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Child Care Costs Keep Talent out of SD Workforce

Recruiting workers for jobs and “Freedom” in South Dakota sounds great, but then it hits the reality of the lack of child care. So discovered nurse Stephanie Wiegand and her physician assistant husband when they moved to Lead in 2020:

When the “South Dakota Focus” production team visited the Wiegands’ home in August, Stephanie sat surrounded by six kids between the ages of 15 and 4. “I chose to stay home because I could not find day care in the area that was able to care for all these kiddos,” she said.

The Weigands moved here for job opportunities – answering an ongoing call from a variety of industries and the governor of South Dakota herself. What they discovered is a challenge that faces nearly every family in the state: finding care they can trust and afford.

“We’re here, but now we’re stuck,” said Weigand. She explained she’s able to pick up an occasional nursing shift now that most of the kids are school-aged, but she had no choice but to stay home for the first two years living in Lead.

“I even took care of somebody’s infant for six to seven months after they were born because they could not find child care,” she added. “And that was two people that also worked at the hospital that my husband works at. So this is not something abnormal to people just moving in. They were locals that had lived here for 20 years and knew everybody in the area” [Jackie Hendry, “My Career or My Kids? Lack of Options Forces Families to Make Tough Decisions,” South Dakota News Watch, 2023.10.19].

Folks in more populous Sioux Falls may have more child care options, but it costs far more than what the state says families should have to pay:

In Sioux Falls, RiAnna Kolovsky also stepped away from her career to care for her kids, 2-year-old Sylvi and 11-month-old Wolfgang.

“Child care was just not feasible,” she said. “This year I would have paid over $27,000 a year to have both of these kids in child care. Granted, it’s a good center, and it had accreditation outside of regular state accreditation. But what job can you work that makes that feasible? The State Department of Health says that for a median income for the state of South Dakota that we shouldn’t pay hardly any more than $9,000 a year. Most families in the state pay at least ($10,000) per kid.”

…Republican state Rep. Taylor Rehfeldt of Sioux Falls is well-aware of the cost-barrier to child care her constituents face, though neither she nor her husband has had to leave the workforce.

“My daughter, Tallie, she is going to day care in about six to ten weeks,” Rehfeldt said in August, “and it’s $275 dollars per week. So it’s $1,100 dollars per month to send our one child to child care. And then we have before- and after-school care for our other two children, which is about $150 to $200 dollars per week. So, we’re looking just at $2,000 per month in child care expenses. Now, we’re lucky and fortunate that both of us are nurses and we have an income that is supportive of that. But we all know that most people can’t afford that. And $24,000 a year is not attainable for most families to be able to pay” [Hendry, 2023.10.19].

Various sources say that South Dakota is among the most affordable states in the nation for child care. But that apparent advantage isn’t showing up for workers like Wiegand and Kolovsky, who have had to choose raising kids over pursuing their careers and adding income (and freedom) to their households.

69 Comments

  1. All Mammal

    How can moms who run a hotel restaurant or set up appointments at a salon get the freedom to work when they have kids? They get the dookie end of the stick. Grandmas are the only solution in most cases, unless she, too, has to still pick up shifts at the casino. This winter will be excruciating, not only on her arthritis, but also to have to leave those grandbabies with a non family member a couple hours a week so both women can work enough hours to fuel up their vehicles. Hardworking women are what runs SD.

  2. John

    The lady said and wrote, ‘it takes a village’. And the freedum lovers laughed and mocked her.

  3. Edwin Arndt

    Not to seem insensitive, but life for most people
    is full of tough choices.

  4. P. Aitch

    What may be a “tough choice” for some people may not be as challenging for others, as everyone’s experiences and perspectives differ.

  5. Donald Pay

    Edwin is correct. The saying goes: If “ifs” and “buts” were candy and nuts, we’d all have a very fine Christmas. You make choices, and you live with them. But humans live in a society and a culture. Most human communities provide for child care. They don’t dump it all on the parents. Child care is a shared responsibility. Some politicians don’t understand human culture and what it takes to lead a human society. When you go into a polling place, think about your life. If there is a person running who seems to care for pre-born babies, but don’t have any concern for your child after birth, maybe you shouldn’t be voting for that person. Who is looking out for your child? Whose priorities best meet your family’s needs? Life doesn’t need to be so tough.

