Arguments for and against Big Ethanol, and a push for better snow removal: Your letters
Argus Leader letters to the editor for Feb. 26:
More lawmakers should support Summit and the ethanol industry
Thank you to legislators who support the ethanol and agriculture industriesThank you to the South Dakota Senate Commerce and Energy Committee members who voted against HB 1133 in a 9-0 vote. The bill aimed to bar companies like Summit Carbon Solutions from having a Common Carrier status and, if passed, would serve as a poison pill for the proposed pipeline projects across South Dakota. These projects want to decarbonize the ethanol and agricultural industries to remain competitive in this era of low-carbon demands.Legislators and regulators should continue avoiding calls to change the rules midstream and hold all projects to the same standard during the regulatory process, regardless of if they are CO2 pipelines. Summit has worked hard for over a year to secure its route through voluntary easements. As of February, the company has acquired over 60% of its route and will continue until its PUC hearing this fall.Summit continues to invest hundreds of millions of dollars into our state and will bring new jobs and economic opportunities with its project. In addition, the option to partner with Summit is a lifeline for ethanol, which is responsible for purchasing half of the corn grown in our state.Sens. Beal, Crabtree, Hoffman, Kolbeck, Nesiba, Schoenbeck, Stalzer, Wheeler, and Zikmund made the right choice by voting no on LB 1133. The rest of the legislature should follow suit and support Summit and the ethanol industry.
−Steve Gengler, Dakota Dunes
Pnishment should be more strict for fentanyl dealers
This concerns something that has been going on for some time, but it is time it is stopped. The availability and sale of the drug fentanyl. Fentanyl is the deadliest drug anyone will ever encounter. It kills virtually every person that comes in contact with it.It is the drug of choice of most criminals, drug cartels and almost anyone that makes illegal drugs and SELLS them −sells them, not uses them. It stands out from ALL the horrible drugs that plaque our youth and our Nation. You never just buy fentanyl you buy something else that you may have used before, but it is laced with fentanyl this time (means it contains it but you don’t know it) and no one you buy from will ever tell you any different AND YOU WILL DIE.You bought what you thought would make you high, or enjoy with your favorite girlfriend or a bunch of your friends. Or you were going to use it to liven up a party. SORRY TO SAY all you have done is contribute to the death of your girl, and/or many of your friends!Fentanyl has only one purpose—THAT IS TO KILL ANYONE DUMB ENOUGH TO EVEN JUST TRY IT!
Doesn’t make much sense does it? But DEATH IS THE MAIN GOAL in fentanyl sales. The profit margin in selling fentanyl is so enormous, a few deaths don’t even slow them down. For every FOOL buying drugs there is a line up of more wanting to get in on it, that believe ‘everyone is doing it’, so what is the harm?Maybe you buy from a good old friend and you have never had a problem before—think again! If your dealer somehow gets connected and involved with fentanyl suppliers and you and your friends you may ALL BE IN FOR A SHOCK! Suddenly the people you have all sold to in the past start turning up dead, plus a few of the dealers that sell and use.The first thing we need is EDUCATION for those in the target group of possible dealers to cut down on the new users dying. The second, of course, to put out warnings to all those in the average age group of young, inexperienced users to help them avert the inevitable death they face if they mess with fentanyl.This is not warning kids of the problems with drugs, it is the definite statement of what will happen if they continue, EACH AND EVERYONE OF THEM WILL DIE!!!!! Plus everyone they share their dope with, and many of their friends.Is there an answer or way out of this community of unnecessary death?The answer is YES, and it is in the in the hands of law enforcement, the courts, and the prison system. ALL ARRESTS tied to drugs, must be considered as SERIOUS CRIME. To do anything less is turning a blind eye on the many hundred of dope dealers, their suppliers and of course the ones that will pay the the largest price−and ultimate price − the users−DEATH!!Unfortunately that will require the heavy hand of the judicial to consider all of these types of crimes and hand out decisions in the favor of the public good, not the independent good of ANY GROUP or groups that lean anywhere near “spare the rod, spoil the child”. The United States can no longer continue with the rampant use in drugs, and drugs deaths. The time has come to BRING THE HAMMER down to save the soul and future of this country.The sentence for ALL those dealing in or supplying fentanyl should be set at 60 days in the So. Dak State Penitentiary. At the end of that time they should be executed—no suspended sentences, no pardons.
