences, huh? Source post to continue reading >>>

Continue ReadingNU Domestic Partner Benefits: Trying To Keep Up With The (Immoral) Joneses

Occupy Lincoln Tipi Smokes and City Ordinances Burn, Officials Fiddle

Following the issuance of a press release, Linda and I, as representatives of GiN, were invited on Coby Mach’s Drive Time Lincoln radio show. That press release and our discussion echoed and expanded upon the concerns of Nebraska Right to Life about City of Lincoln officials’ treatment of the Occupy Lincoln group as compared to… more

Continue ReadingOccupy Lincoln Tipi Smokes and City Ordinances Burn, Officials Fiddle

Nebraska Right To Life Not Alone In Concerns About City Of Lincoln’s Handling Of Occupy Group

I hope all of our visitors had a blessed and peaceful Thanksgiving holiday. I took an extended (and unannounced) holiday break myself and very much enjoyed time with family. I even enjoyed chasing dust bunnies and scrubbing word work in preparation for our usual Thanksgiving visitors. My computer was off and if a TV was…

Continue ReadingNebraska Right To Life Not Alone In Concerns About City Of Lincoln’s Handling Of Occupy Group

The New National Past Time: Pipeline Hot Potato

It’s a bird! It’s a plane! No! Wait… Is that a football? No, but it is brown. And it is oblong. Hey, it’s smoking! Wait! It’s a hot potato! It’s America’s new national past time and no, sorry, Husker fans, it is not football. It’s called Pipeline Hot Potato. So, let’s play! Let’s meet our… more

Continue ReadingThe New National Past Time: Pipeline Hot Potato

The More The Plans Fail – A NATIONAL Alert System Test At 2pm CST Nov. 9

This is a post – a really short post – do not be alarmed – there will not be that much reading to do  – do not pass go…do not collect $200 (I think that’s like, $20,000 adjusted for inflation, right?) Anyway… If this had been an actual article, it would actually include important and… more

Continue ReadingThe More The Plans Fail – A NATIONAL Alert System Test At 2pm CST Nov. 9

So We Had A Resolution, Huh? Hmm. How IS That State Sovereignty Thing Workin’ Out For Us?

Nebraska was one of only fourteen states to see the successful passage of a State Sovereignty Resolution in the two year period 2009 – 2010, while well over thirty states had resolutions. In other words, the passage of the Nebraska resolution on April 13, 20101 , was no small thing. It took an organized effort… more

Continue ReadingSo We Had A Resolution, Huh? Hmm. How IS That State Sovereignty Thing Workin’ Out For Us?