Latest from SD Political Blogs

Thune Discusses Farm Bill Proposals, Thanks Farmers and Ranchers at Dakotafest Farm Bill Forum

Pat Powers — Wed, 16 Aug 2017 18:06:13 +0000

Thune Discusses Farm Bill Proposals, Thanks Farmers and Ranchers at Dakotafest Farm Bill Forum

“We’re lucky to have so many hard-working farmers, ranchers, and other dedicated professionals who help support agriculture in South Dakota and make it our state’s number-one industry.”

MITCHELL, S.D. — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), a longtime member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today participated in Dakotafest’s annual farm bill forum in Mitchell. Thune thanked South Dakota’s farmers and ranchers who help make agriculture the state’s top industry, and he highlighted the five farm bill proposals that he’s introduced so far this year. In early March, Thune began his farm bill rollout by introducing legislation that would create the Soil Health and Income Protection Program (SHIPP), and nearly every month since then, he has introduced various pieces of legislation that target different titles of the farm bill.

“We’re lucky to have so many hard-working farmers, ranchers, and other dedicated professionals who help support agriculture in South Dakota and make it our state’s number-one industry,” said Thune. “As a South Dakotan and a legislator, I’m thankful for their contributions here and around the country, and I always appreciate their feedback on proposed policies in Washington, D.C. No one knows these issues better than the folks who till the land or raise livestock in South Dakota, so all of their ideas and honest advice are invaluable to me. Each day that passes means we’re one day closer to the 2018 farm bill, so I look forward to having more of these conversations in the coming weeks and months.”

South Dakota Agriculture Stakeholders Comment on Thune’s Farm Bill Effort:

“By introducing these individual proposals well in advance of the 2018 farm bill even being written, Sen. Thune is leading by example and showing that he’s eager to be part of the discussion with stakeholder groups across the state, like the South Dakota Farm Bureau,” said Scott VanderWal, president of the South Dakota Farm Bureau. “I want to thank him for his work and especially his commitment to farmers in South Dakota and around the country.”

“We are thankful that Sen. Thune is leading the drive for a modernized and responsive 2018 farm bill as evidenced by his foresight in proposing SHIPP as well as improvements to the ARC County program,” said Jerry Schmitz, president of the South Dakota Soybean Association. “The senator’s efforts are helping to craft a prosperous future for South Dakota farm families.”

“Livestock producers, like all of the hard-working people the South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association proudly represents, are glad to have Sen. Thune in our corner fighting for the issues that matter to us,” said Jodie Anderson, executive director of the South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association. “His early work on the 2018 farm bill is encouraging news, and we look forward to continue working with him as Congress prepares to put pen to paper on the next farm bill.”

“I appreciate Sen. Thune’s vision and the important groundwork he’s laying for the 2018 farm bill,” said Lisa Richardson, executive director of South Dakota Corn. “It’s never too early for this work to begin, and I’m thankful he’s willing to put in the time to listen to farmers, ranchers, and others in the South Dakota agriculture community as these policies are being developed.”

Components of the Thune Farm Bill (Additional Proposals Will Be Unveiled Soon):

Creating SHIPP, a new voluntary income protection program for farmers that is designed for today’s production agriculture and soil health needs (click here for more information).
Adding flexibility to haying and grazing on Conservation Reserve Program contracts, which would eliminate the need for emergency haying and grazing and mid-contract management, and creating new management options for other easement programs (click here for more information).
Simplifying the Agriculture Risk Coverage-County payment process for multi-county farms and requiring a mandatory crop acreage base update that would be determined by planted and considered-planted commodity crop acres on a farm for the years 2014-2017 (click here for more information).
Updating the Thune-authored Livestock Forage Program and Livestock Indemnity Program (click here for more information).
Increasing the effectiveness of the Healthy Forest Restoration Act and improving the National Environmental Policy Act, which would help simplify and streamline federal forest management (click here for more information).

To learn more about Thune’s 2018 farm bill proposals or provide feedback, please visit the farm bill section onwww.thune.senate.gov.

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Noem Advances Farm Bill Reforms at Dakotafest, Drives Forward Tax Reform and Trade Proposals

Pat Powers — Wed, 16 Aug 2017 17:54:40 +0000

Noem Advances Farm Bill Reforms at Dakotafest, Drives Forward Tax Reform and Trade Proposals

South Dakotans weigh in on proposals

Mitchell, S.D. – During today’s congressional forum at Dakotafest, Rep. Kristi Noem heard from South Dakota producers about three critical Farm Bill proposals she’s offered. The Fair CRP Payment Act, DRY Act, and Wetland Determinations Efficiency and Transparency Act each aim to make the Farm Bill work better for South Dakota farmers and ranchers.

“Every farmer and rancher knows agriculture is a risky business, but few Americans understand that,” said Noem. “It takes some education before folks recognize safety nets for producers are really safety nets for our food supply – and even our national security. But that’s why we’re getting an early start on the Farm Bill. I’m proud to drive reforms that will make the Farm Bill work with more accountability, efficiency and predictability. At the same time, I’m fighting to make sure our tax and trade policies give producers the opportunities needed to continue their operation into the next year and the next generation.”

Leading voices within South Dakota’s agriculture community weighed in on the debate as well.

Jerry Schmitz, President of the South Dakota Soybean Association: “Each farm bill is a renewed oath to provide a safe and dependable supply of food, fiber and fuel for the benefit and security of every citizen of our nation. It provides a shield of protection for those of us who grow food today and assists us in protecting land, water and wildlife for the benefit of future generations. Congresswoman Noem is a standard bearer for agriculture and a leader of biofuel legislation which grows South Dakota’s economy, enhances our national security and provides a cleaner environment.”

Scott VanderWal, President of the South Dakota Farm Bureau: “In agriculture, a period of prosperity can be followed by one or more unprofitable years, potentially jeopardizing a generations-old operation. Rep. Noem understands that because she’s lived through it. As a result, she championed critical safety net programs in the 2014 Farm Bill and is fighting for reduced income tax rates and the elimination of the estate tax, among other priorities, in tax reform. Once again, Rep. Noem came to the table ready to listen during today’s Farm Bureau Forum. I think everyone who participated was grateful for the opportunity to share what’s working and what needs improving for South Dakota producers to succeed.”

Larry Stomprud, President of the South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association: “We commend Kristi for her hard work on the permanent disaster provisions for livestock producers that are part of the current Farm Bill. Those programs are an invaluable tool for helping us manage our resources during tough years such as this one and we support their continued funding in the next Farm Bill. We also applaud Representative Noem’s introduction of the DRY Act and hope this common sense legislation will also be incorporated into Farm Bill discussions moving forward.”

Julian Roseth, President of SD Wheat Inc.: “Between record low commodity prices, unfair trade practices in the global market, disease issues, and extreme weather, wheat farmers across South Dakota are experiencing the toughest economic conditions they have faced since the 1980’s. Fortunately, programs authorized in the 2014 Farm Bill, specifically crop insurance, have enabled farmers to be able to farm another year when prices collapse or disaster strikes.”

Marv Post, President of the South Dakota Dairy Producers: “I look forward to highlighting the importance of a review of the Dairy MPP program in the Farm Bill, to make it work like the current programs for crops. Dairy farmers understand the crop insurance and the dairy program should be simple and available in a catastrophic event.

BACKGROUND

With additional proposals are expected following feedback from South Dakota producers, Rep. Noem has introduced three Farm Bill reform proposals to be included in the upcoming debates:

Fair CRP Payment Act. Currently, the National Agricultural Statistic Service (NASS) conducts rental rate surveys every other year, resulting in slow reactions to market changes. Under Noem’sFair CRP Payment Act, rental rate surveys would be conducted annually to more accurately reflect rate changes.
DRY Act. This legislation would permanently allow the hay harvested on certain CRP acres to be donated to ranchers suffering from drought or fire.
Wetland Determinations Efficiency and Transparency Act. Some producers have been forced to wait months or years to receive a wetland determination, delaying their ability to make improvements on their land. This bill would enact permanent reforms that make the wetland determination process more efficient, accountable and transparent.

Additionally, in early August, Noem joined members of the House Agriculture Committee for a Farm Bill listening session to hear from producers about changes needed in ag policy.

Outside the Farm Bill, Noem is the leading voice of agriculture on the powerful House Ways & Means Committee, which has jurisdiction over tax and trade policy. Noem is the first South Dakotan in history to serve on the committee and has helped secure ag-friendly reform policies, includingmaking Section 179 permanent and extending the biodiesel tax credit. Noem also continues to fight for tax reform proposals will work for highly leveraged industries like agriculture and is the sponsor of the bipartisan Death Tax Repeal Act.

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Big Noem fundraising Event coming up in Rapid City on August 28th with Congressman Trey Gowdy

Pat Powers — Wed, 16 Aug 2017 17:51:58 +0000

On August 28th, Congresswoman Kristi Noem is taking some time from traveling around the state on Congressional business, and is making a stop in Rapid City in support of her candidacy for Governor in 2018.

And she has a few friends who are helping, including Congressman Trey Gowdy:

Republican getting into the race for Sioux Falls mayor in next couple of weeks

Pat Powers — Wed, 16 Aug 2017 16:06:37 +0000

My spies are telling me that within the next two weeks there will be an announcement made of an unexpected but very serious Republican contender jumping into the race for Sioux Falls Mayor.

This candidate would join the current Republicans in the contest, State Representative Greg Jamison and City Councilman Jim Entenmann.

Stay tuned.

From The Leader Of The Church Of Which I Am A Member

John Tsitrian — Wed, 16 Aug 2017 15:48:06 +0000

Bishop Ough

Bishop Bruce Ough, president of the United Methodist Council of Bishops, issued the following statement on Charlottesville:

My shock, dismay and grief over the clashes between white supremacy advocates and counter-protesters in Charlottesville, Virginia, continue to grow. I grieve for the lives lost, and pray for the family of Heather Heyer, the families of the two state troopers killed while monitoring the Charlottesville demonstration from the air, and for the healing of all the injured. I am shocked by the blatant resurgence of white nationalism, neo-Nazism and racially motivated domestic terrorism in the United States. I am dismayed (and frightened) by the animosity, division, extremism and evil that is spiraling out of control in the U.S.
Let there be no excuses or political justification for the evil that was on full display in Charlottesville last Saturday. Nor, let us forget that many such displays of white supremacy, racism and hatred go un-reported or under-reported in many places. White supremacist and neo-Nazi ideologies are abhorrent and entirely inconsistent with the Christian faith.
Jesus called his followers to “love your neighbor.” It is clear this key spiritual imperative means all neighbors without regard to race, color, religion or national origin. And, Paul taught that “enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions and factions” are among many works of the flesh that are antithetical to the kingdom of God. “By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Galatians 5: 19-23) These works of the Spirit lead to peace-making and the kingdom of God.
The Social Principles of our United Methodist Church are a clarion call and powerful witness in times such as these. “We affirm that no identity or culture has more legitimacy than any other. We call the Church to challenge any hierarchy of cultures or identities.” (Para. 161A, The Nurturing Community, page 110, 2016 Book of Discipline). And, from Para. 162A The Social Community, page 120: “Racism, manifested as sin, plagues and hinders our relationship with Christ, inasmuch as it is antithetical to the gospel itself … Therefore, we recognize racism as sin and affirm the ultimate and temporal worth of all persons … We commit as the Church to move beyond symbolic expressions and representative models that do not challenge unjust systems of power and access.”
Martin Luther King, Jr. echoed a similar sentiment when he challenged the United States to transform the thin paper of the Declaration of Independence that affirms the self-evident truth “that all men are created equal, are endowed with certain inalienable rights” into thick action.
I pray that the shock, dismay and grief of Charlottesville will be a turning point for the U.S. and even our global United Methodist church. We share collective responsibility to turn our thin words into thick action. We share collective responsibility to break our silence. We share collective responsibility to restore health to the communities and relationship out of which extremism, hatred and racism grow. We share collective responsibility, as followers of the Prince of Peace, to create non-violent communities where people with different political and religious views respect each other. We share responsibility to articulate the vision of the Beloved Community where no person feels endangered on account of their social, racial or cultural identity.
This collective responsibility begins by each of us examining our own hearts for the prejudice that contributes to attitudes of supremacy or hatred, or to violence, or silence or fear. Peacemaking and reconciliation always begins within.
This is the moment for The United Methodist Church and all peoples of faith to be bold in our witness against racism and white supremacy. The vision of the Beloved Community lies not behind us, but before us. I urge us to pray for the Holy Spirit to break through and work through The United Methodist Church to heal our broken world and make tangible, visible the kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.
Bishop Bruce R. Ough, President
Council of Bishops
The United Methodist Church

American Indians in Montana want removal of memorial to treason; whither South Dakota?

larry kurtz — Wed, 16 Aug 2017 14:02:52 +0000

The United States was founded on the backs of slaves as systematic genocide became a way of life for white christians quoting scripture as they slaughtered their fellow humans. After colonizers realized enslaved American Indians had no resistance to diseases brought from the Old World, Africans were imported to do the dirty work.

