Occupy Rapid City to highlight Miss Representation

Guest post from Occupy Rapid City:
This Saturday, April 21, 2012 at 12:45 pm Occupy Rapid City will walk from Main Street Square to KOTA in order to shine a light on the role of the media in disempowering women. KOTA continues to broadcast Rush Limbaugh in spite of his documented attacks on women. He has repeatedly and infamously referred to any women who are politically active on equality issues as “femi-nazis.” He seems to think that the only appropriate role for women in the 21st Century is to remain barefoot and pregnant.
Not only does KOTA continue to broadcast Rush Limbaugh, but it also aligns itself with the one percent corporate interests in this country, rather than the ninety-nine percent of the rest of the population. The more general role of the corporate owned and controlled media locally and nationally in marginalizing and disempowering women was exposed in a recent showing in Rapid City of Miss Representation. This film highlighted the many ways that women are sexualized and distorted on a daily basis in our media culture. It is a documentary film by Jennifer Siebel Newsom and features interviews with Condaleezza Rice, Katie Couric, Nancy Pelosi, Gloria Steinem, Geena Davis, Rachel Maddow, Margeret Cho, and Rosario Dawson. It documents how the media only wants to focus on trivial and sexualized aspects of women, instead of having an honest discourse on the issues that women are raising. One example in the film was the media’s focus on Sarah Palin’s legs and physical appearance instead of the substance of her political stances on the issues.
The recent local showing of this film was sponsored by PROJECT RESPECT.ORG, an organization that “works to combat sexual and gender based violence amongst South Dakota’s Native American youth by promoting healthy, responsible and respectful relationships.”
Proceeds from the event went to WAVI-Working Against Violence, Inc., an organization that “works to create a community free of domestic abuse and sexual assault through advocacy, education and support services.”


The following statement is by Jim Peterson of Occupy Rapid City:
As you may or may not be aware, the Occupy Rapid City group has weekly demonstrations every Saturday, beginning at noon at Main Street Square. The overarching theme is always corporate control of every facet of our lives, but a weekly emphasis is chosen based on a timely issue currently in the limelight. This Saturday, April 21, we will try to bring to the attention of the public/media the concerns depicted in the recently shown movie Miss Representation. More specifically we will try and connect the dots between the media and the objectification and degradation of women. We will meet as usual at the Square, at noon, with appropriate signs and then around 12:45 walk the two blocks to the KOTA studio to once again shine a light on Rush Limbaugh’s disgusting behavior, vis-à-vis women. The previous demonstration at KOTA was an appropriate response to a specific episode, but the bigger issues pointed out by Miss Representation need to be addressed also.
We would encourage every woman you know (and men !!) to join us for an hour or so this Saturday. The reality is that one short demonstration is not going to affect significant change, which is why Occupy groups step up continuously…. PLEASE take the time to join us and encourage all your friends and group members to do likewise. Signage which speaks to the points raised in the Miss Representation film would be most helpful and appropriate. If anyone has any questions have them call me at (605) 342-6245. Thanks for all that you do to make our community a better place……..Jim Petersen
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For More Information:
Mary Ellen Uptain 605.341.0724
Jim Peterson 605.342.6245
Occupy Rapid City occupyrapidcity.org

BAD BILLBOARD BILL Guest Editorial

GOVERNOR DAUGAARD; PLEASE VETO SB-157

By Tom Katus*

The BAD BILLBOARD BILL, SB 157 has passed and will go into law.  The vote:  42 to 26.  It took 10 BILLBOARD Lobbyists, being paid tens of thousands of dollars by the BIG BILLBOARD CORPORATIONS to get this vote!  We had 0 dollars and the people to represent.  You now know what runs your State Government!

A sad day for the citizens of South Dakota, and local control of its municipalities and counties...

--Lisa Modrick

Scenic Rapid City Committee, Inc.

SD LEGISLATURE BOUGHT BY SIGN COMPANIES

-- Sign at Occupy Rapid City Rally, March 3rd.

The people of Rapid City and West River are livid about the majority of East River’s Legislators’ arrogance to override a local initiative, for which scores of us circulated petitions to have a vote on billboard control. That vote of 6,000 + was more than 2/3rds majority of the people.  I am certain that citizens of Brookings, Sioux Falls, Aberdeen, Watertown, Mitchell, and Pierre would feel similarly affronted if an initiated measure in their city, securing more than 2/3rds of the vote were overturned by the Legislature.

