We have to Stand-up to the bullies!
by State Rep. Trish Ladner
As a society, we have ragged war against a world-wide pandemic and have come out the victors! In South Dakota we are fortunate. We had Governor Kristi Noem in charge. She came to us as a community of South Dakotans and told us we would not be sheltering in place or shutting down our economy. She knew we’d be responsible adults and make allowances for our fellow citizens, ensuring that we would do all we could to safeguard each other and work to keep our small businesses and towns open, healthy, safe, and well.
Other states were not as fortunate as we were. They were mandated and bullied by their governors and later the White House, via executive orders to remain in lockdown and to comply with mask and vaccine mandates without question. As a result, many have experienced depression, isolation, anxiety, financial devastation, and a decline in academics just to name a few. As a society, we have witnessed the escalation of violent cancel culture groups whose goal is to create paralyzing fear amongst the people, in order to control, divide, and silence us. A tactic that has been used throughout history even in the days of the Roman Empire.
Living in South Dakota, we sometimes lose sight of what other Americans are going through and the real challenges they are facing every day. This past week when my husband and I ran into a young couple who were visiting the Black Hills in the hopes of relocating here. They told us that in their metropolitan community, they live in fear every day. If you don’t have a Black Lives Matter sticker on your car, it is assumed that you are not supportive of the movement and you will be targeted. Their employers are now tracking whether or not they have received the vaccine. If not, they will not be allowed to work! They stated that, all they want is to do is to move to a red state and feel safe again. Are they intimidated? Yes! Are they living in fear? Absolutely! This no way for an American to live.
Do you remember as a child, that one guy who was the bully on the playground? Sometimes you just had to take a stand, challenging the dreaded bully in order to stop him and feel safe again. Well, our values as a nation and a society are being bullied and challenged from every side, including the right for us to have a simple conversation with each other. Heaven forbid we agree to disagree. Social media has played a huge role in these changes to our culture because we now have access to the world with the stroke of one key. As an unfortunate consequence, we have cultivated a bunch of keyboard cowboys who can sit home in their basement, posting “opinions” as facts, passing along whatever rhetoric that they want to. We no longer know what to believe, what is fact or what is fiction.
But don’t forget when challenged, the bullies always cower and run away. Together our voice is strong! As a people united, we are resilient. Never, never, forget that we have looked a world-wide pandemic straight in the eyes and have emerged victorious! It’s time to stand up to the bullies around us and help to facilitate change from within. Run for the school board, write your state and federal legislators, or attend your chamber, city council and commissioners’ meeting and give your input. Last, but not least, turn off the noise from social media and TV outlets and pick up a good book or read your favorite column and enjoy a newfound peace.
Own it. Governor Noem should just own it.
Keeping the state open for business would obviously mean better economic numbers during much of 2020. That is true. But most of the states surrounding us did pretty much the same thing. (Nebraska, Iowa, North Dakota, Wyoming and Montana.) Minnesota had more limitations.
So what makes Kristi’s policies different from the rest? Well, the others had the sense to avoid maskless super-spreader events like the Sturgis Rally and the fairs during a pandemic. Noem promoted them. As a result, South Dakota’s Covid numbers rose dramatically over the following months. Higher than all neighboring states.
South Dakota has had 2019 deaths from Covid. How many of those deaths were likely the result of her policies? I looked again and the numbers were disturbing. If South Dakota had the same death rate as North Dakota, we would have lost 218 fewer lives. If we had Nebraska’s rate… 914 of our citizens would still be alive. Wyoming’s rate would have saved 906 lives. Montana…677. Minnesota…827. Iowa…305.
Was it worth it? She can tell us. But the Governor must take credit for all of it.
Just own it.
If you are so fearful why don’t you move? Why put yourself at risk, if that is what you think happened? You would certainly be more comfortable in Michigan with the dictator, Wretched Witless, in charge.