  6. O

    In the early days of unions, collective bargaining looked toward health care as a benefit that workers expected through employment. Although that turned out to be a bit of a disaster, it shows that employees are looking for more than salary and that absent government help, the employers could be the next to have to step up to create the working conditions that allow workers to work. Child care should become the next “cost of doing business” for employers. They will not make it affordable with salary, so it will need to be provided directly or indirectly the way health insurance was. Of course that all assumes employees organizing to apply the pressure to make that happen.

  7. O

    Also, let’s be clear, we cannot afford government supported child care because we have decided that billionaires should not pay taxes. That’s a “tough choice” that is a terrible choice as a society.

  8. Jenny

    But apprenticeships in SD pay an average of $77,000/year according to the Gov. They should have no problem affording childcare.

    Can’t say I feel bad about the ‘freedom seekers’ learning some hard truths about life in a rural state. And then to complain about lack of regulation… awesome.

  9. Mike Lee Zitterich

    In a free republic, where we have less government oversight and regulations on business, we will then foster better business activity. As a businessman, and growing up in a family within the automotive industry, I have grown to appreciate the freedom of working for yourself, creating your own future, and your own means of providing for your family. A Mom who had her own home daycare service where she gained the support of our neighborhood, and trust, to take care of 15 Daycare Children from 1983 to 1993, to a father who owned his own automotive repair facility of whom gained the trust of the community to help work on and fix their cars from 1979 to 2021, before ‘we’ kids took over and today operate the businesses, I have gained a lot from learning from my parents, to now buying and selling used cars.

    Less regulations is always best in forming a better, economic environment, and less government in our lives fosters higher income stability.

    We must get back to a community of free people, one of which, Women can again become Stay Home Wives, Mothers, and Stewards of Society, one of which they become the ‘assets’ to building stronger families, more dutiful, and responsible children, and one of which fosters a more, survivable economic union between Men and Women.

    We got to place the Importance of Religion back in our governance, let alone, stress the importance of Family back in our citizens again.

    The answer is NOT government, the answer is less government, and that fact alone will foster a better Economy in the future. I owe my parents, my grandparents for the person I have become today, Disciplined, Respectful, and Honest, in all thing I do today.

  10. Red states will never fix their problems and rely on the federal government to do it instead.

    In July 2021, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced an expansion of the income eligibility levels to qualify for the state’s child care assistance program. The Lujan Grisham administration then expanded the free child care program eligibility again in April 2022 by eliminating co-pays for families making at or below 400% of the federal poverty line – or $120,000 a year for a family of four. Previously only those making at or below 200% of the federal poverty line qualified. Last month, the state Early Childhood Education and Care Department announced it was extending the policy indefinitely.

    https://www.abqjournal.com/2604005/new-mexicos-expanded-child-care-subsidy-is-a-lifeline-for-working-pare.html

  11. South Dakota’s brain drain and talent flight will continue indefinitely.

  12. Like South Dakota Nebraska, Wyoming, Montana and North Dakota positively suck for child care.

  13. Wolfgang’s (Kid’s gonna be tough) parents look like they have health insurance from their employer. Thank Obama Care for that otherwise, they would be shelling out another 20 grand or more a year. One solution would be to start your career in your early 20’s, save all of your money, and don’t have any kids until you both are in your early 40’s. That way, one could stay home and be a caregiver while the other toils away. The other solution would be for Mr, Arndt to open a day care center on the home place and to find out from former state senator Jessica Castleberry how to do the books.

  14. O

    In a free republic, where we have less government oversight and regulations on business, there is more worker exploitation. As Mike too often closes over, “We the people” is the government. That is the very thing we organize around to fix the problems individuals — not matter how religiously devout — cannot fix individuals. The US is not for the sole purpose of maximizing business interests, interests that are all for government doing the work on infrastructure needed for business to succeed. The real revolution will be putting government back to work for all the people. Child care, as the many example above show, wold be a perfect step in the better direction.