In the early twentieth century after President Theodore Roosevelt invited Booker T. Washington to the White House white supremacists began erecting statuary commemorating and celebrating treason in the United States.

Members of the American Indian Caucus in the Montana Legislature are calling for the city of Helena to remove a Confederate memorial that sits in a city park. In their letter, members of the American Indian Caucus said white nationalists, neo-Nazis, members of the alt-right and any other groups that propagate hate, discrimination, violence and bigotry have no place in this country. [Helena Independent Record]

Confederate flags routinely fly in Rapid City showing support for racism in like-minded states, South Carolina and Mississippi. Many more come out during the Sturgis Rally.

Channeling the Bundy domestic terrorists who laid siege on Harney County, Oregon Rep. Lee Schoenbeck (RWNJ-Watertown) embraces white privilege every day.

Rosebud rapper, Frank Waln, is a survivor of genocide visited against tribal nations.

Moody and Pennington Counties struggle with racism on a local level.

As bikers in the Black Hills can still be seen flaunting their racist bents flying the flag of slavery from their machines Gettysburg, South Dakota remains a white supremacist stronghold.

The Potter County city of Gettysburg will not be removing the Confederate Flag from patches of the police department. ["...Without the war, and without the Battle of Gettysburg, we would not be the same City that we are. The Chief of Police, Bill Wainman, the Mayor, Bill Wuttke, and the City Council have no intentions of changing the police patch."]

Read that here.

Over eight hundred people were arrested outside Standing Rock during the Dakota Excess demonstrations, 155 arrested in Ferguson and only four were arrested in Charlottesville.

Not really South; not really Dakota.

Right to life? Not if you're non-white in America or South Dakota.

I'm just saying! He Sapa kin Lakota kin tawapi pic.twitter.com/E7eENoJuDa
— Matt Remle (@wakiyan7) August 15, 2017

Release: Sex Trafficking Operation Results in Arrests

Pat Powers — Wed, 16 Aug 2017 13:04:04 +0000

Sex Trafficking Operation Results in Arrests

PIERRE, S.D. – Attorney General Marty Jackley, United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler, Rapid City Police Chief Karl Jegeris, and Pennington County Sheriff Kevin Thom announce that the Division of Criminal Investigation, the South Dakota Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, and Homeland Security Investigations have conducted investigations into sex trafficking during the Motorcycle Rally.

“It is important that we protect our children with law enforcement operations that focus on removing sexual predators from our streets. Our operations continue to protect children and send a message that South Dakota is off-limits to anyone seeking to harm our children,” said Jackley.

“Despite the intense publicity and focus on human trafficking these past few years, these undercover operations serve as a somber reminder that some people will throw caution to the wind and succumb to their perverted instincts,” said U.S. Attorney Randy Seiler. “I’m proud of the joint collaboration displayed by law enforcement and our united efforts to bring sex traffickers to justice.”

The investigation resulted in the following felony arrests and indictments for sex crimes:

Eric Carl Afrank, 22, Rapid City, SD, Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet (18 USC 2422(b)) and Attempted Transfer of Obscene Material to a Minor (18 USC 1470)

Joshua Aschwege, 33, Black Hawk, SD, Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet (18 USC 2422(b)) and Attempted Transfer of Obscene Material to a Minor (18 USC 1470)

Donald Scott Baker, 45 Osceola, MO, Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet (18 USC 2422(b)) and Attempted Transfer of Obscene Material to a Minor (18 USC 1470)

Kevin J. Carney, 30, Portland CT, Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet (18 USC 2422(b)) and Attempted Transfer of Obscene Material to a Minor (18 USC 1470)

Jimmy Rudy Custodio, 39, Edina MN, Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet (18 USC 2422(b)) and Attempted Transfer of Obscene Material to a Minor (18 USC 1470)

Erik Glenn Dahlquist, 29, Rapid City, SD, Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet (18 USC 2422(b)) and Attempted Transfer of Obscene Material to a Minor (18 USC 1470)

Abdurrahman Keskin, 26, Silvan Turkey, Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet (18 USC 2422(b)) and Attempted Transfer of Obscene Material to a Minor (18 USC 1470)

Carlocito Slim, 31, Lake Jackson, TX, Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet (18 USC 2422(b)) and Attempted Transfer of Obscene Material to a Minor (18 USC 1470)

Daniel David Wasner, 31, St. Cloud, MN, Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet (18 USC 2422(b)) and Attempted Transfer of Obscene Material to a Minor (18 USC 1470)

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When Things Get Weird Nostalgia May Be The Only Cure: Stranger In A Strange Land

Kal Lis — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 22:22:59 +0000

When a sitting president of the United States says the following:

"George Washington was a slave owner. Was George Washington a slave owner? So will George Washington now lose his status? ...Are we going to take down statues to George Washington? How about Thomas Jefferson? What do you think of Thomas Jefferson? You like him? OK, good. Are we going to take down his statue, because he was a major slave owner. Now we're going to take down his statue. So you know what? It's fine. You're changing history, you're changing culture, and you had people — and I'm not talking about the neo-Nazis and the white nationalists, because they should be condemned totally — but you had many people in that group other than neo-Nazis and white nationalists, OK? And the press has treated them absolutely unfairly."

I have no choice but to return to my youth and remember that I have always been a stranger in a strange land. When I was young, I just never anticipated the land would become so Kafkaesque.

Senator Mike Rounds speaks at the AFP Luncheon

Pat Powers — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 17:24:40 +0000

Lots of people here at the Americans for Prosperity Luncheon, including elected officials, to hear Senator Mike Rounds talk about the need for Tax Reform at the federal level.

Just a couple of quick snapshots..

Group organizing anti-Trump candidates to run for office. Isn’t that the SDDP’s job?

Pat Powers — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 15:11:30 +0000

Susan Kroger, who had been the Executive Director of NARAL-SD, but is now with Sanford, was recognized by the Washington Post in an article yesterday about people who are organizing “resistance efforts” in pro-Trump areas:

When Susan Kroger decided to help launch a political activism group for women in her largely rural, pro-Trump region, she expected a few dozen liberal neighbors to show up.

But when she opened the doors at the group’s first community meeting in Sioux Falls, S.D., 100 people flooded into the room. Now nine months later, Kroger says the group has quickly grown to 2,300 active members.

It’s a story emerging across Trump country, where left-leaning grass-roots groups have popped up in some of the reddest parts of the nation — a sign that “the resistance” has gone rural.

and…

LEAD South Dakota has a nine-person board of directors and committees tasked with monitoring state legislative activity, candidate recruitment and other efforts. So far, the group is working with 75 candidates who are interested in running for office and is planning to break into chapters across the state to help manage its rapid growth.

Read the entire article here.

The enthusiasm of this organization seems to be coming about as a result of the election. That kind of thing happens after one side gets shellacked or otherwise motivated.

But what I notice is that they’re forming into their own group. And it seems that they’re not coalescing around the troubled and inept South Dakota Democrat Party, who sheds voters like my retriever sheds fur in the summer.

(Here’s a picture of my big, goofy dog for reference. Trust me, she sheds a lot of fur.)

What are your thoughts?

State Rep. Sue Peterson hosting Senator Thune for Fundraiser

Pat Powers — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 13:48:34 +0000

State Representative Sue Peterson is hosting Senator Thune for a big fundraiser for her State Legislative Campaign on August 28th:

(Wow. Looks like something for a Statewide election, as opposed to a State Rep Campaign.)

Nazis And Their Demented Paramours The KKK Should Be Condemned By South Dakota's Elected Officials.

John Tsitrian — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 12:29:21 +0000

So far the responses of our SD congressional delegation to the events in Charlottesville have been tepid, ambiguous, and cowardly. Why these three can't bring themselves to condemn specifically the Nazis and KKKers who were the most visible elements in the march to "Unite The Right" shows a dismaying lack of moral specificity. Congresswoman Noem blathers on about "anyone spreading hate and fear" while Thune called "the hate and bigotry . . . disgusting and unacceptable." According to the SF Argus Leader, Mike Rounds deferred questions to a written response (that I haven't found) that condemned violence but didn't criticize President Trump's response. Do our congressional reps know anything about the history of the Nazis and the Klan? Why can't they bring themselves to call out these two organizations for condemnation?
I wish this trio of South Dakota Republicans had the same no-nonsense rejection of moral equivocation that Ronald Reagan did when queried about the support he'd gotten from the Ku Klux Klan. Said President Reagan in 1984, "the politics of racial hatred and religious bigotry practiced by the Klan have no place in this country and are destructive of the values for which America has always stood." As to Nazis, Reagan's wartime service (his vision deferred him from a combat assignment) was distinguished by a long list of of anti-Nazi film productions and public appearances that put his status as a popular actor to work in the war effort.
More than two thousand South Dakotans were killed or wounded fighting the Nazis and their allies in World War II. I'm a life member (by virtue of my 13 month tour of duty as a Marine in Vietnam) of the F.J. Willuweit VFW post in Quinn, at the eastern end of Pennington County. Willuweit was killed fighting Nazis in Europe. I had an employee, long since dead, who fought with Patton in Europe. He once told me that when he landed at Normandy the bodies floating in the water were so thick that you could practically walk on top of them to get to the beach. My own dad, who fought the Nazis in the Balkans while serving in the Greek army, was shot and captured in Macedonia in 1942, then subsequently trucked to a POW camp near Dachau, the infamous concentration camp. He spent the rest of the war as a forced laborer, including a stint as a hod-carrier for German bricklayers constructing the ovens in which thousands of murdered Jews were incinerated.
That so many of us in South Dakota have direct linkage to the generation that sacrificed much, if not all, in the battle against Nazism should be enough to spur our elected leadership into condemning the latter day resurgence of this hideous legacy. It really isn't that difficult or politically perilous. Along with those demented paramours of Nazism, the Ku Klux Klan, they're easy enough to target with the simple, clear, unequivocal and direct language of modern conservatism's towering warrior Ronald Reagan: They have no place in this country. Get it, Noem, Rounds and Thune? They have no place in this country.

The beginning of the end of satellite campuses in SD

Pat Powers — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 04:15:23 +0000

From the Capital Journal, the Board of Regents is getting ready to drop the ax on higher education in Pierre:

State government’s Board of Regents wants central office staff and officials from South Dakota’s two largest universities to bring a plan for closing the jointly operated Capital University Center in Pierre.

Without taking a vote, the regents last week directed the plan should be ready for their next board meeting Oct. 3-5 at Dakota State University in Madison.

The matter came to a head Thursday, during a long discussion about the university centers at Pierre, Sioux Falls and Rapid City, on the final afternoon of a three-day planning meeting in Pierre.

“We have to do some type of wind-down. What will that be?” regent John Bastian of Belle Fourche said about CUC. “If we decide to do that, we can make intelligent decisions.”

Regent Kevin Schieffer of Sioux Falls pushed hardest. Schieffer told the six university presidents, eight other regents and the board’s executive director, Mike Rush, he’s tired of kicking the can down the road.

Read it all here.

It’s not like Pierre is the only struggling satellite campus. Sioux Falls’ University Center is having its own issues as well.

When the Regents are dropping the hammer on Capital University Center, does that signal that other programs are not far behind?

