Not your father's GOP; SD should not be a 'Free to help yourself' state: Your letters
Your letters to the editor for July 30, 2023:
We're growing, but not supportive: 3 concerns about why
I didn't grow up around here, so some local customs confuse me. Here are 3 examples:1. Liquor Licenses. Why does the state still limit the number of liquor licenses in each community? If someone wants to pony up for a liquor license, why not let them purchase one?2. High School Gymnastics. I was sad to read that gymnastics has been eliminated by Sioux Falls Schools. But where I'm from, both boys and girls compete in high school gymnastics. Here it's only girls. If boys also competed in gymnastics, do you suppose there might have been a different decision?3. Canada Thistles. Every year about this time, you'll see many ditches and empty fields covered with Canada Thistles, all seeding out. There are laws requiring control of noxious weeds. Why are Canada Thistles - a noxious weed if there ever was one - allowed to flourish?To sum up: We must really like our hundred-year-old, Prohibition-era liquor laws. And even though we tell everyone we're a growing, prosperous community, we'd rather not support a basic sport like girl's gymnastics. But we're OK with the spread of Canada Thistles.Also, kudos to the Argus Leader for their dispassionate reporting of a major issue in South Dakota, in the series "10 Years of Hate." Thank you!−John Hutchinson, Valley Springs
Jim Belushi gets praise in South Dakota
Thank you, Jim Belushi for your involvement, your visit to South Dakota and your 'spot on' remarks. Hope it's in your plans to do it more often.− Nelson W. Vollink, Sioux Falls
South Dakotans are missing the forest through the trees as society changes
After reading today's Argus Leader (Letters 7/16/23), I see that some did not appreciate the word "hate" associated with our state. While not wanting to see hate associated with us either, I have to admit that all things being equal, it does appear to be true (at least on the surface). From my perspective, it is refreshing to see that the paper would print an article that doesn't fit the conformative view of readers. Sometimes, facts and truth are not synonymous. Even misinformation usually has some actual facts presented in a misleading manner. This "hate story" on the other hand is not misinformation but an identification of certain rigid interpretations of "old testament" values that actually do harm in a democratic society.
Some folks prefer to miss (forest for trees) the concept of the big picture because they do not Identify with another's problems. The actual cost of the medical treatments for trans-genders addressed in the legislature is certainly not insurmountable.
There is a reason I subscribe to the Argus Leader instead of my local paper and the "hate identification" presentations are a prime reason. I understand that the westriver is very much conservative but I got really tired of dealing with a one-sided program in everything I read (my opinion). To our detriment this one sided agenda permeates our state politics to such a degree that no one is policing the party in charge while runaway legislation is mostly political instead of actually doing the job of governing.
Our state being, one sided (red), means that the common man is not given an even break but seen as part of the problem as to why we are not advancing economically to the sought after conclusion that conservatism offers. What is ignored is the premise that we as a country held in the 1960's that as the common man gains so does business and the country prospers. Tax on business was much higher while tax on buyers was minimal.Todays conservatism is so top heavy that the definition of prosperity is mostly found to only apply to the very elite and also the very corrupt.
When unemployment money was offered as an economic stimulus during Covid-19, we all jumped on the bandwagon (or at least tried) even self employed people were told to file for unemployment stimulus money (repeatedly). With the unemployment filing our great state could tap into that money. Well, I did receive $1,700 of the few thousand I applied for but a phone hearing sometime later decided I did not deserve it. And of course I was forced to give it back to the state. I wonder if the state gave it back to the feds. I also wonder about the dudes from Union Center who appeared to get millions of that money out of South Dakota and Texas covid coffers and If they deserved theirs when I did not deserve mine...It appears that the stimulus was earmarked for the elite and probably corrupt here in this deep red state and the common man,well he got "Scotched" as usual. In conclusion, "Wake up, America."
−Dave Freytag, Rapid City
Sioux Falls will have to fend for itself to address climate change
They want you to forget about it. The mayor and the city council want you to forget about it. Forget about their betrayal of the citizens of Sioux Falls, about their substitution of “thinking about it” in place of a definite “plan.”
And they want you to believe they are genuine without any explanation: “I changed my mind,” said they mayor; “the plan was unworkable,” said the council.
The Sustainability Plan is all about climate change and the need to address it immediately for the good of the planet, Sioux Falls, its residents and their succeeding generations.