  15. Zitterich never provides evidence for his claims.

  16. P. Aitch

    Imagine a village where auto mechanics had no regulations on their business practices.
    Human nature is not fair or equitable towards those patrons vulnerable and easily preyed upon by scammers and scoundrels.
    > Regulations serve as a check on the actions of individuals and corporations, ensuring that they operate in an ethical and responsible manner. Regulations prevent monopolistic practices, protect consumer rights, and promote fair competition. By setting standards and enforcing rules, regulations create a more level playing field, reducing the concentration of power and wealth.
    > Since we can’t lynch crooked car mechanics we regulate their operations and fine or imprison them as necessary.

  17. O

    Larry: “Red states will never fix their problems and rely on the federal government to do it instead.”

    Not only rely on the Federal Government, but also hamstring the federal government from having the ability to fix the problem. Since the expiration of the Child Tax Credit expansion at the end of 2021, the credit has reverted to a maximum of $2,000 per child and no longer is fully available to all low-income children. Some 19 million children live in families whose incomes are too low to qualify for the full credit. That was money that directly reduced child poverty and could go toward child care costs; but again, billionaires needed their tax cuts funded so . . .

  18. e platypus onion

    Less regulations is always best in forming a better, economic environment, and less government in our lives fosters higher income stability. Total BS! in every way. Under Zit’s proposal only the wealthy gain income. Take away unions, minimum wages, job safety, overtime, holidays, insurance, child labor laws and anything else you can think of, the people lose, the wealthy gain.

    I’d like to propose a poll of commenters and see how many trust Zit in any shape or form.

  19. Contrast South Dakota Democrats with Earth hater Pat Powers who is openly lobbying for ending women’s medical care.

  20. Mike Lee Zitterich

    Being involved in a automotive family all my life, and knowing how hard my dad worked to build up our name, reputation, and loyalty, all based on our steady core base of our faith, and honesty, we were always a family who never failed to admit to our mistakes, as we know humans are all imperfect people, the only perfect person I ever knew of, was GOD himself. We built our business from a hobby, to a full time business, through the the local auto racing scene. Many of our ‘customers’ were race fans, and that helped to not have to pay heavy costs of advertising, cause we built our business on word of mouth, reputation, and being honest, and that meant, being able to tell the customer what they did not always want to hear, but giving them education and know all to help take care of their car. My dad took his first job at RYAN MOTORS in 1970, became the first Datsun mechanic in South Dakota, and learned his trade the old fashion way. In 1977 Dave Billion, Sr purchased the dealership from Bill Ryan, and after a few years, my dad did not like how Dave operated his business, always wanting to cut corners in sake of profit, that went against the morals my dad had. My dad always felt, the car had to be fixed right, even if it meant the customer owning him to cost of the repairs, OR, cutting our prices if it meant helping the customer afford to fix their car. So he left what came to be Billions Automotive, and took a night job at U.P.S working on the Big Brown Truck, while starting ZITTERICH FOREIGN CAR REPAIR at our home by 1979, before long, we had our first full time Automotive Shop in West Sioux Falls with 5 stalls, and 1 partner.

    From 1980 to 2000 my dad conducted business pretty much as a hobby, but by making a profit from that hobby, while taking care of our customers. The business made him, and he also allowed him to work 4 days a week, and go sprint car racing 3 days a week. The business fed his racing career, and the race fans provided him a pretty good consistent following in the car repair business. Word of Mouth.

    My dad could rebuild an engine, change your tire, he was very good at diagnsosig things properly without throwing parts at his customers. He taught me to NEVER charge excessive ‘fees’ as other shops do, cause customers already are mad at having to pay a $300 shop bill, the last thing they wanted to see was a $2 dollar Environmental Fee, Shop Supply Fee, or a Credit Credit Card fee, etc.

    We never had the nicest of shops, we never had the fancy customer waiting offices, or things like that, we had a pretty basic, shop, but it was ours, and we made it feel like home to our customers. Our customers were like family, and we treated them as such. MY Dad used to alwys have a saying – “You may have came to us as a customer, but you became our friend, and family member”

    Anytime a customer had an issue, and thought we never fixed the problem, which happens alot in the automotive industry, My dad had a saying, “Bring the car back, we will see what is going on with it, and determine what the problem is” he further would say, “I spell my name G.A.R.Y, not G.O.D” meaninng we are far from perfect, but we always admit our mistakes if it was found that we made one.

