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Who's tougher on crime, Republicans or Democrats?
Just a wild breakfast guess, but I'll wager that most of you think, "Republicans." That's o.k. -- years of media and marketing indoctrination have stamped that stereotype on my brain, too...
...which is why I am all the more surprised to read that our Republican governor's budget takes a two-million-dollar chunk out of the SD Highway Patrol budget [see Jonathan Ellis, "Showdown Likely over Highway Patrol Cuts," that Sioux Falls paper, 2007.12.20]. The reduction would cut patrol hours by 23%, resulting in an estimated 817 more drunk drivers not being caught or cited.
Ready to go all law-and-order on the governor are Republican Senator Gene Abdallah (he ran the SDHP from 1995 to 2000 and said to Ellis, "I don't know why he would cut public safety when we've got the third-worst record of DUIs in the country") and his colleagues Minority Leader Scott Heidepriem and Sandy Jerstad, both Democrats -- yes, Democrats.
This breaking of stereotype reminds of a conversation I had with a staunch local Republican. We were discussing the REDI fund and how we need to build up the principal in that account to support more economic development projects. My Republican friend suggested the state create a data-warehousing business. I cocked an eyebrow and said, "Hold on -- don't you have a problem with the government intruding in the free market like that?" My friend looked at me a little surprised and replied, "If it boosts the REDI fund, who cares?"
Stereotypes help keep one's mind uncluttered. But an uncluttered mind, like an uncluttered desk, is a sign of a lack of intellectual activity.
We certainly have our ragingly conservative Republicans and flamingly liberal Democrats in this state. But on the whole, our politics isn't about Karl Rove versus Nancy Pelosi. South Dakota is still a small enough community that we are able -- or at least should be able -- to have a conversation based not on stereotypical party definitions but on practical goals and policies to make things work.
Drinking Liberally Update (11/15/2024)
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In Politics: Nationally: The Election is over and the wrong side won. I
have nothing to contribute to the barrels of ink being used by Pundits to
explain a...
3 days ago
Republican Sen. Gene Abdallah is all up in arms over something he is passionate about and wants Democrat Sen. Scott Heidepriem's support. Abdallah wants Heidepriem to rally his troops on the Democratic side to restore $2 Million in funding for the Highway Patrol, according to yesterday's Argus. Scott Heidepriem is Senate Minority leader in his party, which has been the ONLY party to consistently push for more funding for K-12 Education. Scott needs to draw a line in the sand and cut a deal with Abdallah and his Republican counterparts to get more school funding! After all, wouldn't a better educated population create less crime? The HP reduction is just another smoke & mirrors subject to stir up people's fears anyway. According to Brooke Bohnenkamp of the Dept of Public Safety, the $2 Million Highway Patrol reduction out of an $18 Million budget represents about 10% and would simply postpone purchases and reduce overtime, but not cut any Patrol hours. Heidepriem needs to flex his minority muscles now for Education Funding.
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