Why is the Cheisman Center attacking the state legislature?

Pat Powers

This video came out from the Chiesman Center for Democracy in the last day or so:

And was accompanied by the following statement:

With a recent poll* stating that most South Dakotans disapprove of the job our state legislature is doing, it’s time for South Dakotans to stand up. When the people are not satisfied, it’s usually because they feel that they are not being heard. But you can join the conversation. Sign a petition and be heard.

Read that here.

Having been supported by and I believe having worked on projects funded by the legislature in the past, I’m a bit surprised that they’re spearheading an effort claiming we need to sign all the petitions because “most South Dakotans disapprove of the job our state legislature is doing.“

55 thoughts on “Why is the Cheisman Center attacking the state legislature?”

  1. The polling they cite comes from PPP, a Democrat-aligned national polling firm.

    I have spoken with the CEO of Chiesman and the CEO of the company that produced the video and campaign. Working in writing it up now.

    1. If the polls are wrong—-prove it. What in the video do you disagree with? What in it scares you?

      “Working in writing it up now.”?–What? Are you against free speech?

      What the h— is your point?

      1. Mr. Wyland writes things about stuff like that and sells it. That’s why he’s writing it up. Often the stuff he writes is good. I agree with some of it.

    2. Here’s the quick version of the follow-up: Media One Advertising/Marketing in Sioux Falls created the video and website. They claim there was no client other than the Chiesman Center. According to Chiesman, Media One gifted Chiesman with the materials at no charge after they were completed – Chiesman never solicited the materials and did not participate in their creation.

      Media One says the “Join the Conversation” campaign in SD is unrelated to any similarly named organization or campaign, and that Media One paid the production and web hosting costs out of their own budget – no external funds were used.

      Any costs Chiesman incurs will be paid using Chiesman’s own funds – they say there is no donor or grant source other than Media One, and Media One provided the materials, not cash.

      Frankly, I wish Media One had used its own media savvy to announce the campaign, and its “partnership” with Chiesman publicly, and I wish Chiesman had acknowledged publicly (dare I say thanked?) Media One for their gift of the “Join the Conversation” campaign materials Chiesman is now promoting.

      A fuller story will be published soon, either on The Nonprofit Quarterly (NPQ) website or on LinkedIn.

  3. Have not been aware of the organization but most if not all the people interviewed in the video have involved with New Approach South Dakota and Assisted Suicide.

      1. Jaa Dee,

        After visiting with, observing their sales pitch, and reading the claims from NASD and the Assisted Suicide advocates it reminds me of my years of working and building relationships at New & Used Automobile dealerships and unfortunately hearing those few unethical care sales people tell the consumer anything they wanted to hear and say anything to make the sale and those same consumers would later find out they were duped by claims highly exaggerated or just false.

        While I am a strong believer of the ballot initiative here in South Dakota what NASD and Assisted Suicide are pushing is a great example and would face far more scrutiny to separate what the pros, cons, fact verses fiction are since the impact can be more complicated and far reaching and that is using the legislative process rather than the “Step Right on up Folks” snake oil salesman or woman approach. They know that and is why they are using this route.

        1. I asked you a question…. I don’t care about your personal opinions not related to the video and short comment—– What In the video do you disagree with? Where in the video are they “attacking the state legislature, as the heading claimed?

    2. “involved with New Approach South Dakota and Assisted Suicide”– How do you know and what that have to with the point of the video?.

      1. They are liberals pushing a false message…like always

        All these ballot measures are being pushed by liberals and are horrible

  4. Would you people be agreeing with this if the state was controlled by Dems.?

    “With a recent poll* stating that most South Dakotans disapprove of the job our state legislature is doing, it’s time for South Dakotans to stand up. When the people are not satisfied, it’s usually because they feel that they are not being heard. But you can join the conversation. Sign a petition and be heard.”–

    Are you people incapable of reading a petition and deciding if you do or don’t agree with the issue?