    I learned everything from my dad, and when I got my license to sell used cars in 2015, i put thoe same ethics to good use. Being honest was most importnat to me, even if I had to make less money to do so…I found many people needed a cheap car, I simply made an effort to find the best car for that person for $1500 or less, even as little s $750 dollars, as long as they drive good, the rest of the issue can be fixed. I sat down with them, made a priority list of issues that needed fixed, and I told them, as long as you brought the car to my dad, ‘we’ would pay 20% of the cost out of my pocket, which mainly meant, WE gave them a 20% discount on parts and labor…

    NO, We do not need more government in our lives, all that does is drive up costs on everyone, and I know this first hand from my years of experience. IN 1979, RENT on our 6 stall garage was $400 a month, in 2021, that rent on 7 stall garage is now $3000 a month.

    In 1979, my dad paid his mechanics 50% of $45 dollars an hour, while in 2021, charging customers $110/hour, we paid our mechanics 30% of that rate…The cost of doing business was so grate, that it practically driven wages/salaries down.

  21. Anecdotal evidence is simply that: one opinion heaped upon another without any empiricism whatsoever.

    South Dakota is where sobriety checkpoints are the best way to keep the residents from killing each other because life in the state sucks so completely.

  22. P. Aitch

    That’s a great epitaph, Mr. Zitterich.
    Is there a funeral going on we don’t know about?
    You see you’ve posted that here at least four times?
    As BCB says, “Whatever squirts your pickle.”
    I suppose it’s helpful to you and that’s what we’re here for, you know friend.
    Have a rewarding day. Snow is coming!

  23. P. Aitch

    PS, Mike – If you’ve been in business for fifty years and still don’t own the building you need more government regulation in your business. Something you’re doing is terribly wrong. It’s a very common story in South Dakota, though. By trying to promote freedom only a handful get any rewards. I don’t expect you to understand. In a “stubborn German” culture change is the enemy not the needed solution.

  24. grudznick

    Do you remember when Gary caught on fire at Hussets, Mr. Zitterich?

  25. Donald Pay

    I’ve heard the “less regulation is best” my entire adult life. It would be hunky dory if people were as responsible as you say your family business was. It may be true for a lot of small businesses, who have to be honest or lose local business, but it isn’t true for some of the people. “Less regulated” ends up having kids molested in day care, with the Williams Pipelne and Gilt Edge Superfund sites, or the sewage ash or Ronnie Crochet incinerator fiascos, or the abandoned uranium tailings in Edgemont, I believe in law and order. We don’t have laws for honest folks. We have laws for people who aren’t honest. I believe in law and order, and you get law and order by passing and enforcing laws. If you don’t, you get anarchy.

  26. O

    Mike: “He taught me to NEVER charge excessive ‘fees’ as other shops do, cause customers already are mad at having to pay a $300 shop bill, the last thing they wanted to see was a $2 dollar Environmental Fee, Shop Supply Fee, or a Credit Credit Card fee, etc.” The only fee there that is not business driving up the cost of business is the Environmental Fee — that fee was to insure that practices, such as disposal of toxic chemicals, was done properly and not at the cost of individual health and safety. That was a cost to your business. You decided to advertise that, separate that to shift the “blame” of that cost to some outside entity. That is sleazy. Why not charge an electricity fee because you had to pay that bill too? That we as a society have managed to get in place some regulations to deter business from destroying our environment because that is exactly what business does to improve profit.

    I would also note that as much as you promote your family’s good business practices as the argument for government regulation being unnecessary, in the same breath you tell us that regulation is essential because of the Billions in this world. The potential harm of the Billions justifies the minor inconvenience to your good shop.

  27. Bob Newland

    “”Politics,” the incessant argument over who gets to do what to whom, for how long, and against what degree off dissent.”

    That definition was provided by Lewis Lapham in a commentary in “Harpers'” about 30 years ago. I don’t think that the supporting clauses are necessary. It’s simple. The political process anywhere is a question of “How much will these miserable bastards put up with?”

    Me? I’m just an observer. I don’ wanna get involved.

