Crazy Times

It's almost election time, folks. Want to hear what's going on in South Dakota?

First, our governor, Mike Rounds, is up for re-election. Also defending her seat is our US House Representative Stephanie Herseth. It's possible that you've heard about her, especially where Wikipedia is concerned. That's been an adventure.

What's more alarming, however, is the sheer volume of controversial issues.

Constitutional amendments:

-C: At this point, South Dakota statutes limit marriage to unions between a man and a woman. Amendment C would allow and recognize marriage only between a man and a woman. This would also prohibit the Legislature from allowing or recognizing "civil unions, domestic partnerships or other quasi-marital relationships between two or more persons regardless of sex."

-E: This is known as the "judicial accountability" amendment. The Amendment would allow for those who make judicial decisions to be fined or jailed based on their rulings/decisions, according to rules set forth by a special grand jury.

Initiated measures:

-4: This would allow for the growth, possession, and use of marijuana for medicinal purposes.

-7: This would repeal video lottery. Video lottery is controlled and used by the state as a source of revenue. This is not the first time it has been on the ballot.

Finally, a referred law:

-6: Abortion. From Vote-Smart.org:

Current South Dakota law generally allows a pregnant woman to obtain an abortion during the first 24 weeks of pregnancy. Beyond 24 weeks, abortions may be performed only if necessary to preserve the life or health of the pregnant woman. House Bill 1215 would prohibit any person, at any time, from providing any medicine or other substance to a pregnant woman for the specific purpose of terminating her pregnancy. However, a person may provide a contraception substance to a woman without penalty prior to the time her pregnancy could be determined by conventional medical testing. HB 1215 would also prohibit any person, at any time, from using any instrument or procedure on a pregnant woman for the specific purpose of terminating her pregnancy, unless the person is a licensed physician performing a medical procedure to prevent the death of the pregnant woman. Any person other than the pregnant woman who violates the provisions of HB 1215 would commit a felony.

Whew. There are also some tax issues that I simply did NOT want to get into (including a tobacco tax). The biggest one, at least on this end of the state, has been Referred Law 6. Pro-life and pro-choice activists have been present on campus the last couple of days; who knew Tech would ever be a hot spot for anything political?

Honestly? I generally don't agree with the tactics of political groups -- including the ones who I tend to side with -- and this has not been an exception. I am, however, glad that people are getting stirred up about important issues. This is not a time for complacency or apathy.

So -- how do you, my faithful readers, see things?


It seems its always the crazy times
You find you'll wake up and realize
It takes more than your saline eyes
To make things right
-Jars of Clay, "Crazy Times," from Much Afraid