Tired of rhetoric

Dear Editor,

I am so tired of hearing about how we are all either "Red" or "Blue," as if Democrats do not want a small government or Republicans do not want a better society. Regardless of the media spin or the Party rhetoric, Nebraskans have crossed party lines and voted strongly for both Ben Nelson and Chuck Hagel in past elections; we are not so dyed-in-the-wool red and blue as these groups would have us believe.

And yet, because it seems to be a given that the 3rd District will vote Republican down the ticket, the candidates fly over Nebraska travelling to bellwether states like Colorado or Missouri, as if somehow we are not worthy of their time or effort.

This year, 3rd District Republicans are loudly voicing their dissatisfaction with the past performance of Mike Johanns.

And with a presidential candidate who voted against every farm bill ever introduced, accepted $1.5 million in contributions from oil and gas companies, and then voted to extend these companies a $3.8 billion-a-year tax break, it is likely that when they post the map of Nebraska in mid November it may not be quite so "red" from York to Scottsbluff as everyone is so comfortably used to assuming.

It is then we will know that Nebraska is moving toward becoming a bellwether state, that we will not be plugged into a party platform or media spin, that we are not a foregone conclusion, and that politicians will find need to come to us and treat us with the same dignity and respect as the rest of the states in the union.

Al Dunworth

Culbertson