Showing posts with label trump. Show all posts
Showing posts with label trump. Show all posts

Monday, January 12, 2026

DOJ Investigate the Murder of Renee Good - Remove Harmeet Dhillon from DOJ, Impeach Trump, end ICE

 Greetings,


I ask that Harmeet Dhillon be fired from the DOJ and that the DOJ launch a full investigation into the murder of Renee Good by ICE Agent Jonathon Ross. Ross should be fired immediately and thrown in jail.

I ask that ICE operations be suspended indefinitely and that all complaints, murders, attacks and violations of ICE agents be investigated immediately to the full extent of the law. We need justice and openness. Kristi Noem needs to be impeached. 


I ask that Trump be impeached from office. I remember a time when the President would have said that the death of a civilian is a tragedy and a full investigation would be underway. I remember a time when a President would have assured us that federal agents or anyone given a gun and a badge had undergone strict and rigorous training and were held to the highest standards and that anyone violating that would be held accountable.

Instead, Trump labels a woman as a “domestic terrorist” when she was murdered by an ICE agent who doesn’t know how to walk near a motor vehicle and violated all training when shooting at a moving vehicle. Ross was also acting out of aggression by calling the woman he just murdered, a “fucking bitch”. Other agents in following days have laughed about killing the lesbian bitch and threaten more violence. 


Kristi Noem stood behind a podium with Nazi phrasing and ICE is routinely using Nazi phrasing in their ads and recruitment. Is this who we are as a nation?

We are NOT safe with ICE on our streets. ICE is being utilized as a goon squad to bypass regulations and standards. ICE are the domestic terrorists and need to be stopped.

Trump and Vance should both be impeached for their abuses against the people of this country. I doubt that they, Kristi Noem, Harmeet Dhillon, or Rep X, Senator Y, Senator Z would be willing to trade places with Renee Good, or any of the numerous people who have been targeted, brutalized, harassed, kidnapped or abused in the detention centers or deported unduly.

I ask that Rep X, Senator Y, Senator Z tour the detention centers. I ask that they call to an end of the violations of ICE Agents. They are routinely violating the Fourth Amendment, even more now that Vance has unconstitutionally told them to go door to door, providing no judicial warrant.

The ICE agents break in car windows, enter homes without warrants, beat people in the streets, and murder without restraint. Some of them are even insurrectionists that Trump has pardoned. These men do NOT care about human life. They do not care about the rule of law. 


If Rep X, Senator Y, Senator Z actually care about the people of this country, they will act now to save us. If not, they do not deserve their position as our representative and should step down.

Thank you  Edit: January 13, 2026 to share Senator Ricketts b.s. non-answer reply to my contact:

January 13, 2026

Dear X,

 

Thank you for contacting my office regarding border and immigration policies.

As you know, our southern border was in a state of unmitigated disaster under the Biden Administration.  Throughout his term, President Biden refused to acknowledge the issue.  He consistently pushed policies that hindered border security and undercut the enforcement of our nation's laws.  The U.S. Customs and Border Protection intercepted millions of immigrants and seized hundreds of thousands of pounds of dangerous narcotics.  In April 2024, they recorded over 128,000 illegal border crossings.  In 2020 and 2021, the leading cause of death for Americans age 18-45 was fentanyl overdoses.

To address ongoing immigration challenges created by the last administration, it is essential to enforce our immigration laws.  Entering the country illegally or remaining without legal status violates the law.  I support efforts to ensure our immigration laws are followed.  Every individual who enters the United States must be properly processed and vetted to ensure the safety and security of all Americans.

I travelled to our southern border, and I know from first-hand experience the monumental work that needed to be done to secure the border.  Under President Trump, we are now seeing real leadership in the White House again. Single-day border apprehensions are down to record lows not seen in 15 years.  In March of 2025, the number of immigrant encounters along the southern border were down by 94% when compared to last year.  Criminal illegal aliens are being deported.  The Trump Administration is cracking down on drug dealers and cartels.  These actions are making America safer and more secure.

Recently, the Senate passed a budget resolution that provides a framework to fund President Trump’s border priorities.  My Senate colleagues and I also passed the Laken Riley Act, which included Sarah’s Law.  Sarah Root was killed in 2016 by an illegal immigrant who was drunk driving, just after she graduated from Bellevue University.  Due to a legal loophole, Sarah’s killer posted bail and was released from jail.  This law will close that loophole and strengthen immigration enforcement.  

Taryn Lee Griffith was a 24-year-old single mom who died in Nebraska from a fentanyl overdose.  She was out with friends and took a pill she thought was Percocet.  It was laced with fentanyl, and that’s what killed her.  Now her two daughters are going to have to learn about their mom through pictures and stories from family.  Fentanyl is a scourge on this country.  To address this, we passed the HALT Fentanyl Act, which will lead to harsher sentences for fentanyl traffickers.  These protections are now the law of the land.

My primary mission as your United States Senator is to make government work with proven Nebraska solutions that are ready for America.  To better inform my decision-making, it is important that I hear the ideas, concerns, and opinions of all Nebraskans. I appreciate the time and effort you took to provide input on our border policies and will keep it in mind as the U.S. Senate considers this issue.

