Poll: Rural Nebraskans See Lack of Civility in Politics as Serious Problem - December 7, 2023 - Jordan Rasmussen, Extension Educator - Rural Prosperity
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- [0:03] "Poll: Rural Nebraskans See Lack of Civility in Politics as Serious Problem"
- [0:08] by Becky Vogt, Recorded by Jordan Rasmussen, Rural Prosperity
- [0:11] Nebraska Extension Educator - December 2023
- [0:15] Most rural Nebraskans see the lack of civil discourse in the political system
- [0:20] as at least a somewhat serious problem, according to the 2023 Nebraska Rural Poll.
- [0:26] About two-thirds of rural Nebraskans surveyed rate this lack of respectful
- [0:29] discourse as either a very serious problem or somewhat serious problem.
- [0:34] Only 5% say it is not a serious problem.
- [0:37] This view may result from a perceived division in politics.
- [0:41] Most respondents to the Rural Poll think Americans
- [0:43] are more divided over politics than they were 10 years ago.
- [0:47] Seventy-two percent believe Americans are much more divided,
- [0:50] and 22% say Americans are more divided.
- [0:54] Political division can hinder efforts of leaders and citizens to get things done.
- [0:59] When asked about how well local, state and national leaders
- [1:02] overcome differences to accomplish things,
- [1:05] rural Nebraskans surveyed have the most faith in local community leaders.
- [1:09] Two-thirds believe community leaders do at
- [1:12] least moderately well at overcoming differences.
- [1:15] By comparison, 40% believe the same about Nebraska’s political leaders
- [1:19] and only 9% believe the same about America’s political leaders.
- [1:24] Even beyond their local leadership, most respondents also believe
- [1:28] people in their local community as a whole do at least moderately
- [1:32] well at overcoming differences to get things done.
- [1:36] “Knowing what our communities are experiencing is an important
- [1:39] first step to bring people together again,” said Heather Akin, assistant professor
- [1:43] in the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Department of Agricultural
- [1:46] Leadership, Education and Communication.
- [1:50] Political differences and civil discourse,
- [1:52] or a lack thereof, are often seen on social media.
- [1:55] Most rural Nebraskans surveyed have a negative opinion about
- [1:58] social media and its impact on civil discourse.
- [2:02] Fifty-five percent disagree that social media channels
- [2:05] are a place for civil and productive discourse.
- [2:08] About 59% agree that social media only reinforces what the user already believes,
- [2:14] while 71% find that social media contributes to division in their community.
- [2:19] Furthermore, nearly half disagree
- [2:21] that social media helps them feel engaged in their community.
- [2:25] “It was surprising to find that rural Nebraskans didn’t
- [2:28] believe that social media helps them feel engaged
- [2:30] in their community,” said Becky Vogt, the poll’s manager.
- [2:33] "Communities use social media to inform their residents of events or updates,
- [2:38] so you would think that would make them feel more involved in the community.
- [2:41] Perhaps the political arguments that may occur there
- [2:44] have turned people off to social media altogether.”
- [2:48] Poll results also showed that, overall, rural
- [2:51] Nebraskans are positive about their communities.
- [2:54] They rate them as friendly, trusting and supportive
- [2:57] and say it would be difficult to leave.
- [2:59] “It’s encouraging that many rural Nebraskans have confidence in
- [3:02] their local officials to overcome differences and feel a sense of
- [3:05] belonging and connection within their communities,” said Akin.
- [3:09] “Building this shared respect can help us find common ground and bridge divides.”
- [3:14] The Rural Poll is the largest annual poll gauging rural Nebraskans’
- [3:18] perceptions about policy and quality of life.
- [3:21] Questionnaires were mailed to more than 6,000 households
- [3:23] in Nebraska earlier this year with 1,100 households -
- [3:27] representing 86 of the state's 93 counties - responding.
- [3:31] More can be found at ruralpoll.unl.edu.
- [3:35] For Nebraska Extension, I am Jordan Rasmussen.