SOUTH DAKOTA STRAIGHT TALK

Announcement last week of the nominees for the Academy Awards provides the opportunity to post on two subjects. For a long while I have wanted to tell about the magical place that was Fort Worth, Texas and R. L. Paschal High School in the 1950s and 1960s. Fort Worth and Paschal are a natural segue to what I believe are the best solutions to many problems in our Country and our culture.

Most people have pride in their school and feel a strong attachment to theirs and their upbringing. Many times I am overly nostalgic but I feel no less connected to Fort Worth and Paschal. My Grandmother, Father, Wife, Brother and Sister in Law are all graduates. While I was not anywhere even close to being an average student, I did learn many life lessons there.

The culture at Paschal did one thing and it did it really well. Paschal made good citizens. They did this by focusing on teaching the importance of and providing a good education. Panthers also learned that reward fosters achievement and success.

Success, achievement, and reward bring me back to the Oscars. T Bone Burnett is one of Paschal’s most well known alums. Last week T Bone was nominated for co composing the music and lyrics for the Academy Award for Original Song, “The Weary Kind” from the movie “Crazy Heart.” This is not T Bone’s first Oscar nomination. He was nominated in 2002 with Elvis Costello for “The Scarlet Tide” in the film “Cold Mountain.” “The Weary Kind” has a great chance to win as it has already won a Golden Globe this year.

T Bone was a year behind me and was in my wife Susan’s class. He was a tall lanky kid who even then was called T Bone though his school name was Terry Burnett. A little research shows that his given name is Joseph Henry Burnett.

(Just a little more on T Bone’s success) He has won 10 Grammy Awards, produced his first record in 1965 the year he graduated from Paschal, and in 1975 and 1976 he played guitar and toured with Bob Dylan’s Rolling Thunder Revue. T Bone has many accomplishments both as a Performer, Songwriter and Producer. Check out his Bio.

Paschal has many other famous graduates. Among them are Captain Alan Bean (the 4^th man to walk on the moon), Dr. Frank Ryan (NFL quarterback for the Cleveland Browns who led the Browns to their last championship in 1964), Bill Owens (former Republican Governor of Colorado), Charles Tandy (Entrepreneur and CEO of Tandy Corporation later Radio Shack), Dan Jenkins (Author and Sportswriter), Ben Hogan, Martin Frost (Congressman and Chairman of the U S House Democratic Caucus and now FOX News Commentator).

Sidebar on Dr. Ryan- Ryan is former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s favorite professional player and holds a PhD from Rice University. After his distinguished NFL career, Dr. Ryan was the Director of Information Services for the U S House of Representatives where he established their first electronic voting system there. He later served as athletic director at Yale University.  Ryan’s career numbers are 1,090 completions in 2,133 attempts for 16,044 yards, and 149 touchdowns. Ryan rushed for 1,358 yards and six touchdowns on 310 carries. From my own class Greg Pipes became a consensus First Team All American at Baylor in football. A look at Greg speaks again to the kind of place Paschal was (is). Ryan and Pipes are not the typical jocks you see today. They were true student athletes.

Those are the famous and near famous. Certainly times were different. My classmates were the daughters and sons of World War II veterans. Hard work and hard play were the norms in Fort Worth. People went to Church. Neighbors looked after each other. Success was expected.  Overwhelmingly we were middle class but with strong aspirations to be upwardly mobile and economically successful and wanting to enjoy the fruits of our labor. There was little if any expectation that the government should provide entitlements or that the fruits of hard work should be redistributed. To achieve this Citizens demanded and expected good schools that promoted the work ethic and self reliance.

More pride and nostalgia – The overwhelmingly large majority of my classmates represent the large spectrum of occupations. Professionals – doctors, lawyers, engineers, car dealers, real estate developers and sales persons, many teachers., business executives, artists, gospel singers, clergy, counselors, bankers, and homemakers. Many classmates served in the Armed Forces, many in Southeast Asia. Several gave their lives for their Country.  

A few very successful classmates I would note (and am aware of) – a heart surgeon who was a pioneer in heart bypass and artificial transplant surgery, the current dean of the graduate school at Princeton University, and  the Dean of the School of Divinity at Wake Forrest University. Those may have been the stars but we had many great people who all have been successful in so many ways.

My classmates and I lived in a time where Americans believed life would be better for our Children. I am not certain our children are as optimistic for their progeny.

That’s enough looking back for now. The points I want to reiterate is that and educated citizenry improves everyone’s quality of life and rewarding achievement is critical. What makes America great is equality of opportunity not equality of outcome.

I will post again on Education and Rewarding innovation and hard work.

Finally don’t miss “Crazy Heart” while it is still on the Big Screen. Jeff Bridges deserves to finally win his little gold man and Maggie Gyllenhaal probably has a shot at an Oscar for best Supporting Actress. She was marvelous. You will never forget Bad Blake. To Be Sure T Bone will finally pick up his Oscar too.

Hail Dear Old Paschal! – I don’t miss you nearly as much as I appreciate you.



