Russell Olson Campaigns Against Own Fertile Imagination

And now for a textbook example of the straw man fallacy, we turn to Senate Majority Leader Russell Olson, District 8 Republican from Wentworth:

With only three weeks until the end of the 2011 Legislative Session, I find myself looking back on legislation we have moved forward, what we have voted down and the amazing amount of work yet to be done.

The 2011 Session will identify the true innovators from the imitators. South Dakota deserves legislators who come to the table with realistic plans. I could introduce a bill that said from here on out, regardless of state revenues, there would be a 10 percent increase to Medicaid providers, state employees and education. It would sound great to each of these groups, but it wouldn't pass. However I could campaign during the next election on the fact that I did my very best to increase funding for education, Medicaid providers and our state employees, but the majority party and the Governor shot me down. "Give me another shot and I promise to continue to work hard for you in Pierre," would be my campaign center-point.

That's how it would be if I wasn't in the majority party that has to operate in reality. We are confined to the long-held principle that you should not spend more than you make, and therefore I have had to, and will continue to, make tough votes that will allow us to balance our budget and not raise your taxes.

The final three weeks of this session will hold final bill hearings for some great ideas and some really bad ones. Legislation that has been drafted with realism will make cross-over (where bills have to be out of their house of origin to be viable). These final weeks also hold the final negotiations on bills that will ultimately be what the majority feels are the best fit for funding every tax-funded program in the state.

As we are working toward what is best for everyone in this challenging year, please know that I appreciate your input and would like to hear from you on the issues you feel are important.

I am in Pierre to serve the people of District 8.

[Senator Russell Olson, "Legislative Report," Madison Daily Leader, print edition only, 2011.02.22, p. 3]

Let's see, I'm looking over the alternative budget proposals offered... apply education stimulus dollars to education, tax pipelines to cover their own cleanup costs, implement a temporary extra-penny sales tax, require a 24-hour waiting period between first and second reading of the general appropriations bill... golly! I'm not finding the unrealistic proposal to increase spending 10% forever.

Note also the nod toward the magic of the market: if the bill makes it through cross-over, it must be good. If a bill doesn't, well, then obviously it's bad. Don't think about the details of the bills; just assume the legislative process dominated by Olson's party always produces the best results.

I might have a little respect for this essay by the good Senator if it at least had the courage and courtesy to address its targets directly: "Rep. Fargen, your proposal to do X won't work, and here's why...." If the point is to inform the voters, why not address specific legislation? Point to specific bad legislation. Outline specific good legislation, Compare, contrast, and convince with details and bill numbers so citizens can see for themselves what's happening in Pierre.

But no. Senator Olson sticks to his preferred modus propagandi: manufacture majorities who justify whatever you want, wave vague fabrications of unrealistic laws and unnamed legislators in a fluffy essay that's all campaign rhetoric and no substance.

It's too bad that the only powers of imagination the Senate Majority Leader has are applied to making up enemies who don't exist rather than thinking of truly innovative solutions for education funding, health care, and South Dakota's other serious needs.