  28. Mike Lee Zitterich

    Grudznic, yes, I lived that fire in 1988. I know how much it effected my dad for years after the fire. All cause a #8 piston broke. That is also one of the reasons my dad quit racing Husets also. The Drivers wanted to pass their helmets around to raise funds for medical bills. And hte owners of the track said NO, not enough time. And my dad had just did that 2 years ago for Jon Barger (1986). It is what racers do for each other. So my dad goes on the road, begins to travel to other tracks, and has more fun racing on the road..he missed the fans but the fans understood why.. Then the husets asked my dad to help bring IMCA to Husets, and start a new class of 360 sprints. So he came back and helped grow that class, and promote it, while racing at the same time. We started with 15 cars the first year, and by 1996, we had 40 cars a night.

    As for the Repair Shop – you have good and bad customers, adn there are customers you just want to get rid of, cause they are just, well, anyone who has ever owned a business, knows, some people are just whiners. As for Environmental Fees – no, “WE” did NOT charge them, we saw them as a cost of doing business, and we set our labor rate to raise enough revenues to pay the bills. And as for RENT – most small business owners RENT rather than own their own building. So I am not ashamed of that…

  29. Richard Schriever

    Zit. None off the scenario or parts thereof have anything to do with government regulations.

  30. grudznick

    The repair shop is no longer operating, is it? If it were, and grudznick had a car in Sioux Falls I would take it there for some grease and lube and tuning, as it seems a fine operation.

  31. M

    Most of these posts are unnecessary because they are off topic. You men wouldn’t know what it’s like to pay for childcare because you are old and you’re men. How many waitresses, hotel workers, and nonprofessional women with loser husbands can pay for childcare if professional couples can’t?

  32. grudznick

    Indeed, Ms. M.

  33. Mike Zitterich

    grudznick, yes, the shop on Burnside St. is open call my brother David.

    As for M’ – tone down your attitude WOMAN. My mom operated a Home Daycare and she has taught me alot about Childcare. and you sound like a woman who hates men, I would NOT marry a woman like you. And to all those waitresses, find the RIGHT MAN before spreading your legs before even the thought to having sex.

  34. P. Aitch

    Rich countries contribute an average of $14,000 per year for a toddler’s care, compared with $500 in the U.S. -NYTIMES

  35. P. Aitch

    You need to shut the f**k up now, Zitterich. You’ve crossed the line, sh*t for brains!!

  36. grudznick

    Very entertaining blogging, Mr. Zitterich. A goat for you.
    Glad to hear the Burnside shop is open.

  37. There is more at stake here than goats and entertainment, Grudz. Your performance art wears thin. Grow up and get serious.

    Mike Z, your sex comment is grossly offensive and avoids the main issue, that childcare is unaffordable.

  38. Mildred

    Mr, Zitterich:
    regarding your tirades on being “Disciplined, Respectful, and Honest, in all thing” – liar! – I remember reading not long ago that you promised never to write anything on this blog again – so please SHUT UP!

  39. John

    SD gave up on families decades ago. Thank god my kids and those of my sisters and 90% of my 30+ cousins left. We’re next to leave now that there is no longer Silent Gens here to care for. We move on as soon as 2024, hoping the housing market has a tiny rebound and we are able to flip the cabin a dumber boomer seeking freedum.

  40. Dicta

    You keep engaging rhe crazy, it gets out of control. Blame yourselves.

  41. P. Aitch

    The number one task of a political blog is to provide informative and engaging content that focuses on current political issues, events, and analysis. Its primary goal is to serve as a platform for presenting various perspectives, generating discussions, and contributing to the public discourse on political matters. Political blogs aim to inform and engage readers by offering commentary, news updates, policy analysis, and opinion pieces on topics of political relevance. Additionally, they can play a role in influencing public opinion, raising awareness of important issues, and advocating for specific political positions or causes. – AI

  42. Arlo Blundt

    Child Care is the missing nut on the right rear wheel, unnoticed, but essential, in keeping our economy on track. Like our education system, we are falling so far behind, it will take a major revision in our legislative system to move this forward.

  43. All Mammal

    Deregulation is code for plunder. Plunderers suck. Booo!

    I don’t hate men, but don’t ever let me see you disrespect Ms. M, or any nice person, ever again, Mr.Z. Trust me, it will be your own fault for flappin your suck when I wind up bullying you. If you can’t act right-go pee, go bed. Oldass incel makin this place look bad, cmon dude.