The undue influence of moneyed interests in the federal government has lead to widespread cynicism of the people and a Congressional approval rating of 11%.  Now the East River majority in the SD Legislature is acting equally irresponsibly and thwarting the will of the people.

We have many divisions in this State, including age, gender, race and partisanism.  However, the greatest division remains the split between East and West River.  When I served in the Senate and when I ran for State Treasurer, my major theme was to work hard to overcome these East/West Divisions and bring ALL South Dakotans together.

Last month, I lead a delegation of Legislative Fellows selected from throughout the US by our State Department to visit Nepal. We spent a week meeting with political leaders and non governmental organizations (NGOs) assisting them with their constitutional review.  Nepal is transitioning from an authoritarian centralized government to a federal democratic system. I was asked to address their National Lawyers Association, on behalf of our group, on the US Constitutional review process culminating at Independence Hall in Philadelphia in July, 1789.  I stressed that perhaps the greatest strength of our federal system is extensive LOCAL CONTROL.  A fellow delegate who is a Councilman from Concord, New Hampshire reinforced this view.  The Nepalese were very impressed with LOCAL CONTROL, and are hopeful they can institute it in their country.

Thus, it is particularly disheartening to return to SD to find that a majority of our East River Legislators has overturned the people's will.   Governor Daugaard has made some excellent strides in reaching out to ALL our people. His positive decisions on Valhalla and the Black Hills Playhouse are commendable. Vetoing this onerous legislation, would certainly reinforce his strength in the Republican Heartland of West River.  While such a stance may irritate the deep pocket sign companies, it will definitely make him more popular with 6,000+ Rapid City voters and the tourism industry. Tourism has much greater economic impact on the State than three wealthy sign companies and their 10 paid lobbyists!.

 But regardless of the politics of any such decision, a veto would be the right thing for ALL the people of South Dakota.  I am hopeful that he will once again rise above politics and do the right thing. I urge Governor Daugaard to veto SB 157.  I am confident that we would have sufficient strength in the SD House of Representatives to sustain his veto.

*********

Tom Katus served as a State Senator (2007-08), is a member of Scenic Rapid City and Occupy Rapid City. 

SOUTH DAKOTA ELECTED OFFICIALS SUPPORT GOLIATH WHILE CITIZENS SUPPORT DAVID

The following guest post is a public news release:

SOUTH DAKOTA ELECTED OFFICIALS SUPPORT GOLIATH

WHILE CITIZENS SUPPORT DAVID

Citizen Protest Against Private Foreign Companies Use of Eminent Domain

(Rapid City, SD) South Dakota elected officials including Senator Thune, Representative Noem, Governor Daugaard, and the SD Legislature continue to support TransCanada, a foreign corporation, over South Dakota landowners. Even after the Presidential permit for the proposed Keystone XL pipeline has been denied, TransCanada continues to move forward with eminent domain court proceedings against local landowners.

This Saturday, February 25, 2012 at noon, citizens of South Dakota will come together at Main Street Square in downtown Rapid City to protest TransCanada’s continued bullying of landowners and our elected officials who continue to repeat false statements about the proposed project. Citizens will speak up against their elected officials ignoring their constituents. Members of groups supporting this action include Occupy Rapid City, Dakota Rural Action, and SD Peace and Justice. We believe the Davids of our country should be represented when the Goliaths, like TransCanada, do not play fair.

While a construction project will bring short-term jobs, long-term growth for SD depends upon the health of our soil and water and the families who have spent their lives as stewards of these resources. Why would private property rights be given away to a foreign company that has not proven they can care for the land, its resources, and water?

Dakota Rural Action, a grassroots organizing non-profit, recently introduced HB 1111 into SD Legislation. This bill aims to create an even playing field for both landowners and private organizations and define a clear process for good faith negotiations where eminent domain is used as a last resort in the development of railroads and large transmission pipelines for hydrocarbons. Unfortunately, the bill failed on the House floor last week with a 35 to 35 reconsideration vote.