Guest Column: Uncovering The Real Agenda Behind Ballot Measures

Pat Powers — Mon, 14 Aug 2017 19:23:47 +0000

By State Representative Drew Dennert. Drew Dennert is a sixth generation South Dakotan, his family first settled here in 1893. As the grandson of one of the longest serving state legislators in state history, H. Paul Dennert, Dennert comes from a family of public service. Dennert at age 17 served as a Legislative Page; at 19, he served as a Legislative Aide; and at 21 years old, Dennert is the youngest serving legislator in the state of South Dakota.

Uncovering The Real Agenda Behind Ballot Measures

Last year South Dakotans cast their vote for a near record breaking 10 ballot measures, nearly beating the modern record set in 2006 of 11 measures in an election.

Next year we may be poised to beat the 2006 ballot measure record, as 20 measures have been submitted for review and several have been approved for circulation. But before any of these measures can make it to the ballot, they must collect enough valid signatures from South Dakota voters before the November 6th deadline.

Like every election, most ballot measures have good intentions but some may have unintended consequences that voters should consider before signing off on to put them on the ballot – or vote them in. Something I know all too well from personal experience.

In 2015, I remember being approached by a petition circulator who asked if I would be willing to sign his petition for Marsy’s Law. I asked him to explain what the measure would do and after his explanation that the measure would guarantee equal rights for victims in the judicial process, I made the decision to sign it.

But soon after signing the petition, I did some research of my own and learned that the measure was sponsored by an out-of-state group and that measure could have significant costs for local taxpayers, which the measure’s sponsors wouldn’t have to bear. It quickly became apparent to me that it wasn’t as simple as the circulator had explained; and whether or not it was a good decision to sign it – I was disappointed in myself for not taking the time to evaluate the issue and make an informed decision beforehand.

Many of the upcoming 2018 election ballot measures sound good on the surface, but by digging a little deeper, you may find they carry some unintended consequences. That’s why I plan to ask questions and slow down this year when approached to sign another ballot measure petition.

Petition circulators are great salesman and know how to do their job quickly and effectively, but some simple questions may get some answers to give pause before signing.

A great question is to ask whether the measure’s sponsor is from South Dakota or not. Out of state groups commonly want to have their cake and eat it too – by pushing their agendas while never facing the unintended consequences they may have. I want to know the people that came up with the law, whether good or bad, will have to live under it just like you and me if it passes.

Often these out-of-state groups hire professional circulators to get the required number of signatures to get their issue on our ballot. That’s why it’s worth asking the petition circulator whether they are being paid or are a volunteer – it’s the difference between doing a job or believing in a cause.

And finally ask to read the Attorney General’s explanation of the measure, which is on the back of every petition in its entirety. It’s worth reading, if not just to make sure that the circulator isn’t selling you a bill of goods.

South Dakota is the birthplace of the ballot measure process, leading the country in this vital tool, and we should all participate. But we should do so informed and confidently in our decision, because we’re the ones that have to live with our choices.

Scripture And Song Of The Week: Numbers 13 and twenty one pilots edition

Kal Lis — Sun, 13 Aug 2017 21:51:24 +0000

Numbers 13:

17 And Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said unto them, Get you up this way southward, and go up into the mountain:

18 And see the land, what it is, and the people that dwelleth therein, whether they be strong or weak, few or many;

19 And what the land is that they dwell in, whether it be good or bad; and what cities they be that they dwell in, whether in tents, or in strong holds;

20 And what the land is, whether it be fat or lean, whether there be wood therein, or not. And be ye of good courage, and bring of the fruit of the land. Now the time was the time of the firstripe grapes.

21 So they went up, and searched the land from the wilderness of Zin unto Rehob, as men come to Hamath.

22 And they ascended by the south, and came unto Hebron; where Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the children of Anak, were. (Now Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.)

23 And they came unto the brook of Eshcol, and cut down from thence a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bare it between two upon a staff; and they brought of the pomegranates, and of the figs.

24 The place was called the brook Eshcol, because of the cluster of grapes which the children of Israel cut down from thence.

25 And they returned from searching of the land after forty days.

26 And they went and came to Moses, and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh; and brought back word unto them, and unto all the congregation, and shewed them the fruit of the land.

27 And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it.

28 Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there.

29 The Amalekites dwell in the land of the south: and the Hittites, and the Jebusites, and the Amorites, dwell in the mountains: and the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and by the coast of Jordan.

30 And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.

31 But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.

32 And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature.

33 And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.

Sioux Empire Podcast 079 – All About Pokehon (Joseph Ektnitphong)

Sun, 13 Aug 2017 17:30:07 +0000

This podcast contains adult content, listener discretion advised.

Pokehon (Joseph Ektnitphong) is back for part two on The Sioux Empire Podcast. With the Podcast crew plus one tattoo guy (Robert Mehling, Seth Glover, Natasha Estes, and Dustin “Brie” Buri) they discuss Funko Pops, Comic Con, Vlogging, SiouxperCon, Fatherhood, Nerd Culture, and more. This episode is sponsored by Superstitions – A Psychological Spectacle. From the mind games of Zac Tenneboe (@zstonish) comes his new show, “Superstitions.” It’s more than just a magic show, but a stunning one-man performance weaving mystery and theater. No rabbits. No top hats. No smoke and mirrors. Witness a different way to experience illusion. The first 50 people to use promo code “siouxempire” will receive $1 off each ticket purchased online. Don’t miss out on this discount deal before it’s too late! The Sioux Empire Podcast is impressed that we had an adult conversation about the differences in attitudes and culture between generations without being condescending or bashing the younger generation for being different from us. (Listen and Learn Baby Boomers)

Tags and Topics:

Pokehon, YouTube, Joseph Ektnitphong, Robert Mehling, Seth Glover, Natasha Estes, Dustin Buri, San Diego Comic-Con, Panels, Short People Problems, Funko Pops, Vlogging, Grit, Travel Vlogs, Art Class, Painting, theoretical physics, automation, creative work, universal income, SiouxperCon, Ramkota, Sioux Falls Convention Center, Chuck E Cheese, Local Music, Fatherhood, Minecraft, Nerd Culture, Future Shock, mental elasticity, quantum computers, isolation, globalism, Billie Sutton, Tattoos

Links:

Pokehon

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQRTz_LK3ljIpZ3Vqrb4Y2Q

SiouxperCon

http://www.siouxpercon.com/

Tattoo Artist Dustin Buri

https://www.facebook.com/dustin.buri

https://youtu.be/iqKdEhx-dD4

Full Circle Book Co-Op

https://www.facebook.com/fullcirclebookcoop/

The post Sioux Empire Podcast 079 – All About Pokehon (Joseph Ektnitphong) appeared first on TheSiouxEmpire.com.

Tone Deaf, Stupid, Or Deliberately Vile?

Kal Lis — Sun, 13 Aug 2017 15:45:10 +0000

There's nothing like releasing a 2020 campaign ad labeling folks as enemies one day after after a day of violence.

Casita reaches the end

larry kurtz — Sun, 13 Aug 2017 13:11:01 +0000

This is from a year ago today.

It's ready for guests but it's kinda hard to let go and start another project. Thirteen and a half months just flew by. Click on any image for better looks.

This is the rear elevation. Note the two hundred gallon rain barrel.

Here's a shot out the front door with the Ortiz Mountains about five miles as the buzzard flies.

Our Lady of the Arroyo is having some girls up here today. The blog hosted the geezers here last Tuesday. It looks good.

Unruh groping for peak "ick" factor

larry kurtz — Sat, 12 Aug 2017 14:05:49 +0000

I caught this LTE the other day in the paper and thought I'd expose another charlatan in the South Dakota Republican Party.

Allen Unruh is an Elkton boy: his family was run out of town after his father, also a "chiropractic physician," was caught molesting children during exams at a time in South Dakota history when quacks enjoyed intimate physical contact with boys to determine who would participate in school sports.

You see this all the time with Talibangelicals: someone threatens to out one as a serial molester, he runs an op-ed in the paper then diverts some cash he raises from sermonizing wedge issues to shut up the people he's raped or groped.

Think of it as the Bill Cosby Effect: the more sanctimonious the speech the more cash gets raised to hide career criminal behavior.

It does make one wonder if all the chiropractors in South Dakota are intellectually incompetent or just thugs. Fred Deutsch and Jeff Monroe want to end women's civil rights, Scott Munsterman groped at least one teen and Allen Unruh wants to rewrite history by leaving Native genocide and human-caused climate change out of school curricula. These are "pro-life" people who rabidly embrace state-sponsored killing of persons convicted of capital crimes.

There are additional benefits of health insurance through the Healthcare.gov Marketplace like plans that offer covfefe for chiropractic or acupuncture services.

Two of South Dakota's earth hater delegation receive their medical benefits from Obamacare. Rep. Kristi Noem has a full ride and Sen. John Thune is on the DC HealthLink Obamacare exchange.

The red moocher state's junior senator hasn't shared the source of his medical benefits with media but it's believed he is covered by the insurance company he owns and will be eligible for Medicare before his term ends.

Republicans are infamous for killing the VA and IHS while government-run health care like CHAMPUS and TRICARE have been working for decades. My siblings and i were all born in government hospitals.

Sanford, Avera and Rapid City Regional enjoy virtual medical industry monopolies in their markets.

Kinda makes ya sick, init?

I like the idea of rolling the funding for Obamacare, TRICARE, Medicare, the IHS and the VA together then offering Medicaid for all by increasing the estate tax, raising taxes on tobacco and adopting a carbon tax. Reproductive freedoms should be included with conditions just like the military does under TRICARE.

Earth haters like Allen Unruh can squawk all they want about "socialized medicine" or "government-run health care." South Dakota is already a perpetual welfare state and permanent federal disaster area. It leads the US in breast cancer rates and is one of seven states that would be devastated by the repeal of Obamacare.

Chiropractic and acupuncture are palliatives at best while cannabis is a proven effective therapy.

Unruh's a sleaze ball of biblical proportions. He authored the Obama impeachment resolution adopted by SDGOP. Right Wing Watch has someone following his hijinx, too.

It's just creepy. You just can't unrub this guy enough.

Good one Larry. My hometown chiropractic quack required excess nudity from female patients, then just had to pull back robes to expose breaststroke or genitals. This was all in the course of "treatment", of course. I doubt they're All pervs, just a high percentage. BTW, I saw Unruh at a legislative hearing about 10 years ago. He has a very high "ick" factor. Made my skin crawl. Ugh. [comment, Deb Geelsdottir, August 17, 2015]

Republicans are evil.

Turn your head and cough.

Republican logic.. pic.twitter.com/5dW0mJo693
— Greg Hogben (@MyDaughtersArmy) August 13, 2015

Today's intersection: death with dignity and suicide by cop

larry kurtz — Fri, 11 Aug 2017 01:44:04 +0000

This blog really doesn't have a dog in the fight but the since the South Dakota Republican establishment mouthpiece suffers from hypocritheocrisy, can't bear dissent and deletes dissenters this post will have to do.

South Dakota is mulling a ballot measure that would hold harmless a physician who would aid a person with a terminal illness to end her or his own life: death with dignity.

One earth hater legislator, Fred Deutsch, has been raising campaign funds gallivanting around the red moocher state with a crusade calling the initiative "Don't Eat Grandma" or something. These are "pro-life" people who rabidly embrace state-sponsored killing of persons accused of capital crimes.

But ya know: Hell is a Supermax in Colorado. An injection is suicide by cop.

It does make one wonder if all the chiropractors in South Dakota are mentally incompetent. Scott Munsterman groped at least one teen, Fred Deutsch and Jeff Monroe want to end women's civil rights and Allen Unruh wants to rewrite history.

These people aren't interested in compassion: they want nanny state control over every aspect of peoples' lives.

It'd be scary if it weren't so Stoogesque, Marxistic or Mouseketeerian. But, applaud Deutsch's efforts diverting attention from his party's culture of corruption where murders and their covers up are commonplace by clogging the legislative session with christianic religionist argle-bargle.

South Dakota deserves the legislature it suffers.

Church still leaving trail of tears, fears

larry kurtz — Thu, 10 Aug 2017 13:26:42 +0000

“I evolved past the ridiculous dogma that you start seeing when you look more broadly at the world.”

