{"id":45383,"date":"2024-01-05T10:25:40","date_gmt":"2024-01-05T16:25:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nebraskadem.wpenginepowered.com\/?p=45383"},"modified":"2024-01-05T10:25:40","modified_gmt":"2024-01-05T16:25:40","slug":"new-year-new-ne","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nebraskademocrats.org\/zh\/blog\/new-year-new-ne\/","title":{"rendered":"New Year, New NE"},"content":{"rendered":"

I\u2019m not usually one for resolutions. I love the spirit of them but simply suck at following through.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

The spirit of New Year\u2019s Resolutions rocks though\u2013 it\u2019s a self-imposed fresh slate. Whether you\u2019re a resolution person or not, we can at least admire the ideas behind them. They\u2019re an excuse to work towards a better version of yourself, a newfound sense of motivation, and a reason to create lofty goals!<\/p>\n

In Nebraska, however, we\u2019re stuck with Resolution Scrooge as our Governor. Every time there\u2019s an opportunity to turn the leaf a la Resolutions, Pillen doubles down in his desire to keep Nebraska the same, regardless of year. Jim Pillen capped off an otherwise unremarkable 2023 in office with one of the most abhorrent decisions in recent memory\u2013 the decision to deny $18 million of federal funds dedicated to feeding 175,000 kids.\"\"<\/p>\n

That $18 million would have helped with the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer for Children, known as EBT for short. The goal of the program is to ensure that children who are usually on free and reduced lunch during the school year have healthy and accessible meals in the summer as well.<\/p>\n

So much for the spirit of resolutions. Governor Pillen had the easiest opportunity to move our state even one inch in the right direction, and somehow still fumbled the opportunity. Fresh starts be damned, the Governor just wants to see our kids starve!<\/p>\n

Happy New Year, Nebraska, let\u2019s pray it\u2019s\u00a0only up from here.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Election of Our Lifetime\u201d<\/h3>\n

In the world of politics, our \u201cNew Year\u201d comes via election cycles. We don\u2019t get to press reset on January 1st, or even every year, only when we have elections! So, although it didn\u2019t happen this week, we still get to flip to a new chapter this year.<\/p>\n

On May 14th and November 5th of this year, Nebraskans will turn out to the polls and cast their votes for everything from County Commissioners to President of the United States and everything in between. It gives us the opportunity to be the change we want to see in this country. If you\u2019re pissed off about something\u2014 vote!<\/p>\n

Dissent is the most beautiful thing about our country\u2026 we\u2019re actively encouraged to disagree with each other, and for that, we should be grateful. We have the ability to vote for the person who best represents our values, each of us serving as a small cog in the machine that keeps our great nation turning.<\/p>\n

However, every single election year we\u2019re told \u201cIt’s the election of our lifetime\u201d and \u201cYour vote matters more than ever before\u201d… it almost feels like the boy who cried wolf at some point. I mean, c\u2019mon, not\u00a0every\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>election can be the election of my lifetime.<\/p>\n

To be honest, I completely hate that phrase and rhetoric. Yet, despite my hatred for that phrase, I think this truly is the election of our lifetime. We\u2019ve had our fair share of crappy Presidential candidates in our lifetime.<\/p>\n

George W roped us into the Middle East under false pretenses, plunged us into a recession, and cozied up with his oil buddies in the name of denying the existence of climate change.<\/p>\n

Both John McCain and Mitt Romney thought that the solution to the recession was to give big businesses more tax breaks.<\/p>\n

And Donald Trump, well, was Donald Trump.<\/p>\n

He talked a big game, said a lot of nasty shit, and used the most powerful office in our country as a platform to be the worst person imaginable for four years straight.<\/p>\n

Yet, this time around, he\u2019s even more emboldened, more unapologetic, and more spiteful.<\/p>\n

I think we\u2019re almost desensitized to how insane some of the things he says are, myself included. After four years of only hearing about him in the news, it\u2019s kind of nice to not have to listen to him.\u00a0\"\"<\/p>\n

However, as we gear up for another election with Trump on the ballot\u2026 Here are some quotes, from the man, the myth, the candidate himself, proving why this truly is the election of our lifetime.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll only be a dictator on day one\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Immigrants are \u201cpoisoning the blood of our country\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Called his political opponents \u201cvermin\u201d and promised to \u201clock them up\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u53f7\u89d2\u5468\u56f4<\/h3>\n

New Year, new news stories! Let\u2019s see what the first week has had in store for us already.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Last week, the supposed \u201cmoderate\u201d alternative to\u00a0Donald Trump, Nikki Haley, said that slavery was not the reason for the Civil War. I think we should add passing a high school civics exam to the list of requirements to run for President. It might incidentally disqualify 90% of Republican candidates, but hey, at least we\u2019d know our nation\u2019s real history.<\/p>\n

As we move into 2024\u2013 here\u2019s a list of events that are a decade old now! Hope this doesn\u2019t make you feel too old\u2026<\/p>\n