Broadcaster Press 5 August 25, 2015 www.broadcasteronline.com Direct Democracy Approaching Historic Level for 2016 Election Good Times At The South Dakota State Fair A COLUMN BY GOV. DENNIS DAUGAARD Classes are beginning again, football season will soon be underway and South Dakota’s favorite end-ofsummer event is coming up – the South Dakota State Fair, held Sept. 3 through Sept. 7 in BY BOB MERCER Huron. State Capitol Bureau The State Fair has a proud history of educating children (and their parents) about how PIERRE – Here is the our farmers and ranchers proimmediate question about duce food. Whether it’s watchthe wild multitude of petitions circulating in South ing a livestock show, getting “up close and personal” with Dakota proposing changes to the state constitution and a calf or lamb, sitting in the seat of a new combine or tracto state laws. tor, asking an exhibitor what Is there enough ink? At least 235,801 valid signatures their goats eat, or learning Mrs. Olson’s secret for groware needed. ing massive pumpkins, there The latest two cleared are a host of opportunities for the attorney general’s desk inspiring and educating young Wednesday. We stood at people about the wonders of three measures already agriculture. qualified for the November Of course, the State Fair 2016 ballot… is located in Huron, but for a Plus five petitions seeking few days each year, the fairsignatures for initiated grounds become a community laws… unto itself. Be sure to stop at the FFA Animal Nursery and And four petitions ask state officers how their seeking signatures year of service is going. Take for constitutional a walk through the exhibition amendments… halls and chat with 4-H’ers And the latest two, for constitutional amendments, about their projects. Visit with the vendors. Dozens of ready to go. That’s 14 possibilities for families from South Dakota and around the country come next year’s general-election back year after year because ballot for voters to decide. they have such a good time. The last time South And everyone has a story to Dakota had 14 measures share. on the ballot was 1916. The This annual celebration number has reached 10 or wouldn’t be complete without more only five other times. the great fair food, exciting Those were in the elections carnival rides and unique acof 1910, 1914, 1918, 1970 and tivities. Enjoy The Band Perry 2006. concert at the grandstand, try Now here’s the next your luck in the arm wrestling crazy thing. Having so many competition, take your spouse for a twirl in the jitterbug conmeasures on the ballot didn’t equal success. Defeat test, or play a game or two on the midway. No matter your was the most common interest, you’re bound to have result. a good time. In 1910, voters rejected I am proud of our State 10 of the 11. In 1914, they Fair. It’s a one-of-a-kind rejected 10 of the 11 – celebration of agriculture and also refused to call a and community. I hope you constitutional convention. will mark the dates on your In 1916, voters approved calendar and make plans to four but killed the other 10. come out for at least one day. One that won approval was It’s worth the trip. creation of the rural-credit system, which quickly went bankrupt but took decades to pay off the debt. The 1918 election saw voters saying yes a lot. They approved 12 of 13 measures. Women received the right to vote. A graduated income tax passed. State government received authority to sell cement, coal and hail insurance, and to build and operate grain elevators and warehouses, and to get into the flour milling and meat packing businesses. Women’s suffrage is the only one of those activities in which South Dakota still engages. In the 1970 election, only four of the 11 measures passed. One inserted the clause in the state constitution providing for limited legalized gambling. That was more than a decade before the South Dakota Lottery, Deadwood casinos and video lottery came along. The nay tended to prevail in the 2006 election as well. Of 11 measures, three won approval. One was a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage; the U.S. Supreme Court has since decided differently. Another increased the taxes on tobacco. And a third that passed in 2006 prohibited personal use of state-owned aircraft, a response to the frequent flying for non-official use by then-Gov. Mike Rounds. Looking at the past 10 years, there were more defeats than victories for ballot measures. The 2008 score was one approval and six losses. In 2010 it was two and two. For 2012 two wins and four defeats. In 2014 three wins. Only three measures are on the 2016 ballot so far. One of them – a constitutional amendment proposed by Rep. Mark Mickelson dealing with technical institutes and the Board of Regents – might need further amending in the 2016 session. Not clear how that happens. That leaves 11 petition measures still needing signatures. Petitioned measures topped five only twice. There were six that made the ballot in 1988 and nine that made it in 2006. And don’t forget: You must be registered to vote in South Dakota before you sign. Dave Says DON’T ARGUE ABOUT IT Dear Dave, My wife and I really got serious about your plan. We even sold our house to become completely debt-free. Now, we’re trying to help my mom and dad. They liked your plan at first, and even taught Financial Peace University (FPU) at their church. Then, everything changed. They went out and leased a new car, bought another one on payments, and picked up a bunch of credit cards. They’re trying to tell us that you really do this stuff too. How can we help them? - Michael Dear Michael, What you’re describing is so inconsistent it’s hard to grasp. I mean, how do you go teach FPU and then come back and claim Dave uses credit