South Dakota's Ku Klux Klan "opposed Roman Catholicism because it feared Catholic involvement in politics."

After a cassock with ties to the Sioux Falls diocese resigned amid clergy crimes, jaws are still dropping. When Bob Carlson was bishop of the Sioux Falls chapter of the Church of the Holy Roman Kiddie Diddlers he testified for the defense at Bill Janklow's manslaughter trial.

Like a dozen other US Roman churches have done the Helena, Montana chapter of the sect faced 362 claims of sexual abuse and filed for bankruptcy.

Boston's disgraced Cardinal Bernard Law lives amidst splendor in Rome after resigning his office.

Since 2011, and as recently as this week—long after the specter of child sexual abuse by priests faded from the public scrutiny that peaked in the decade before—Brad Hall has filed 74 lawsuits on behalf of abuse survivors against priests from the archdiocese, which includes Albuquerque. In fact, the Archdiocese of Santa Fe is currently battling an effort by Hall to unseal what could be tens of thousands of pages of church records that were handed over as part of a series of lawsuits.It’s unclear how much priest sex abuse has cost the Archdiocese of Santa Fe. The Dallas Charter prevents bishops from demanding confidential settlements. [Santa Fe Reporter]

Although nothing untoward ever happened to me as an altar boy at Our Lady of Good Counsel my girlfriend in high school told me their family attended Mass elsewhere because Father Louis J. Miller had done something bad and was transferred to the Elkton parish under Sioux Falls, South Dakota cleric, Lambert Hoch who was born in Elkton.

Louis Miller was elevated to monsignor then was decapitated in an automobile accident near Pierre in 1968.

The leader of the Church is slowly cleaning house of pederastic predators but is taking heat from Republicans for his stance on curbing human-induced climate change and from progressives for his intent to canonize a colonizer accused of raping children.

The Roman Church is a criminal enterprise.

Ireland and Australia are leading calls to prosecute the cult's leaders.

As lawsuits and the US Department of Justice swamp the Church of the Holy Roman Kiddie Diddlers the future of the religious cult isn't looking very rosy.

On Robert Jeffress And God's Authority For War

Kal Lis — Thu, 10 Aug 2017 13:22:31 +0000

I first heard about Reverend Robert Jeffress's assertion that God has given Donald Trump the go ahead to take out Kim Jong-Un on Twitter on the evening of August 8. Mindful of the injunctions about blogging angry and, more importantly, those of Matthew 5:22, I got two nights of good sleep before hitting the keyboard.

There is no orthodox reading of the Bible that places the United States as a special nation on Earth. There's no American testament that sets up a special covenant between the United States and God Further, there is no historical evidence that the God of Abraham appeared in Independence Hall in Philadelphia in either 1776 or 1787 and added a covenant of invisible ink on the back of either the Declaration of Independence or the Constitution.

More importantly God numbers the hairs of the heads of both Americans and North Koreans. More importantly the God who sent his Son to save a lost world and does not want anyone to perish does not seem like the God who is going to authorize the untimely and horrific deaths by "fire and fury" of thousand if not millions of North Koreans.

Reverend Jeffress likely calls himself a disciple of Christ. The best advice Christ ever gave his disciples while on this earthly plane was to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. War is never harmless and President Trump's and Reverend Jeffress's statements have more in common with the braying of a mule than any form of wisdom.

Finally, with the Matthew 5:22 injunction firmly in mind, I am reminded of the following verse from Proverbs 24, so I will just close with it because I have no desire to incur further risk of damnation or being like Reverend Jeffress.

Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him.

Trump, Wilson offer Ellsworth airmen, aircraft as bait to North Korea

larry kurtz — Wed, 09 Aug 2017 12:26:14 +0000

Donald Trump is fully capable of blowing up the world in a fit of pique to prove he's not a wimp.

America's mentally disturbed Cheeto-dusted Führer and his Air Force Secretary have just painted a bull's eye on Rapid City.

Earlier this month, 350 airmen and six B-1 bombers were deployed to Andersen Air Force Base on Guam. The bombers are flying show of force missions near North Korea as tensions grow over that country’s nuclear weapons program and threats of striking the U.S. mainland with intercontinental ballistic missiles. [KEVN teevee]

Well, at least America no longer has to wonder what Trump's Kompromat Cabinet will do to the Earth and Rapid City.

US imperialism created the Somali refugee crisis where ISIL chickens are coming home to roost in Minnesota now Syrians are fleeing another Israeli/American war of aggression and taking its toll on American airmen in South Dakota and other remote locations.

But you know what scares me? Someone from Yemen, Afghanistan or somewhere rolling a truck bomb into Rapid City Central High School or the School of Mines after an Ellsworth-based drone pilot targets a wedding party or religious service.

It's just a matter of time until North Korea brings Hell to breakfast in Rapid City.

Meeting with pilots. pic.twitter.com/ONtYYSGjHa
— Heather Wilson (@HeatherAnWilson) August 6, 2017

***American as school in the Fall...or maybe not

Douglas Wiken — Wed, 09 Aug 2017 02:29:33 +0000

Nearly every store of any kind is having "school" sales. Backpacks, notepads, erasers, pencil boxes and pencils. Good old black lead wood pencils and then some Crayola (Division of Hallmark) brand colored pencils. I use them to color in some enlargements of cartoons I find amusing or informative. Today I looked at the fine type on the Crayola colored pencils....

Gohn is not what she says she is

larry kurtz — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 13:27:35 +0000

This columnist is not convinced a person's sexual preference is determined at conception or at birth.

I have lived with or near more LGBTQ people than many have and every story is different: from hatred of a parent to exposure to hormone-producing environmental contaminants. Even the absence of a circumcision has been cited.

Women bullied or abused by parents for most of their adolescence and men growing up with cold or absent fathers have been reasons given for personal choices.

Miranda Gohn is not looking to lead a movement. Her life is too private for that. The 51-year-old Aberdeen native, who was born with male anatomy but underwent sex reassignment surgery and lives as a female, planned to buy a home in Sioux Falls but has changed course and will reside in the Twin Cities. A few months ago, she saw her father for the first time in 15 years, a nervous reunion for both. He refused to call her Miranda and asked if she regretted what she had done. Gohn responded that she did not. [Sioux Falls Argus Leader]

For someone who says she's private and isn't looking to lead a movement Gohn has become a serial internet troll. She is a rabid anti-cannabis crusader who believes ten year olds can declare their gender identities but adults have no cannabis rights.

Gohn says she's a Democrat but that's a lie.

So, legalization initiatives have a clear Democratic benefit. Democratic-leaning voters, who otherwise might have stayed home, could turn out to vote on marijuana reform. Some may leave other parts of the ballot blank, but Democrats could see a meaningful benefit overall. In a race that is close, a few thousand votes here or there could force an incumbent Republican Senator to pack up his office or shift a state’s electoral votes from red to blue. [Brookings Institution]

The perceived evils surrounding cannabis already exist and continuing to reward a black market is neither conservative nor sustainable. Unrestrained capitalism has killed millions during the war on drugs with zero results: a moral hazard instead of self-reliance.

Despite lies from SDGOP video lootery, payday loan sharks, domestic violence and homelessness are inextricably linked putting children at risk to more catastrophic consequences far more often than has happened in states that have legalized or lessened penalties for casual use of cannabis.

I began life left-handed but my father switched me because his experience in the military taught him the Service was geared for the right-handed. Although I've never had sexual contact with another man in 63 years there was a time when androgyny seemed right for me.

Minnesota has legalized cannabis for some therapies and is now studying its sex industry.

Maybe Miranda can find a job as an escort.

Crime And Punishment In South Dakota

John Tsitrian — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 12:05:32 +0000

My good friend Cory Heidelberger called attention to a dismayingly uneven application of South Dakota justice last week in his excellent Aberdeen-based blog Dakota Free Press. In Heidelberger's account, the sentencing last week of Spearfish resident Rocky Roy Rardon to 10 years in the pen (five if he makes restitution) for stealing $49 thousand from the Prairie Hills Transit And Child Care Center, a non-profit of which Rardon was finance director, seems inconsistent with sentencing standards when looked at in context.
That context has to include the sentencing of Joop Bollen, the main figure in the state's recent EB-5 fiasco. First off, with respect to the Rardon case, I'm not criticizing or second-guessing the decision made by 4th Circuit Court judge Michelle Percy. The punishment fits the crime and sends a message to those who would help themselves to money intended for the public good. It's Rardon's punishment compared to Bollen's that seems systemically incongruent. Last February, Bollen was convicted via a plea agreement of diverting more than $1.2 million belonging to the state and received a $2 thousand dollar fine and two years probation. That Bollen "put back most of the money" (how much is "most" is a number I haven't been able to find) is irrelevant because the money was not his to use and he may well have never been able to pay it back. The State of South Dakota is not a piggy bank.
More to the point, Bollen's actions, when seen in light of their consequences for our state, did an awful lot of harm with much broader implications than Rardon's. To give you an idea of how far-reaching Bollen's transgressions turned out to be, the non-profit, non-partisan Center for Immigration Studies calculated that the "cash for green cards" EB-5 program lost South Dakota more than $100 million after Bollen took the program over via his private company, which he formed in some very shady dealings after running it for the state. The list of shenanigan's have been meticulously laid out by CIS and RCJ correspondent Bob Mercer, an accounting of which doesn't seem to be much of a priority to South Dakota officials. Those alone amount to a pretty sizable hill of very expensive beans. More consequential is the near-loss of the EB-5 program to South Dakota, which was allowed to survive after a federal investigation last March concluded that "state officials should share the blame" for the center's problems. All of this was wrought by Bollen's separation of the EB-5 program from the State of South Dakota to himself. And for this he got a tiny fine and probation.
Like Heidelberger, in context I'm plenty disturbed by Rardon's likely 5 year term in the slammer after absconding with less than $50 thousand. "If you can't do the time, don't do the crime" is a harsh principle, but one that is commonly understood by the criminal class. On the other hand, if you consort with highly-placed officials in South Dakota government, Joop Bollen's experience suggests a corollary: "If you can't do the time, go ahead and do the crime anyway."

Sioux Empire Podcast 078- Let’s Get Chipped with Pokehon (Joseph Ektnitphong)

Sun, 06 Aug 2017 17:55:20 +0000

This podcast contains adult content, listener discretion advised.

YouTube’s Pokehon (Joseph Ektnitphong) is back for his second appearance on The Sioux Empire Podcast to insert his truth microchips under our skin. With the Podcast crew plus one cheese guy (Robert Mehling, Seth Glover, Natasha Estes, and Dustin “Brie” Buri) they settle a number of controversial topics once and for all, ending all debate forever about: Religion, Circumcision, Massage Therapy, Licensing Laws, the 1st amendment, Marijuana, Murder by Texting, and more. This episode is sponsored by Superstitions – A Psychological Spectacle. From the mind games of Zac Tenneboe (@zstonish) comes his new show, “Superstitions.” It’s more than just a magic show, but a stunning one-man performance weaving mystery and theater. No rabbits. No top hats. No smoke and mirrors. Witness a different way to experience illusion. The first 50 people to use promo code “siouxempire” will receive $1 off each ticket purchased online. Don’t miss out on this discount deal before it’s too late! The Sioux Empire Podcast will never submit to having the mark of the beast inserted into their hand… What’s that? Free T-shirt and a Pizza Party? Get your chip inside me NOW!

