South DaCola

Editorial Cartoonist from South Dakota

2009

Casino Heidepriem South Dakotans State Funding State Legislature Taxes

SD Legislators really need to grow a brain

l3wis 2Comments

It’s Alive! More stupid legislation.

My favorite (and only qualified journalist in Sioux Falls) Ellis wrote an article today about a new brainchild(?) legislators Heidepreim and Abdallah are cooking up. They want to change the state constitution so we can become (more dependent) on gambling.

Faced with the threat of a large-scale casino resort opening just across the Iowa border, two Sioux Falls lawmakers are proposing a simple but controversial solution: Clear the way for a casino of our own.

A Las Vegas-style gaming casino in or near Sioux Falls would stymie a similar development in nearby Larchwood, Iowa, that officials long have feared will take money out of South Dakota’s pockets.

But the proposal first must overcome a series of obstacles, including a change to the South Dakota Constitution.

Though I do understand their revenue concerns, changing the state constitution to allow more harmful social ills is the wrong move.

Sioux Falls lawyer Brian J. Bauer said he suggested an effort be made to change the state Constitution, an idea that Heidepriem agreed with. Bauer said he doesn’t want to see the Sioux Falls economy hurt by a resort in Iowa.

Study, after study has proven gambling costs taxpayers more than we gain from it, in criminal and social costs. But hey, look who is proposing the change – lawyers – go figure, the very people who suck from the criminal sow’s tit. I’m sure video lottery laoyyists had a hand in this to. This isn’t about keeping the state’s $111 million dollar cut, it’s about keeping their cut, even though, they would like you to think differently though;

He proposes that revenues from the facility be put in a “lockbox” to be used specifically for education.

LMFAO! Lockbox, smockbox. They use this bullshit argument everytime and it is starting to get old. can’t they get more creative and say the money will be used to buy Hoverounds for all Senior citizens that can’t afford them or FREE icecream for kids under six on Sundays?! Cut the crap!

If approved, it could open the door for a significant expansion of gaming in South Dakota.

Bauer realizes the proposal is likely to draw fire.

“Bottom line is, it’s coming to this region anyway,” he said. “You might as well have it on the South Dakota side rather than the Iowa side of the border.”

Enough already. Instead of expanding gaming, start taxing people based on their income, that’s a no-brainer of a plan I would be willing to put a bet on.

Smoking Ban

I guess cigars are not made of tobacco and cannot be smoked? Who knew?

l3wis 14Comments

Give me an exception or I won’t stop crying

Poor Tim. Life just doesn’t go his way. When a neighborhood church needed to move a house to add on to there church, Timmy said no way, because they would have to cut a few branches off of his tree. When Timmy wanted to open a bar dowtown, he wanted the kids kicked out of DT. When someone wanted to open a bar across the street from his, he said they could not because they would have hip-hip dancing. When he realized he couldn’t make much money from a 200 square foot bar, he begged for a permit to have people drink on the sidewalk. Now Timmy wants his way again.

In a letter to the editor today in the Argus Leader (not up on website yet) Tim thinks cigar bars should have an exemption (surprise, surprise) and South Dakotans are misinformed about the smoking ban (that made me laugh). Not sure what freaking planet you have been living on the past 20 years, Timmy, but secondhand smoke kills people, secondly, cigars contain tobbaco that is smoked, just like a cigarette. What part of ‘smoking ban’ don’t you understand?

As usual, Tim is acting like a little brat to get his way. It’s time to stop sparing the rod with Mr. Kant. He doesn’t want this exemption for OTHER cigar lounges, he wants them for HIS cigar shop. It’s always about Tim, not the rest of us.

Enough! If the legislature can’t pass a total ban with NO exemptions, don’t pass one at all, let the voters decide, because a majority of us don’t give a rat’s ass about Tim’s cigar bar.

Citizens for Reponsible Sales Tax

A penny saved is a penny earned. That’s not silly – it’s smart

l3wis 0Comments

I have a coffee can I fill with pennies, most people do. When it is full I hike it to the bank and cash it in. It usually comes to about $17. Pennies add up, in the city’s case it adds up to about $5 million with the new tax increase that took affect January 1, 2009. Our tax initiative, if passed, will let taxpayer’s keep that $5 million to spend how they wish which will most likely go back into the economy in the form of goods and services that helps all local businesses not just contractors who pave gravel roads outside of rural Tea (that is where these arterial roads are being proposed).

Is saving taxpayers $5 million dollars silly? Argus Leader columnist Hawkins seems to think so. In her column, titled ‘Stupid, silly stuff trumps violence any day’ (only in the dead tree version of the Argus today) she says this;

“But when one realizes that the fight is over less than a penny, yes less than a penny, I feel like responding like Izzie or Meredith or Cristina in “Grey’s Anatomy.” “Seriously?”

Maybe instead of watching a boring TV series, Hawkins should do a little research about taxation, citizen rights and the TRUE duty of the Fourth Estate instead of defending politicians (and advertisers) that spend wastefully. Now that is silly. And they wonder why subscriptions are down. Go figure.

Yesterday when I was collecting signatures, I rareley got a no. Most people agreed, the city is spending too much money, and it’s time for citizens to step in and put a halt to it. Not one single person mentioned to me the small amount it is to there personal finances. I think most people who agree with our drive agree when you give politicians an inch, they will take foot. When we give our mayor .08 cents, he takes $5 million out of the entire SF business community and hands it over to a select few, ironically the very few who fund our city leader’s campaigns. Coincidence? I don’t think so.

UPDATE: Mayor Munson himself points out why a tax increase is not needed, lots-o-money!

anger beer Boner Butt Gay Lame TV

Superbowl? That’s football.. right?

Angry Guy 18Comments

I know it’s a real reach for me to post something that I think is stupid or that I absolutely hate. Today will be no different. Every year all of you mouth breathing sheep work yourselves into consumerist frenzies for “the big game”. The chips and salsa I buy at Hy-Vee have a team logo on them. The gas I pump into my shitty car is the official fossil fuel of the NFL and I think I’ll puke if I see one more fat asshole wearing a Steelers jersey he picked up at Kohl’s just to wear today to prove that he knows who’s in the game and maybe people will think he’s a hardcore fan.

All professional sports suck. I’m not just pointing my finger at the NFL, although I will say they have a market share of fanatic butt wads that even NASCARâ„¢ is envious of.  Today isn’t really about the football. Deep down somewhere behind all of the marketing and overpriced commercial spots there is a game of strategy and skill. But that isn’t the reason millions of you are tuning in today. Sure, you’ll watch the game and cheer when someone makes a play worth cheering for. If you are with a group of people today, whether its in a bar or sitting at home on your couch, make a mental note to observe the way a room snaps to attention when the first set of commercials come on. We, myself included, have been programmed to consume, and today we’ll worship at our HDTV alters and anoint ourselves with crappy Americanized beer and finger food.  Doritos Sanctos Cheezypoofs.

So drink your Budweiser and eat your hot wings like a good boy, and I’ll pretend I care when it’s all you can talk about tomorrow at work. 

 

TOUCHDOWN STEELERS!

I  mean… BAAAAAAA……..

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