" Hey this is my real name. See all my negative comments on previous stories. I am not ashamed to say what a miserable existence living in Nebraska really is. I wasted 16 years in that godforsaken state! "

" I love Nebraska more than any place in the world! I am in the Navy, and am anxiously awaiting to finish my service, and get back home. I've Sailed three different oceans all bringing me to diffenernt lands. I've traveled through the country, and nothing in the world compares to That Sea of Red! "

" Yea, that's my real name. And your logic, as usual for the Journal Star, is flawed. Just because people don't waste the time to write in to you, to tell you about all the things they hate about Nebraska, you attempt to give the impression that all those who post negative things about Nebraska on your website are either lazy or fake. That's as true as the Bushies contention that because we haven't had another 9/11, that BushCheneyRoveCo. MUST be doing the right thing to defeat the terrorists (which, of course, is a complete lie, as proven by the most recent NIE). Most people just won't waste the time to tell you how much they hate this state anymore because there is no point in doing so. So I hope I don't overstep my bonds when I do it for them, and for myself as well. Nebraska -- Lincoln, Omaha, and all the small and medium-sized towns throughout this state -- WAS a great place to live, and grow up, a number of years ago. Like many of your readers, I grew up in Lincoln, and have fond memories of great places that no longer exist; Miller & Paine, Arturos, Dirt Cheap, the ORIGINAL Nebraska Bookstore (where the Lied Center is now). When I was a kid, I never thought about how I'd have to pay the bills, or the high property taxes, or traffic, or the cost of goods and services; I was a kid! I enjoyed playing in MANY parks, enjoying picnics and Pinewood Bowl shows with my family. Pershing Center was HUGE to me, back then. And back then, you COULD get across Lincoln in 15 minutes. But that is not the case anymore. Friends of mine who grew up both in smaller towns in Nebraska, as well as Omaha, say their hometowns have changed too, especially in the last 15-20 years. People still talk about the "Sea Of Red" with reverance - but then lament because Stevie P. and the corporate interests that control the money down at Ft. Osborne in Lincoln care so little about the true history of Husker Sports, unless it can make 'em another dollar. Too many people from elsewhere - especially California and Texas - have moved in to Nebraska, and brought with them the problems they created back where they were from [Of course, the problems they created came with them; THEY were the problem!], while not having the inner strength to fix those problems. You could be ANY religion you wanted, and get along generally OK. How many other cities in the U.S., other than Lincoln, had a "Council On Interfaith Relations" that was always involved in both public and private schools, and throughout the community? In the other places I've lived, I never heard about such things. But in Lincoln, the CIR was always around. They too are gone these days (Too many Faux "News"-style "Christians" became uncomfortable with "those other people" of different faiths, to keep a CIR going). Too many illegal immigrants have moved here too, and unlike many immigrants before them (both legal and illegal), the most recent immigrants don't wish to blend into their new environments in Nebraska; they'd rather act and pretend as though they were still back home, wherever they came from. "'When in Rome, do as the Romans do?!' Please, gringo - this is America! I don' have to do NOTHING I don' want to do!" And don't ask the employers of the illegals to stop employing them, either - you wouldn't actually expect a corporation or employer in this state to pay a man or woman what they were worth for a job well done, now would you? That's "old-fashioned" thinking. And don't look to the Unicameral for help on bringing the corporations into line, and having them pay their fair share of taxes. State and local governments in this state are too afraid to stand up for their citizens, too afraid that the big bad companies will get up and leave. So the governments don't tax them anywhere close to what they should (Of course, the companies leave anyway, so we all see how well THAT way of thinking works out). Our governments in local and state politics would rather dump on or sneak in another raise in property tax, or gas tax, or sales tax, or income tax for the workers because, "Those people out there aren't going to do anything to us (the politicians)anyway. And besides - this is NEBRASKA, 'The Good Life', right?!" Unfortunately, these days, they're right - Nebraskans no longer no longer do much to fix things that are broken. We've bcome like those who came here from elsewhere, looking to someone else to come up with a solution and bring it here. In part, i believe it's because there are very few TRUE Nebraskans left. See, I grew up proud to be a Nebraskan, and when I've lived elsewhere, I've often joked in the past, "The state motto of Nebraska should really be 'If it ain't broke, don't "fix" it - and if it IS broke, fix it NOW.'" I was PROUD to say that - as backward as some of the small towns (and even Lincoln and Omaha) seemed - in general, if something was wrong, we Nebraskans would do what it took to fix it, and fix it relatively fast. Yes, I often acknowledged, that once we Nebraskans "fixed" something, it was gonna damn well STAY fixed - often until after we should have adjusted it later, so we didn't have to come back and "fix" the issue again for a VERY long time. I can't say that anymore. This town of Lincoln - and most of the rest of the Nebraska towns I've gone to, to see friends or relatives, over the last few years - has changed, in very fundamental ways. Of course, in typical Nebraska fashion, many Nebraskans won't see that things have "broken" in our communities until FAR after the change should have been noticed - in part because for so long we've "fixed" things, and they STAY FIXED. But we Nebraskans aren't the only ones living in Nebraska anymore. And while that kind of diversity, of having people from outside our state move in, has it's benefits, NOT forcing them to become "Nebraskans", in the truest sense of the word, takes away any significant benefits we might receive. Rome was Rome because it's citizens were forced to become "Romans." When the empire stopped enforcing rules and laws that gave it's people a commonality, the empire began to crumble. I'm not saying Rome was an ancient Eden after Eden. I'm not saying Rome was always good. And I'm not saying Nebraska is Rome (or ever was). But this state WAS "The Good Life" because we DIDN'T have a "Bed, Bath, and Beyond" in every major city - or a Target or a Wal-Mart in every other town, and a Walgreens on every corner. It was more difficult to live here. Yes, we had culture, of a different sort, and if you looked around, there was always something unique to go and do or see. But I'll also admit, when the sun went down, the sidewalks "rolled up" like some window shade in a Looney Toons cartoon, and it was very hard to just wander down the street and "find" something to do. It was that quirkiness, that unique sense that YOU, as a Nebraskan, knew where the treasures were in this state, that you KNEW how to not just survive, but live a life that had meaning, a "good life", while outsiders couldn't understand Nebraska (and couldn't stand the weather) that made Nebraskans our own unique kind of people in the past. The idea that - whether or not you liked football - you generally were pleased when the team continued to do well, even if you weren't sure why you felt that way. It worked, so you went with the feeling. The struggle to pull a worthwhile crop out of ground was worth it - because you knew while it was tough for you, it was IMPOSSIBLE for those fools in Kansas and Oklahoma. And don't even think some big city-folk like those in L.A. or New York knew what it took. Nebraska wasn't just a place to live - it was a test, one that only a few, strong, proud, wise people could survive. One that rewarded the true Nebraskan with incredible light shows with it's thunderstorms, heartbreaking sunrises and sunsets, and winter days so perfect and quiet you could hear a pin drop for miles, literally (And if you were lucky, you might get all of those kinds of weather in a 72 hour period). It's not that those of us who have trouble with Nebraska hate the state and it's people. We hate what it has become, what it's been allowed to turn into. Hell, I can find a city almost anywhere in America that has the same slapped-together townhouses and corporate box-boxed "shopping centers" that have sprouted up all over this state in the last 15 years, like some kind of social disease. Those things that have made Nebraska what it was - and what it could be again - need to be focused on once again. So... the state is broke. If you're a TRUE Nebraskan, you'll dig in, stick around, and do what it take to fix the place. And God help those fools who stand in our way. We'll "fix" it again - and maybe this time, we'll learn to keep adjusting things over time, so that we don't HAVE to truly "fix" things again for a very long time. "

