South Dakotans

“If they really want to be apologetic, they can give our historical lands back, and we can start from there.” – Joseph Brings Plenty

Joseph made this comment at the end of this interview about the little-publicized humanitarian crisis in South Dakota following the worst winter weather in decades after the radio host, Tavis Smiley, says the US government has apologized for what they did to Native Americans, and that was Joseph’s response. I couldn’t agree more. It’s kinda like a burglar stealing your car and apologizing for stealing it, but still continues to drive it.

Representative Thompson has a great idea, but is anyone listening?

Thompson

I couldn’t agree more with Bill’s idea;

The plan is based on Montana’s approach, which has worked well. The majority leaders of both houses choose the first two members of the seven-member citizen commission. Then the minority leaders of both houses choose the next two members. These four commission members choose the final three, with each member coming from one of the seven designated regions of the state. The commission will create the districts, submit the plan to the Legislature for suggestions and then finalize the districts.

Oh, but Bill, that approach sound fair. How can the Republicants in our state continue their chokehold if they can’t hand pick these commission members? Than there are all the utopian results it would produce;

Now is the time for South Dakota to change its method of legislative redistricting. Redistricting plans should:

•  lessen the impact of incumbency on redistricting.

•  lessen the impact of partisanship on redistricting.

• create more districts that are competitive.

•  maximize intradistrict competitiveness to make it easier to recruit candidates willing to challenge incumbents. Competitiveness and better candidates will encourage voter participation and satisfaction. Voter satisfaction will foster better, more responsive government.

There is a reason why your bill continues to fail Bill, a SD Democrat proposed it.

Resignations or bootsignations?

ronan-ogara_1383350c

I heard from a reliable source tonight that both Tom Bennett (director of the SD Symphony) and Gary Wood (CEO of the Pavilion) were actually fired by their boards for economic reasons. Leave it to the mostly Republican boards to fire their directors over a problem caused by their savior, GW Dush.

I’m wondering if anyone else can confirm those rumors? Mainly Tom and Gary. I will give you exclusive interviews on South DaCola. Don’t be shy, I only bite in my sleep.

I also got a chuckle tonight when I was telling someone else at a popular restaurant downtown that the Pavilion has never been profitable, considering they get a subsidy from the city each year, and some girl in another booth gave me a dirty look.

Mind your own f’ing business and stop listening to other people’s conversations.  The eye rolling and head shaking does not phase me, I actually think it was kind of cute.