Blogger Joins Political Fray: Maurstad for Union County Commission

We have our first notable blogger sighting on a 2010 South Dakota ballot. Doug Maurstad, known online as "Old Cranky," has filed his petitions to run for the Union County Commission. The Alcester Republican tells the Sioux City Journal the current commission is "not open and accessible."

Maurstad has also been a vocal opponent of the proposed Hyperion refinery. He says if, if, IF the refinery is built, he wants to impose some real oversight and control. "Our best interests are not part of [Hyperion's] concerns," Maurstad tells SCJ.

Maurstad has been blogging since May 2008 about the shenanigans between Hyperion and the Union County Commission. He has not hesitated to call Hyperion "sneaky bastards" or to celebrate a small victory for the little guy when the Clay Rural Water unanimously rejected Hyperion's request to hook up to their system.

But watch out, Doug: since the Supreme Court ruled in January that corporations can spend direectly on political campaigns, will we see Hyperion buying fancy billboards and airtime for primary opponent and incumbent Republican Milton Ustad from Beresford?

SD Peace &Justice: Single-Payer Best

The South Dakota Peace and Justice Center weighs on the side of socialists like Congressman Anthony Weiner and me: their August policy analysis calls for a single-payer health coverage system. SDPJC joins the myth-busting crew on three points:

1. You don't have choice under a private insurance system... unless you think "cling to my employer's health insurance or do without" is real choice.
2. You and your doctor don't have control with private insurance—ever hear of "managed care"?
3. Single-payer doesn't mean long waits... at least not any longer than you might wait now for care.

(On that third point, Erin and I have a friend who has a medical problem that could cause paralysis. This friend got a cursory interview with a surgeon, who said he'd do the surgery in six months and then didn't stick around long enough to answer questions about why that wait was acceptable. And folks say America has no waiting for health care? Riiiight.)

SDPJC holds its nose and says a strong public option—government insurance every American can buy—is an acceptable compromise. But let's remember: public option is an extreme compromise down from the successful standard of public health coverage in dozens of other countries.