Politics in NE ? (Johnson: houses, public school, university)

[mattpoulsen]

I would agree that West Omaha tends to be more conservative than the rest of Omaha, but its more of a Northeastern conservative. By that I mean they are fiscal conservatives but tend to be more liberal on social issues. And to be fair, its the fiscal conservative ideology that has kept Nebraska as a whole from falling off the cliff with the rest of the country.

I know everyone likes to simply paint republicans as bad or liberals as crazy, but the reality is there is good in both camps.

To me, its extremely difficult to argue with fiscal conservatism.

On the other hand, I don't understand the far right's moralistic religiosity on issues such as gay marriage.

I think I'm somewhat typical for west Omaha - fiscal conservative, social liberal. My point with this is that the conservatism that you find in Omaha is a bit different than you find in the rest of Nebraska. At least that's my take.

[itsMeFred]

I agree completely, matt.

Originally Posted by dsrich98

I would give you more reputation but it says I can't. So how about a pat on the back?

*chuckle*
Thanks.

[aerahrtlu]

I would say Lincoln and Omaha tend to be purple... Or atleast we're getting there.

[MICHAEL J]

People seem to have forgotten it was (and is!) the Republicans who sell out the family farm, small businesses, etc. They've been sucked into the whole "values" schtick and consistently vote against their interests, year after year!

~Erin

We own a small family farm. Are there any other small farm owners on here that can explain the above statement to me?

[itsMeFred]

We own a mere 40 acres and a handful of cattle, but I've been living and working on farms and ranches my entire life.
My husband currently manages the 800 head ranch we live/work on for an out of state investor. (How's that? Do I come close enough?)

So far as my statement, you need to research ag/small business policy for the past 30 years under both Republican and Democrat operated administrations and Congresses and see which has what sort of impact on things like the Farm Bill, Small Business Administration, etc.
Generally speaking, the balance usually tips in the Democrats favor.

To get you started: NAIS fast tracked into implementation under Bush and a Republican-controlled Congress.
Obama is scrapping it due to outrage from we-the-people. (Chief being the cost to small producers)

~Erin

[Gunluvver2]

Originally Posted by yman97

I wouldn't say that Omaha is the most liberal city in Midwest. And while they're probably the most liberal city in Nebraska, I wouldn't even label the city as being liberal. It is fairly conservative and the newspaper, the Omaha World-Herald, is pretty conservative. I think the fact that Obama won a vote may be a sign that things are beginning to change to some degree especially among the under 30 demographic. Still, the state as a whole will probably always prefer the more conservative candidate.

************************************************** *****
The 2008 election did not offer a choice between a Liberal and a Conservative. Instead it was a candidate (Obama) way to the left and McCain not quite so far to the left. In a way I am glad Obama was elected rather than McCain. I think after four years of his policies voters may finally see what the Progressive/Liberal policy really is. But it may be too late by then.

GL2

[dsrich98]

Originally Posted by Gunluvver2

************************************************** *****
The 2008 election did not offer a choice between a Liberal and a Conservative. Instead it was a candidate (Obama) way to the left and McCain not quite so far to the left. In a way I am glad Obama was elected rather than McCain. I think after four years of his policies voters may finally see what the Progressive/Liberal policy really is. But it may be too late by then.

GL2

I completely disagree with this assesment. It seem sto me in the U.S. right now we have the Democrats who are a middle of the road, gutless, do nothing party. Then we we have the Republicans who by and large are far-right extremists that want to turn us back to the 1880's.

[DTO Luv]

True. We need truly strong liberals in this country. Liberal isn't a bad word and people need to see that. I don't even really see it so much as being liberal but being anti-corporations screwing people and the government for more money and a much more realistic social policy towards many issues the right uses as wedges. I'm also for the government spending more money to invest in people like they used to for education and housing.

[roots'nbulbs]

Originally Posted by itsMeFred

Living in the rural areas, that's probably about right. To be sure, there are still plenty of family-sized operations, but they're losing ground.

People seem to have forgotten it was (and is!) the Republicans who sell out the family farm, small businesses, etc. They've been sucked into the whole "values" schtick and consistently vote against their interests, year after year!

~Erin

That is exactly, the truth.

Except for one thing: Instead of the "New Deal" Democrat co-existing, out here, another kind of Democrat travels through, occasionally, and the Tea Baggers say that liberals don't 'get it.' That would be my tree-hugger friends who bring up statements like, "Farmers need to grow more alternative crops using less water, blah blah." Well, whatcha' gonna' do with 1200 acres of barley? Grapes?

I get the argument that it's in the marketing. Well, as usual, it just doesn't go along with the science. And, the Tea Baggers make more sense even though their ideas restrain investments in favor of social isolation and are, ultimately, dumb economics.

[dsrich98]

Originally Posted by roots'nbulbs

That is exactly, the truth.

Except for one thing: Instead of the "New Deal" Democrat co-existing, out here, another kind of Democrat travels through, occasionally, and the Tea Baggers say that liberals don't 'get it.' That would be my tree-hugger friends who bring up statements like, "Farmers need to grow more alternative crops using less water, blah blah." Well, whatcha' gonna' do with 1200 acres of barley? Grapes?

I get the argument that it's in the marketing. Well, as usual, it just doesn't go along with the science. And, the Tea Baggers make more sense even though their ideas restrain investments in favor of social isolation and are, ultimately, dumb economics.

The incentives for alternative crops are not in place. Right now all the incentives are geared towards allowing farmers to plant and plant corn like crazy and then the government will subsidize the loss when it's not worth anything.

Corn farming is so destructive it's really pretty insane the amy we subisdize the destruction of our topsoil and watersheds through our national farm policy. We really need to get creative in our thinking about agriculture. You can't blame the folks that are doing it now though. It's the way the sytem is set up to work.