Tags and Topics:

Pokehon, YouTube, Joseph Ektnitphong, Robert Mehling, Seth Glover, Natasha Estes, Dustin Buri, Circumcision, Adam Ruins Everything, Paul Harvey, Lutherans, Letter to the Editor, Argus Leader, Coastal Elites, Clone Cows, Zombie Apocalypse, Massage Therapist Licensing, Human Trafficking, Brothels, Mall Massage, Red Light, Roxanne, The Police, Marijuana, Jeff Sessions, Philip DeFranco, Michelle Carter, Eyebrows, Hey Arnold, Thought Crime, Murder By Text, Mark of the Beast, End of Days, RFID, Conspiracy Theories, The Night’s Dawn Trilogy, Ghost in the Shell, Faith Healers, Schizophrenia, Reptile Gardens, Fatherhood, Tattoos, Thor, Hulk, Wonder Woman, Billie Sutton, South Dakota Serious, Wall Drug, Superstitions, Common Core

Links:

Pokehon

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQRTz_LK3ljIpZ3Vqrb4Y2Q

SiouxperCon

http://www.siouxpercon.com/

Tattoo Artist Dustin Buri

https://www.facebook.com/dustin.buri

Keeping the Faith

http://www.argusleader.com/story/opinion/readers/2017/07/30/letter-church-now-just-religious-coffee-house/104071504/

Bloody Pants

http://ksoo.com/circumcision-protesters-come-to-sioux-falls-with-fake-bloody-pants/

Adam Ruins Everything about Circumcision

https://youtu.be/gCSWbTv3hng

The Bloodstained Men

http://www.bloodstainedmen.com/

1st Amendment for the win

http://www.argusleader.com/story/news/2017/08/03/judge-grants-argus-leader-media-attorney-fees-foia-lawsuit/537503001/

License to Chill

http://www.argusleader.com/story/news/politics/2017/08/03/daugaard-massage-therapists-shouldnt-need-licenses/535804001/

Don’t Legislate High

https://www.dailymarijuanaobserver.com/single-post/2017/08/02/Typos-Could-Ruin-this-States-Recreational-Legalization-Efforts

http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/345413-justice-dept-task-force-on-marijuana-recommends-more-study-no

Death by text

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/2017/08/03/michelle-carter-texting-suicide-case-sets-bad-precedent-experts-say/538794001/?utm_source=usatn&utm_medium=front&utm_campaign=usatn-pv-viral&hootPostID=8684a6432a85aa25167d68c695903275

Get Chipped for Chips

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/microchip-implants-chart-territory-call-ethical-nightmare/story?id=48987219&cid=social_fb_abcn

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2017/08/04/mark-beast-microchipping-employees-raises-apocalyptic-questions/541869001/

Night’s Dawn Trilogy

Snow Crash

Ghost in the Shell

The post Sioux Empire Podcast 078- Let’s Get Chipped with Pokehon (Joseph Ektnitphong) appeared first on TheSiouxEmpire.com.

Scripture And Song For The Week: I Thessalonians 5 And Lucinda Williams Edition

Kal Lis — Sun, 06 Aug 2017 14:44:28 +0000

I Thessalonians 5:

14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.
15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
16 Rejoice evermore.
17 Pray without ceasing.
18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
19 Quench not the Spirit.
20 Despise not prophesyings.
21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.
23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
24 Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.
25 Brethren, pray for us.
26 Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss.
27 I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren.
28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

SD cannabis initiative includes American Indian participation

larry kurtz — Sun, 06 Aug 2017 14:19:41 +0000

Spearditch businessman John Dale wants “An Initiated Measure to Legalize All Quantities of Marijuana and to Make Other Changes to State Law Involving Marijuana” to position American Indian producers first in a free-market environment.

Dale’s petition differs from two other ballot initiatives being circulated by New Approach South Dakota because it removes all felony and misdemeanor charges for growing and ingesting. His proposal provides immunity from state interference and allows for some home growing.

His proposal prohibits marijuana use by people under 21 years of age. Violations would be punished by community service and product confiscation. Testing of seized goods would ensue, with the goal of identifying, tracking, and thereby deflating black market supplies. The modifications are designed to give legislators flexibility to adjust the law as results change the market, Dale notes. “It doesn’t try to set everything in stone,” he says. [Native Sun News]

In defiance of sabre-rattling from the Trump Organization threatening to end tribal sovereignty the Nevada Tribal Cannabis Alliance, the New Mexico-based Acoma Pueblo, Montana's Blackfeet, the Yankton Sioux Tribe and others are all exploring the economic benefits of grow/ops.

Republican state lawmaker Liz May has even called for state/tribal compacts.

Tribal casinos are already in the banking business as the cannabis industry is looking for places to enter the financial markets. Even bankers see economic development potential.

Whatever perceived evils surrounding cannabis already exist and continuing to reward a black market is neither conservative nor sustainable. Unrestrained capitalism has killed millions during the war on drugs with zero results: a moral hazard instead of self-reliance.

Despite lies from SDGOP, video lootery, payday loan sharks, domestic violence and homelessness are inextricably linked putting children at risk to more catastrophic consequences far more often than has happened in states that have legalized or lessened penalties for casual use of cannabis.

This blog sees little value in the widespread cultivation of hemp especially on tribal lands: it is an invasive species capable of overgrowing native grasses and easily migrates into adjacent lands. Why anyone would want to buy genetically engineered seed from Monsanto or some other earth hater every year remains a mystery.

Indian casinos are small banks. Let’s ensure that cannabis cultivation and distribution stay out of the hands of Big Dope. It’s time to enter compacts with the tribes, let them distribute on the rez, on off-reservation properties and in Deadwood.

Sioux Empire Podcast Bonus Episode: Superstitions with Zac Tenneboe (@zstonish)

Sun, 06 Aug 2017 13:37:06 +0000

From the mind games of Zac Tenneboe (@zstonish) comes his new show, “Superstitions.” It’s more than just a magic show, but a stunning one-man performance weaving mystery and theater. No rabbits. No top hats. No smoke and mirrors. Witness a different way to experience illusion. The first 50 people to use promo code “siouxempire” will receive $1 off each ticket purchased online. Don’t miss out on this discount deal before it’s too late!

Like and share this post for a chance to win two free tickets to Superstitions: A Psychological Spectacle, Friday the 13th of October!

The post Sioux Empire Podcast Bonus Episode: Superstitions with Zac Tenneboe (@zstonish) appeared first on TheSiouxEmpire.com.

What Does It Mean To Be A Conservative? Part II

Kal Lis — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 18:20:49 +0000

From my Twitter feed this afternoon, conservatives apparently want to become liberals. I am not making these up.

I wonder if conservatives won't soon be where liberals were after Dukakis. Liberals rebranded as progressives. What are options on right?
— Keith E. Whittington (@kewhittington) August 5, 2017

Conservatives could "rebrand" as liberals. Seriously. We're for liberal democracy, liberal world order, liberal economy, liberal education. https://t.co/MvSbZCfLEZ
— Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) August 5, 2017

Time to start a Liberal Party. https://t.co/6YxDGCNh0j
— Gabe Schoenfeld (@gabeschoenfeld) August 5, 2017

I like it. Just like Australia where the Liberal Party is the center right party. Conservative & Republican labels are besmirched by Trump. https://t.co/McDm93o9z0
— Max Boot (@MaxBoot) August 5, 2017

What The Heck Is A Conservative?

Kal Lis — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 15:05:12 +0000

Following links off my Twitter feed, I came across this article about a class on the history of American conservatism. The fact that the class discussed Russel Kirk, William F. Buckley, F. A. Hayek, and Milton Friedman. The fact that Ayn Rand is not mentioned in the article is cause for joy. Actually, the young conservatives reactions to conservative history that the article describes are cause for a bit of hope.

This paragraph, however, illustrated that the word conservative has become so elastic that it's meaningless:

We ended our time together by discussing current splits in the right. The differences between foreign-policy neoconservatives and paleoconservatives became acute after victory in the Cold War. In 2017 the spectrum of conservative thought in America runs from libertarians to neos to paleos to traditionalists to nation-state populists all the way to the alt-right fringe. You have Senator Jeff Flake and his Conscience of a Conservative on one hand, and Steve Bannon and Breitbart.com on the other. The various claimants to the conservative throne each have problems.[emphasis mine]

The only way this list could be more inclusive is if it contained "Appalachian snake handling glossolalians who are also members of Opus Dei."

More importantly, first the connotation of the word "fringe" implies that the author of the piece doesn't consider the "alt-right" conservative. Their populist rhetoric certainly indicates that the only thing that makes them conservative is that they consider the word "liberal" a pejorative. Given the current kerfuffle over National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster, the alt-right seems more willing to break conservatives' bones than it does to break bread with them.

Further, the list left off social conservatives. Libertarians who want everything legal as long as no one is defrauded or physically harmed and the social conservatives who want legislation that clearly defines which toilet a person uses do not seem to share the same philosophical spaces.

In some ways, it's poetic justice. Elements of the conservative movement distorted the word liberal until it became an epithet. Now, conservatives can self-identify and the term can apply to those who want to extend the American empire and those who want to erect trade barriers can both be conservatives makes the word vacuous.

A Post Wherein I Make A Modest Proposal Guaranteed To Anger Political Purists

Kal Lis — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 20:06:52 +0000

Bob Mercer tweeted the following yesterday.

This is Emily Wanless, Augustana University faculty member, who is chairwoman of Legislature's ballot-measures task force. https://t.co/OY8iTx3s0F
— Bob Mercer (@pierremercer) August 3, 2017

The link will take readers to this quoted tweet.

Wanless: I'm concerned about the polarized 2-party system in SD and the I & R process is a response to a legislature that doesn't listen.
— KSOO Sioux Falls (@KSOOSiouxFalls) August 3, 2017

Without context, it's unclear if Mercer used the appositive "Augustana University faculty member" to show that her statement should be taken as authoritative or if he used it to indicate that her statement causes him to wonder how Wanless maintains her employment with Augustana.

Wanless's statement that South Dakota's two-party system is "polarized" does deserve examination. Polarization is a problem; however, it is not the biggest threat to South Dakota's "2-party system." The lack of a competitive second party is far more concerning.

This series of electoral maps from Nate Silver's site illustrates an obvious point: South Dakota, like the rest of rural America is getting redder.

Original source

Earlier this summer Pat Powers ran posts featuring South Dakota Republican Party Chairperson Dan Lederman, state senator Jim Bolin, and Mercer contending that Democrats were their own worst enemy. They cited a litany of problems, best summarized by Mercer: "The biggest is turnout. Democrats don’t show up. The second is candidates. Democrats leave more seats open than Republicans do."

I'm going to posit another problem. People lie when they register to vote. According to the South Dakota Secretary of State voter registration numbers, Aurora County should be the most purple county in the state. It has 802 registered Republicans and 799 registered Democrats. In 2016, Donald Trump won 69.2% of the vote. It's difficult to believe recognizable Democrats voted for Trump in those numbers.

To go a step further, fifteen (15) South Dakota Counties have more registered Democrats that Republicans. Trump carried ten (10) of them. Two, Charles Mix and Miner, gave him over 65% of the vote.

Maybe these counties were a hotbed of Bernie Bro activists who voted for Trump's populism to protest what they saw as Clinton's betrayal of their cause, but that's not realistic. I'll take the odds of Franklin Graham converting to Islam in the next year over that possibility. It's more likely that they these registered Democrats don't identify with the Democratic Party and are part of the rural red tidal wave.

Let's get on to the proposal indicated in the post's title. For the purposes of a thought experiment, let's accept three things as true. First, South Dakota Democrats have been woefully inept during the last few election cycles. Second, Republicans have unfairly gerrymandered. Third, as a pair, Trump and Hillary Clinton were the worst major party candidates since Herbert Hoover and Al Smith.

Given those three stipulations, is it rational for anyone to run for the state legislature or any statewide office as a Democrat even if that person is politically moderate, financially well-off, and respected locally or statewide?

The fact is vitriol is often confused with political discourse. Further, a large number of South Dakota's self-identified Democrats voted for Donald Trump. In fact, flying one's extended family to Disney World for a week seems to make more financial sense than running for a South Dakota political office as a Democrat. It will certainly produce less stress. The odds that such a decision would alter for the worse the number of Democrats in the state legislature are negligible.

The 2016 presidential results and voting trends in rural areas since 1992 indicate a the better option may be for moderate voters to disabuse themselves of the notion that South Dakota has a two-party system and register as Republicans, get active, and attempt to pull that party to the center or, at the very least, prevent it from going over the populist precipice. In areas where Democrats can field quality candidates, moderate voters should swing to Democratic party in the general election.

Currently South Dakota doesn't have a true two party-system. It's unlikely to develop one in the upcoming decade. As it stands, trusting one's neighbors, even those who are registered Democrats, to actually vote for Democrats seems a suckers's bet, so changing the party dynamics seems to be a first step to restoring a small bit of political balance.

