Lincoln, Nebraska - progressive? (Omaha, Kearney: renter, school, university)

[Tiger Beer]

Is Lincoln, Nebraska a progressive city?

It sounds like IOWA, MINNESOTA, WISCONSON are progressive states. I have an impression that Nebraska may be as well?

How about LINCOLN in particular? Capital city and a college town....anything at all like Madison, WI., etc.?

How is LINCOLN, NE?

[DTO Luv]

Nebraska is probably the most backwards state ever. It's like they're trying to be the deep south sometimes. Lincoln and Omaha (more so Omaha) are the only bastions of progressiveness. Everywhere else may as well be in the 1800's.

[Go Ne]

oh dear, here we go..........................

[DTO Luv]

I'm not even going to touch on that issue in particular, but there are many other ways that NE just doesn't get it. They won't legalize casinos when the 14th largest casino market in the country is right across the river from it's biggest city and it's citizens are giving all of that money to Iowa instead of Nebraska.

You've got a state senator now who wants to pretty much close down strip clubs and sex shops and put extra strain on couples that want to get married. Not to mention how overwhelmingly the state votes solidly republican and against their own interests.

[Tiger Beer]

Wait, Iowa has casinos? That's interesting. They play poker there?

[roots'nbulbs]

Living the agri-centered life in Nebraska, I have found a lot of very 'progressive' and tolerant friends. And, consider Ernie Chambers' long stint in the legislature.

There are similarities among Lincoln and Madison WI. Maybe some with Minneapolis, however, I don't see Al Franken wanting to live here, anytime, soon. MN and WI are great places with a varied pop. as is NE. As a whole, we understand and share the humor of Garrison Keillor.

It is true that if you are a renter and jobber and are young, Lincoln will seem a whole lot more progressive than outstate and rural NE

And, to our detractors, when people are ready to bring an entrepreneurial spirit out here, we'll take you. Kearney is a University town and the surrounding area is always in the market for new ideas albeit it is statistically, red. I think you would find most people who live in Kearney to be socially liberal, but fiscally conservative--where is that not true, these days?

[itsMeFred]

Originally Posted by DTO Luv

Nebraska is probably the most backwards state ever. It's like they're trying to be the deep south sometimes. Lincoln and Omaha (more so Omaha) are the only bastions of progressiveness. Everywhere else may as well be in the 1800's.

[Tiger Beer]

I was just looking at Obama/McCain...Nebraska does look solidly RED with two specks being Lincoln and Omaha.

Drastically different from say Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Dakotas, Michigan, etc. which has quite a bit more blue.

Hmm...actually I knew a girl from Lincoln and she was very cool and hip and Minnesota liberal/open-minded...I had the impression perhaps Nebraska had that same upper midwest sensibility...

But, the more I read about it, the less I think so..maybe there was a reason that girl I knew escaped to Minnesota.?

But I am still interested in the possibility of Lincoln, NE...

I also saw elsewhere that SPORTS and FOOTBALL are huge in Lincoln? If so, I am getting a better sense of Lincoln prioritities...forgive me, hope I don't offend anyone, just trying to figure if Lincoln is a possible fit or not...

[lchamp28]

I lived in Lincoln in the mid 1990s and the town made Nashville (my hometown) look like NYC in terms of liberalness. There are a few spots here and there that are environmental and leaning towards hip, but they are small sections of Lincoln and Omaha. I was wearing Docs there (a fashion of the time) and when I walked to school at the university, locals would drive by and scream lesbian at me. I thought it was particularly funny perhaps because I am straight and had always thought Nashville was intolerant. I rearranged my opinion after moving there. I also experienced more open, blatant racism in Lincoln than I ever did growing up in the South. That said, there is a strange mix of people in Lincoln. For example, there is a significant asian population proportionately, which helps lend more diversity to the city. Overall though, if you stray outside the city center (which is pretty small), you are surrounded by farmland and rural, middle america which tends to be conservative. I was glad to get out of there because as a native southerner, I stuck out like a sore thumb. I was never able to get comfortable with the lack of tolerance I found there. Even the university is relatively conservative -- considering what you usually find. I attributed that to the fact that the majority of the students come from rural, farming backgrounds and their attitudes reflect that of their parents. Just an opinion. It could have changed drastically since then, but I don't think so since one of my close friends still lives there.

[aerahrtlu]

Football is what I would consider the most popular sport in the state. We also love baseball, basketball, volleyball and hockey. Though, I think hockey is more popular in Lincoln and Omaha.
Nebraska is mostly red, but not horribly so. I'm pretty darn liberal, and I've met tons and tons of people that see things the same way I do. You just have to find your niche. Omaha and Lincoln and by far the bluest places in the state. And with the younger generation coming of age, the balances are starting to shift. Even if ever so slightly.

Lchamp - I'm sorry to hear that you had to deal with all the negativeness. In my 23 years living in Lincoln, I have NEVER come across anything like that. I know quite a few gays and lesbians and they've never dealt with that type of intolerance. Atleast not in college.