 

 

If you have any other concerns or need help with a federal agency, please do not hesitate to reach out. You can contact my office through the following ways:

·        Phone: (202) 224-4224 or (402) 550-8040

·        Website: ricketts.senate.gov/contact 

·        Kearney Office: 4111 4th Avenue, Suite 26, Kearney, NE 68845

·       Lincoln  Office: 1248 'O' Street , Suite 1000, Lincoln, NE 68508

·        Omaha Office: 304 N. 168th Circle, Suite 213, Omaha, NE 68118

·        Scottsbluff Office: 115 Railway Street, Suite C102, Scottsbluff, NE 69361

·        Washington, D.C. Office: 139 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510

 

It is an honor to serve as your Senator for the great state of Nebraska.

 

Sincerely,

Pete Ricketts
United States Senator

Thursday, October 9, 2025

Stop Giving Money to Israel for Genocide - Response to Pete Ricketts 10/8/25 Reply

Refer to my post on 10/2/25. I wrote to Nebraska Senator Fischer, and copied Senator Pete Ricketts, and Representative Adrian Smith

Senator Pete Rickett's sent a reply on 10/8/25. Here is my reply, which I also sent to Senator Fischer, and Representative Adrian Smith

Greetings, Senator Ricketts,

Yesterday, 10/8/2025, I received a generic reply from you when I copied you on a message I sent on 10/02/25 to Senator Deb Fischer, lamenting her generic replies that always start with “on October 7th, 2023, Hamas etc” when I call for an end to the genocide that Israel is committing against the people of Palestine.

Your generic reply also started with “on October 7th, 2023.”

In my message both of you received, I wrote, “As reported by Amnesty International: “The military offensive Israel launched in the wake of the 7 October 2023 attacks has killed more than 65,000 people, including over 18,000 children, and injured over 200,000, according to the Gaza-based Ministry of Health.” The actual number may be much higher.”

In your generic reply to me, you wrote, “Israel is our friend and closest ally in the Middle East. The United States must stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Israel. Hamas must surrender and free all hostages.  We must also continue to provide critical military aid to ensure that Israel is successful on the battlefield and that its people are protected at home.”

Um, why are we friends with a country committing genocide? Why are we providing them with money and weapons? You understand that it ISN’T a war, it’s a genocide, right? Like, do you have access to social media? Do you have access to briefings? I can very clearly see Palestinian children suffering and see their dead bodies, so I’m sure you can too. Are we the bad guy?


It’s disturbing to me that when I remind you that 65,000 people have been killed, including 18,000 children, that you keep beating the drums of war and disillusion that we are somehow doing something right by assisting in genocide. 


You wrapped up your generic letter by stating “My primary mission as your United States Senator is to make Government work with proven Nebraska solutions that are ready for America.”

Okay, can we stop giving BILLIONS of dollars to the genocidal country of Israel? If they are our “friends”, I think we need to reassess. It’s time to break up. They have free education and free health care. The people of Nebraska and the United States would GREATLY benefit from free education and free health care. Or is killing innocent children in Palestine more important to you?

Get your priorities straight. Get briefed better. Stop harkening back to October 7, 2023 as justification for teaming up with genocidal maniacs and giving them money that OUR people need. 


I really am doubting the morals and ethics of our elected officials, including yourself. This is very disheartening to me. I can’t vote for people who support genocide. 


I ask that you break ties with Israel. 

I ask that you commit to rebuilding in Palestine, but not in the creepy, predatory way that Trump wants to do for tourism, or that our country historically likes to do with U.S. backed leaders, but by and for the Palestinian people who are left behind with all the death, trauma, disease, and destruction, after we shamefully assisted in their genocide.
I ask that you propose/support legislation for free education and universal health care for all in the United States. 


Sincerely, 

X


Friday, October 3, 2025

ICE Chicago Raid - Call Rep/Sens to demand Trump remove ICE from duty and support Trump's impeachment and removal from office

Feel welcome to use this script as a jump off point for your own calls about how it is unacceptable for ICE to be used on the American People 
Hi, my name is X and I’m a constituent from Y, zip code xxxxx (make sure they get the info they need to register your call)


I’m calling in regards to the human rights violations that are being enacted by ICE, Trump’s de facto private militia. A couple nights ago, 300 officers used Black Hawk military helicopters to descend upon an apartment building in Chicago for a raid in the middle of the night. 


Doors were busted down, property destroyed and people terrorized. There were no warrants, there was no cause. The claim that any gang members may have been in that apartment are completely unwarranted, literally. There was no warrant. 


Children and residents, some naked or in states of undress, were marched from the building with zip ties on and placed in UHauls. Black citizens were placed in other UHauls. People that had the appearance of possibly being immigrants were placed in other UHauls. There was no cause to do this except to show Trump, the Dictator Wannabe‘s use of force on the American People.


I urge Rep/Senator to come out on the record and say they do NOT support the use of armed forces against civilians and children. They need to demand that Trump withdraw from his illegal and unconstitutional attack on the American people. They also need to support any articles for Trump’s impeachment and removal from office.

I will not vote for those who enable the attacks on our human rights and liberties.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Wednesday, September 10, 2025

Oppose Cornhusker Clink - LR148

Greetings, all Senators, as well as my Senator X, 


I'm told that LR148 is supposed to have something to do with the "concentration camp" Pillen and others want to create in Nebraska. Looking at LR148, it's pretty vague, so it makes it hard to know what exactly is on the line here. 


Let me just be straightforward: we don't need anything like Alligator Alcatraz in our state, or anywhere. It's cruel and unnecessary. It's not "Nebraska Nice"... or is it? Do we pretend to be nice but really support hateful, xenophobic rhetoric? I'm opposed to that.


