Letters: Readers vent about Big Beautiful Bill, Standing Bear movie and more.

As we approach the anniversary of the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, all I can see around me are the consequences of prices continuing to skyrocket. Simply put, there is nothing beautiful about what is happening right now.

As a family rancher whose sole income is cattle, my monthly health insurance premium went from about $1,300 a month in 2025 to $2,100 a month this year. That’s an increase of roughly $10,000 a year. At the same time, prices are high for us on the supply side and beef is incredibly expensive for shoppers who are trying their best to save money.

This path is not sustainable for our fragile economy. We need relief from our lawmakers now. Failure to act will only cause the pain to worsen as we move into the second half of 2026. I fear what’s to come in 2027 if this doesn't change quickly.

Becky Potmesil, Alliance

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Citizenship by birth is widely associated with the United States. In actuality, this policy is primarily concentrated in the Americas. Globally, only 33 countries offer "unrestricted" or "generally applicable" birthright citizenship. Most other nations rule that citizenship is inherited from parents rather than determined by place of birth.

As a rule, countries in Europe, Asia and the Middle East do not grant citizenship based solely on place of birth.

Over the past few decades, several countries, which previously held broader birthright policies —such as the United Kingdom (1983), Australia (1986), and Ireland (2005) — have amended their laws to add stricter requirements.

All this said, many have bemoaned a perceived "stacking of the Supreme Court" with "conservative" justices. Several recent Supreme Court rulings have overturned conservative positions.

Gary Schulte, Lincoln

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The book "I Am a Man" by Joe Starita is a state treasure. It tells the story of a Native American chief from Nebraska who, despite not being fluent in English, changed the legal landscape of our country. It is a powerful account of a leader whose people endured unbearable hardship.

One of Starita’s other works, "A Warrior of the People," chronicles the incomparable life of Dr. Susan LaFlesche Picotte. As the first Native American physician in the U.S, she founded a hospital in Walthill in 1912 that served all races, proving the inherent value of every human being.

John Neihardt’s "Black Elk Speaks" and Willa Cather’s "My Antonia" are exceptional books of national importance.

Perhaps newcomers to our state should receive free copies of these books with the caveat that they become full-fledged Nebraskans once they’ve read them.

It’s sort of like religion: those who know the source material often share a much different, more insightful message.

We should all support the production of the "I Am a Man" movie. It will be a tremendous representation of our state and our ideals … reading these books is a pretty good idea too.

Mike Germer, Lincoln

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The group Fairness to Girls has submitted petitions seeking to enshrine an already existing law into the state constitution. It will restrict underage students to participating in sports aligned with their sex assigned at birth. These laws open girls up to harassment and bullying by having their gender challenged. Children may be subjected to others policing their bodies. Any girl who does not look feminine enough can be subjected to harassment. Girls who participate in sports in states with these laws are more likely to be subjected to physical abuse. Legislation like Idaho’s Fairness in Women’s Sports Act, state laws in West Virginia, Washington and Florida state that girls may be compelled to undergo physical exams to prove they are female if their gender is challenged.

Trans kids have extremely high rates of depression and suicide due to harassment. Up to 22% of trans kids drop out of school due to bullying and abuse. The Trevor Project reports these laws can increase rates of suicide of trans youth by 72%.

The NSAA reports there have been less than 10 transgender students in middle and high school sports in the entire state over the last 10 years. There are zero reports in Nebraska of any cis girl being physically injured by a trans girl participating in sports. The fear and the facts do not line up. The United Nations reports that 21% of women and girls globally experience sexual abuse in sports. There are many ways to ensure a safe sports environment for girls and none of them include harming children in order to exclude trans girls from sports.

Alexandra Cohoon, Lincoln

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