Also, if you are such a seer that you can say that 914 people would be alive today, but for Governor Noem’s leadership, why don’t you play the Powerball or Megamilions, win it, and donate it all to Xi.
Yes, I did predict the rise in cases last July when Noem started encouraging her maskless get-togethers. And it most certainly did happen, didn’t it?
But, by your logic, anybody who’s right about these things… should move to another state. That would leave just you and your ilk. I can’t do that to this beautiful state.
Ilk
The sky is falling predictions you made were nowhere near what actually happened. The total number of deaths in that time frame changed little as people dying of other illness went down. Other categories have grown this year as preventive screenings that would’ve caught some illnesses were way up and far more advanced. Your not as right as your enlarged ego thinks you are. 🙂 Just own it as you say.
I predicted that Noem’s Covid policies would cause a large increase in cases. In mid-July, I told you to “bank on it”.
We went from under a 100 cases a day in July to well over 1000 cases a day in the months that followed, peaking in November. We went from about one death a day to over 20.
I wouldn’t want to acknowledge it either if I were you.
Now you want to change the subject to deaths by other causes. Nice try.
Are the people who attended those events adults? Did anyone force them to attend those events under threat? Is it a fair statement that anyone attending those events did so because they wanted to and exercised their own free will? It really chaps your backside that Governor Noem let adults be adults.
The 2,019 South Dakotan’s who died did not have to attend the Sturgis Rally or the fairs. I am sure that very few of them did.
But… it’s a virus. That’s right – a virus. Not a hard concept to grasp.
Those events went against sound medical advice and they spread the virus. They passed it along to those who could not withstand it and… they died. Many didn’t have to.
With rights come responsibilities.
You got the tracking data to back up your claim? Not what you feel, not speculation, not what the omniscient elk “thinks”, but no kidding tracking data. Such as, John Doe went to this event and became infected and then went back home and transmitted the virus to this number of people. Do you have that study….let’s see it. If not then (fill in this blank).
If you don’t think that her large events without masks and distancing had an impact, just how do you think that our governor managed to achieve the title… of worst Covid state in the region?
Wow….that’s a good data set! I guess we all should just accept the almighty elk’s feelings as gospel truth.
Actually, Steve H… if you look at SAVI Covid time-lapse imagery, you will see that the late fall surge started right here. Within a five hundred mile radius of Sturgis.
Just like you’d expect, it took about six weeks after Sturgis and the fairs to build to a significant surge. Pay close attention to the period from October 1st to Mid-November.
Take a look, Steve. Then you can start on your next excuse for Noem’s tragic results.
She bragged on national TV that she did “everything wrong”. She sure did.
OK I’ll play….using your logic. Let’s take that 500 mile radius that you are claiming was the effected area of the “surge” from the bike rally. That 500 mile radius includes or comes close to including Denver, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Omaha. Now let’s take that 500 mile hypothetical and continue on from these respective cities and see where that takes the line…..Portland, Seattle, Detroit, St Louis, etc. And what was going on in all of these cities throughout the summer….the “peaceful protests” that had thousands gathering, and many, many of those protesters came in from out-of-state areas to join. I don’t have any data to prove this but is it beyond the realm of possibilities that these travelling protestors contributed just as much to the “surge”? I think its a fair possibility to consider what was going on in the various areas of the country in a 500 mile radius on the other side of your line as potential contributing factors to your “surge”.
And as far as Governor Noem “bragging about doing everything wrong”….she was being sarcastic.
I agree with Steve, condoms don’t work and neither do masks. We need more freedom!
Look the oppression of White Protestants is real. Be afraid of the cities. Of people that don’t look like us. Be afraid. Love America. The most special place chosen by God. For us.
“They told us that in their metropolitan community, they live in fear every day. If you don’t have a Black Lives Matter sticker on your car, it is assumed that you are not supportive of the movement and you will be targeted.”
You think that’s bad. I know a liberal in Harding County.
“… when challenged, the bullies always cower and run away.”
More people need to challenge the bully that currently has a hold on our Republican Party.
