Romney: Fat greedy women losing money at bridge
l3wis [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNV1TJl49pk&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]
October 2012
Meet the Legislative Candidates: Bill Laird • Dist. 25 House
BIO – My name is Bill Laird and I’m running for the South Dakota State House in District 25. I live in Sioux Falls. I was born in South Dakota and have lived in South Dakota almost all of my life. I graduated form Washington High in Sioux Falls and from SDSU with a major in Foreign Languages and a major in Political Science. I am a veteran. I worked at Citibank in Sioux Falls for 17 years before I retired in March of 2010.
If you had to choose between public education funding or tax breaks and refunds to corporations interested in doing business in South Dakota, which would you cut first?
Tax breaks and refunds to corporations should be cut in favor of more revenue to public education.
Do you support a one penny sales tax increase to fund education and Medicaid? If so, why or why not?
I personally support the one-penny sales tax increase but I understand why some are not in favor of it. The most important aspect of this proposed tax increase, if it passes, is to ensure that it is used only for education and health care as intended and that no future legislature usurps it for other purposes.
What is the number one (1) issue the state legislature should focus on in the 2013 legislative session?
The number one focus for the next legislature, or any future legislature, is education… giving education the policies and funding it needs is the most important function of any state government.
Since the state has a surplus this year of $50 million, do you think they should start funding public education better, reduce taxes or allocate those funds to something else?
When the state found the 47 million dollar surplus this year it should have immediately been used to replace the cuts made from education earlier this year.
Do you support citizen driven initiative like the current snowgates petition that is circulating?
I would always support citizens’ rights to initiatives… I may not always agree with the particular issue, but I like the snow gates. I’ll be 66 soon and I’ve shoveled out the ends of driveways in the cold and dark for fifty plus years. I, and many of my fellow boomers, are ready for a break.
Bonus Question: If you were King or Queen for a day in Pierre, what would you change about the legislative session (ex: rules, procedures and time frames)?
As far as changes in Pierre, what I feel needs to be changed more than anything is legislative balance… the legislature needs input from liberal, conservative and ALL viewpoints in between… then quality legislation will follow.
George McGovern will continue to teach us far into the future with the moral discussions he always initiated
My friend Bruce sent this to me today and asked I post it. Bruce first met McGovern as a pen pal when he was just a lad.
George McGovern died this morning. I know this is not news to most. It does give us a moment to pause to remember someone with who by getting into the arena changed the trajectory of a nation and by losing big competitions, taught us all how to rebuild, then move on to greater things.
I met McGovern as a child. We exchanged many letters. Mine were telling him of my dreams and him encouraging them. When I wrote as a high school student of my plans to be involved in politics and history, he sent back a letter extolling the virtues of my dream. We talked over the years at different events and he never failed to impress me with his idealism and vision.
In 1967, my father visited Senator McGovern in his Washington DC office to discuss an issue. They had communicated previously through letters. Upon meeting in person, George was reported to have said, “Danielson, Danielson, do you know a Bruce Danielson?â€Â To which my father, ego slightly deflated, began discussing his preteen son instead of the business at hand. My involvement with George McGovern had become so well known in the small South Dakota town we had moved to, several old-time Republicans began calling McGovern whenever they saw me. I always took it as a point of pride.
I never worked directly for McGovern but I always proudly supported him. I did work for other politians but they all were held up to the idealism ingrained in me by the life lesson taught by George McGovern. I still believe people should be elected promising to make life better for society and not for their personal pocketbook. By running for office with the strong moral compass based in a real belief system, McGovern was able to teach us until the day he died. George McGovern will continue to teach us far into the future with the moral discussions he always initiated.
I also see that Mercer couldn’t resist to help nail the coffin shut. Written like a true Abdnor partisan. He brought back the true hatred that permeated during the 1980 campaign.
Snowgates: The Home Stretch
I got word today that the petition drive hit 5,300 signatures this week. This is well over the 4,800 valid signatures that need to be turned in. Stehly says she would like to turn in 7,000 signatures to show how many people truly support these devices.
Councilor Jamison will appear on Knobe’s show tomorrow. I’m sure snowgates will come up. 4 PM, KSOO 1140 AM.
Poetry Club w/ Charles Luden
This was my 2005 Arts Night donation, ‘Crossroads; Robert Johnson’.
Homage to  Robert  Johnson
Came up da river
playin’ my guitar
Got lost in Memphis
‘n’ lost my shoes
Gonna try to go home
if I got enough time
Gotta get away from
Memphis girls and booze
Charles Luden • 6-18-91
On a Robert Johnson postcard to Dave Peterson,
leader of Chord on Blue in which I drummed.