Guess what 60% percent of $10 million is? Apparently $8,000
l3wis 
2009
Anti-babe of the week: Sally Kern
Ghost of Dude 
Sadly, it’s not rare that a right-wing loony from my home state makes the news. Â However, this one has, in addition to taking the cake by saying gays are a bigger threat to America than terrorism, has now officially left reality for some other bizzaro plane of existence.
In her most recent act of outright stupidity, Kern has issued a proclamation for morality, which you can read here. She has also publicly blamed gays and illegitimate children for the current economic mess. It seems fundamentalist nut-jobs like her have moved on from witches, gypsies, and jews to gays, pornographers, and abortionists, whom it’s still OK to hate. I’m not sure what’s sadder, that people like her exist or that they get elected to public office – in a large city no less.
I’d pay good money to see her in a debate with an actual thinking person. Theocrats cannot win such debates, and ultimately must rely on the righteous stupidity and willful ignorance of their supporters to suppress their opposition. For a case study, look at the recent Iranian elections. Theocracy is dying. Hallelujah!
The bright side in all of this is that 90% of the people commenting on the story think Kern is a complete tool with no business in government.
It’s about time someone said it
Slater Barr, president of the Sioux Falls Development Foundation and Theresa Stehly had some great quotes in this story about Sioux Falls growth;
“Focusing only on the growth number is the wrong measurement,” said Slater Barr, president of the Sioux Falls Development Foundation. “It’s not, ‘How many people do you attract?’ It’s ‘What are the skills of those people?’ ”
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To that end, Barr said the development foundation, the city and several other local organizations are raising about $200,000 to study trends in the city’s growth.
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“If your per-capita income isn’t keeping pace, then you’re adding people, but you’re adding people at lower wages,” Barr said. “We’re putting together … an analysis and strategic plan for the community.”
Slater is right, especially with the per-capita earnings. The results of that study will be interesting. I have lived in Sioux Falls for 18 years, mostly in apartments in the central district. I can tell you it was rare to see a Hispanic or African refugee in those neighborhoods 10-15 year ago. Now, that is all that lives there. I believe most of our population growth has been due to construction laborers, packing plant workers, and Lutheran Social Services locating refugees here. Most of those kind of workers tend to have larger families. Don’t get me wrong, I think diversity is great for Sioux Falls. But I can also say a majority of these people are not ‘Lifers’. If they can find a better paying job in another state doing the same thing, they’ll be gone in a heartbeat. Like I have said before, if JM’s closes, you will see a mass exodus of these kind of workers. I would expect our population to drop 8,000 – 10,000 people practically overnight.
“We hear a lot about bringing quality people to our town. I think we’re all quality people,” Stehly said.
I agree with Theresa. I think a lot Sioux Falls residents who have been here most of their lives are hardworking, great people. We should be attracting those kind of people. But that of course has to do with what kind of jobs we want in Sioux Falls. Do we want low paying construction and packing plant jobs, or do we want green energy manufacturing, research and technical jobs in Sioux Falls? The SFDF’s study will be very telling.
Of course Dave couldn’t resist putting on the rose-colored glasses;
Sioux Falls’ 2.3 percent growth between 2007 and 2008 ranks the city 34th among U.S. cities. No other city in the region has seen its population grow by as large a percentage as Sioux Falls since 2000.
“I would say they’re really right on. I think that’s a good number,” said Mayor Dave Munson, who has seen the city grow steadily during his two terms. “It really is attributable to the quality of life you have here.”
And the unskilled cheap labor pool we have here.
Greetings from Misery: Cynthia Davis & Starving Children
Comoprozac 
Here in Misery, we only care about unborn children. Once you’re birthed – preferably through a scheduled C-section – you’re on your own. Nowhere is that more apparent than in our state legislature where Cynthia Davis is chairperson for the House Special Committee on Children and Families. She thinks the summer program that gives out breakfast to poor children is a waste of taxpayer money and that “[H]unger can be a positive motivator.” Nice. I hate this place.
Here’s a Kansas City take on the whole thing. Plus, check out some videos here and here. You have to watch the Olberman clip all the way through to hear him bash Davis, but it’s worth it. Oh, and feel free to sign a petition to remove her from her chairmanship, because you never know when she might make that run for federal office.
Ironic Johnny ‘RATIONS’ the truth on Healthcare
I asked Thune this question online during a live interview on the Argus website;
Senator Thune, what’s so wrong with a national insurance plan as just another option. If I’m willing to pay for it thru a premium or extra taxes, how is this going bankrupt the country. A recent NY times poll said 72% of Americans support it. Why don’t you agree with it?
His (predictable) answer:
Sen. John Thune: Â that poll didn’t address the question of paying for it which yields a different result, you would be the exception when it comes to a willingness to pay higher taxes, the cost is up to 2 trillion. with a government run, single payer system you would get less and pay more. Â Â a govt plan would be the end of private insurance because no private insurer would be able to compete with the govt. Â the studies show that employers would drop coverage and push everyone into the govt program where you would face govt rationing care.
Nice talking points, John. How do we know care would be rationed if we have never tried it. And whats wrong with putting insurance companies out of business?
Not sure if they will post my other questions. I said he was misleading by saying there would be no incentives for doctors is we went into a National Healthcare Plan.