Why Nebraska Losing?

Changes Are Necessary

Way too often, Nebraska’s local leaders point to Nebraska’s brain-drain (https://www.unomaha.edu/college-of-public-affairs-and-community-service/center-for-public-affairs-research/documents/brain-drain-2022-release.pdf). My take is Nebraska universities play the role of advocating for “get out of Nebraska why you can” indoctrination. I want to fully blame them for this trend but if I did, I would be missing out on the larger problem.

Progressive academics is not the only reason people are leaving Nebraska. Yes, they are leaving but they are taking their money with them (https://votewithyourfeet.net). So this is not merely a brain-drain but a money loss.

With this map below, you can see people are leaving Nebraska but it does not seem so bad compared to Illinois, New York, Kansas, and California.

But…… when looking at what amount of money left Nebraska, the State is in the same category of the most progressive states of New York and California. This should shock you to the core. Yes, the data may be a bit old considering the most recent reforms, but the reforms barely scratched at the problems.

This means Nebraska needs to overhaul the entire state regarding economic policies and taxation. It may mean taxing bottled water, and eliminating the minimum wage. Perhaps the income tax should go. Perhaps property tax should be based on insurance coverage instead of market rates. But until Nebraskans are forced to discuss substantial change, instead of modest reforms, Nebraska is being erased, while home ownership is being abolished.