And who would that be, in your opinion?
Dakota Free Press aka the “Out of State Name Caller Blog” is the perfect example of basement dwelling bullies who spend their days toking up and being vile. Yesterday it was
Porter Lansing
2021-06-03
Lets duct tape grudz in a wet sheet and drop him off on main street, in White Clay.
He needs more respect for the cultural overlords of the prairie.
Not long ago it was Crazy Larry Kurtz http://dakotawarcollege.com/serial-troll-given-the-boot-from-another-south-dakota-web-site-someone-trying-to-clean-up-his-act-for-the-election/
Well-done, Rep. Ladner. Are you open to Q & A?
Would you consider Governor Noem to have been bullied when considering her decision on HB 1217?
Ilk
The sky is falling predictions you made were nowhere near what actually happened. The total number of deaths in that time frame changed little as people dying of other illness went down. Other categories have grown this year as preventive screenings that would’ve caught some illnesses were way up and far more advanced. Your not as right as your enlarged ego thinks you are. 🙂 Just own it as you say.
See above… elk at 3:23 pm
You might be thinking that it isn’t fair to compare our death rate to those of the surrounding states. You may be right.
While we are talking about a virus that was invited here by Noem’s huge maskless events, we cannot expect our increase in cases to have occurred in a vacuum. We, without a doubt, caused the cases in Nebraska to increase. Minnesota, Iowa and Wyoming too. (And they know it.)
So, comparing our numbers to theirs isn’t really fair. To them.
There is a lot of doubt about the assertions you make here. Nebraska’s numbers over the course of the pandemic have had little or no relation to South Dakota’s, and that state’s own mismanagement of policy makes it as likely that they drove up South Dakota’s numbers at times, by your logic.
When Kristi said this on Fox News last summer… did you have “a lot of doubt”… optigrab?
“According to the national experts, we did everything wrong.” Kristi Noem.
That was her policy on Covid. Doing everything wrong. (In her own words.)
Elk, your use of macro numbers is deceiving and your assertion there were certain events which led to the deaths is unsupported by science and facts.
Our high number of deaths is directly related to the reality we had 5,000 cases among people over 80 years old. Our cases and related deaths of those under 60 is actually lower than the national and regional norm (which debunks your super spreader thesis on its face).
Why did we have such a number of cases among those so old? Figure that out and your blame of Noem goes away and is an indictment of others in our state.
Remember the game Twister. Whenever you spout statistics that you then try to bend to your will, you remind me of Twister.
We are surrounded by states with lower death rates. All of them are lower. Some almost half the rate of South Dakota. The reason is obvious. Twist away, Troy.
I am not surprised by your answer. You repeatedly show yourself to be a person with no real intellectual curiosity.
Intellectual curiosity? You just declare my “macro numbers” deceiving and call yourself an intellectual. There you have it, folks!
Yes, I read your theory. It makes no sense. The fairs and Rally attendees included all age groups.
We have the worst Covid numbers in the region. Noem can own it.
I like this Representative a lot and her common sensed thought process is obviously appreciated and respected.
But I’m still trying to figure out what “ragged” war against anything actually is. Piece by piece? Layer by layer?
LOL 😆
Great article Trish!!!!!
Troy writes: “Why did we have such a number of cases among those so old? Figure that out and your blame of Noem goes away and is an indictment of others in our state.”
Do you think that the over-80 group infected themselves? The younger demographic didn’t spread it? What’s your point?
Exactly how does that exonerate Noem? And who are the “others” you are talking about? Who are you trying to shift blame to?
Elk,
Do some investigating? Ask some critical questions? How can it be we are below norms in all age groups under 70? Was it spread over the entire year or concentrated? Then take those answers to the neck to point. When you know nothing, spouting out just confirms it.
I refuse to do your thinking for you. At some point, you really need to think on your own.
Try looking at race demographics, Troy. You pick and choose your data very conveniently. Some research might inform you on the reason for lower infection rates among young, white populations in places like South Dakota.
