Jeff Barth

South DaCola Endorsement: Jeff Barth for US Congress

I have thought about this for awhile. Have Jeff and I had our disagreements? Oh, yeah. But there is one thing I like about Barth, he speaks his mind, and believes what he believes. He is an Old Skool Democrat and liberal.

Someone asked me the other day, “Who has a better chance of beating Noem?” I said, Varilek of course, but let’s face the facts, neither one will be able to beat the Republican money machine and the West River podunks who love a congressperson in tight Wrangler jeans. I don’t want to see either Barth or Varilek in tight jeans, heck, I don’t even want to see them in a Snuggie. But I do want whoever runs against Noem to needle the heck out of her.

So why Jeff Barth?

Because he will truly question her on her record and won’t let her slither away. Varilek, not so much.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ST2K4U_XQ5Y&feature=youtube_gdata_player[/youtube]

Is Jeff Barth the best guy the Dems could dig up to run against Noem?

Do I want Noem as our congressperson? Hell no! In fact I would prefer an indy in that position that does not have to tow the party line. The liberal in me likes Jeff Barth. He is about as liberal as you can get, he is even a little on the nanny-stater side.

He is all about raising taxes to spend on social programs. I don’t have a problem with that, as long as the money is spent wisely. But the fiscal conservative in me doesn’t care much for Mr. Barth.

He recently wanted to raise taxes so he could give raises to county workers. Here’s the deal, I agree they deserve a raise, but don’t we all? What goes around comes around, and while the rest of are taking it in the shorts, the county workers have to also. That’s just how the cookie crumbles. They chose to work in the public sector, the pay should be reflective of society as a whole.

But the thing that worries me the most about Jeff is his chances of beating Noem. In fact I would give her 65-70% of the vote. I hope the Dems dig up someone young, smart, progressive, moderate, and with deep pockets before the primaries. Jeff isn’t going to cut the mustard.

Maybe one of those Weiland kids ain’t busy over the next year?

Increasing taxes on liquor doesn’t harm the liquor producers

Barth: There wasn’t a sin tax I didn’t love

It is just another SIN tax that affects the poor, working poor and lower middle class. Say what you will about taxing alcohol, which is not a bad thing, I just find the argument that we are somehow punishing the liquor companies by increasing this tax to be silly:

Every day, more booze-related (or booze-caused) costs pile up. Who pays for the ambulance, the helicopter, the squad car, the medical care, the funerals? Certainly not the alcohol industry.

So what is Minnehaha county commissioner Barth’s solution? Tax us more to buy it;

An additional 10 percent sales tax on alcohol is not too heavy a burden. An $8 six-pack of beer would be $8.80. I’d still buy it.

I have a better solution. Stiffer penalties to people who sell underage, stiffer penalties to DUI offenders, and actually force people to pay restitution, or work off that restitution in a work release program while living in jail. Taxing RESPONSIBLE drinkers to pay for the crimes of IRRESPONSIBLE drinkers is idiotic. If someone commits a crime while intoxicated, they should pay for the consequences. Not the average Joe who drinks a tomato beer every once in a while.