July 2011

Another reason why a sales tax increase in SD is idiotic

l3wis July 26, 2011 21Comments

Peeps so poor in SD they can’t buy food;

MITCHELL, SD – A new study shows more people in the Dakotas are enrolled in a federal program that provides food assistance.

Data from the Urban Institute shows enrollment in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program increased by 58 percent in South Dakota between 2007 and 2010. North Dakota had an increase of 33 percent during that period.Â Nationally, the number of people using food stamps increased 69 percent between from 2007 to 2010.

Congress adopted the Federal Food Stamp Act in 1964 to help needy people buy groceries. The program cost approximately $60 billion in fiscal year 2010.

I saw a guy the other day pull up to the C-Store in a brand new car, nicely dressed, in his 30’s, grab a Mt. Dew and couple of candy bars and pay for it with his Food Stamp Card. I don’t have a problem with people getting food stamps, but it should be reserved for those in need of FOOD! Yet the good ole state of SD thinks we need to increase the sales taxes (on food to) to pay for stuff we already have money for. I call it the ‘stupidity cycle’.

Chuck Luden Poetry Soda Pop

Poetry Club w/ Charles Luden

l3wis July 26, 2011 0Comments

Monday’sÂ Poem

Why haven’t I called you lately?
Do you still have your dog?
Why haven’t you called me?
I don’t have a cat.

Charles Luden â€¢Â 7-21-11Â at Michelle’s

Uncategorized

Understanding Anders Breivik

l3wis July 26, 2011 9Comments

Listen to this NPR interview for the lastest. (Click on: Norway Attacks)

From the SD Peace and Justice Center:

As most of you probably know,Â on Friday there was a bombing and mass shooting in Norway; an attackÂ that left 76 dead. Â Anders Behring Breivik, a self-proclaimed “leader of the National and pan-European Patriotic Resistance Movement” and opponent of Muslim immigration and “cultural Marxism/multiculturalism”, claims responsibility for the attacks and has been charged with two acts of terror. Â Many in the media are already describing Mr. Breivik as a “right-wing monster” and it is easy to understand why: the crimes were horrific, and we have difficulty comprehending how a person like you or me could do such a thing. Â And by taking personhood away from Mr. Breivik, we can treat his crimes like acts of nature–events that others could not have impacted and, therefore, can claim no responsibility for. Â But the truth is that “monsters” do not exist, and that Mr. Breivik is a person. Â It is important to understand how a person was able to commit this crime, what could have been done to prevent the act, and what should be done, both overseas and here in the USA, to stop others from killing again. Â In this newsletter, I have linked to many articles that give background on Mr. Breivik, suggest possible influences on him, and show the dangers of viewing others as objects of our possible disdain (murderers, Marxists, capitalists, terrorists, illegal immigrants, Republicans, etc.) before we see them as persons.

SF City Council Sioux Falls

Call the whaaaaabulance. Contractors are crying over the proposed changes to contract approval.

l3wis July 25, 2011 1Comments

I am all for this change;

The council’s fiscal committee has recommended that the council approve all contracts worth $25,000 or more. The contracts would be included on the council’s regular consent agenda. The consent agenda routinely is approved by vote at the beginning of regular council meetings, although items can be removed and debated.

In other words, it is much like the approval of malt beverage licenses. They group it all together, and approve it all at once unless they have questions or concerns about a certain item. Not a big deal. Fast and usually painless.

Councilor Kenny Anderson Jr. and others say that including a list of contracts on the council’s agenda will increase transparency for the public. The public will see which entities are getting contracts and for what services.

Exactly. The public has a right to know who is getting these contracts. But that hasn’t stopped city directors and contractors from crying about the issue.

But department heads and other employees resist the idea. They say it will cause delays in awarding contracts and will stall projects. City Engineer Chad Huwe told the fiscal committee that council approval of contracts could delay projects by weeks. Contractors already complain that it takes too long, and City Council approval will add another step in the process.

Chad, quick question for you. Who is in charge of running the city? You and private contractors or the taxpayer and elected officials? It’s our money, the council is SUPPOSED to be watchful of how it is being spent. If contractors are upset about the time it takes, maybe they should get their bids in early, maybe they should work faster, or better yet let them go scrape and scrap for work in the private sector if government is so hard to deal with. IMO, city work has been a gravy train to some contractors in this city, and they are afraid the train is finally gonna come to a halt. Can’t wait to see some of the names that pop up if this change gets approved.

Mayor Hubris Mayor Subprime Mike Huether Mike Huether SF City Council Sioux Falls