We don't need to be rounding people up and making them suffer. Our nation is in a reprehensible state, declining into fascism. We need to be sensible and maintain dignity towards all people, and protect human rights. One would think "protect human rights" is a low bar... but apparently it's not. And due process? That's supposed to still be our legal right, isn't it???


I am heavily opposed to anything remotely like Alligator Alcatraz in Nebraska or elsewhere. It's shameful and, if that's not enough, an abuse of taxpayer dollars. It was shoddy and inhumane and got shut down, as well it should. Anyone who supported it should be ashamed, at the very least. 


I'm sick of xenophobic rhetoric meant to fearmonger against anyone who isn't white enough or English-speaking enough. It's wild, the caucasity (that's audacity from white people) involved in white people being against immigrants. Shame that the Trump regime doesn't want history taught in schools, or people might actually learn that white people (Europeans) stole this land from indigenous people. WE are the immigrants.


They might also learn about the concentration camps that we had during WWII where we rounded up anyone Japanese or any bit Asian and put them in camps, made them suffer illness and indignity, stole their property and altered the course of their lives. 


Y'all know that Hitler was inspired for HIS concentration camps by what our country did to Indigenous people and the reservations we forced them onto after we stole their land, right? Maybe don't do stuff that Hitler liked.


If pleas for humanity don't move you, look what happened in Georgia. Some woman called in ICE on a Hyundai plant, for Korean workers who had the right to be there, to teach Americans how to do upcoming work, and has now jeopardized billions of dollars of industry and jobs for Americans. She destroyed that which she said she was trying to protect. Because racism, xenophobic, fearmongering, fascism. 


Nebraskan farmers are already suffering thanks to Trump's tariffs. Maybe stop going along with a pedophile rapist who's gone bankrupt a few times and has had legal challenges to basically everything he's done because it's unconstitutional and he's likely never read that document, nor would he care to. The man is reprehensible and it's tiring to watch people normalize him, or act like this is normal politics. It's not. 


Our moral fiber unravels everyday with him at the helm. And the people who support him, just to have some semblance of power? Just as awful to witness their humanity and decency shrivel up and disappear.


I think some of you have some faith-based beliefs that says something about Blessed are the Poor and the Immigrants and all that. Would be nice if you followed through on that whole "love thy neighbor" stuff. 


So, hell no to any prisons for immigrants. No to rounding up people. No to ICE raids. No to this destruction. No to fascism.


Thank you to those working tirelessly to protect ALL of us. 


Sincerely, 


YZ

District XX


P.S. For any senators or their aides who want to try to "enlighten" me on how I may be wrong, just stop. Being on the wrong side of history isn't a good look. Plus, I'll post online your ridiculous defense of human rights abuses. 


I'm just so very tired of pretending we live in normal times while our rights are eroded. Aren't you?

Tuesday, January 12, 2021

Nebraska Governor will allow guns at upcoming "protests" - endangers Nebraskans

Governor P. Ricketts,

I am disgusted that you continue to share baseless lies about voter and election fraud. Just because the election didn't have the result you wanted, doesn't mean there was fraud. With this continued lie, you are one of many Republicans responsible for the incitement of violence that led to reprehensible actions by Trump supporters at the Capitol and the unknown outcomes of those that will "protest" at the Nebraska Capitol. If you have not stood against him, you stand with him in his undemocratic, unconstitutional, and corrupt behavior.

Your decision to NOT prohibit guns at the upcoming "protests" is blood on your hands. Part of the reason more Capitol Police were not killed is because guns were prohibited in DC that day. Because you continue to cater to your gun-obsessed base and have ambitions that do NOT keep the well-being of every Nebraskan in mind, you open the potential for harm to the senators and employees in the Unicameral and the general public. I will hold you responsible. 

It's clear that Trump supporters have very clouded judgement, due in part to Republican lies about 'election fraud', and this includes permission to murder, commit federal crimes, and destroy federal property. For you to turn a blind eye and pretend otherwise shows your lack of decency and moral code. You are unfit to govern, serve, or protect the people of Nebraska. 

Disappointed in you as always, 


refer: https://journalstar.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/ricketts-says-he-will-not-restrict-weapons-at-state-capitol/article_d6c684e4-a694-59ed-bbc6-561d7bec0460.html 

Monday, August 17, 2020

Disgusted at Racist and Anti-Woman Nebraska Governor

Greetings, Governor P. Ricketts, 

I am a citizen of Nebraska and want to express my great disgust and displeasure with the laws you approve or deny. 

Lately you have approved LB 814 which unconstitutionally outlaws a form of abortion that is needed in some cases for late-term abortions (re: children wanted by the mother that cannot safely be born). This leads me to conclude you are anti-woman, anti-science, anti-doctor, and unfairly aligned with your religious base that wants to tell women what they can and cannot do with their bodies. You have endangered many women with this senseless, needless, baseless, unconstitutional law.

Secondly you vetoed LB 1060 which would protect against natural hair discrimination. I read your reasoning and if you believe that hairstyles can easily be changed, you have never sat in a black hair salon. Since you are a bald white man, let me inform you, it takes an entire day and hundreds of dollars to change hairstyles. You mention the creation of a new 'race', which is an absurd idea. You also mention safety protocols around machinery as an excuse for vetoing this bill. There is a difference between safety protocols and being able to fire someone because their hair is too "black" or "unprofessional" (ie racism). If you don't care to protect your citizens from discrimination, you are showing your ignorance and how you keep the door open for racism in the state of Nebraska. 

