Last updated on 2012.12.14
Sibby's got to hate going to vote in District 20: the only State House candidates coming close to speaking his language are the Democrats. At a candidates' forum in Mitchell last night, Democratic challengers Dave Mitchell and James Schorzmann both clearly expressed their opposition to Referred Law 16, Governor Daugaard's big messy pile of merit pay, test-based teacher evaluations, and elimination of due-process rights:
Both the Democrats panned the measure.
"I think it's a bad bill," Mitchell said.
"Evaluation systems should be developed by local schools, not by the state of South Dakota," he added.
Schorzmann disapproved of the competition for merit bonuses that he said the bill would create among teachers.
"You don't pit teachers against each other," he said. "It doesn't take very long before everything is in disarray" [Chris Mueller, "House Hopefuls Split on Statewide Ballot Issues," Mitchell Daily Republic, October 24, 2012].
Republican Reps. Lance Carson and Tona Rozum continue to carry water for Governor Daugaard on Referred Law 16, just as they did in their votes for that bill in the House last winter. Rep. Rozum engages in complete Newspeak, saying that RL16, which creates more state mandates, somehow gives local school boards more control than they have now. She also asserts that "education is changing," but gives no proof that Referred Law 16 is a positive change itself.
The same split occurred on Referred Law 14, Governor Daugaard's plan to funnel a chunk of contractors' excise tax into the pockets of corporate fat-cats. Democrats Mitchell and Schorzmann say oppose the corporate cronyism that so galls their neighbor Mr. Sibson. Republicans Carson and Rozum gladly support their Governor's desire to redistribute South Dakota businesspeople's tax dollars to pick a few rich winners.
Beyond that, Sibby's choices only get worse. None of the four candidates outright condemned Initiated Measure 15, the extra-penny sales tax proposed to boost funding for K-12 education and Medicaid. Democrat Schorzmann takes the strongest stand for it and plays it well for votes, vowing to make sure that if IM15 passes, he will make sure as a legislator that no one divert the funds to other programs. Mitchell says he's on the fence. The two Republicans, who ought to be desperate to stop any new tax, both acknowledge that the increased revenue could do some good.
And in an accord that leaves anti-nanny-staters politically homeless, all four candidates agree that South Dakota should ban texting and driving. Rep. Rozum said (anyone have an original link on this stat?) that 25% of highway crashes in South Dakota involve handheld devices.
So take that, District 20 conservatives! If you want even a modicum of conservative principles in your House reps, Tuesday's forum shows that Democrats Dave Mitchell and James Schorzmann are ready to defend you against the power grab of Referred Law 16 and the crony capitalism of Referred Law 14.
There are conservatives in District 20 that are not voting for any candidate for the House or the Senate. If the Democrats want to take some seats, they need to understand that more government is where the SDGOP get their funding for the crony capitalism and start supporting Tea Party types like me. The SDGOP has forgotten that Reagan said government is not the solution, it is the problem.
"The SDGOP has forgotten that Reagan said government is not the solution, it is the problem."
Yeah, he said that just before he raised the debt ceiling 18 TIMES! LOL.
Good one Sib.
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2011/jul/26/barack-obama/obama-says-reagan-raised-debt-ceiling-18-times-geo/
Bill, I agree, we did not accept his wisdom. After all he add Mr "Read my lips" for VP, who was really running the show via secret socities. Now look 16 trillion and growing out of control, and to large degree the cause of Read-my-lips's son.
Oh good grief.
Cory, her is more on Read-my-lips Bush teh confuser:
The reader will learn that President George Herbert Walker Bush’s concept of the New World Order is an old idea, one which has its origins in the philosophy and beliefs of the secret Skull & Bones fraternity. Today in particular, this is the prevailing outlook of the U.S. government, many of whose most influential members, like the president himself, are part of the Skull & Bones network. These men seek to recreate the American imperium of the immediate post-World War II period, an era which President Bush frequently refers to as "the American Century."
The powerful men of Skull & Bones genuinely believe that they have a strategic and moral "right" to control world affairs. Consequently, they take upon themselves the authority to crush any rivalries threat to U.S. imperial leadership, whether by current allies, such as Japan, Germany or Great Britain, or by Cold War adversaries, like the Soviet Union. The members of the Order, due to their narrow WASP upbringing, view with particular suspicion the maneuverings of Zionist Israel and its affluent, influential lobby in the United States.
Bush, his fellow Bonesmen and their like-thinking elitist allies in the American Establishment see themselves as New World Order warriors, an American samurai caste of sorts, whose mission is restoring American greatness. They intend to utilize the institutional networks of the U.S. government and key private agencies, such as the New York Council on Foreign Relations, to advance their purpose.
The Skull & Bones members believe in the idea of "constructive chaos." By keeping their true policy intentions secret, by constantly sending out mixed signals on all critical policy issues, they consciously seek to sow confusion among both their nominal "friends" and "enemies" alike.
http://www.bibliotecapleyades.net/sociopolitica/esp_sociopol_skullbones05.htm
oh good grief.
Gx gpnt ngrft.