Nebraska, too, has a civil rights initiative up for consideration for the ballot, and Democrats in Lincoln County used their blog to oppose it.

We’ve seen the opposition to these initiatives. All of it’s passionate, most is sincere, but misinformed, and some is angry. That of the Lincoln County Democrats is just ridiculous. (N.B.: “ridiculous” doesn’t mean “fall out of your chair funny;” it means “mock this, because it deserves ridicule.”)

Here’s the text of the Nebraska CRI: “The state shall not discriminate against or grant preferential treatment to any group or individual on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in the operation of public employment, public contracting, or public education.”

That’s pretty straightforward. Depending on your political bent, it might be insidious or terrifying, but it’s not too hard to read, assuming you’ve clawed through fourth grade.

Lincoln Democrats declare it deceptive and then say:

- The CRI undercuts a diverse workforce, which we need for the 21^st century economy. Diversity makes for really nice posters and t-shirts, but it’s never been profitable, especially when it means holding anyone back from getting a job.

- The CRI threatens women’s businesses, and funding for women’s health and domestic violence programs. Their claiming petition supporters are complacent about domestic abuse would be funny, if it weren’t rather, well, disgusting.

- Hinders Nebraskans’ ability to create public policies aimed at fostering “The Good Life” - fairness, opportunity and inclusion for all citizens.

The third one is best. We once all agreed “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” was a good reason to start a country. Now we’re supposed to aimlessly run toward some general-welfare concept called “The Good Life?” Sounds like an underselling Jimmy Buffet tribute record.