Michael Larson catches his District 6 Representative Isaac Latterell weaving a cynical fundraising ploy. As a response to the big special-interest money that Rep. Latterell says has too much influence in politics, Rep. Latterell wants people to tithe to him:
Over 40% of our earnings each year are taken from us in the form of federal, state, and local taxes. It is economically foolish NOT to spend 1% of our income hiring our own lobbyists or candidates, who will work to reduce our taxes by 1%, make sure they are spent wisely, and say no to laws that cost us money and benefit a privileged few. Would you believe a financial planner who wants to invest 40% of your money, but tells you there is no management fee?
...What I am advocating for is a group of people in the district gathering together on a set of clear principles, and contributing 1% of their income to good government. They could hire a lobbyist who will work for their principles and actually answer to them [Rep. Isaac Latterell, "There's Not Enough Money in Politics," blog, 2014.03.18].
Rep. Latterell is really just wrapping a bunch of words and analogies around the same old campaign fundraising pitch. He wants more of your money in his campaign war chest. He's trying to make it sound like sound financial advice, when really he's asking his constituents to get into a bidding war against multi-million/billion-dollar corporations. He's asking them to buy back their own government, which is kind of like asking the Lakota to buy back the Black Hills. Why should we have to pay for something wrongfully taken from us?
Latterell lacks the principles and courage to advocate restrictions on big corporate money in politics. In his Tea Party worldview, he can't bring himself to advocate rules and regulations to protect the people's voice in Pierre and Washington. He can't think past a free-market fundamentalist solution in which political influence is just another commodity for sale to the highest bidder.
As Mr. Larson points out, Latterell also can't give up his own PAC bread and butter:
This is a confusing statement considering when you look at where Mr. Latterell received most of his funding. $1,500 from Jim Latterell, $1,500 from Don Frisco, Xcel, SD Realtors, SD Corn Growers, SD Ethanol, and Black Hill Home Builders PAC is not exactly going around to District 6 voters and asking for financial support [Michael Larson, "Latterell Is Full of a Lot of (Confusing) Talk and Little Explanation," Taking a Left Turn in South Dakota, 2014.03.19].
Latterell's 2012 year-end campaign finance report shows $2,850 in PAC contributions, $1,324.22 in party contributions, and zero in individual contributions.
Voters, when Rep. Latterell asks you to tithe to him, ask him why you need to buy his vote in the first place.
Hello to all my rich friends. Over 40% of your earnings each year are taken from you in the form of federal, state, and local taxes, if you haven't found someplace to hide that income. It is economically foolish NOT to spend 1% of that income to send me, "The Blindman" on a fact finding junket, "Magical Mystery Tour" to Mexico.
This is what you'll get for your money. I will check out the many tequila bars, some with over one hundred name brands, that will take both time and money.
I will visit the great beach towns searching for the perfect wave, but that kind of think cost money so dig deep.
And I will test the finest ganja your money can buy. I'm sure when South Dakota goes legal your going to want the best herb to set up shop. After all money is money.
Also for your money I will promise never to run for public office and to continue the above services as long as your money holds out.
Speaking of money. Why not talk to your friends in Pierre about some of that investment capitol they have laying around. I hear they are bold when it comes to fact finding junkets.
Please send your "non tax deductible donations" to
THE CHURCH OF BILL
Turtle Beach
Nayarit Mexico
The Blindman
Apparently Latterell has enrolled in Dr. Bosworth's "School of Scam".
Good one Blindman.
40%, is that accurate?
Most people are willing to pay higher taxes if they get a good bang for their buck. Maybe Latterell and his followers are okay with impassable roads, lack of fire and police protection, 50 students per classroom, lack of emergency medical care, etc.
In fact, I'd resent paying taxes in SD. No part of my money should go into Joop Bollen's pocket or finance Chinese EB5 buyers or pay for government corruption.
I think that the government should assess each voter $1.00 to put into a fund for all voting expenses. There could be no fundraising period. There could be no special interests blaring political service ads or any kind of political ads for that matter. The dollars collected would be doled out evenly to pay for expenses and all monies that would not be used, would go back to the fund as it would be taxpayer money.
To define who the voters are, we would have an identification card that would identify us as proven citizens of good standing and that would be matched with the rolls to prevent fraud. We must get big money out of politics before it destroys us further.
South Dakota seems to be one step down from Mexico.
Health insurance, South Dakota, yes kind of.
Mexico good coverage for about $600 a year.
Affordable housing, South Dakota, not so much.
Mexico, great if you like well built homes in little towns.
Beaches, South Dakota, maybe four good months each year.
Mexico, every damned day.
Seafood, South Dakota, shipped in, fresh means three days old.
Mexico, every damned day.
I just can't make up my mind.
The Blindman
Jerry, MN is going to an online voter registration and ID. Photos will be taken of eligible voters when they register and that photo will be their ID. No duplicate voting because the poll workers will check each voter's online ID. If they've already voted, that will be indicated.
Ineligible voters will be on another online list. No one will be unable to vote due to nonexistent birth certificates or other voter suppression tactics. I like it.
So how does SoDak's tequila with a root worm in the bottle compare with real tequila with a maguey worm in it? I have never touched tequila so I have no idea.
You know what Deb, in the end, republicans are going to regret ever trying to steal elections by lying about non-existent voter fraud. They have been successful at this, that fiasco in Florida that got us the endless wars since 2000 is a perfect example. But when the rules come in to actually make voting more and more secure, it will finally cut the head off this beast. Probably not here though, that will take some more time. As someone who likes to dip a line in a stock dam, patience is a virtue and I will savor the results with both.
Mike your thinking about mezcal, and twice was enough for me.
Tequila on the other hand. There really should be a book to teach people how to drink tequila responsibly.
Pour me another shot of Cuervo
The juce of the cactus takes its time
A little Gold helps your imagination
A little more might help to clear my mind
For a while Cuervo 1800 was a way of life. I wrote and recorded a lot of real good music while under the influence of 1800 and THC.
The Blindman