You run across some pretty weird things as a blogger, especially when your foot soldiers send you weird links. Not sure if this is controversial, but it certainly is strange.
So the person who is hired by the state (Jennifer Stalley) to be the executive director of the SD Athletics Commission, you know, the folks in charge of making sure MMA fighters perform safely, is also the head lobbyist for Midwest Solutions. What do they lobby for? The SD Veterinary Medical Association.
What is most bizarre about this is, first off, what is the connection (not sure there is one)? But more importantly, was the state so strapped to find an ED for the Athletics Commission that they had to hire a PRIVATE lobbyist? Forget the fact that she lobbies for an industry that cares for the well-being of our pets and livestock while running another organization that promotes people punching each other in the face.
One could say being a private lobbyist and a state employee at the same time may be a conflict of interest. Not sure? But the oddity of promoting people fighting for entertainment on one hand while promoting the health of animals on the other, that’s a new one in a state with some very strange bedfellows and almost NO ethics.
How did this all come about? Jennifer helped with a presentation yesterday at the Sioux Falls city council informational meeting about lifting the ban on ultimate fighting in city owned facilities (so one of my foot soldiers decided to see who Jennifer was). Like I have said in the past, I don’t care either way. MMA is just glorified boxing, and if the Pentagon is already hosting these events, why not the Events Center.
Sometimes I don’t know whether to laugh, cry or just shake my head when I see some of the doofus things our state government does. Well it’s good to know our animals are safe, the MMA fighters, I guess they are safe to . . . just sign on the dotted line.
It was inevitable. When the EC can’t book something, there’s always Gladiator Beatings or Monster Trucks. Mayor Caesar will give thumbs up or down for the peasant’s life.
We’ve got a coliseum and public baths. Next, a city brothel out by the pawn shop gun range. Togas are the fashion. Easy hooker access and use to clean your gun with.
For a progressive city, we sure lack class.
money money money …. MOOOONNNEEEEYYY
I really don’t give a shit on this either way. I do know most lobbyists are for hire to any group. I know a guy who will lobby both sides of an issue if you pay him enough. She’s just lobbying for a new group. They gave her a title to make it look she has knowledge and expertise on the issue.
Government doesn’t pay for lobbying. Governments give them jobs and titles.
It’s a horrible corrupt system.
First, everyone needs to watch this.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/league-of-denial/
Then after you’ve seen that, read this.
http://www.nationalpost.com/m/wp/blog.html?b=news.nationalpost.com//news/canada/mma-fighters-suffer-traumatic-brain-injury-in-almost-a-third-of-professional-bouts-study
MMA is dangerous. But who cares? It fills seats and sells plenty of beer.
Check out this month’s Inside Town Hall:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPkIJXvRq_Q&list=PLEE719F8780A0F31A
At 3 minutes, Karsky talks about taking his wife to an MMA fight. Lucky woman! I wonder who comped the tickets?
I thought the same thing. I have met Dean’s wife. I find it a little hard to believe she enjoyed the spectacle. She must have bartered with him to clean the garage.
My favorite part in the episode was when Rex Rolfing magically thought he was part of the State Legislature when he suggested regulating casino’s patio smoking. Which I find ironic, while he thinks he can control state legislation he has done little to legislate as a city councilor, unless you consider the arm movements he makes while rubber stamping the mayor’s agenda.