cards and does all those other dumb things? How do you do that then go lease a car and buy a new car and argue against what you’ve been teaching in a class? I don’t know. But I do know that I don’t mess with any of that stuff! They’re not really asking for your opinion. So, I don’t think they can be helped until there’s some kind of an opening. It’s like the old adage says: “Those convinced against their will are of the same opinion still.” I’d just tell them you’re on different pages about this stuff. Let them know you love them, but that you’re in complete disagreement on this topic and you’re not going to argue about it with them. There are always things you disagree about in families from time to time. But the truth is they went on a financial bender. When they wake up with a hangover, you might be able to help them, but right now they’re drunk. They’re financially drunk. They’re buying everything in sight, and they’re rationalizing it and justifying it. Just pray for them, love them, and be in their lives. Continue to do what’s smart, and try to avoid arguments. See where it goes from there. Maybe, when they sober up financially, they’ll ask for some help. —Dave DUE DILIGENCE Dear Dave, I own a small business specializing in cell phone repair. Sometimes I buy phones and parts on eBay. I can make sure the phones are not stolen by running a check on the serial numbers. However, I cannot be certain about the individual parts. Is there a way I can ensure I’m not dealing with stolen parts? Gordan Dear Gordan, I would try to deal only with reputable sellers. eBay, I believe, has a ratings system and you have power sellers and so forth. Try to find someone who has a steady stream of cell phone parts, someone who’s a reputable, long-time seller and doesn’t appear to be a fence. eBay doesn’t tolerate that kind of stuff if they can find it. I would also do a reasonable amount of due diligence in terms of research. But at the end of the day, you can’t completely guard against that unless it’s a serial-numbered item. I wouldn’t say never buy anything on places like eBay, but I would try to use some common sense and judgment. I used to say I had a bad gut feeling. Then, a pastor friend of mine told me not to call the Holy Spirit a gut. It’s not a gut feeling; it’s God’s spirit — listen! —Dave * Dave Ramsey is America’s trusted voice on money and business. He has authored five New York Times best-selling books. The Dave Ramsey Show is heard by more than 8.5 million listeners each week on more than 550 radio stations. Dave’s latest project, EveryDollar, provides a free online budget tool. Follow Dave on Twitter at @DaveRamsey and on the web at daveramsey.com. Early September Events: Technically Speaking, an open lab format in which a selection of general tech topics will be covered each week on Tuesdays, 10:30 am – Noon Please call the library at 677.7060, or stop by the Circulation Desk to register. Sept. 1st – E-books/Audiobooks Artists & Authors 1st Tuesday of each month (Sept. - Dec.) at 7pm Tuesday, Sept. 1st Patti Roberts Pizzuto, Visual Artist Tech Hour, one-on-one sessions with our Tech Assistant, or other staff, who are available to answer your tech questions every Friday from 10:30 am – Noon. It is recommended that you call us at 677.7060, or stop by our Circulation Desk to make an appointment. 18 Church St Vermillion 677-7060 2-BEDROOM RANCH STYLE HOME AT ABSOLUTE AUCTION 1992 BUICK REGAL – ARIENS SNOWBLOWER APPLIANCES - ANTIQUES – HOUSEHOLD As I am moving to the Salem Home, I will offer my home and personal property for sale at ABSOLUTE auction located at 548 S. Poplar Ave. Freeman, SD on: TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 8TH 4:00 P.M. LEGAL: Lot 7 and the North 2’ of Lot 8, Block 6, John Gross 1st-6th Addition city of Freeman, Hutchinson County, South Dakota. • 1952 Ranch Style 2 bedroom home with 776 sq ft on the main floor. Full unfinished dry basement, attached 16 X 22 garage, move in ready condition. • 52 X 142 lot with mature trees, Shingles installed in 2010, vinyl siding, NG furnace with central air, birch cabinetry, extremely clean and neat. • Annual Taxes $623.72 and the current Assessed Value is $30,450.00. • Pictures, room sizes, and property disclosure available in the buyers packet. TO INSPECT THE HOME: You may contact the auctioneers at 800-251-3111 to set-up a private showing or you may visit www.wiemanauction.com for pictures and a buyers packet or call auctioneers and packets can be mailed out. TERMS: Cash sale with 15% (non-refundable) down payment auction day with the balance on or before October 8th, 2015. Warranty deed to be granted with the cost of title insurance split 50-50 between buyer and seller. Taxes to be prorated to the date of possession. Come check out a very clean, move in ready home that sells at ABSOLLUTE auction. JESSIE GROSS –OWNER Wieman Land & Auction Co. Inc. Marion, SD 800-251-3111 Rich & Gary Wieman Brokers Dale Strasser Closing Attorney 925-7745 Druin Graduates Basic Training U.S. Air National Guard Airman 1st Class Austin D. Druin graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas. The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness and basic warfare principles and skills. After Basic Training he went on Druin to Advanced Training at Sheppard AFB in Wichita Falls, Texas. Here he graduated from Aerospace Propulsion apprenticeship training on July 30, 2015. Airmen who complete basic training earn four credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force. Druin is the son of Chris and Wade Druin of Volin, S.D. Austin is a 2014 graduate of Vermillion High School, Vermillion and plans to attend USD this coming spring semester. 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