Today in ecocide: Friday farming FUBARs

larry kurtz — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 16:34:58 +0000

Obit: Helen High Hawk-Kills Crow Indian via Bennett County Booster.

Via Tom Lutey eastern Montana welfare farmers hate pallid sturgeon: Billings Gazette.

Via South Dakota Magazine on this date in 1892 Charles H. Bates placed the last quartzite boundary marker on the spot where ND, SD & MT converge today.

Tong Wang: livestock producers practice destructive continuous grazing via Bill Janklow's idea of public radio.

Largest Dead Zone ever created by pollution from ag and developed land runoff in the Mississippi River watershed: Gizmodo.

"If everyone substituted beans for beef, the U.S. could almost meet climate goals:" The Atlantic.

Republican is simply another word for earth hater: Billings Gazette.

Let's see: aerosolized slurry combined with wildfire smoke laden with mercury and other heavy metal oxides. What could go wrong?

Scientists tally the huge environmental impact of feeding meat to our cats and dogs: LA Times.

Humans are weapons of mass destruction: Smithsonian Magazine.

South Dakota beekeeper Adee blames neonicotinoids for colony losses: WNAX.

Dicamba Injury Reported In The Western Corn Belt: WNAX.

Running government like a business with plenty of suckers and serfs

David Newquist — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 14:45:48 +0000

Front Page, USA Today, July 28, 2017

When people who voted for Trump are asked why, they often say he was a businessman who could bring the efficiencies of business to government. They cite his wealth as evidence of his business acumen.

First of all, Trump's business history is full of bankruptcies, suits for fraud such as Trump University, failures, and stiffing contractors who worked for him. But to those voters who voted for him because he's a businessman, criminality and incompetence are permissible as long one makes money. To many Americans, greed and venality are virtues as long as you are successful in making money, no matter how many people are damaged in the process. Honesty, integrity, competence, and good will don't count with the Trump voter.

Trump sits in the White House and runs his businesses with all the greed and dishonesty that he can muster, while systematically dismantling democracy and the protections it has devised to keep people safe from predatory shysters such as him. Historians and political scholars keep pointing out that any other person with the history of dishonesty and the conflicts of interest that Trump flaunts before the nation would be driven out of the White House. Congress would rise up. But Trump claims to be a billionaire, and those worshippers of greed and venality have a person in the White House who reflects their values and ideals.

Tump is changing government. He is making the United States a subsidiary of the Trump Organization, and he puts CEOs and generals in the cabinet and as head of government agencies to expedite that transformation. When queried about his choices for the cabinet, he said, “Like, I want a rich guy at the head of Treasury. I want a rich guy at the head of Commerce because we’ve been screwed so badly on trade deals. I want people who made a lot of money for our country.”

Trump's cabinet is composed of people who identify themselves as part of the one percent, and their histories show everything they do is to elevate the one percent and further suppress the middle class. Treasury Secretary Mnuchin as CEO of the One West Bank was a part of the mortgage schemes that triggered the Great Recession of 2009 that put the U.S. economy in a tailspin. He was known as the "foreclosure king" of California.

Awaiting Senate confirmation for Comptroller of the Currency, which regulates what kind of business banks can engage in, is another One West CEO, Joseph Otting. He was also a foreclosure enthusiast. One West has been fined for fraudulent mortgage activities during the time that Mnuchin and Otting were running the bank. And Otting further showed a dishonest side when he claimed to be a graduate of Dartmouth, but had only attended a couple of two-week sessions of continuing education held on the campus.

These two who will decide financial policies are typical of the caliber of people Trump chooses to direct the flow of wealth in the U.S.

The most flagrant appointment of a business CEO who assiduously demolishes democratic principles and processes is Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. He has turned the State Department into a shambles, because as a CEO he knows only how to fuck over people and make money, not how to build constructive relationships with the rest of the world.

Other members of Trump's cabinet were chosen to enact corporate interests by:

promoting the development of coal and oil and curtailing non-polluting sources of energy.
curtailing environmental protection regulations.
withdrawing fair employment provisions for minorities and the LBGT community.
limiting further labor unions and workplace rules
furthering the industrialization of agriculture.
eliminating affirmative action in college admissions.
providing larger tax breaks for the wealthy.

And one can go on and on citing the ways in which the country is being turned into corporate enterprise.

Most corporations and business are the antithesis of a democracy. Corporations are run by a social structure which is in fact a continuation of feudalism. There are a few corporations which try to incorporate democratic values and principles into the way they do business. Profit is their purpose. They can commit all manner of social disruptions, oppressions, and rip offs under the guise of "business decisions," which is regarded on the same level as an act of God. No human laws can affect a business decision.

The U.S. is being run like a business corporation, and its purpose has become the hoarding of wealth and power for Trump and his corporate cronies. For the rest of us, we'd better like being serfs.

Bandidos, Vagos expected to bring feud, human trafficking to Sturgis®

larry kurtz — Thu, 03 Aug 2017 12:57:00 +0000

A 2015 shootout in Waco, Texas resulted in the deaths of and injuries to several members of motorcycle clubs encouraged by a law enforcement industry that benefits from programs like Policing for Profit. Cops usually just turn away from the misery of forced prostitution that often plies kidnap victims to become playthings for abusive men.

The same is the case during the Sturgis Rally where girls as young as ten are bought and sold like methamphetamine, Wild Turkey or souvenir t-shirts.

Thanks to selective enforcement white thugs have carte blanche to commit flagrant criminal acts during the Rally. A long history of lawlessness can make the event highly virulent attracting common parasites who breed in the cesspools of human existence.

Santa Fe police have arrested a man in a motorcycle-gang shooting that led to a lockdown of Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center. But police are not releasing the names of either the suspect or the man who was wounded Saturday. Police say the victim, a member of the Vagos Motorcycle Club, could become a target of rival Bandidos Motorcycle Club members if his name became public. [Santa Fe New Mexican]

Gangs of armed men with mental illnesses and addictions to meth power their way into western South Dakota every year; and, an accepted outlaw biker culture routinely traffics illicit behaviors that would otherwise be subject to legal interdiction.

But, a red moocher state like South Dakota is powered by sin: video lootery, a loan shark industry that preys on the least fortunate and a too-big-to-jail banking racket fill in the gaps created by lobbyists who enjoy the protection of single-party tyranny. Desperate to pay off those who benefit the entrenched Republican establishment criminals have a champion sitting as attorney general.

Marty Jackley has proved his commitment to his political party while ignoring the plights of those living at the margins of South Dakota society and lives to reap the spoils of those exploits. His minions are going through the motions of pretending to care about order during the Rally even as the state plots the financial gains from rape and plunder.

The Sons of Silence, Bandidos and Hells Angels control organized crime in the Black Hills area where members have infiltrated nearly every community even operating Rapid City's Cornerstone Rescue Mission as a front for their activities. The Bandidos have a fortified compound in Rapid Valley and the Hells Angels own many properties in the area including the Cottonwood in Spearfish.

As hypocrisy reigns supreme at the highest levels of power in South Dakota residents will endure another Sturgis Rally where this year fewer attendees will spend an average of a thousand dollars each so the sitting governor can crow about his leadership and self-reliance while moral hazards pay the bills.

Crimes are what the other guy does but in South Dakota during the Rally nobody cares.

Costs to South Dakota's law enforcement industry cut into whatever profits the state enjoyed from selectively arresting those "docile" offenders.

That's why cops' lives suck. Little wonder LEOs abuse their families, alcohol, drugs, food, power, detainees and occasionally murder their wives.

So, hats off to those who resist the drunken social engineering white people employ while defiling He Sapa!

I-25E proposed

larry kurtz — Wed, 02 Aug 2017 14:00:56 +0000

The speed limit on Nebraska 71 is 60 miles per hour on the 75 miles of bone-dry high prairie grassland between Crawford and Scottsbluff: it's potentially deadly during a blizzard.

US18/US85 between Hot Springs and Lusk, Wyoming is no better; besides, I-25, especially through the Denver metro, sucks at biblical proportions: so does flying through DIA with its likelihood of a strip search.

Construction on the estimated half-billion dollar Heartland Expressway connecting Rapid City with I-80 in Nebraska or Wyoming (nobody knows) is glacial if not completely stalled while traffic between the Black Hills and Denver continues to increase as does the volume between Denver and Santa Fe.

American football is a tool of fascism

larry kurtz — Wed, 02 Aug 2017 13:39:56 +0000

A study recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found 110 out of 111 brains of those who played in the NFL had chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).

In the study, researchers examined the brains of 202 deceased former football players at all levels. Nearly 88 percent of all the brains, 177, had CTE. Three of 14 who had played only in high school had CTE, 48 of 53 college players, 9 of 14 semiprofessional players, and 7 of 8 Canadian Football League players. [NPR]

A University of South Dakota coach retired ahead of his sport's descent into the dustbin of history: Sioux Falls Argus Leader.

Dr. Steven Miles said an outright ban on youth football would be unrealistic. But he is among the first to recommend removing football from schools, where the pressure of school spirit or being the only kid big enough to play nose guard can rope players into a sport in which 5 percent to 20 percent of players suffer concussions each season. Miles, who has studied war crimes and torture, is surprised he hasn’t received more criticism, considering how Friday night varsity games are embedded in American culture.

Read it all here.

Cannabis has been shown to be an effective palliative for those suffering the effects of CTE.

The only difference between American football and Roman gladiators is the losing team isn't fed to the lions.

Rounds sez "government-run health care doesn't work" but pushes for more government-run health care

larry kurtz — Wed, 02 Aug 2017 01:46:40 +0000

Two of South Dakota's earth hater delegation receive their medical benefits from Obamacare. Rep. Kristi Noem has a full ride and Sen. John Thune is on the DC HealthLink Obamacare exchange.

The red moocher state's junior senator hasn't shared the source of his medical benefits with media but it's believed he is covered by the insurance company he owns and will be eligible for Medicare before his term ends.

Here in the U.S., the federal government has proved inept at running any large, nationwide program effectively, especially when it comes to health care. Look no further than Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Indian Health Service (IHS) for proof. [Government-Run Health Care Does Not Work, Mike Rounds, press release]

Republicans are infamous for killing the VA and IHS while government-run health care has been working for decades.

U.S. Sens. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and John Hoeven (R-N.D.) recently reintroduced the Veterans Access to Long Term Care and Health Services Act, which expands veterans’ access to long-term care (LTC) services. [Mike Rounds, press release]

Here's Mike Rounds' career donor page at Open Secrets.

Forty-three states and the District of Columbia require insurance commissioners to file some kind of personal financial disclosure report. All but two of those jurisdictions — Hawaii and Vermont — make the documents available for public inspection. Colorado, Idaho, Michigan, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming have no such disclosure requirements. [Drinks, dinners, junkets and jobs: how the insurance industry courts state commissioners]

Steve Rounds enjoys an unusual 30-year lease on land managed by a state agency. Rounds got the lease to the Oahe Marina from South Dakota Game, Fish and Plunder while his brother was governor and when his banker, Larry Deiter was named South Dakota Director of Insurance.

“We are obviously concerned about the impact that Wellmark’s decision will have on consumers,” South Dakota Insurance Director Larry Deiter told the Public Opinion this week. “The current environment under federal health care reform is causing companies to either raise premiums, narrow networks, or cease marketing of products.” Lonnie McKittrick, who heads up the Health Department at Fisher [sic] Rounds and Associates, echoed those comments. “ACA is just not working,” he said. “People are getting hammered. Everybody on the inside knew this is what could happen. You crossed your fingers and hoped it wouldn’t, but it did. It’s a system that was set up to fail, especially in a small state like ours.” [Looking for health insurance? Good luck]

Here is how Mike Rounds took federal money then gave it to SDGOP donors.

Sanford, Avera and Rapid City Regional enjoy virtual medical industry monopolies in their markets.

Kinda makes ya sick, init?

I like the idea of rolling the funding for Obamacare, TRICARE, Medicare, the IHS and the VA together then offering Medicaid for all by increasing the estate tax, raising taxes on tobacco and adopting a carbon tax. Reproductive freedoms should be included with conditions just like the military does under TRICARE.