  44. M

    Thank you to those off you who came to my defense. I don’t hate men Mr Z but I do dislike you. I live within the lower class in your Republican world. I was born poor in S.D. and am stuck here, still poor. Worse yet, I see it all around me and I’d like to see it end. But it never will as long as women bear the burden of raising the children without financial support from the fathers. I said before, in 1973, Mobridge had the most fatherless families in the state. I think it still has. I do think some men should not be allowed to have children because they lack responsibility, perhaps they should be snipped.

    Mobridge lacks child care facilities and has no 3 -4 year old preschool. Some young ones go to Head Start provides by the tribe.

  45. M

    Sorry for the grammar errors, I’m rushing off to work manual labor like us good lower class ladies do.

  46. M, I understand the occasional need to prioritize work over blog proofreading, especially for the working class. South Dakota’s wages are so low, the typical working person doesn’t have time to consult the dictionary or the AP Style Manual, let alone purchase one and homeschool the kids to memorize and use it.

  47. P. Aitch

    @M – You have a wonderful way with words on paper. So do you, Cory.
    Just a side thought.
    “The world’s biggest problem is competition. We bring up our children in it and then commiserate on why nothing really changes.”

  48. e platypus onion

    That’s a great epitaph, Mr. Zitterich.
    Is there a funeral going on we don’t know about?

    Yeah! Zit’s brain has passed away entire. Hang a wreath on his nose.

  49. P. Aitch

    @EPOnions – I woke up in the middle of the night and thought, “Epitaph should be changed to eulogy. Too late now.”

  50. P. Aitch

    Sioux Falls Voters: This will help you attract worthy businesses to your wonderful city.
    Denver has been trying a 0.15% sales tax to provide preschool for Denver kids. It’s been so popular and successful that it’s up to the voters to make it permanent.
    – The ballot language states it plainly: If approved, the existing 0.15% sales and use tax that funds the Denver Preschool Program would be permanently extended instead of expiring on Dec. 31, 2026. It includes the caveat that the tax could be altered or repealed by the City Council or city voters.
    – I address SF people because you’re less contrary, stubborn, and negative than your state’s majority.

  51. P. Aitch

    Unplanned children can be a burden on the kids you already have. It’s been a year since women’s rights were assaulted by MAGA’s.
    >The number of monthly abortions in Colorado increased by an average 29% after the Supreme Court spiked Roe v. Wade, a first-of-its-kind study finds.
    Why it matters: The new count from the Denver-based Society of Family Planning is the first to encompass the full year since the SCOTUS ruling.
    By the numbers: Colorado averaged 2,120 abortions a month from July 2022 through June 2023, up an average of 480 compared to April and May 2022.
    That’s an estimated cumulative increase of 5,760 abortions over the course of the year.
    What’s happening: Colorado emerged as a safe-haven for its protections on reproductive health care as other states enacted restrictions in the wake of the court’s decision in June 2021. – AXIOS
    NATIONAL MAP:
    https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2023/10/24/abortion-increase-colorado-post-roe-wade?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter_axioslocal_denver&stream=top

  52. Mike Lee Zitterich

    You people are outlandish, and a bunch of loud mouths, you tell me that I crossed a line, but say nothing to the woman who made the following comment:

    Most of these posts are unnecessary because they are off topic. You men wouldn’t know what it’s like to pay for childcare because you are old and you’re men. How many waitresses, hotel workers, and nonprofessional women with loser husbands can pay for childcare if professional couples can’t?” – M

    So if you allow this woman to bash men, then you better allow decent men to defend themselves, especially those of us who have never committed any such criminal activity, let alone harmed anyone. Her comments were rude, and obnoxious, and while I am sorry for what I said in return, I find her comments nasty, and uncalled for, and they were designed for one purpose, to draw negative comments in return.

    This is where you DEMOCRATS gain no respect from Americans, you act all holier than though, but say some of the most dam comments ever. I have seen more Democrats wish death on republicans or attack those who disagree with them more than I have seen republicans attack Democrats. YOU ALL have to grow up, and stop being so simple, and argumentative.

