The year was less than zero. Heck, the entire decade was a big zero. We owe more money, our houses are worth less, we don’t open the retirement account statements any more because the anemic balances are too painful to see. Goldman Sachs (Scrooge and vampire squid) has drained all of the cash.
Don't worry! Be happy!
Supposedly Omaha and Nebraska are both doing much better than other parts of the country. Next time you think about moving because there must be jobs somewhere, take a look at this graph, and start applying for a job selling soft drinks at one of Omaha’s 14 new baseball parks.
So far, the health care bill addresses every problem except the main problem, namely, costs. Instead, fee-for-service will be alive and well, with no competition from any public option or government-run health insurance program, and 30 million new customers required by law to purchase health insurance from companies interested mainly in denying claims.
Insurance Benator
That’s all thanks to Nebraska’s Repulicrat and Demopulican Senator Ben Nelson. Nelson is that rare breed of politician who once bought stays bought and votes according to the interests of those who bribed him, I mean, financed his campaign. The Benator positioned himself to maximize the sale of his vote to the highest bidder. He insisted that he would not support a government-run insurance program (because it would mean competition for the Benator’s benefactors, the insurance companies), nor would he support federal dollars being used for abortion (because it would mean he’d lose the backing of Nebraska’s pro-life voters). When he saw that he couldn’t have both, Nelson took the insurance money (natch!) and dumped the pro-lifers. Then he’s reduced to begging forgiveness during a college football game.
Leavenworth Street: The Talk of Nebraska Politics
Here at WeirdHarold, we were all excited about Hal Daub’s return (because it would mean more Hal Daub cartoons!) when out of nowhere Omaha elected an engineer as mayor.
Walter
Suttle’s biggest mistake was thinking that being mayor meant that he had to do something dramatic, like lease a big SUV, close some swimming pools and golf courses, and hire some budget rocket scientists.
Jim
This caused widespread alarm and dismay, because Suttle apparently didn’t get the memo from outgoing mayor Mike Fahey about how the mayorial gig is first and foremost ceremonial. The mayor’s chief duty is to speak at civic functions and don’t say anything quotable. Then spend your leisure time in the Ozarks where nobody knows you are the mayor of a nondescript Mid-Heartland city.
See you at the Holiday!
The Cornhuskers are back! Whew. Pelini is the official Nebraska State pasta. Unfortunately it means even more Cornhusker coverage from the local paper, which now publicly admits that “news” means local sports coverage. If you want to read about Ben Nelson or Warren Buffett, stem cell research at the University of Nebraska, or even the latest winter storm, click over to the New York Times. If you want giant, glorious photos of Nebraska ranchers wearing corncobs on their heads at the Holiday Bowl in San Diego, your Omaha World-Herald will empty its newsroom to cover the pre-game warm-ups.
Bo's Big Adventure
Next year HAS TO BE BETTER. But, wait, did we say that last year?
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