You also fail to understand basic science and that masks are a simple way Nebraskans could protect each other from a pandemic. You even want to take away financial protections for businesses that want to promote this safety measure. You are indeed anti-science and need to stop believing and protecting the ego-maniac Trump that is running this country into the ground while allowing for the deaths of hundreds of thousand due to his insane methods. For your own lack of action, I hold you responsible for every Nebraskan illness and death due to COVID-19.

Since you don't seem to care about human beings other than white, wealthy, male elites, I look forward to seeing your replaced when your term is up. If you would be so kind as to resign before then, I, and countless Nebraskans you belittle and endanger, would be so pleased. 


Thursday, January 9, 2020

Letter to Government Officials 1-3-2020 on 15 TOPICS

January 3, 2020

Greetings, Senator Sasse, Senator Fischer, Representative Smith, and Governor Ricketts, and local Nebraska Unicameral Senator (addition on Jan 8, 2020)

I haven’t written to a lawmaker since we were required to do so in grade school, many moons ago. I figured to best use my time, I’d contact all of the elected officials at once who make the important decisions that affect life in Nebraska. As you can tell, it’s a long letter, but there are many issues to touch on. I’d rather do it once. :) Bear with me; I have a lot to say and feel my views are not being represented in many decisions being made. 

I doubt that you’ll actually read what I have to say, but I hope you will, as it took me several days to construct this letter, trying to put my thoughts, feelings, frustrations into written form. I expect you’ll at least get the cliff notes version from a staffer and know that one of your constituents has wishes for legislation that may be different from what your supporters like to hear. Hopefully this can guide you to make more equitable decisions that honor all of the people in Nebraska and beyond. 

I write with several things in mind: 
  1. The necessary removal of Trump from office
  2. The need for abortion to remain legal and women’s choice to be respected
  3. The need for heightened separation of Church and State
  4. Protection of LGBT people from discrimination
  5. The needed boost to minimum wage of at least $15/hr minimum
  6. The need for universal health care
  7. A move to lower the voting age to 16, automatic registration, disband the electoral college
  8. Moving military entrance age to 21 to match alcohol and cigarettes.
  9. Free college education and dismissal of student debt
  10. Free lunch for public school students 
  11. Shutdown the ICE detention centers and reunite families; disband “the wall” idea, fix immigration 
  12. Sensible gun law reform
  13. Shut down the Keystone Pipeline and focus on sustainable energy sources, green solutions
  14. Shut down for profit prisons and end capital punishment
  15. Investigation of Epstein’s death

The necessary removal of Trump from office
I believe Representative Smith voted to not impeach. The Senators are now faced with the choice of whether to remove Trump from office. I’m afraid that due to your political affiliation, you’ll vote to keep him in office. And that’s why I’m concerned. When Senator Mitch McConnell says he’s going to side with the White House, that shows how unjust the system is. There is no justice if Republicans just want to protect Trump. The role of our lawmakers is to represent the people of their state, not just their political party or career aspirations. We all lose when people continue to separate themselves into two sides. 

I wish that each of you could look at Trump truthfully and decide what kind of person he is. I cannot trust him. I would not want to be anywhere near that man, accused pedophile who never went to court (named in the same lawsuit as Jeffrey Epstein), man who refuses to pay his bills, created a fake university and scammed many people, has gone bankrupt several times, and cannot control himself when it comes to tweeting. The man who mocks people with disabilities, people who have been prisoners of war, servicemen who have died, who has talked disgustingly of women, separates families at the border and creates lasting trauma for those affected. 

There is nothing normal about that man in the highest office. It’s very clear from all of this and the transcripts of “The July Call” that this man is not conducting the affairs of the U.S. in a legal, respectable, safe, logical way. I hope that for the sake of this nation, Nebraskans, and your own standards of what kind of men your children should admire, that you vote to remove Trump from office and restore some sense of dignity to our nation. 

EDIT: I was ready to send this letter but now get to make an addition due to Trump’s terrorist attack on an international airport killing 7 people, two of which were high-ranking military officials - an act unthinkable if it were Iran’s attack on a U.S. international airport killing our high-ranking military officials. Trump acted without Congressional approval and the U.S. WILL see retaliation and deaths. There have been reports of people in the streets shouting “Death to America”. I see that Sasse’s tweets have already been quoted in the news in support of Trump. That’s unfortunate. I imagine, since support has been reported to be a party line split, that if it were a Democrat acting without Congressional approval, that would be abhorrent to you. Or do you support war in all its formats? Do you benefit from war somehow? I ask all of you to seriously consider what’s going on.

I lost sleep last night at how little thought must have gone into this. Trump acts on ego, did not consult Congress, and has potentially brought about the death of thousands of people/Americans/military in that region, as well as the possibility of strikes on U.S. soil. If we do go to war, I feel it will be without allies, as most nations find Trump to be … not normal. Any blood that rises, I attribute to Trump and his supporters. 