“According to The New York Times, the company has at least 34 eminent domain actions against landowners in Texas, and 22 in South Dakota.2 And their threats to landowners in Nebraska3 helped spark massive public opposition and a special legislative session that were key in the decision to consider a different route.” -Credo Action

South Dakota landowners have proven and earned their right to private property rights over multiple generations through their responsible stewardship. Why are we letting the Goliaths continue with condemnation proceedings on a project that offers little public benefit? 

For More Information:

Clay and Mary Ellen Uptain

Occupy Rapid City

605.341.0724

dcu777@rushmore.com

occupyrapidcity.org

Jessica Miller

Dakota Rural Action

605.716.2200

jessicam@dakotarural.org

dakotarural.org

Jim Peterson

SD Peace & Justice

petersen100@cs.com

1. "Keystone XL Pipeline: Texas Farmer Wins Temporary Restraining Order Against TransCanada," Huffington Post, February 14, 2012
2. "Eminent Domain Fight Has a Canadian Twist," New York Times, October 17th, 2011
3. "TransCanada Keystone XL Eminent Domain Threat Letter ," Dirty Oil Sands
4. "Texans rally against Keystone XL oil pipeline easement," LA Times, February 17, 2012

It's a case of "kill the messenger"

Guest editorial

            Few people will deny the U.S. faces a serious economic crisis, an economic

Waterloo if you will. Yet I'm astonished where our letter writers and columnists place the blame.  One thing is certain: if the only advice a noted Ph.D. in economics has to offer Congress, the president, and the public is a silly, asinine fairy tale about 10 beer drinkers, then we as a nation are in serious trouble. No less a personage than Warren Buffet -- the oracle of Omaha and the second wealthiest capitalist in the U.S. -- has bluntly told Congress, "The rich should pay more." He used himself and his own employees as an example, clearly showing how he paid a lower percentage rate on his millions of income than his employees do on their monthly salary. If Congress and Ph.D. economic professors ignore Warren Buffett, don't blame beer drinkers.

            In the November 17 issue of Western Ag Reporter, every other letter writer or columnist gave environmentalists or the Occupy Wall Street movement a whack. Why? Was it tree huggers or was it Paul Volker, chairman of the Federal Reserve, who raised interest rates to 21% in the 1980s, resulting in an economic crisis in rural America?  Who was President of the U.S. when the E.P.A. was created and the clean air and clean water acts passed... socialist Adolph Hitler or Republican Richard Nixon?  Was it the Occupiers or the Banksters that created the housing bubble that ultimately crashed, creating a global crisis?

            After the 1929 crash and depression, numerous restrictions were placed on Wall Street to prevent a re-occurrence. Who removed those public safe guards.. the occupiers or Congress? The power of eminent domain to take private property was granted to corporations. Who changed the rules and constitution? Occupiers or Supreme Court?

Who robbed the Social Security trust fund and left only IOUs and a pending crisis? Occupiers or Congress?  Was it the Occupiers or Congress that negotiated the Free Trade agreements that gutted U.S. manufacturing and exported 10 million jobs to third-world slave labor? Was it a tree hugger or a federal judge who voided a billion-dollar jury verdict in favor of U.S. cattlemen? The ceaseless flow of 35 million illegals have overwhelmed our schools, hospitals, and welfare agencies and spawned unprecedented drug violence. Who condones and even encourages and exploits this illegal flow? Corporate hogs, dairy, poultry, meat packers, and fruit and vegetable growers or the Occupy Wall Street protesters?

            I haven't made a personal inspection of the Occupiers so I can't speak with authority on their lack of cleanliness as some have, but I view them as analogous to canaries in the coalmine. I do know that something is vitally wrong with our nation and that neither Congress nor our President is willing to take other than divisive political actions.

            When 30 major corporations can avoid paying taxes for seven years, when innumerable corporate CEOs like Lowell McAdam of Verizon draw pay of $55,000 per day (yes, per day!), when we have thousands of soldiers stationed in Germany and Japan 65 years after the end of WW II, then something is wrong. Turn off your TV and learn what our real problems are and who's causing them. By the way, what book commanded us to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, care for the widows and orphans, and love our neighbor as ourselves? The left wing, socialist Occupiers handbook or the Holy Bible?

                                                                   Stephen Anderson

                                                                   Alma, KS