Pretty sad it takes a foreigner (and a teenager to boot) to observe the absurdity of our state legislator;
We have a foreign exchange student staying with us from Venezuela. Recently, her class went to Pierre to see democracy in action. She came home stunned.
The students were to listen and take notes on debates about issues they had studied including Initiated Measure 22. The Majority Whip, called to speak several times, was absent. He wandered in with a “huge†burger, then visited with friends during testimony. When votes were called, my friend observed that all the lawmakers she could see were on social media. Several looked around and voted the way their peers voted.
“I don’t think they even knew which bill they were voting on. I don’t think they cared!†She shook a paper at me. “Look,†she said, pointing at a paragraph. “It says, carefully … lawmakers will carefully consider all the information and then vote.â€
Later, the class went to committee to witness citizens give testimony. “They were so rude!†my friend exclaimed. “They could have at least said, ‘Thank you for coming.’ They didn’t even pretend to listen.†A final insult, “They didn’t even take notes. What are they doing?â€It’s time for us voters to lay some tile in Pierre.
Or maybe just fire all of them.
“He wandered in with a “huge†burger……..”
Wow! I wonder which lobbyist bought it for him? Could you notice, did it have any extra mayo on it?
Hopefully, they were debating SB 137 during his lunch to save face, while the Majority Whip filled his face. That’s the bill concerning whether a franchisee or their employees are an employee of the franchisor or not….. Sadly, it is just another anti-union bill brought to you by our “Mayor McCheese” type legislature……
Great Moments in “Hamburger Politics:”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9GZIxi17xQ
http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/bill-clinton-at-mcdonalds/n10361?snl=1
Had to be the Capital City burger from Red Rossa on W. Sioux. That is one of the best burger options in Pierre!
I’ve been to Pierre and observed similar. It resembles a PTA meeting except children attend instead of parents. The lobbyists offend me. If it’s a common sense topic, they represent the opposition. I learned to pay attention if I treated it like a late night talk show opening monologue. It’s not serious and worthy of a laugh.
I’ve been to Pierre a few times. This sort of thing, and worse, happend every time. It’s not new. It won’t change, until the voters change.
And here you have it folks. The real problem. This is a post about how corrupt and perverse our government is – and what are the comments about? Burgers.
Rufusx,
This is for you….
FF 00:44
http://www.keloland.com/news/article/your-money-matters/politicians-lean-finely-textured-beef-safe
Good grief Rufus, it’s called satire. Perhaps the actual real problem is that people here take themselves way too seriously.
Should probably start charging these foreigners an admission fee to get a glimpse of the current SD Legislature in action, a haunted house freakshow of corruption.
“haunted?” How about a “Fun House,” instead. Think about it, they apparently have sex with interns, eat big hamburgers in the chambers, and don’t study any of the bills until asked a question about one of them at a legislative coffee…. Wait a minute, sex, hamburgers, and not studying until the last minute sounds a lot” more like hight school than a “Fun House.” Who’s Fonzie,” however?…..