I know you don’t want Noem to take responsibility for our terrible numbers. But you are pulling numbers out of thin air, and it isn’t the least bit “intellectual”.
Your lame insults don’t help your cause either.
Elk,
Are you really that dense? I haven’t pulled any numbers anywhere. I am trying to give you some hints on where to start looking into the matter deeper. Yet, you clearly are afraid to look deeper as you are afraid you might prove your preferred thesis to be wrong.
If it is insulting to you to be told you are intellectually lazy when challenged to just a bit of intellectual exertion, you clearly have an inability to survive outside a place where you get hugged, given participation ribbons, and your feet rubbed.
For your information, won’t happen from me. Suck it up buttercup. Just today I borrowed what I hear from a personal trainer when talking to my five year old granddaughter: “I know this is hard but you are my granddaughter and made to do hard things.”
So, what you are saying is that Kristi Noem should… or should not… get a “participation ribbon” for our last place in the region for Covid death rates?
I don’t always follow your thought process. Perhaps I need to wait until you come up with more statistical ferry dust to cover up for her performance.
“Fairy dust”. Of course. Dang computers.
Being below in subgroups but having the trend reverse in aggregate is Simpson’s paradox in action. I would have to check the data to see if that is true here, but that isn’t an uncommon finding.
Simpson’s paradox is not appropriate here as I’m not referencing a trend. I’m referencing a difference in cases by age group in South Dakota and the regional norm and then the case fatality rates.
“I know you don’t want Noem to take responsibility for our terrible numbers. But you are pulling numbers out of thin air, and it isn’t the least bit “intellectual”.”
Do you even read what you are posting? This coming from a guy who is making these claims about how Noem is responsible for the so-called superspreading events causing a rise in cases in neighboring states and you can’t even come up with one….not one single scientific tracking study to prove your claim. In your mind because you think so it must be true.
Noem desperately wants credit for her performance during the pandemic. Unlike you, I am will to give it to her.
Also, there are studies that demonstrate that the Sturgis Rally was a super-spreader event. I think you know that.
Give her the credit she deserves.
Then give us a link to a no-sh## tracking study that proves your claim……not the infamous one that was based on a computer model (fiction).
This ‘guest column’ is a fact free column. You are entitled to your opinions, but you are spreading misinformation
At the beginning of the pandemic, Gov Noem closed schools. Told people not to go to the car races. All of those moves were perfectly correct! Then, as our own Department of Health was reinforcing what was coming out of the Trump Administrations guidelines, Ms Noem decided to politicize a deadly virus (Pro life? Naw)
All of the recommendations that South Dakota’s Dept of Health recommended doing? Ms Noem refused to do. Did things opposite. Remember Smithfield Farms? (Oh boy, South Dakota had bragging rights to having one of this nations first hot spots) The Sturgis Rally? Yeah, that helped spread the virus across this country. We also had bragging rights to having the most infections and deaths, per capita, than any other state in this country. THAT is not a good thing. That is exactly the opposite of pro-life
Thank goodness many jurisdictions and businesses within this state were so appalled by Ms Noem’s lazy and reckless leadership, that they followed Trump’s Admin and South Dakota’s Dept of Health recommendations and either closed businesses, OR, put up very strict restrictions to keep their citizens/customers safe. It is only because of those decisions, South Dakota’s death toll wasn’t higher
Stand up to bullies? Good grief. I never thought in my life that I would see one political party politicize something so bad that it would actually cost people their lives.
This is why me and several members of my family have decided that the GOP no longer represents us. Good stewards of tax payer money? Nope. The governor is showing that out in the open. Following the will of the people? nope. Overturning or dragging feet on the will of the people all of the time. No gov’t overreach? Yeah, about that……. hypocrites.
Gov Noem has embarrassed this state repeatedly, and Ms Ladner applauds her.
‘Meth, We’re On it’…….
Ain’t it the truth?
Another clueless moron