South Dakota Rant - And Not at South Dakota

[affreca]

As I write, lawnchair prepares a foray into South Dakota politics. Well, helping to take over hosting a site devoted to repealing food tax. Giggle.


Ok, back to the abortion thingy and bloody fucking coasty liberals. I really dislike this classification of South Dakota as a full of "Fundamentalist Jesus-freak types". Spend some time in my home state before you push that load. Yes, we've got our "Fundamentalist Jesus-freak types", but compared to Kansas? The south? New York? This is the US suckers. This impression of red state vs. blue state is limited. South Dakota has two out of three congresspeople Dems. Yes, Daschle was an idiot, but he was ours. We're still home to McGovern.

I blame it on population. Most people don't have a sense of scale. South Dakota is big in area, but it isn't that populus, 46th in the nation. .75 million is a big number, but compared to most other states it is tiny. So politics is different, and quicker to move to extremes. That's why big, empty states were beds of communism early last century. It's why a bunch of deaf people are building a speech free town off I-90. It's why Kansas is on the evolution/ID pendulum.

Ok. Hopefully out of system, so the next "South Dakota owes this country an apology" LJ entry or comment I see doesn't get flamed.

Oh, and I think in the end it will be good. It'll be close, but I think this one still will get shot down in the S.C. And hopefully will shed some more light on the fact the state only has 1 clinic already in the end of the state, and has to bring in doctors to perform abortions. Oh, and has a 24 hour waiting period. That's the stuff we need to be worried about, the conservatives gradual eating away at abortion rights.

South Dakota liberals, don't give up. This lost daughter is still proud of her heritage. I just wish I could vote there and help the fight. I will drive up for protests.

Comments

[ninja-tech.livejournal.com]

Amen, sister! Part of why I find it so angering is because I could hardly belief that "my" state would pass something so....conservative. I have always found a great deal of open and fair minded people in S.D. I have been spoiled by living in a liberal state the past 8 years, but I still feel like I learned my liberality (if that's a word) from my S.D. up-bringing.

[affreca.livejournal.com]

I also am trying to make myself accept that I did not grow up in a normal South Dakota town, but a college town.

[ninja-tech.livejournal.com]

That is true. I forget that universities usually bring liberal thinking to a community (unless they are private, religious colleges that is...).