    1. That is what the Dems are trying to do take over the state through these ballot measures since they can’t win elections…no we would work harder to win elections finding better candidates, developing solutions to the problems of ou state, raising money, spending time knocking on doors, oh wait the GOP already does that and that is why they win!

      When the people read all 22+ pages of all of these measures I’ll be stunned…it doesn’t happen…sound byte legislation does not work.

      1. ” That is what the Dems are trying to do take over the state through these ballot measures since they can’t win elections ” … and you people will stoop to any un-American tactics to hold that power….. YOU tell me what in the video you disagree with…..can you people not do that? No, you people just hate the idea that other Americans have the same rights as y’all..

  5. The ad doesn’t tell people to read anything, it just tells them to sign petitions. Sure. Go ahead, give your name and address to a complete stranger you met in a parking lot. What could possibly go wrong?

  6. I encourage people to research, ask questions and know exactly what they are signing, before they sign. Just don’t blindly sign anything that put in front of them.

      1. Um, MOST people don’t do that. Someone puts a petition in front of the average person’s nose and gives their speel and thinks it sounds good and signs it.

  7. “The ad doesn’t tell people to read anything”– and a drivers manual doesn’t tell you NOT to drive on the sidewalk……There are some things it is assumed people have the brain cells to know without being told…. guess it doesn’t apply to you.

    Anybody with a petition will have visible ID..”What could possibly go wrong?”… How about you giving ONE example of the scenario you hinted at?

    What the heck is wrong with you people?—–rhetorical, it is obvious.

    “The ad doesn’t tell people to read anything, it just tells them to sign petitions”– schhhheeeezzzeee, that clearly explains how a delusional idiot got elected president.

    1. Here’s a test for you Jaa Dee: sign a petition but put a minor variation in your name, like a middle name you don’t use, something which will not interfere with mail delivery. And then watch the junk mail arrive. And that’s just the beginning.

        1. one of the reasons politicians and advocacy groups like petitions is because they can use the information to create mailing lists. So they can send you junk mail hitting you up for money.
          Same thing with online petitions, they get your email address and flood your inbox.

  9. The only thing which makes any sense is a possible “”rift”” created when the fundraising Legislative BB game for Kids Voting was changed. Tying Legislative respect by SD citizens into a race to the bottom of the Liberal Left Coast loving mandatory State funding of IM appropriations is nothing short of delusional.

    1. ” don’t sign anything and VNOE! “– You people really don’t know how blindly stupid that statement is? Think about it….

  11. There’s some good policy amid all these ballot measures.

    Why would you categorically reject it just because it’s contained in a ballot measure?

    That’s silly. Vote yes on the things that are good; no on the things that aren’t.

    2. Most voters are too stupid to read and understand the measures initiated, and the lying from the libbies on the commercials convinces them. Hence, the only option is to urge the ignorant masses to VNOE!

      1. You said–“Don’t sign anything, and VNOE!” then the comment above—- Thanks for telling us what you really think about these so-called conservatives here….”libbies” think . “”Don’t sign anything, and VNOE!” is stupidity…

  12. Ha, that was a crap video, signing a petition doesn’t equate joining the conversation. Calling one’s Governor, Senators or Legislators actually involves a conversation, that’s what I’d suggest.

    The video most definitely lacked diversity, the actors were all white, that’s now considered racist. And a white man speaking first…tsk, tsk. Most certainly they should’ve showcased a woman…shame on them. /s

    The number of signatures must not be where NASD had hoped.

  13. There have been numerous studies on why people consider “doing something” always better than “doing nothing” even if what they do makes the situation worse. Its studied in business (declining revenue spurs an ill-advised acquisition that bankrupts the company), human relationship (other person gets more distant so one tries to get closer when other person just wanted space so relationship implodes), sports (firing non-playing personnel when team is playing bad), etc.

    In all cases, it is driven ultimately by two psychological phenomenon interacting simultaneously:

    1) Frustration with the status quo but not a clear idea of the solution.

    2) Fear of being criticized for doing nothing about it.

    When you listen to this ad, its message is a clear manifestation of the above described phenomenon. “Join the conversation” could be “just do something.” There is no clarity on what to say.

