Tom Becka

Will We Lose Our Slice Of Americana?

Published by maggie@omahadai... on Fri, 08/29/2025 - 12:00am

I am a long-time resident of Dundee, and last Saturday was Dundee Day.

Dundee Day is a slice of Americana.

There was a parade with marching bands, Boy Scouts, politicians, and civic organizations.

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We Are On The Same Team

Published by maggie@omahadai... on Wed, 08/27/2025 - 12:00am

I’m trying. I really am.

I’m trying to reach out and understand how decent, intelligent people can be so enamored with Trump or so opposed to him that they can’t be objective with what’s going on.

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Lipstick On A Pig

Published by maggie@omahadai... on Tue, 08/26/2025 - 12:00am

It must be tough being a Republican politician these days, constantly trying to put lipstick on a pig.

The latest example is Pete Ricketts and Jim Pillen touting the immigration detention center in McCook. They even gave it a cute name… The Cornhusker Clink.

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I Don’t Want To Go Back To Cleveland In The ‘60s

Published by maggie@omahadai... on Wed, 08/20/2025 - 12:00am

This article is geared towards anyone who thinks that climate change is a hoax. Those who think it’s not real. Those who don’t have a real concern about how the Trump Administration has gutted the Environmental Protection Agency.

I spent the first eleven years of my life in Cleveland, Ohio. Cleveland was a major industrial town in the 60’s, located on the banks of Lake Erie, and the factories were booming.

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We Need To Speak Up While We Still Can

Published by maggie@omahadai... on Fri, 08/15/2025 - 12:00am

This morning, as I considered what topic to write about, I told myself I would try to find something that doesn’t involve criticizing the Republican Party. Too many of my columns since last January have been critical of what President Trump, Governor Pillen, or other far-right conservatives have been doing to our country.

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Why Are You Proud To Be A Republican?

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

Over the last several months I have been doing a very unscientific survey among Republican friends and acquaintances. Some of these people are names you would recognize, some are active in party politics, and some are regular Republican voters. None are diehard MAGA types, but all have gone along with the party as it shifted in that direction. I have promised them all anonymity if they would answer one simple question.

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Mental Health Comes First

Published by maggie@omahadai... on Mon, 08/11/2025 - 12:00am

John Ewing is working to bring affordable housing to the corridor surrounding the streetcar. He plans on using TIF financing, the same method used to pay for the streetcar, to get it done.

I support his efforts to make that happen, but…

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What To Believe

Published by maggie@omahadai... on Tue, 08/05/2025 - 12:00am

If I’ve heard it once, I’ve heard it a thousand times. Someone will say to me, “I don’t watch the news because I don’t know what to believe anymore.”

Well, I’m a news junkie that watches, reads, and listens to the news, and I know exactly how they feel. Sometimes I don’t know what to believe anymore, either.

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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.