I do find it interesting, these past tweets that surfaced that Trump himself wrote, proclaiming that Obama would attack Iran to start a war (29 Nov 11)  “to save face” (15 Sept 13), “to show how tough he is” (28 Sep 13)  and because his “poll numbers are in tailspin” and “he is desperate” (09 Oct 12). These seem to all be reasons Trump has potentially launched us into war. Not because he really cares about servicepeople, but because he wants to distract us from the impeachment, the trial to remove him from office, and the fact that there are people more qualified to serve than he. 

In fact, it often strikes me how ill-aligned Trump is with supposed Republican values. If he is truly the best representation of your values, perhaps your values are not what you say they are. In that case, I will continue to vote against Republicans. I want a better world than you seem ready to work for. That’s a shame. I know there is common ground, but I don’t want blood on my hands from warmongers that represent my state and my country.

The need for abortion to remain legal 
NOTE: This section also received edits after the January 2, 2020 news amicus brief in which ALL Nebraska Senators and Representatives turned their backs on the reproductive rights of women with the plea to the SCOTUS to overturn Roe V Wade.
  
When I was age 17, half my lifetime ago, I remember realizing that I had an aunt on either side of the family that didn’t have children, that they were happy, and that I wasn’t required to become a mother. Ever since then, I’ve studied up on remaining without children and what pressures I would face, as well as the pressures that women face in considering having children. I also found a spouse who doesn’t want/need children either. Having a child is the single most important decision that I feel a woman faces in her life. All women I know are aware of this and don’t take this lightly. I know women who have had abortions, miscarriages, ectopic pregnancies, been sterilized, had children, had no children, or a mix of those. 

In order to have life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, women need to be able to be in control of their bodies, their lives, their families. It’s a human right for a woman to decide if, when, how to have children. The government needs to remain impartial and allow women to get the medical access they need. There should be no restrictions imposed by the government as it is between a woman and her medical provider. I understand that certain religions view abortion as murder, but abortion is a personal decision, not a group judgement; besides, religion is not supposed to control the government, so your religious beliefs don’t supercede mine. Outlawing abortion is just one of the ways you insult women with your laws. Women do not need unnecessary impediments such as unwanted transvaginal ultrasounds, or impossible reimplantation of ectopic pregnancies. People protesting women’s clinics are not helping women, nor are the non-medically necessary required restrictions created to make operation of clinics more difficult, such as “admitting access to a hospital within 30 miles” that are not the same for other medical fields. Threatening women and their doctors with crimes and death sentences are absurd and draconian. 

Some women WANT their pregnancies and painfully choose a late-term abortion to prevent the child from suffering in extreme circumstances. One never knows what a woman is going through. Outlawing abortion is dangerous and infringes upon our reproductive freedom. I’m disgusted that men, who will NEVER understand the experience, men who are NOT medical professionals, try to outlaw abortion. I’m disappointed in the women that prevent others from making the choice on their own. You should well know, not all people want the same thing, even if they seem to have the same situation. Just think about dinnertime … everyone is hungry, but likely wants something different. When it comes to pregnancy or reproductive desires, it is NOT one size fits all.

I’m embarrassed but not surprised that all the Nebraska Senators and Representatives asked the Supreme Court to overturn Roe V. Wade in the recent amicus brief. If you want smaller government as a Republican, you all need to step back from trying to control women’s reproductive freedoms. You would no sooner force a woman to have an abortion, so why are you insistent upon making the choice for all women to birth children? What kind of society tries to control women’s bodies? Not one I can support, that’s for sure. Handmaid’s Tale is eerily close when Republican lawmakers ignorantly continue to introduce/enact legislation that takes away women’s rights. I feel that anti-choice Republicans must hate women to continue this fight against us. A fetus is not more important that the woman who may potentially carry it. You cannot force a woman to have a pregnancy unless she consents. Should be simple. 

If people are really concerned about children, more money needs to be invested in free universal child care, universal health care to prevent high costs of doctor appointments and delivery, raising the minimum wage so that women aren’t forced to work multiple jobs and choose between feeding their children or paying rent, paid maternity leave so that women can take time off from work to welcome their children into the world and not lose their source of income, not chipping away at welfare benefits, not separating families and locking children in cages when they cross the border. These are just a few of the ideas I can come up with. 

Our society need to stop shaming women for having the children that anti-abortion people guilted/forced them into having. Unless you’re going to give each woman a quarter of a million dollars for each child she has (the average cost of raising a child to age 17), I really think Republicans need to back down from taking away the right to abortion as one of the many options a woman should have. I’m so frustrated that after all women have had to fight for, we still have men and women in the government who try to take away our bodily autonomy. 

If I sound impassioned, it’s because I am. 3000%. NOT having children is something that defines me, allows me to live the life I choose. I’m an aunt to 9, hopefully more someday. I hope that EVERY woman has the resources and support needed to make HER choice. I wish that anti-choice people would just make the choice for themselves instead of trying to impose their beliefs on this nation of diverse people. If you don’t want an abortion, don’t have one. Stop trying to control women and say you’re really just concerned about the fetus/future child. There’s no child without the woman’s consent. If it’s not your body, it’s not your decision. 

If you are looking for reading to expand your knowledge about the challenges women face and the history of reproductive politics, I recommend “Reproductive Politics: What Everyone Needs to Know by Rickie Solinger. This book has a great format, is a quick read, and simply lays out the facts. 