    Join the Conversation = “Just babble. And, it doesn’t matter if what one says is babble. At least you are babbling.”

    The problem is sometimes the prudent thing is to do nothing, say nothing. Sit, watch, learn, think are all positive in the right time and moment. Unfortunately, this group (a mission which seems pretty vague on their website so I guess I shouldn’t be surprised) seems to be like the proverbial person who can’t stand the quiet or to be still.

    Gandi said something to the effect “Don’t say anything unless you improve upon the silence.” Promoting babble is about as opposite of the advice of Gandi as you can get.

    1. “Just babble. And, it doesn’t matter if what one says is babble. At least you are babbling.”– Good example you gave—–

      “Join the conversation” could be “just do something.” There is no clarity on what to say. “– You need somebody to tell you what to say?

    1. YOU tell me what you disagreed with…. and where was it “attacking the legislature”?—– Every thing in that video could have been said by conservatives, unless they disagree with what was said…. What the h— is the point of having a hiss-fit over something so American as get involved in your government…. YTou people got some problems.

  15. Chiesman isn’t “attacking,” only stating a fact: the results of a poll. Their message seems clear to me. Get involved for and against. The “attacking” question is a sensational slur about a principaled organization. The Republican Party was unwise to make signing a petition a partisan act. I assume Speaker Mickelson didn’t particularly care for it. Yes, people should ask before they sign. Anything, including a credit card agreement.

  16. Bob Mercer‏
    @pierremercer

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    Replying to @larry_kurtz

    Your comment shows why people ban you from their sites.

    5:09 AM – 27 Oct 2017

    1 Like

  17. Who are the board members of the Chiesman Foundation? Maybe those folks should be exposed for their support of these terrible ballot measures.

      1. Wyland— What is your point…again? If the polls are wrong—-prove it. What in the video do you disagree with? What in it scares you? Why does it p— you off?

        1. The video doesn’t anger me at all. I’m interested in who paid for the video; who is behind it. I’ve found out that it’s not Chiesman – they’re just the distributor.

          I have what I like to call a healthy skepticism when I see political advertising and the sourcing isn’t apparent. Especially with so many on the left (and a few on the right) demanding accountability and transparency in politics and campaigns, I’d think honesty in sourcing would be a good thing.

          More to come….

  18. Wow! Ole’ Jaa Dee is certainly fired up! Something like 40% of the posts belong to Jaa. All about wanting to keep a flawed system as it is. Yes, democracy works best when it is closest to the people. This is something that has some historical evidence to prove it in this country. Voters tended to be more informed. However back in those days, not everyone had a vote. Now that there is universal suffrage for people over 18 and citizens and not a felon, people do not take their votes as seriously.
    I do not agree with the idea of VNOE, but I do tend to vote no on most things. I do believe there needs to be some changes in the petition process. It is way to easy to get an initiative on the ballot. I believe a higher threshold makes sense.

  19. JD is insaner than most on this count. Don’t sign anything. If some fellows were down the block having a conversation on robbing the bank and raping the cashiers, would you joint that conversation.

  21. I would think that jaa Dee would rather post on a blog that is more in line with her or his thinking. She isn’t changing any minds or doing anything constructive here.

    1. I agree. I don’t know why Jaa Dee became so unhinged on learning that petitions turn into mailing lists. It’s as obvious as food turns into fat.

  22. Springer,

    I think having alternative thought is a good thing. We don’t have to all be of one mind on any one issue or most issues except for love of country and a desire for the greater good.

    The problem with Jaa Dee is his “contribution” isn’t even closely related to thought. Its angry, irrational, and bigoted. He is a modern day Jacobin.

  23. Anonymous,

    Not sure exactly what you mean by a squish but I’ll assume you are talking about welcoming contrary thoughts so I’ll consider it a compliment. My mind is capable of, considering, researching, analyzing and accepting or rejecting thoughts which conflict with my current views. I understand not all people can handle it and thus only tolerate commentary and thoughts they agree with so I’m grateful for my blessings.

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