Tom Becka

Selling Patriotism

Published by maggie@omahadai... on Fri, 08/01/2025 - 12:00am

I’m about to go on a rant. I may be the only one who’s bothered by this, but watching TV last night, I saw a commercial that I’ve seen many times before. But this time, I've reached my limit, and I have to speak out about it. I know this rant is going to infuriate some and perhaps amuse others, but once those who get upset take a moment to think about it, they’ll realize I’m right.

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Groupthink Vs. The Power Of The Individual

Published by maggie@omahadai... on Tue, 07/22/2025 - 12:00am

I’ve always found people to be fascinating, regardless of their opinions, careers, or economic status. I’ve always enjoyed observing, interviewing, and working with a wide variety of people. I believe most to be good decent people, even if we disagree.

It makes life interesting.

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Ewing Is Steering Omaha In The Right Direction

Published by maggie@omahadai... on Thu, 07/17/2025 - 12:00am

John Ewing is a smart man. He’s also a good politician. The politician in him played his views on the streetcar perfectly, even if it meant that he had to pretend he didn’t know about some things.

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I Guess He Wasn’t Made For These Times

Published by maggie@omahadai... on Fri, 07/04/2025 - 12:00am

Maybe it’s because of Brian Wilson's recent death, but when I heard that Don Bacon was leaving Congress, the Beach Boys song “I Just Wasn’t Made for These Times” popped into my mind.

In case you’re unfamiliar with the song, it’s an introspective ballad about a man who feels out of place.

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Newton And Politics

Published by maggie@omahadai... on Wed, 07/02/2025 - 12:00am

The Democrats in New York City have nominated a candidate who’s an unabashed socialist. A man who wants to raise the minimum wage to $30.00 an hour, offer free bus rides, a rent freeze, free childcare for every New Yorker up to the age of five, and increase the corporate tax to 11.5% to match New Jersey’s. For that, you can thank Newton’s Third Law of Motion, which states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

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Face-To-Face With A Bull

Published by maggie@omahadai... on Mon, 06/30/2025 - 12:00am

I’d be willing to bet that almost everyone reading this column has at one time or another gotten into a political discussion on social media.

I’d also be willing to bet that the person you were having that discussion with was someone you knew whether they were a close friend, family member, or casual acquaintance.

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Use Tools, Don’t Become Them

Published by maggie@omahadai... on Wed, 06/25/2025 - 12:00am

Social media is a tool. And just like a hammer, it can be used to build or destroy.

I spend too much time online. I try to justify it by saying that I need social media for what I do.

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Would Past Generations Be Proud Of America Today?

Published by maggie@omahadai... on Thu, 06/19/2025 - 12:00am

I’m writing this column on Father’s Day.

On this day, I’m thinking about all my dad taught me about America. He was a WWII veteran who was proud of his service and proud of his country. As I grew up in the 60s, he taught me we weren’t perfect, but America was still the best country out there.

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Paperwork

Published by maggie@omahadai... on Tue, 06/17/2025 - 12:00am

Paperwork.

The military has been called out, families’ lives have been ruined, and people are living in fear, all because immigrants who want to live and work in this country in peace don’t have the proper paperwork.

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Thanks For All Your Service, Mayor.

Published by maggie@omahadai... on Fri, 06/13/2025 - 12:00am

Omaha is about to embark on a new era. Well, sort of a new era. I wonder how much will really change since the new Omaha mayor has kept almost every department head of the old Omaha mayor. Things probably won’t change all that much. After all, it wasn’t like John Ewing was pushing some bold new agenda during the campaign. It’s not like he proposed anything revolutionary. In my opinion, he won based on his past service, being a good guy, and voters were ready for a change.