The need for heightened separation of Church and State
I was raised in a Catholic family with five kids total. In my 12 years of Catholic schooling, I remember having doubts and questions, and was forced to undergo Confirmation in order to graduate from 8th grade, despite voicing my concerns to the deacon about not being ready to undergo that ‘sacrament’. I am now a person who views organized religion as a means of control, community, and comfort. I see the similar threads in many religions, the searching for answers, and rules. But I also see how Christianity has taken ahold of the government in so many ways, while at the same time bemoaning some perceived persecution. If we are to have a Freedom of/from Religion, that means we need to remain as impartial and respectful of other beliefs as we can. There doesn’t need to be mention of God, call to prayer, spiritual leaders, etc in places of government. There can be a calling to mind of shared values. Lack of religious belief does not mean lack of morals or convictions. I feel more persecuted by religious people because they freely get to shout their beliefs from the rooftop, whereas I have to hide my thoughts and feelings to myself. There is definitely an imbalance in our government and communities. Every time abortion rights are stripped from women, it’s evident that religion has an inappropriate presence in our government that overshadows my rights to religious beliefs and bodily autonomy. This oversight needs to end. 

Protection of LGBT+ people from discrimination
All people are deserving of respect and equality, protection from discrimination in their daily lives, in their job, in their housing. Discrimination should not be allowed in adoption agencies, or in any avenue. Any conversion therapies must be shut down as they are harmful to the well-being of those forced to attend. It is not a psychologically sound practice. 

There are many Nebraskans who do not fit the “average”, but they need to know there is a place for them here, that they are accepted and integral parts of our community. Please remember this as you create and examine legislation. Please take the time to learn and to meet others. I’ve heard it said “Be careful who you hate, because it may be someone you love.”  

The needed boost to minimum wage of at least $15/hr minimum
Did you know that the federal minimum wage ($7.25) is only $3020 different from poverty level ($12,060)? Knowing that health insurance deductibles can be $5000, car payments and repairs, bills that come out of nowhere, you can see that a $3020 pre-tax cushion isn’t really a cushion at all. That $2700 I just coughed over for a furnace would have been that “cushion” keeping me from poverty, if I was on the brink.

So many people have to work more than one job to make ends meet. I’m currently earning a few dollars more than both federal and Nebraska minimum wage at a 40 hour/week job that has NO BENEFITS, but I cannot afford a rent/house payment. I’m so very lucky that my husband paid off his small house shortly after I moved in. But with my regular bills (not in debt, luckily), I’m not able to put aside money. With a $200 car payment each month, I’m lucky to break even. I’m eyeing taking on a second job, just to get more money. That’s not how anyone should be living. Free time is necessary for sanity. Even 40 hours of work sometimes gets to be a drag. 

From what I understand, from a ballotpedia site from 2011, Nebraska Senators make more than $2 million a year, and rank 38th in pay. It’s likely you make 158 times the federal minimum wage every hour. So it’s understandable that you don’t feel the crisis. It’s not to say your job is a regular 40 hour job and doesn’t come with its own challenges and stresses. But I ask that you put yourself in the shoes of the majority of Nebraskans, people in this country. We can’t afford much of anything because the hourly wage has not risen with the cost of gas, milk, insurance, cars, etc. The wages of CEO’s are astronomical compared to what the common worker earns. They will not pay livable wages unless they are required to do so. There are some small businesses that may need subsidies in order to make this happen, but people deserve a fair, livable wage at only 40 hours work. We deserve more than we get. I’m in my mid-30’s, have a Bachelor’s Degree and have never broken $30,000 at a full time job. Good thing I don’t want kids because I simply couldn’t afford it. 

I please ask that you sit down and figure out what kind of expenses a person in their 20s faces when trying to get a one bedroom apartment in Omaha or Lincoln. I’ve tried to live that life before and it was pretty much impossible. I had to move back in with my parents and also had to live in a studio apartment, as I couldn’t ever afford a 1 bedroom apartment. Now factor in children. It gets worse. Help us, please. Raise the minimum wage, both federal and state to at least $15/hour. Yes, all wages should rise, except for CEO’s. They can take a pay cut ;) If someone is currently at $15 or $17 an hour, yes, their wages should rise as they are likely doing difficult or dangerous work. We need to value the time and energy that people provide the companies in this country. We ARE this country.

The need for universal health care
At the beginning of 2019, I went to have a minor pain checked out in my leg. I should have known better. The real pain was that although I was told my insurance “approved” the procedure, my health insurance only covered 2% and I was left with a $1200 bill. That’s a month’s wages for someone on minimum wage.  It doesn’t help that I make a few dollars more. It made me wish that I never went to the doctor in the first place, and that’s not the way it should be. 

If you pay attention, you’ll hear stories of people dying trying to ration insulin, or of people not going to receive medical care because of the cost. That just shouldn’t be. If we live in “the greatest nation on earth” why are people dying and going bankrupt due to medical costs? Why do you allow drugmakers to set prices that are outrageous? When you compare our system to that of other developed nations, we are far behind. Insurance is a broken system - I shouldn’t have to rely on an employer and risk losing insurance if I want to change jobs. As I mentioned, I have a full time job that doesn’t have any benefits and it’s actually pretty hard to find a full time job with benefits in the rural area in which I live. We can and should do better. 

A move to lower the voting age to 16, automatic registration, disband the electoral college
Since the legal working age is 16, it makes sense that anyone working should have a say in the way their taxes are used and who represents them for those purposes. It’s important to get the youth engaged in the political system because they are the ones who will shape the world. I’ve seen some very impassioned youth and they need to be heard. I know the value of voting; as a woman, that right wasn’t always extended to me. People were imprisoned and died so I could exercise my voice. 