−Mike Manuel, Sioux Falls
Eminent domain shouldn't be in the hands of nongovernment identities
I am greatly disgusted with our legislative people who decided to put a knife in the back of landowners.I have one question: How does it feel to be owned by the big ethanol and pipe line companies?Eminent domain should not and never should be in the hands of nongovernment identities.
− Robert Risty, Dell Rapids
If streets aren't clear of snow, parking should be prohibited
Driving in Sioux Falls has been particularly dangerous this winter because most of our streets—especially side streets--have not been cleared curb to curb as in past years. When cars are parked on the not-completely-cleared side streets there is barely room for a passing vehicle to avoid a collision. The situation becomes even more difficult and dangerous when a third vehicle approaches from the opposite direction at the same time one is attempting to pass a parked vehicle. Why are our city streets not cleared curb to curb as they have been in past winters (including those winters that Sioux Falls has had as much snow as 2022-23)? Is the city's snow removal budget smaller than in previous winters? If streets are not clear curb to curb, for safety's sake parking should be prohibited on those streets.
− Monty Barnard, Sioux Falls
Mandated petiton signature percentages are an attack on democracy
The Republican dominated State Legislature is at it again. South Dakota was the first state in the union to enable citizens to directly initiate laws and amendments to the state constitution by petition. This ability of the voters to bypass the legislature has always been abhorrent to many of our lawmakers, as it deprives them and the lobbyists that infest Pierre the ability to control and write legislation, debate and discuss it in closed caucus, and announce the results to the public. Recent successful efforts by the citizens of South Dakota to affect their own lives include raising the minimum wage, Medicaid expansion, and medical marijuana. These would never have cleared the roadblocks the special interests in Pierre would have erected.
The State House passed a measure that would mandate that a certain percentage of the petition signatures on an initiated measure must be from voters in each legislative district. The sole purpose of this is to make it more difficult to reach the required number of signatures to place a measure on the ballot. Many of our legislative districts cover vast amounts of land with few if any large population centers; it would be virtually impossible to collect the required number of signatures. All voters in the state, regardless of location, will have an equal voice at election time in deciding to accept or reject the initiative. Please contact your state senator and urge them to reject this attack on democracy.
− Bob Wilson, Spearfish
Democrats need some self-reflection
I think it's funny how every letter to the editor today (2/21/23) is a position from one side of the transgender issue -- the hard/far Left. One letter even hilariously tells people to stop voting along party lines (but just for Republicans) when Democrats are far worse when it comes to this. Look at how we got Joe Biden, who campaigned from his basement. How's he doing? Every letter to the editor on transgender surgeries for kids starts with "there was so much lying and misinformation presented before this vote" yadda yadda yadda. No, I assure you the issue was thoroughly researched. Why would we let a kid who's not even old enough to vote and who's very obviously still developing to "choose" their own gender with a surgery that can't be reversed? It's ludicrous! And the Left would let a kid keep this decision secret from their parents while being counseled on it from outside sources! A teenager was just arrested in Canada for protesting, saying there are only 2 genders. They live in a far-Left society that our current administration is trying to move us toward. Who are the oppressive ones? And the Left certainly has no standing to mock Republicans for being beholden to special interests. All of politics is special interests -- follow the money. This is what the Left does. They take one issue that affects less than a percent of the population, and they adopt that issue as their platform to gain power. And when they wield power, they act as Neocons in government while throwing bones to the Far-Left. Who's the war-mongering President that you all feared Trump would be? It's Joe Biden! It's time for Democrats to take a look in the mirror before we lose our country.
− Ben Hail, Sioux Falls
How to submit a letter to the editor:
Letters need to be no more than about 300 words, and will need to include first and last name, address, city and title. Addresses won’t be publicized, of course, but it’s a way for us to make sure those who submit a letter are who they say they are.
Letters will run on Sundays in print and online as we receive them. There may be moments, however, when we don't have any as we work to solicit interest and actively rebuild this part of our coverage for readers.
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This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Arguments for and against Big Ethanol, and a push for better snow removal: Your letters
