“We don’t suffer from gridlock; we suffer from one-party domination,” says Rick Knobe in this documentary clip from Hedrick Smith on initiative, referendum, and the Koch-funded Republican effort to destroy direct democracy in South Dakota:
We also see Speaker G. Mark Mickelson, a key figure in the 85%-Republican-dominated Legislature, wheeze superciliously that Initiated Measure 22 was unacceptable because it was “13,000 words, 35 pages.” Such a complaint leaves me wondering how Mickelson ever got through his con-law textbook in law school.
Mickelson also claims (in a speech from the House floor) that several legislators told him that they would have resigned if IM 22 hadn’t been repealed.
If those legislators who slapped the voters in the face meant what they said, let’s drive them out of Pierre by voting YES on Amendment W, which puts many of IM 22’s reforms into the state constitution, where legislators won’t be able to touch them. That will be a big step toward ending the unhealthy one-party rule Knobe decries.
Smith’s video on South Dakota is one of six on “grassroots heroes in action.” Remember: the real grassroots heroes are all 545,000 of you South Dakota voters who can join me at the polls to assert your will over the partisan elites who are playing dictator over our state.
Malicious Marky, “several legislators told him that they would have resigned if IM 22 hadn’t been repealed.”
And that would have been a bad thing how? Names. Who were those crooks who would have left if their cash cow dried up? Malicious Marky himself, for sure.
Is this the same Hedrick Smith I used to enjoy watching on Friday evenings on IPTV? Washington Week in Review or something similar, if memory serves.
Right, Debbo: I don’t see why threats of legislators resigning should stand in the way of accepting the will of the voters. Heck, we accept the will of the voters to fire legislators at elections; why should any legislator’s wish for state job security trump what the people have said?
And Mike, yes, that is the same Hedrick Smith.
I’m curious…how do you respond to Karen Souli’s ad about the makeup of the committee and how it differs from what is now. I have great faith in her solution as it exists now and yet she says the proposed committee is significantly different. Why was the committee structure not included in the new IM, and how is that committee structure better than what is currently operating.
W is wery, wery wrong.
The sloppily written and unconstitutional IM #22 that was hoodwinked onto ignorant voters by heinous out-of-state interests is just like the wrong amendment W. Creating and giving a blank check to an unaccountable tribunal who would be witch hunters is not what South Dakota needs. When people have to split these foisted amendments into many pieces then they can’t hide the ugliness of these east-coast liberal experiments under glossy statements like “reign in the lobbyists.” They will have to say “this creates an unaccountable tribunal.”
Sloppily written posts are what we see every time you post grudznick. Stop drinking that witches brew and pull your head out.
Mr. jerry, I crafted that post specifically to get your goat. You’ve made might night.
Sorry you’re frustrated grudznick, that can happen.
I’m a frustrated, grumpy old man, prostrated by the agonies, and unable to any longer engage in vast quantities of sausage gravy without incurring a hard pain in my belly and shooting fire from my nether reasons, Mr. jerry. You’re right, it can happen.
But it is might night, and I’m toasting your goat.
Hope it tastes good grudznick, while the sauce simmers, you should get a girlfriend, someone like Rhoden to spend the evenings with, looks like he will have plenty of time on his hands soon.
Gracie, see my initial response to Rep. Soli (and some of my commenters’) here:
https://dakotafreepress.com/2018/10/24/soli-destroys-amendment-w/
Crazy claims against W are sadly having a huge effect on voters. I read it back in the process before it hit the street for signatures. Is it perfect? No, but it is much better than im22 and that’s why Republicans and their out of state Koch brothers are fighting it so hard. Shameful lies repeated enough times are obviously having an impact. I endorsed W way back in the beginning and I stand by that no matter how crazy the lies have become. Unbelievable how people don’t see the truth and are listening to the very ones they despise as if once they supposedly are telling the truth
It’s not perfect I agree, but it would be a huge step in the right direction for a change. Or, you can believe the lies and vote No because the corrupt politicians say you should. Unbelievable..
The entire initiative process in SD has been destroyed, in my opinion. The new hoops thrust upon circulators are obviously unconstitutional !!!! But how ironic, wasn’t that their argument about im22. Oh silly me….I forgot, it’s only a problem when the little people try to do something.