Here in South Dakota, we have one party rule. Let’s be honest, we are not alone in that respect in the United States. Most states are like that. The last Democratic Governor was over 30 years ago. Last Democrat sent to Washington from here was at least 25 years ago and the state legislature has been run by a supermajority of Republicans. Just the way it is. Combine Democrats indifference towards the state on a regional and national level, while Republican messaging has made being a Democrat an evil thing here, and you have the conditions where this state isn’t competitive between the two parties.
You can tell this year why this is a bad thing. Look at the ads that are being shown by the GOP members running for governor. We have most of them accusing the others of being big spenders and taxing people needlessly. We have a business owner who says he is in the same vain as President Trump when it comes to politics. We have political PACs throwing their two cents into this primary. It is becoming a circus. Not used to that here, but I guess we are advancing with how other states do their politics.
Funny thing is that our state needs more revenue or to cut spending. So, when you criticize the current Governor for raising fees and taxes on things, it is trying to eliminate that deficit. When the candidates are telling you that they will cut or eliminate property taxes, how is the state and counties supposed to keep their funding of things? Raise fees and taxes on other things. The state could cut things as well. Knowing our state leaders in Pierre, there will be more cuts in funding of education and funding for public projects. I’m sure that they won’t repeal or roll back tax cuts for their friends or the businesses that they own.
On the other side of the aisle, is there anybody running for Governor? I know there are and have seen them announce their candidacies. Is there anything else? I don’t think so. The Dems have 6 seats in the House of Representatives. Great, but there are 70 seats. That is less than 10%. The state is having all these problems, and you can’t even get 10% of the seats in the House? What a Joke for the state Democratic Party to say that they are fighting for people here.
It is the middle of May, and the Democrats and Republicans have their final elections in November, but the true elections for Representatives of this state will be held during the primary season. My hope is that instead of the MAGA crowd getting more members in the State government, that true Republicans can win the primaries and run this state a bit better than what has been done over the past decade. I know that this is wishful thinking, but maybe, just maybe the legislature will do oversight of all the money that the new Governor might spend in a not so legal way. Because if half of the rumors of Governor Barbie and Governor Rhodes are true, then the legislature is not caring about your tax dollars and where they are spent.
Leave a Reply