We should also have automatic voter registration and Election Day should be a national holiday so people can leave work and have one less roadblock. There are too many restrictions that are meant to prevent people from voting. Gerrymandering voting districts. Need for I.D. Preventing the incarcerated or previously incarcerated from voting. Voter Purge (which should be illegal). It’s all part of the shadows, meant to keep people from having a say. We also need to disband the electoral college. One Vote should be One Vote. If you want people to feel empowered, take away that which makes it shady and difficult for us to get our one and only say: who represents us.

Moving military entrance age to 21 to match alcohol and cigarettes.
Recently the legal age for cigarettes has been moved to age 21 to match that of alcohol. I approve of that because at age 18, a person’s body and decision making skills are still developing. Therefore I think that we should do away with required registration and not allow anyone under age 21 to enroll in the military. If a teenager can’t be expected to make a good decision with alcohol consumption, they shouldn’t have a gun put in their hand either. I highly recommend the book On Killing: The Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill in War and Society” by Dave Grossman. Written by a military member, it details how the training for war has changed since our nation began. Now, killing is impersonal, with the ability to drop bombs from thousands of miles away. It’s abhorrent that we train youth to go kill, when often it’s about protecting financial interests, like oil. TRILLIONS of dollars are spent on the military and the war machine. We need to divert some of that money towards teaching conflict resolution, de-escalation skills, and general communication. Luring youth into the military with “free college” is disheartening and deceitful; If college were free across the board, youth would be able to make more informed choices. 

In general, we need to spend money on PEACE; after all, you get what you pay for! Maybe peace doesn’t seem to turn a profit the same way war does, but I’m sure the benefits are there. ;) I understand that even if we want peace and even if we are working towards it, there are humans that will do awful things and we need people ready to step in and protect us. I believe that people around age 18 are still vulnerable, still figuring out the world. My oldest nephew will be turning 21 in the summer and he’s still learning about the world. I was still learning about the world and my beliefs when I was nearing the end of my time at college. I know some people like structure, being told what to do, feeling a part of something, feeling proactive in protection, but there are more ways to integrate into society than by sending our youth into extreme situations where they end up in body bags for the price of oil. Or just as tragic, with PTSD and lack of resources when they come home. Raising the military entrance age to 21 ensures that people are pursuing it for the right reasons. 

Free college education and dismissal of student debt
The amount of student loan debt that the people of this country have prevents them from living life to the fullest. Can you imagine how much better our country could be if the brilliant minds were not restricted by the amount of money they could cough up? You’ve heard the phrase “A mind is a terrible thing to waste”. The U.S. is squandering that most valuable resource: the untapped minds of the youth. If we remove the barrier of finances for both universities and trade schools, so many more people will be able to get into fields and advance the U.S. in so many unknown ways. We can advance our country further if we emulate other countries that focus on intelligence and innovation.

Free lunch for public school students through high school
I’m unaware what the policy is currently, but I think it best if Nebraska/the country enact a law that promises to feed all children attending public schools through high school. It could and should be mandatory in private schools as well. Often times, the child’s home life is unknown and food may be scarce, especially with an unlivable minimum wage or single parent homes. Children need nourishment in order to function and grow. There is no reason that children should face shame or hunger if they are unable to pay for a meal during the school day. In order to alleviate costs, there could be a program in which food is grown on school property and students learn and are involved with the process. I’ve heard of it done in some places and know I would have relished the skill. It makes sense in a state with a strong agricultural ties that students learn about how food is grown. Other ways that schools have worked to combat poverty have included clothes washing and drying machines and food pantries for students. We need to take care of our youth. 

Shutdown the ICE detention centers and reunite families; disband “the wall” idea, fix immigration 
One of the most cruel things the U.S. has done in my lifetime is the current genocide and trauma happening in detention centers. No one can claim they are pro-life when children are being ripped from their parents’ arms and stuck in cages. They are living in terrible conditions and some are being sexually abused. The fact that some children no longer recognize their parents IF/when they are reunited… it’s horrifying. Children being “adopted” by people who don’t know them, rather than returned to their families. Children that are unaware of the situation being forced to testify in court without representation. I know you are a parent. Imagine if that was you and your children! The agony of not being there for your child because the government of another nation took them from you. 

The very fact is that these families are escaping situations that the U.S. has a direct link to: if you look at the events in Latin America in the past 30+ years, you’ll see that the U.S. had a hand in these governments and it has led to current issues. I lived/studied in a Latin American country in which the U.S. government played a large part in a government coup and thousands of people were murdered. The actions of the U.S. government have far-reaching, lasting effects.  

These families are trying to escape violence and death. They are legally seeking asylum and being treated like dogs. This is genocide, believe it or not. The effects of this trauma are lingering. I don’t know if you can imagine what it would be like, but there’s a reason that the centers are off-limits to visitors - it’s horrendous. If you truly value human life and family values, you must speak up and end this atrocious human rights violation that is happening in plain sight.

You will also recognize the hateful rhetoric that creates an “us versus them” mentality that is the foundation to propaganda and genocide: the creation of an enemy. People from other countries are not out to “get us”. Most people want the same thing: safety and opportunity, shelter, clothing, the chance to contribute to the world, to learn and grow.

