Poll: Rural Nebraskans See Lack of Civility in Politics as Serious Problem Holt Boyd Extension Podcast

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.