Wide and Shallow: Why Nebraska’s Future Depends on Smarter Systems

By Jon Capps, Candidate for Nebraska Legislature – District 38

Nebraska is named for the Platte River — a wide, shallow river that doesn’t rush, doesn’t overwhelm its banks, and doesn’t carve deep, destructive channels. It moves steadily forward, spreading its force across the land.

That’s not just geography. It’s a lesson.

Today, Nebraska’s economic systems no longer work that way.

Our tax structure has become too narrow, placing too much pressure on property owners — especially in rural communities. Our regulatory system has grown heavy in places where it should be light and flexible. And our infrastructure hasn’t kept pace with what modern families and businesses need to compete.

When systems become too narrow, pressure builds. Something eventually breaks.

That’s what we’re seeing with property taxes. Farmers, ranchers, and homeowners are carrying a disproportionate load because the system relies on them as the pressure valve. Local leaders aren’t reckless — they’re constrained by a structure that gives them few alternatives.

The solution isn’t to point fingers. It’s to widen the system.

A healthier tax system spreads responsibility broadly and fairly — wide and shallow — instead of digging deeper into the same pockets year after year. That means modernizing our tax code so growth pays the bills, not just landowners.

It also means recognizing that infrastructure matters. Reliable power, high-speed internet, and workforce housing aren’t luxuries. They’re the foundation of rural competitiveness. Without them, even the best tax policy won’t deliver results.

The same principle applies to regulation. Rules exist for a reason, but they should follow clear standards: necessary, effective, and relevant. When regulations pile up without review, they slow everything down — acting as a hidden tax on families and small businesses.

In my career as a technology leader, I learned that the best systems aren’t the ones with the most controls. They’re the ones designed for flow — where effort moves efficiently, pressure is balanced, and outcomes are measured.

Nebraska can work that way again.

We don’t need radical change. We need disciplined modernization. We need systems that reflect who we are — practical, fair, and forward-looking.

Like the Platte River, Nebraska should move steadily ahead — wide, shallow, and strong.