It’s laughable, the idea of building a wall as a plan of defense or method of control for immigration. It’s laughable because it’s illogical and ill-conceived and impossible and unnecessary. We can use our money for better things. Or Mexico’s money, because aren’t they supposed to pay for it? :P 

There are serious issues with the current immigration/naturalization system as it is. I have a friend who has properly filled out all the paperwork for her spouse’s citizenship and the government agencies keep sending things back long after all the requirements were met, claiming it wasn’t done properly, or some other excuse. Whether you make people jump through hoops or sit in cages, there’s something about America that is appealing. Work on living up to the hype instead of trying to compete with the horrors they are trying to escape. 

Sensible gun law reform
I don’t know how many deaths it will take before lawmakers see how serious this issue is. I know people point to the Second Amendment, but the Founding Fathers had NO idea of the kind of guns that would be developed. You should be aware of the stats now, although they grow every day. According to a New York Post Article on Dec 28, 2019: “More than 210 people died this year in 41 mass slayings, making 2019 the deadliest year in massacres since at least the 1970s.” A recent article from the Latin American Herald Tribune writes “More than 38,000 people have died in the United States from the use of firearms during 2019, according to the Gun Violence Archive.”

I’m not safer because people around me have guns. It’s been proven that a gun in the home increases the chance of violence or injury, death by gunshot wound. There is violence in gun-free countries, sure, but not to the extent of what the U.S. has. It’s awful and needs to be addressed. How many schoolchildren need to die? School layouts, and backpacks and doors… all of these things have seen advancements to deal with active shooters, but lawmakers are avoiding the base of the problem: guns and who has access to them. Please fix it. We’ve all lost track of the mass shootings and that’s pathetic. 

Shut down the Keystone Pipeline and focus on sustainable energy sources, green solutions
Despite being told it’s safe, we keep seeing pipelines burst and endanger water sources, land, and wildlife. There are more sensible ways than digging into the earth and stripping it of finite resources. Solar and wind power have great advantages and are infinite. More time and energy and resources should be focused on these things, as well as ways to protect our natural resources and the balance between the world around us and our human aspirations. With free access to higher education, more people can be trained and make discoveries in how to protect our planet and combat climate change. 

Shut down for profit prisons and end capital punishment
Prisons do best when money is not the driving factor but rehabilitation of inmates is enhanced. Treating people as human beings is generally a better solution than keeping them in environments that are insulated from society and encourage them to come back since they are unprepared for life on the outside. Killing people with injections of illegal poisons, as Governor Ricketts is fond of, is not a good look for Nebraskans. If a person considers themselves pro-life for a fetus, then why does that not extend to human life that has developed beyond birth? I understand there are atrocious things that some people may have done, but killing someone doesn’t undo their crimes. And if it’s later discovered that the person did not commit the crime, it’s too late if you’ve already killed them. It’s cheaper to keep someone in prison for life than it is to bring in illegal drugs to kill them. There are some people who will rise to the occasion, given the chance to change. Some that even face life without parole have potential to do better things as well. It’s always wonderful to learn about inmates that train dogs or horses, or can otherwise contribute to society as some version of penance for their crimes. Treat people as you want them to be, and sometimes they can surprise you. 

Investigation of Epstein’s death
I’ve seen on Facebook that Senator Sasses is calling for an investigation into Epstein’s death. I do agree with you there. Knowing that Trump and Epstein were both listed on the pedophile/sex party lawsuit, it’s highly likely that Epstein had dirt on Trump and many others. Epstein was silenced. 

We shouldn’t allow for the darkness to rule and change the fates, keep justice from happening. I feel there is a dark web underneath the government’s workings. Knowing that so many lawmakers receive at least half a million dollars a year in salary, up to $4 million, not to mention the money from lobbyists and special interest groups… I can see the potential is rife for corruption. 

I hope your Nebraska and family values are enough to keep you away from that and working towards truth, transparency, fairness, and justice. As you’ve heard, what’s done in the dark comes to light.

Thank you for taking the time to read some of my concerns. I hope that even though you weren’t voted in on my side of many of these issues, that you will recognize you do represent ALL Nebraskans, varied as we are, and that my viewpoints can give you reason to reconsider your thoughts on some/all of these issues. 

Sincere Regards, 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This NINE page letter was sent to 4 lawmakers in the mail. On neon orange paper. ;) 

Yesterday, (January 8, 2020) I tried to send the letter digitally through the contact listed on their websites. I also decided to send it to my State Unicameral Senator, since they opened session trying to take away Reproductive Rights.
Here was the result of my attempts to send digitally, which leads me to believe federal representation doesn't ACTUALLY want you to reach them. Go figure. I understand that maybe only really crazy people send really long letters, but what about people who are trying to save themselves time? Unlike my Federal Senators, I don't make $2 million/year.
- Ricketts: I was able to attach the pdf of letter - supposedly went through
- Adrian Smith: Needed to have +4 on zip code in order to even GET to the contact portal. don’t think it went through - got error screen.
- Fischer: access denied error screen - bet it was length
- Sasse - length too long - go figure
- Emailed NE Unicameral District Senator - he actually just provided his email address! AND he actually wrote back the same evening.... I will be responding soon. He said as a State Senator at the Unicameral, he only makes $12,000/year. Big difference from what the federal senators make....
CONTACT YOUR LAWMAKERS!!!! Letters and calls are documented. 
https://5calls.org/ is a great site to help you make those calls important to you.