From the article:
"Nebraska may be less diverse than the United States as a whole, but it doesn't mean the residents live in a bubble, according to Natalie Jackson, research director for PRRI, a nonprofit and nonpartisan research organization."
"PRRI released a Nov. 11 poll of more than 1,300 Nebraskans that shows they are divided about demographic and cultural shifts changing communities, yet optimistic about their ability to work together across racial and religious lines."
"...When you ask about religion and race and ethnicities, Nebraskans are very optimistic that people can come together across religious and racial lines to solve problems," she said. "Where that falls apart is partisanship. We see that throughout the report. When you bring partisanship in, Nebraskans, like the rest of the country, become more skeptical that those partisan divides can be bridged."
"...Only 15% of Nebraskans say they seldom or never interact with someone who doesn't share their ethnicity. Other differences showed respondents who say they seldom or never interact with someone who doesn't share their political party (15%), religion (19%) or sexual orientation (25%)."
This follows along with my own observations; that we are practical people who don't write one another off because of differences, either in the workplace, or in families. We work well together as people, but not very well as parties. Maybe we need
some new parties.
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ReplyDeleteMaybe we do need new parties, but the constitutional-media complex makes it hard to start one. Remember Ross Perot, whose appeal was not regional (as the Dixiecrats were). Remember Ralph Nader, whose main contribution to American politics was preventing Al Gore from winning Florida decisively enough that the Supreme Court couldn't change the election result.
ReplyDeleteA lot of money, from a lot of places, has gone into making our political parties into favorite football teams or game show contestants whose fans will brook no mumbling words. Where we used to have election years, we now have election cycles so there are daily developments for both teams. And the teams are stand-ins for the bowling leagues and church attendance, among the other things we used to apolitically and in common, before the country went all-politics all the time.
Our MAGA hat-wearing sacristan went out of his way to greet me with cheery words last night at our church's Gala Christmas Dinner, Fund Raiser and Auction (put bidding back into Xmas) last night. By day, he snarls at me.
If only we could think of political affiliation like a bowling team or civic organization. Unfortunately it has become tribal. I got told recently that my using that term was cultural appropriation. But not pleading guilty, other people than native Americans have tribes of one sort and another. But politics also isn't blood or DNA, otherwise I and my four siblings wouldn't each have different political beliefs. So far we haven't cut or shot one another over it
DeleteThere were twelve tribes in Israel in Moses's time. And their tribalness was a constant impediment to unity in Israel, especially in time of war. When will they ever learn? When will they ever learn?
DeleteThe stable genius is now holding forth on toilets. The new low water usage toilets, he says, require 10 to 15 flushes to do the job. I've been using them for ten years and they are more reliable than the old ones. Like pollution control in auto engines, they figured out how to make them work. Of course, I don't own the Presidential Cloaca, so maybe HE does have problems. If I was a member of the Trump Tribe, would I have to believe the 15 flush statement.
DeleteStanley, you're right that the new ones are better. My parents had one of the older water saving ones, in the hope that it would be easier on the septic tank (it wasn't). Now family are tired of dealing with it, and are trying to figure out how to convince Dad to let them replace it.
DeleteYeah. Like the first cars with pollution control were dogs. Does your Dad ever leave home? Have a plumber do a blitzkrieg attack while he's away.
DeleteBack in the days before conservation was cool, I knew a professor of higher Lake Michigan ecological stuff who kept a brick in the toilet's water tank to use less water. He also didn't flush after every urination. Absolutely nothing fancy, but if everybody did it we wouldn't have to wait for the president and Congress to get together on a valve.
DeleteAbout "...brick in the toilet to use less water", just don't. In the house we used to live in, we were having some gross plumbing issues (I will spare you the details) until I figured out that the previous owners had put a brick in the tank to restrict water use. I took the brick out. End of problems. Also about not flushing every time; also gross, especially for the person cleaning the bathroom because they will have to scrub the toilet twice as often.
DeleteBut I am on board with the newfangled plumbing fixtures that actually work. As far as home improvements they are on the more affordable end than some things.
Can't go wrong with Toyota for cars. Can't go wrong with Toto for porcelain conveniences. I am also going to install a Toto Washlet, a high tech bidet, to get habitually used to it while I still have my physical strength and most of my marbles. If I live long enough, I'll need it.
DeleteInteresting that my first encounter with a Washlet type of thing was recently at a truck stop restaurant on the interstate.
DeleteThe 25% of Nebraskans who say they seldom or never interact with someone of a different sexual orientation. I, and most of the married men I know, am wedded to a person of different sexual orientation. She is called my wife. Male - Female? Huh?
ReplyDeleteOh, I know what the poll takers meant. I just wonder if they do.
Good one, Tom. Yeah, you'd think they would have thought of that. I'm also willing to bet that near 100% of us have met someone who is gay. However they may have been "in the closet", especially in times past. Trans is a subject for another day.
DeleteI met two transwomen so far. I once had to brief one. Army R&D executive. A tank commander in her former gender. Army is usually pretty good on diversity.
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