The golden rule: "He who has the gold, makes the rules." It's an old bit of folk wisdom and humor. Anchored in more than a grain of truth of course. So it enters my mind as I follow developments out of South Dakota, our neighbor to the west.
We in Minnesota once had a governor, Rudy Perpich, who proclaimed that South Dakota was "50th in everything." Some jousting developed between Perpich and his SD counterpart Bill Janklow. It never got mean-spirited, as I recall. Politics was different then, more civil. One commentator said both those guys benefited from the jousting, as both were fighting for their state after all. Done with a wink I guess.
Would that we could have political conflict on such a civil level now. Think about it: our lives seemed more relaxed then. Cigarettes are a sedative, right? Do you suppose it was actually good for us to have so many exercising the habit? Hard to remember, perhaps, but exercise your memory muscles: people could light up most everywhere at one time. Think of the Carl Bernstein character in the movie "All the President's Men." He lights up in an elevator whereupon his partner Woodward, exasperated, says "Is there any place you don't smoke?"
What a time capsule piece of dialogue now. The discretion on smoking was taken out of our hands. Steadily, the law made the decision for us, like with seat belts now. Momentum for such things built up in the pre-digital days. Why is this important to consider? Oh it's very important: the hair-on-fire conservative reactionary crowd has harnessed the burgeoning electronic media so well. The crowd that vents anger at new laws and rules, as we are now seeing with strategies vs. the pandemic.
So we see the Florida governor being totally knee-jerk responding to the most shallow "conservative" forces. Why can't we as a society wake up better to this phenomenon? Smell the coffee, man. We most likely would not have the seat belt/primary offense law today if Fox News had existed at the time it was minted.
The new "conservatism" puts people on the defensive so readily, it's like we need some major deprogramming to have our senses restored.
So now we get to "he who has the gold." In connection to South Dakota, need I even mention a name? If you follow the news, good chance you'll be aware. For those who aren't, the name is that of T. Denny Sanford.
The South Dakota attorney general has determined there is sufficient evidence to move toward prosecuting Sanford on a most untidy matter. Speaking of South Dakota's image issues, merely referencing the "South Dakota attorney general" presents one in spades. Hoo boy. Again, do you follow the news? Maybe you know that Jason Ravnsborg's last name is pronounced "Roundsberg." Now, why would we be so "up" on that?
The attorney general ought to be a pretty anonymous guy. A guy just doing his job in the spirit of public service. Good chance you know about Ravnsborg's misfortunes driving on South Dakota's highways. Like after dark. Why can't we as a society have consensus on how driving is an awesome responsibility and that electronic distractions are impermissible, period.
I'm old enough to remember when we all got along just fine, driving our vehicles and being attentive to using one's left foot to "dim your lights" and then bring them back up. Otherwise, just drive the damn car. Pay attention. Don't drive when sleepy.
Ravnsborg killed someone along the shoulder of a highway at night. He returned the next morning to discover that he had actually hit a human being, a guy carrying a flashlight. Ravnsborg got his butt absolutely saved in terms of not facing a serious legal charge, I mean the kind of charge one might expect when a life was taken.
Such was the restraint shown with charges, he's still the South Dakota AG, despite his notoriety and the fact that Republican governor Kristi Noem - yes, in same political party as him - wants his butt kicked. South Dakota has the "attractive" female governor, according to the CW among the male gender everywhere.
Noem is a partner in spirit with Donald Trump, who I believe to be the ex-president, i.e. the loser, while Republicans everywhere are dragging feet on acknowledging the outcome of the election. It's like pulling teeth. No it's worse than that. "What hath God wrought?" or something like that.
The foot-dragging on dealing with the pandemic defies understanding. It has gotten to the point where the Mississippi governor, who fits the template for 2021 Republicans to a tee, said it's no sweat if a lot of people die, really, because Christians can be assured they'll have eternal life anyway.
First of all, government leadership is supposed to be a secular endeavor. People are free to worship as they please but it's a sphere outside of politics. Maybe that's just the old way of thinking.
The thing I must ask about Sanford now: has he ever shouted from the rooftop, as it were, as I would do if totally innocent: "hey, this is crazy, I cannot imagine how anyone ever suspected I was accessing child porn. It must have been some tech glitch or something."
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| T. Denny Sanford (kvrr) |
Let's bring another name into this mess, that of former South Dakota attorney general Marty Jackley who has said he now wants his old job back. That would be Ravnsborg's. Is this because of the push led by Noem to have Ravnsborg simply mosey on down the road?
So, Jackley would be Sanford's big advocate now. That would be a lawyer's job, to advocate - they do not "judge" their clients.
As for Ravnsborg, consider how this guy really needs friends in high places. And you don't get any higher than where Sanford is. Holy mackerel, he's Scrooge McDuck. Endless wealth.
Why should anyone end up so privileged while so many of us struggle these days with inflation building up etc. Sanford is worth an estimated $2.8 billion. Obscene. Not to mention the stuff that he allegedly views on his computer screen.
Sanford Health is South Dakota's largest employer. But keep in mind this is in a state that is "50th in everything."
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My thoughts for today (Saturday) grow out of increased concern re. covid once again. You may click on permalink:
- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com
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