The mayor's Sustainability Framework is all about throwing the citizens of this city under the bus. And why would that be? What reasonable person, looking at the realities of climate change including its current, on-going impacts would say we do not need to act? Worse, what reasonable person would fail to even acknowledge the word “climate” in our planning? As if sustainability and climate are unrelated. What reasonable person among us citizens of Sioux Falls would not want to do everything we could to protect all of us from the climate consequences we face right now?
If you agree such people are in a distinct minority, then you have to consider the mayor and city council members among them.This is not just another city issue: This is our safety and our very future and that of our children and our children’s children. For the mayor and the council to so minimize the importance of this indicates nothing other than their belief that there is something more important to them than serving, protecting and insuring the happiness of the citizens of Sioux Falls. It would certainly be interesting to know what the something is, but that kind of transparency is not high on their priority list either.Instead, we see a Horizon 2035 Downtown plan that does not address the sustainability challenges that even this summer have threatened the nation and the world. None of the proposed building projects will be held to current environmentally helpful, energy-efficient building standards. It is hypocrisy for city leadership to promote this development while simultaneously acting as if the futures of Sioux Falls citizens don’t really count.They want you to forget about it. Don't. The citizens of Sioux Falls are going to have to fend for themselves. I think they will be pretty good at it.− Henry Travers, Sioux Falls
Not your father's GOP
Today's GOP is not your father's GOP! It used to be that the Republicans cared about law and order. Today they only care about power.The SD GOP is having Trump speak in September at the Monumental Leaders DInner and call him a "highly distinguished guest." This is a man who cheated on all 3 wives, paid hush money to a porn star, kept two sets of books at his business so he could cheat on his taxes (in fact he has paid more taxes to China than the US), used charity money for personal use (and is now barred in NY of running any type of charities in the future), had to shut down his university due to fraud and paid millions in settlement to students that he dupped, was not man enough to admit he lost the election and the first president that ever refused a peaceful transfer of power, lied about the election being stolen (and still does) and encouraged his followers to storm the capital on Jan 6th.We all saw it. We saw and heard him tell his followers to 'fight like hell.' We've heard him tell followers at his rallies to 'punch him in the face.' We've heard him call the Secretary of Georgia and pressure him to "find votes." He took top secret classified records from the government that he had NO right to and REFUSED to give them back! Then he gave a few back but hid others which the gov't recovered only after the FBI served a search warrent and found them.He's a bully that attacks anyone who doesn't support him and childishly calls them names. Distinguished? Is this a man who you really want as a role model for our children? The fact that the SD GOP looks up to him says alot about what they have become. This is definitely not your father's GOP!
−Sheryl Johnson, Sioux Falls
More: A thank you to kind drivers; applause for Johnson's protection of farmers: Your letters
SD should not be a 'Free to help yourself' state
I object to the Summit C02 pipeline.South Dakota---Land of the FreePrivate C02 pipeline investors don’t care about the blood, sweat and tears of all property owners. They don’t even care about lowering C02 and Climate Change, because C02 pipelines are ineffective and are not needed.Their goal is to claim 45Q Credits/money. That is Free Taxpayer Money. They are willing to destroy South Dakota’s fertile land, environment, and future growth, while putting South Dakotans at risk with high pressure hazardous C02. Check South Dakota’s map for Summit’s proposed pipeline.They want to deny your property rights to take your land…for which they will pay with your own money/the people’s money. Then they would force South Dakotans to pay for not only the construction but also for continued local expenses like emergency responders and special equipment, large amounts of water, electricity, etc. If there is a leak or explosion, there is no liability fund. The people, of course, would pay. Finally, when the 45Q (people’s money) plus profits run out, they would sell the pipeline land to the highest bidder who would control America’s Heartland. (That’s a Private pipeline windfall!)They want to ignore property rights, safety regulations, damage to natural resources, and risks to wildlife, animals, and humans. The people of South Dakota should rightfully be opposed, but so far nothing has been done to stop this.South Dakota should not be a Free Help Yourself State for private investors, especially if they are foreign investors.
− Rose Mather, Yankton
How to submit a letter to the editor:
Letters need to be roughly 300 to 500 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: Not your father's GOP; SD should not be a 'Free to help yourself' state: Your letters