Earth haters like Mike Rounds and Pat Powers can squawk all they want about "socialized medicine" or "government-run health care." South Dakota is already a perpetual welfare state and permanent federal disaster area. It leads the US in breast cancer rates and is one of seven states that would be devastated by the repeal of Obamacare.

A Few Minor Musings About "The Death of Expertise"

Kal Lis — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 15:20:32 +0000

Dashiell Hammett's con man Casper Gutman says, "Talking's something you can't do judiciously unless you keep in practice." Blogging and reading also require practice, and this summer has shown me how woefully out of practice I am at both activities. In an effort to regain some form, I'm going to post a few observations about Tom Nichols's The Death of Expertise.

First, Nichols gives a thorough overview explaining how we have gotten to this point where all opinions, no matter how ludicrous, are treated as equal; he illustrates how schools, talk radio, the Internet, and experts' hubris all share in the blame. Nichols's clear exposition of how each entity produced voters who are both angry and misinformed makes the book a must read.

Second, Nichols buries the lede. The problem of "the most disturbing aspect of the American march toward ignorance is 'not lack of knowledge per se but arrogance about that lack of knowledge'" is first mentioned on page 216. To be fair, I'm not sure anyone knows how to solve the problems caused by that particular arrogance, and any attempt to do so would have required a far different book.

Third, Nichols has written an eminently readable book. (I will probably assign it to a couple of my Debate II students.) The book's readability, however, points to a larger problem that Nichols alludes to several times: can experts and the public, even with the intervention of "public intellectuals" communicate? Nichols quotes several public intellectuals in his book. One, James Poulos, is so comfortably esoteric that he is likely unable to communicate most ideas to an average person on the street. Nichols also quotes Dan Drezner, one of my favorite denizens of the Twitterverse. Drezner, like Nichols, is eminently readable. That said, Drezer's column today refers to a "Bulworth-like jeremiad." I may be selling my friends and neighbors short, but I'm not sure I know 10 people who can both recognize the allusion and define the word. Bubbles exist and experts get comfortable talking to other experts and we common folk get comfortable talking to other common folk. Communicating across bubbles is far more difficult.

Finally, Nichols does an excellent job of mentioning the need for humility. I think this scene encapsulates what Nichols is saying, (The most relevant part starts at 7:20)

Deadwood's downturn could be reversed

larry kurtz — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 13:11:07 +0000

Sturgis Rally organizers are saying that annual event could see the fewest riders in decades.

Director of Deadwood Gaming Association Mike Rodman says the industry is looking at 11 million dollars below its historic peak.

To date, district officials have held close to 20 public meetings and recently combined the resulting feedback with building plans submitted by consultant Foster Jacobs, and Johnson to arrive at a solid decision to follow [S]uperintendent Dr. Dan Leikvold’s recommendation to a long-term commitment to the Deadwood Elementary School building, monitoring of enrollment over the next five years, and if enrollment warrants, closure or repurposing of the middle school building. [Black Hills Pioneer]

So, opium use is as historic in Deadwood as gambling. The Gulch makes the logical location for a cannabis-friendly zone.

Enter the Grateful Deadwood High Cannabusiness Institute.

The first step in the upcoming Lead-Deadwood School District’s facilities study confirms what district officials have known for some time. A look into student enrollment projections by consulting firm Foster Jacobs & Johnson, Inc. recently revealed that projected student enrollment is expected to continue to decline to around 513 in 2025-2026, from the 682 tally taken during the 2015-16 school year, nearly a 170-student dip. [Black Hills Pioneer]

The building that has been home to the Deadwood High School Bears now Lead-Deadwood Elementary came to mind at my conclusion to make Deadwood an adult destination.

The four options presented were: one, continue with status quo. Option two would entail committing to a significant overhaul of the building. Option three would be to abandon the building and look for a new spot in Deadwood to build a new building. Or option four, to enhance the footprint of the Lead campus and move the elementary school to Lead. [Black Hills Pioneer]

This building is perfect for Deadwood's cannabis experiment. Under a compact with tribal nations and Black Hills State University with oversight from the South Dakota Gaming Commission create a campus with degrees in cannabusiness and tourism. Train casino workers and poker dealers.

James P. Gray in the LA Times reprinted in Cannabis News:

Holland decriminalized marijuana back in the 1970s, its minister of health stated that they had only half the marijuana usage per capita in their country as we do in ours – for both adults and for teenagers! And he went on to explain why by saying that “we have succeeded in making pot boring.” A system in which marijuana is no longer sold illegally and also is not advertised commercially will achieve the same results.

Meth and opioids are overrunning South Dakota just like in the rest of the US. Heroin, too. Direct law enforcement efforts to stem that scourge and leave cannabis to the professionals.

Hey Deadwood, get Representative Timothy Johns to author and sponsor a bill to get the constitution changed.

Who's with me?

Still Kidding Ourselves About Wages In South Dakota

John Tsitrian — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 12:03:23 +0000

Governor Dennis Daugaard's affection for our state of South Dakota got a big thumbs up from me last week. His piece in the RCJ, concluding with the line "I wouldn't trade this place,

Nice Try
Nobody's Buying It

with its wide open spaces and down-to-earth people, for anything" is a sentiment I love and share. The "down to earth" part is especially compelling because of its suggestion that the general attitude in our state is focused on reality and the practical approaches to dealing with our issues. It's a generalization that has lots of exceptions, no doubt, but after having spent the first two-thirds of my life in L.A. and Chicago, my impression is that there's something to it. I love my social and professional dealings with people here, and consider myself blessed to be able to accomplish what I have while in the embrace of this unbeatable Black Hills lifestyle. I'm staying put.
But much as our mutual love of this state is a powerful bond, I wonder why Daugaard rejects the "down to earth" acceptance of the reality that our state has little attraction for the workers that we need to maintain a decent semblance of economic growth. Last week's release by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis second quarter GDP figures show a national growth rate of 2.6% while South Dakota's GDP fell by 3.8%, the second worst showing in the country. That the problem is created by South Dakota's dependence on agriculture, which has been in the doldrums in recent years, only underscores the need for economic diversification as a way of smoothing out the ups and downs of a commodities and natural resources-dependent economy.
To do that, we probably have to step things up in our manufacturing sector, a fact that Daugaard acknowledges with his efforts to overcome South Dakota's persistent workforce shortage. On that front, Daugaard is singularly rejecting the notion that wages in this state are low. Calling attention to an arcane wage-measurement scale called "Regional Price Parity," the governor correctly notes that when adjusted for inflation, SD wages on the whole compare favorably to other states. However, the scale that Daugaard uses doesn't differentiate between rural and urban districts. When our state's two largest metro areas (Rapid City and Sioux Falls, accounting for 42% of SD's population) are broken out of the statewide analysis, the picture is quite different. Those two centers come in at the low- to mid-90s of the national average, which puts almost half our population at close to the middle of the national pack. The big statewide advantage disappears in our cities, where non-ag economic growth is going to happen.
A "down to earth" assessment of the situation would understand that when it comes to retaining and attracting a good workforce, South Dakota has a lousy reputation. During the past couple of years, South Dakota has been ranked among the 10-15 worst states to make a living in USA Today, Forbes, and MoneyRates.com, which makes for a powerful arsenal of arguments against the public-relations efforts of our state's public- and private-sector leadership. Those of us that live here may believe otherwise, but we're up against a set of pre-judgements and perceptions that will keep making economic growth difficult. Remaining obtuse, even delusional, about our "great" wage structure won't make it any easier.

Sioux Empire Podcast 077- All About Sioux Falls City Council Member Theresa Stehly

Sun, 30 Jul 2017 17:15:08 +0000

Sioux Falls City Council Member Theresa Stehly is back for week two to forcibly annex our hearts here on The Sioux Empire Podcast. The Sioux Empire Podcast Task Force (Robert Mehling, Natasha Estes, and Seth Glover) gives Theresa a second reading on issues we missed in part one like Forced Annexation, which is a catch 22 in which the city has the money to annex your community (and possibly assess up to $80,000 on your home) but can’t seem to find the funds to tell you they are about to do that. Other topics include Gestapo lawn code enforcement, the mayor calls law abiding human beings freeloaders (We’re sure that won’t come back to bite you down the road), Big Brother code enforcement sticky notes, ruling Sioux Falls by fear, no warning citations, and so much more. This week’s episode is brought to you by The Sioux Empire Podcast Network, specifically “The Art of Bombing” podcast with Dan Bublitz Jr. Also, Chaos Reigns podcast with Ari Show and Dominic Wieneke. The Sioux Empire Podcast is so thankful for the flowers from Theresa Stehly, time to up your game future guest hosts!

Tags and Topics:

Robert Mehling, Seth Glover, Natasha Estes, Theresa Stehly, Sioux Falls, City Council, Mike Huether, Rex Rolfing, Greg Neitzert, Forced Annexation, Task Force, Downtown Library, Wessington, Berk, Assessment, Curb and Gutter, Split Rock, Skyline Heights, Martindale, Prairie Meadows, City Speak, Snow Gates, Swimming Pools, Freeloaders, Big Brother, Code Enforcement, Gestapo, Truth, Flowers, Community, Compassion, Garbage Handlers, Mark Cotter, Kermit Staggers, Police Union, Mediation, Back Pay, Greg Jamison, Retaliation, City Attorney’s Office, Performance Audit, Dave Munson, Operation TRIM, Tree Trimming Protection Racket, Mobridge, Rodeo, Drivers Education, Life Skills, Education, New Music, Mozart, Chicago (Band), You’re The Inspiration, Washington Pavilion, Verdi Requiem, Downton Abbey, Lord of the Rings, Dunkirk, War Room, Oriental Lily, Dustin Buri, Tattoos, Billie Sutton

Listen to Part One here:

Sioux Empire Podcast 076- Parks and Recreation with Sioux Falls City Council Member Theresa Stehly

The post Sioux Empire Podcast 077- All About Sioux Falls City Council Member Theresa Stehly appeared first on TheSiouxEmpire.com.

You can't take a wiz in South Dakota

David Newquist — Sun, 30 Jul 2017 15:44:18 +0000

Over the years since I moved to Aberdeen, I have traveled between there and Sioux Falls hundreds of times. I often made the trip on family business in Illinois. Then I made the trip quite frequently on professional and family business in Sioux Falls. Currently, we have numerous relatives living in Sioux Falls and many family gatherings to attend.

At first, I-29 did not go north beyond Watertown. The completion of the Interstate was welcome. Then U.S. 12 between Aberdeen and I-29 was made a 4-lane highway, which made the trip much easier and safer.

In traveling, there is always the matter of having to relieve oneself. Many of those trips between Aberdeen and Sioux Falls, particularly the ones involving professional business, were fueled by coffee early in the morning and late at night. And when copious amounts of coffee are ingested to maintain alertness, there is the frequent need to eliminate it. And when traveling with children, there are multiple needs.

On lonelier by ways, that can be achieved by simply pulling to the side of the road when there is no traffic and testing the drainage efficiency of a ditch or stepping into a cornfield to help irrigate the crop. Yes, I know that's easy for males to say. And I have taught young males, however, not to face into the wind. But that brings up the need for convenient, safe, and sanitary places for conducting the necessary business of life.

South Dakota had rest areas on U.S. 12. They were wooded strips where you

Not even these anymore.

could pull off the highway that featured a few picnic tables and a couple of vault toilets. Vault toilets are a concrete building over a concrete septic tank over which there is, usually, a steel commode. They are not very inviting. They reek. They are not very clean. People, especially women, are very cautious about putting their posteriors in contact with the seats. And the walls were decorated with graffiti that made one nervous about the kind of people you might encounter there.

One of these areas was at Bath and another at Webster. There was also a public vault toilet at an access area to Enemy Swim Lake at Waubay. Late one October evening when returning from a meeting in Sioux Falls with a teacher from the School for the Visually Handicapped, I needed to stop at the Bath rest area. When I opened the latrine door, I jumped back about 20 feet. Some had rigged a dummy on the toilet seat for Halloween. The Webster rest area became infamous when an old farmer stopped at it one night on his way home from a restaurant. Someone shot him through the closed door while he was on the commode. The murder was never solved. Both rest areas were demolished when U.S. 12 was widened into a four-lane.