    And then “M” goes on to make another outlandish comment towards men:

    “Thank you to those off you who came to my defense. I don’t hate men Mr Z but I do dislike you. I live within the lower class in your Republican world. I was born poor in S.D. and am stuck here, still poor. Worse yet, I see it all around me and I’d like to see it end. But it never will as long as women bear the burden of raising the children without financial support from the fathers.”

    Never have I ever met this woman, nor has she ever met me, nor have we have done business together. SHE does not know me, nor do I know her. NONE of my previous comments had attacked anyone personally, nor did I use vulgar language towards anyone. BUT yet this woman vulgarily attacked me, and said I am a terrible person. HOW does one respond to a person of this character.

    Ms M seemingly is a man hater, probally from her own experiences in life, and because of those experiences, she now has condemned ALL MEN cause she made a few bad dicisions involving herself with men that desserted her, let alone abused her, or treated her unfairly.

    I have never mistreated any woman, let alone I have never attacked a woman based on her beliefs, while standing in defense of mine.

    I apologize for my choice of words, but, you DEMOCRATS have, in my book, crossed the line as you allow for yourselves to attack others, but those other people cannot come to their own defense themselves.

    SHAME ON ALL OF YOU.

    THIS POLITICAL BLOG PAGE has no respect from anyone but the members of this page, I am sick and tired of how many of you act towards those who disagree with you, and I AM OFFICIALLY DONE With this blog. BYE

  53. P. Aitch

    I looked up your sheet, Zitterich. What your ex-wife said about you is true. Is she enjoying spending your inheritance?

  54. P. Aitch

    Misogyny refers to a deep-seated prejudice and hostility toward women. It is important to note that misogyny is a complex issue and manifests differently in various contexts. However, here are some symptoms or indicators commonly associated with misogyny:

    1. Dismissive behavior: Misogynistic individuals may exhibit dismissive attitudes towards women, minimizing their opinions, ideas, or achievements.

    2. Objectification: Women are often reduced to mere objects of sexual desire and are seen primarily for their physical appearance rather than their abilities or character.

    3. Stereotyping: Misogyny can involve the reinforcement of harmful stereotypes about women, such as portraying them as weak, emotional, or overly dependent.

    4. Discrimination: Misogynistic attitudes can lead to discriminatory behavior, both overtly and subtly, including denying women equal opportunities, gender-based violence, or disproportionate social, economic, or political power imbalances.

    5. Hostility and aggression: Misogyny often manifests through verbal abuse, online harassment, threats, intimidation, or acts of violence specifically targeted at women.

    6. Belittling achievements: Misogyny may involve undermining or discrediting women’s achievements or capabilities, often attributing them to factors like luck or special treatment rather than recognizing their merit.

    7. Victim-blaming: Misogynistic attitudes may lead to blaming women for their experiences of harassment, assault, or abuse, shifting the responsibility away from the perpetrators.

    It is crucial to challenge and address misogyny as it perpetuates gender inequalities and harms individuals and society as a whole.
    – AI Generated/prompt engineered by P. AItch

  55. WillyNilly

    I notice that Mr. Z threw out the greatest insult he could give a woman when he wrote: “…and you sound like a woman who hates men, I would NOT marry a woman like you.” As if being married to him would be something a sane woman would aspire to. Me thinks he thinks too much of himself.

  56. e platypus onion

    epo guarantees Zit will die sometime during his lifetime.

    On a brighter note, today at Walmart in Spencer, iowa.I was parked next to a vehicle with a sticker in its window advertising Spearfish Canyon Lodge. First for me.

  57. V

    SDPB’s S.D. Focus is about childcare. It’s on at 8:00 pm central time in this area. Should be good to watch.

  58. e platypus onion

    https://www.rawstory.com/child-care-congress-funding/

    We asked every member of Congress about child care policy. Only 5 Republicans answered.
    Chabeli Carrazana, The 19th
    November 9, 2023 12:54PM ET

    None of the Dakota magats or iowa magats bothered to respond.

  59. O

    e platypus onion, great link. Kennedy’s analogy of asking the bank for money and having to justify it as an investment is backward. The Congress is not the bank we have to justify spending to; WE are the bank Congress has to justify spending to. If WE say it is an investment we want, then that is all that is needed to get the money flowing. We don’t need Congress to stand in the way of how WE want OUR money spent.

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