" I love Nebraska, but where do I find a copy of the Cliff's Notes for the comment section? TIA. "

" Yeah, ya want my name. What does that have to do with the price of corn??? I'm not ashamed to say Nebraska is only where the greedy live. Thats the problem, you can't talk to LJS or any one unless they can drag you thru the mud. Thats why Property taxes are so high. If you say ouch or try to tell anyone you've lived in nicer places with better schools etc, name or no name your taken to the slaughter house!!! Thats what my parents always said, you just exist in Nebraska, and even though I left for a better education and life, I had to leave my family which was the sad part, now they are all almost gone, not only me but the same thing with all my school mates. Not that way with those my age in the state I moved to. And Lincoln is diffenately not the friendlyest place to live!!! But it is the most expensive!! "

" I don't especially like living in Nebraska, despite being born and raised here. If the choice were only mine I would be long gone. The complaints about little to do and property taxes and bigotry are all true. I don't think Nebraskans are particularly friendly. The traffic is bizarre. Only in Nebraska have I found that a signal to merge with traffic is a challenge to cut someone off. The weather is awful. I know that there are places in the country that are worse, but I also know there are places that are way better. The Lincoln newspaper is weird. They ask for opinions about how life in Nebraska is and then make freaky assumptions about the folks that don't agree with the down-homey story they wanted to write. I've read most of the comments on your blogs, and the Nebraska haters are winning. Real names or not. "

" Is that Clay Diggs from Wynne? "

" You know what...you can find both good and bad in any state! I hate the Nebraska summers...they are miserable especially when we have the high humidity as we did this summer! That is one big thing I could live without! I have lived in Nebraska all my life and remember snow drifts higher than our fence (we could walk right over the fence) and I do not remember the summers quite as miserable though. I have thought several times about leaving the state but when I start investigating other states there are drawbacks also. If I could find a state that had no terrible weather issues to be aware of..and the temp stayed between 60-75 and the taxes were not high and there was no racism and...... well you get the picture. There is no perfect place. Maybe someday I will leave for good but I have to find the good too. I am not extremely happy here but am not miserable enough either to start packing. I will ask people from out of state what brings them here though as i like to hear what they gave up and why. I do agree Lincoln is getting a little too big for me but there are other places to go in Nebraska. Clay...just curious...why did it take you 16 years to leave??? "

" I grew up in a small rural village outside of Kearney. Growing up I hated the place, nothing to do and nothing to see except cows and cornfields. And if you weren't of the "right" last name you were an outcast. I joined the military and have travled all over, met some amazing people. I can say I do miss Nebraska. I agree with Shawn though, I miss the Old Nebraska when people actually stood up and took charge of what they felt was right. I think the small towns were a great, safe place to raise your kids but not anymore. I love coming home to visit but I don't want to move home to a place that says one thing and does the polar opposite. "

" I lived in Southeast Texas for over 5 years, and I missed these humble hills of Northeast Nebraska every day. My wife's from Seattle, and although she misses the Puget Sound and Space Needle, she loves it here, and agrees that we'll never move our young family away unless we absolutely have to.

From Kimble to Blair, Valentine to Alma; I'll take the bad with the good, but it'll always be...The Good Life!

There is no place like Nebraska. Go Big Red! "