Now if you have to go while east bound during the 75 miles between Aberdeen and I-29 you have to hold it until you get to Summit at the junction, unless you want to try a business or a ditch. At Summit is what has grown into an unusually busy travel and truck stop which features big restrooms, a big convenience store, and even a food court, which includes a Caribou Coffee station so you can load up for your next stop.

And that gets to the point of this post. Between Summit and Sioux Falls were built two rest areas. One, Hidewood, is 15 miles south of Watertown. The other south pf Brookings. This spring the South Dakota Department of Transportation announced it was closing them. They did. But they also have closed the one south of Brookings, but have made no explanations for that. I nearly always stopped at the Hidewood rest areas. I have even been involved in meetings at the picnic shelters, when it was necessary to have face-to-face meetings and an exchange of documents for professional business. The rest areas made convenient places for people in eastern South Dakota to organize quick meetings.

But now as one travels I-29, there are no rest areas open between U.S. 12 and Sioux Falls, no public places to pee or simply pause to stretch the legs. Apparently, some other people have noticed. Reporter Bob Mercer has received comments from readers and a hearing is scheduled for the people who recommended and enacted the closings to explain them.

Contrast South Dakota with neighboring states. When I travel to Illinois, I am always happy to reach Iowa as drive I-29 and then onto I-80. Rest areas are about 30 miles apart, offer wi fi, and are well-maintained. Many rest areas have been upgraded to be almost luxurious. South Dakota does not seem to understand the principle of hospitality. They talk about the money they save rather than the comfort and convenience of the travelers. That is why travel in South Dakota is an arduous task in which you are on your own in carrying out the necessary tasks, while in other states you are made to feel welcome and provided for.

Frugality rules over hospitality as the prevailing value. And that is clearly stated as you travel through the state. Another way of telling travelers they aren't welcome and are a bit of a nuisance. Message received.

Oglala Lakota oddities from 2016 election

Bob Mercer — Fri, 28 Jul 2017 15:09:33 +0000

In South Dakota’s 2016 general election, Oglala Lakota was the only county to vote yes to accept election-law revisions that the Legislature approved in the 2015 session in SB 69.

Voters blocked SB 69 from taking effect, with 98,657 marking yes and 242,113 choosing no.

The bill came from the State Board of Elections but became more and more Republican-flavored each step forward in the lawmaking process.

The Senate passed its heavily amended version 25-8 with only Republican support. The House of Representatives followed with more Republican amendments and tied 34-34 on the first try, before approving it 41-25.

After the Senate refused to concur with the House version, the conference committee’s report won final passage 50-16 in the House and 26-7 in the Senate.

How Republican was it? The ‘pro’ statement seeking a yes from voters came from House Republican leader Brian Gosch of Rapid City; he wrote, in part: “Republicans drafted this bill, Republican Legislators passed it, and a Republican Governor signed it.”

So much for supposed neutrality on a measure that still said in its sponsor line “at the request of the State Board of Elections.”

Even so, Oglala Lakota County, one of the most heavily Democratic neighborhoods in South Dakota, voted for it.

The county’s 2016 general election registration was 5,710 Democrats, 569 Republicans, 1,684 no-party or independents and 74 Libertarians, Constitutionalists and others.

Yet Oglala Lakota voters supported SB 69 becoming law, with 1,436 yes and 1,231 no.

Zero counties voted yes to accept the lower minimum wage for workers younger than 18. The statewide vote was 104,185 yes and 256,686 no.

SB 177 came from then-Sen. David Novstrup, R-Aberdeen, in the 2015 session. The Senate voted 26-7 and the House 44-24 for it.

There were some other ballot measures in 2016 where Oglala Lakota didn’t match most of the rest of South Dakota.

Clay, Oglala Lakota and Todd counties supported constitutional amendment V that would have created non-partisan elections in South Dakota. Voters statewide rejected it, with 157,870 yes and 196,781 no.

Buffalo, Dewey, Oglala Lakota and Todd counties – all with concentrations of American Indian voters, and some of the most impoverished counties in the nation – supported constitutional amendment U that would have prohibited the Legislature from capping interest rates on loans. Voters statewide rejected it, with 130,627 yes and 224,876 no.

Clay, Oglala Lakota and Todd counties also voted for constitutional amendment T that would have taken legislative redistricting authority away from the Legislature and given the authority to a nine-member commission that would have been politically balanced with three Republicans, three Democrats and three other-registered voters. Voters statewide rejected it, with 149,942 yes and 198,982 no.

Today's intersection: governments, gods and fuel treatments

larry kurtz — Fri, 28 Jul 2017 12:35:15 +0000

Just a hundred and fifty years ago bison, wapiti, bighorn sheep, pronghorns and deer cleared the grasses driving eastern Montana's fire season. If grasses remained in the fall tribes burned the rest.

But, in the mid-Nineteenth Century the US Army brought cheatgrass to the high plains and Missouri River basin.

There is general agreement that America’s landscapes, certainly its wildlands, are out of whack with their fires. For 50 years after the Great Fires of 1910 traumatized the U.S. Forest Service, the country committed to a program of what we might call fire resistance. It sought both to quit lighting fires and to extinguish every fire that did occur before it could grow large and damaging. Ponderosa forests, for example, have generally become overgrown with understories of young trees that can carry fire from the surface to the canopy – a revived fire but not one that allows the ponderosa to survive. It now appears that while restoration may be a permanent principle, one widely adopted, it is not a transcendent one. [Stephen Pyne, Recreating forests of the past isn't enough to fix our wildfire problem]

Cost to We the People for managing the 2013 Pautre Fire was about $1 million. No livestock was lost and there was minimal damage to fences. 3,519 acres of federal and 7,160 acres of private property were cleared of invasive grasses. The US Forest Service knew an advancing cold front would aid the clearing of foot-high grasses and mowed a fire break instead of using a disk to make a fire line so the prescribed fire escaped. There were no injuries and the only structure lost was a derelict rural schoolhouse. Snow showers ended the fire then Republican ranchers sued the Obama White House.

Disturbed soils can allow the growth of plants that had been introduced by European settlers. After a century of destructive ranching practices invasive grasses infest the upper Plains and sage steppe.

This blog has been advocating prescribed burns since February for the upper Missouri basin.

Montana's lightning-caused 270,000-acre Lodgepole Complex is mostly contained in Petroleum and Garfield counties growing into the nation's largest wildfire last week. According to the Bureau of Land Management domestic livestock losses within the Lodgepole Fire Complex area was much less than anticipated. That entire area will be green in two weeks.

The Trump Organization initially denied disaster assistance to compensate for the costs associated with structure protection but caved after Republican ranchers wailed in protest.

Damned if We the People do it, damned if the gods do it.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) could have saved a load of dough paying Montana to set prescribed fires before the incident.

Several new fires are burning in SE Montana.

It's really frustrating that the conservative-leaning Billings Gazette and the other media covering the blaze have done such a shitty job contrasting eastern Montana under Trump with that same beat under Obama. Most all guilty of whitewashing the Trump White House responses to the needs in eastern Montana where Trump won overwhelmingly.

Fire seasons come and they go but the Gazette nearly always lands on the side of the Montana Republican Party.

It's rank hypocrisy.

Judicial Watch sues seeking Comey metadata

Bob Mercer — Fri, 28 Jul 2017 09:21:46 +0000

Judicial Watch filed a lawsuit in federal court Thursday asking for the metadata showing when former FBI director James Comey wrote and edited his memoranda regarding meetings with President Donald Trump.

In its news release, Judicial Watch said metadata “includes, but is not limited to, dates and times of creation, modification, transmission, and/or retrieval of any electronic copy of any such memorandum currently or formerly in the possession of the FBI and/or drafted, modified, transmitted, and/or received via any FBI-owned computer or other electronic device.”

Judicial Watch also seeks related information such as laptop records for Comey, whom Trump fired. The case is here. The federal Justice Department didn’t respond to a previous freedom of information request.

*** Binders and bundles. . g history

Douglas Wiken — Thu, 27 Jul 2017 17:37:17 +0000

I woke up this morning thinking about childhood days shocking grain that had been cut and bundled by a farm machine I could not remember "binder" for anything. Did a Google search for "machine to make grain bundles. That turned up a very interesting link with a pdf of McCormick 1903 grain, hay and forgage machines. Sure enough, images of...

Don't worry about ticks; the Internet is much more likely to infect you

David Newquist — Thu, 27 Jul 2017 16:37:11 +0000

Of late, scientific researchers have found that ticks carry many more diseases than Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Lyme Disease. In today's local trivia paper, there is a rather lengthy article on ticks and how to avoid them. Such articles usually appear in April, when its wet and cool and ticks are hungry from the long winter. Newspapers yearly print an article warning you about the dangers of ticks and giving the advice that if you venture outside into tickland, tuck your pants into your socks. A bunch of adults roaming the woods with their pants tucked into their socks makes the owls hoot in broad daylight. But today's article appears in late July, when it's too damned hot for ticks. They generally have returned to the soil where they will escape the heat until rain and cool brings them out in September to lurk and wait for some warm-blooded creature to brush up against them.

People really hate ticks because they are creepy crawlers who hunt for places to stick their heads into you and suck blood. Mosquitos do the same, but they don't crawl and creep on you, but come in and dance around like sugar-plum fairies to extract your blood. We hate mosquitoes and they carry lots of pathogens, too, but they aren't as repulsive to us as creepy crawlers. We are fond of sugar-plum fairies. I've never met one I didn't like. Well, actually I've never met one.

There are things much more dangerous and deadly to humankind than ticks and mosquitoes. The Internet is one. A big one.

Some folks have noticed that I do not blog much anymore. That is not because I am not thinking about the state of human affairs and writing about it. But just as ticks and mosquitoes are can be vectors of deadly diseases, so is the Internet and the social media it enables. I still believe that the Internet is a tremendous boon to human communication, but it is also a great proliferator of the mental pestilence that infects so much of human society and consumes so much of our attention. It is a major medium of recruitment for ISIS. In their attempt to disrupt democracies, the Russians have used it to invade America and spread the degenerative pathogens that have put U.S. democracy on the critically ill list. The people who support and defend Donald Trump have the same mental infirmity as those who are lured to support and fight for ISIS. And the Internet is the main vector of the pathogens. To write on the Internet is to willingly expose ideas and words to the carriers of pestilence. It is absurd to try to communicate with people who have been reduced to a malevolent idiocy, or to include them in dialogue which they quickly reduce to moronic howling. That is what Trump's daily tweets amount to, and no one around him can get him to stop. The solution is to isolate him in the loony ward, which is what the Oval Office has become. Save your intelligence for people who have the capacity to respect it.

Writing on the Internet is much like going naked into the woods on a cool, moist day and communing with the ticks, the mosquitoes, and perhaps a plague-carrying flea or two. It is to feed the vectors of plagues for which there are no cures, only strategies for prevention. Donald Trump is just a symptom of a plague that is rampant among the American people. The political divide which has been characterized by people avoiding contact with each other is actually the healthy population trying to avoid infectious contact with those afflicted by lethal pathogens. The healthy need to gather in mental enclaves and explore ways to save democracy and decency as a way of life. We are reduced to the kind of desperate divisions of people fleeing for their lives from the medieval plagues.

My contact with the Internet is limited to protected discussions which the unhealthy, we hope, cannot find to infect with their degenerative motives. Dialogue is the lifeblood of democracy, but when the dialogue is infected with malice, it is death to democracy. You don't believe it? Take a peek in the Oval Office.

The Internet is a valuable resource. We are working to find ways to use it in developing an immunity to the malice that rages through the land. So far, ISIS, Donald Trump, and the Russians use it more effectively than do the forces of liberty and good will. And so, I tuck my pants in my socks, douse myself in DEET, and trudge on, being very selective about what i come into contact with.

*** Northwest Wood Turning ...Executive Desk Toys

Douglas Wiken — Thu, 27 Jul 2017 02:01:19 +0000

I had a pleasant surprise a few days ago. I got a package in the mail from a friend with a couple small surprises inside. Chuck Noble is a retired Boeing engineer and usually returns to hometown Winner, SD every summer to the farm where high quality hay is raised. He now spends more time with his wood-turning hobby after...