The “Argus Leader” this morning had a front page story about a Legislative Bill being introduced by Senator Dan Ahlers and Representative Todd Schleckeway that would substantially lower the requirements to pass a bond issue by local units of government.

Current law provides that 60% of voters in a bond issue election must approve. Senate Bill 146 of it becomes law would lower the approval percentage to 50% provided that a majority (50%) participated in the election.

Changing the current requirements would change long standing conservative governance in South Dakota. The very important yet simple reason there is a 60% requirement is that future taxpayers are being taxed without having a say in the election. Worth noting the reason and logic for the higher adoption requirement was not mentioned in the “Argus Leader” story. Bond issues can be for 20 years or longer.

In a manner bond issues could be characterize it as Taxation without Representation.

I am always troubled when Bills like this one are introduced because of a local problem. The 60% threshold is not a Statewide problem. If the law is changed to address a parochial need, it affects the entire State. Also troubling is the effect of changing the law may make it easier to pass local bond issues. This is not Conservative.

There seems to be no pressing or emergency need anywhere in South Dakota that warrants any change at this time. The higher Standard is Conservative fiscal policy and appropriate.



How sad – Francis Asbury Tarkenton or as Howard cosell used to call him, “Sir Francis” Tarkenton cannot accept the fact that Bret Favre’s is more talented and just might become more loved by Minnesota Vikings fans than Tarkenton.

Sidebar - Tarkenton was a talented QB and was well known for being perhaps the best out of pocket scrambler of all times. In the ‘60s and ‘70s I was interested in Pro Football. I am (as I like to call them) an “Old” Dallas cowboys fan. That would be Tom Landry’s cowboys - Dandy Don Meredith, Roger the Dodger Staubach, Bullet Bob Hayes, and Bob Lilly. My interest in Pro Sports disappeared after JJ bought the Boys. About 4 years ago I peripherally started paying attention again, because I was reading Big Mike Knudson’s Blog – Skol Vikes. When Brett Favre’s joined the Vikes I began watching NFL again, at least the Vikings.

Sour Grapes Tarkenton reiterated last week that even though he thought Favre was having a good year (You Think?) he was still angry that Favre returned and one can assume were successful and might return to the Super Bowl. Referring back to Tarkenton’s remarks last May when he first popped off – “I kind of hope it happens (referring to the possibility Favre would join the Vikes), so he can fail.”

Tarkenton’s and the Vikings took 3 trips to the Super Bowl, lost all 3 and proved they were perennially “Next Year’s champions.” Favre’s outcome may be different and this is what is bugging Franny. If you watched and listened at all to Brett this season, besides watching grand performances and seeing him throw the ball like someone half his age is a LEADER. He shares the credit. He is enthusiastic, shows affection for the entire team especially his receivers, and both his offensive and defensive lines.

This maybe the Vike’s year.  

Skol Vikes!



Straight Talk Commentary - Scott Phillip Brown’s election as U S Senator from Massachusetts is the second shot heard around the world to come from the Bay State.

Tuesday’s election is a political milepost – an important and memorable reference point. Brown’s election milepost is similar to (in contemporary times) Ronald Reagan’s Republican realignment in 1980, the Contract with America in 1994, Senator Jim Jeffords GOP defection in 2001, and Democrats winning back their Congressional majorities in 2006.

Republicans are celebrating and Democrats are in shock. Depending on their perspective people take many and varied meanings from the election to fill the seat caused by the death of Ted Kennedy.

Sidebar - It is ironic that had Kennedy lived, his beloved Health Care Reform would be alive and well.

The meaning of the election is pretty clear to me. Americans are MAD. Not just out of power Conservatives but Liberals and Independents as well.

Like the President’s 2008 election, Brown carried the Important Independents. Senator Elect Brown campaigned that this seat would be an Independent seat and not beholden to any Political Party’s agenda.

While many are saying that this election is a validation of their point of view, it seems to me it has everything to do with political process and fiscal irresponsibility. Particularly on health care reform but on other issues as well Democrats have been governing in secret; No time to read and digest bills before voting on them,  No open meetings when important bills are drafted and marked up, A President who said there would be Change and “The Special Interests” would no longer be at the table, A Democrat Majority in Congress that made special deals in return for support. These are the issues Citizens are mad about. As is said that to say that the Federal Government is Spending like drunken sailors is giving drunken sailors a bad name.

Republicans are united and joyous particularly of getting their filibuster proof 41^st vote, assuming that all the Republicans stay in camp. Specific issues beyond health care and deficits were little discussed if non existent in the Brown – Coakley election. A quick study of Brown’s positions on the issues reveals that he might be classified as a moderate Massachusetts Republican. His positions are interesting particularly on the social issues.

Tea Parties, Congressional Listening Meetings or the lack there of, the November 2009 Virginia and New Jersey Gubernatorial elections were early warning tremors but the Massachusetts’ Special was the Earthquake (see the excellent analysis below by Yoram Ettinger.)

Where we go from here – Republicans need to unite. Foremost while the political wind has done a 180 and shifted to the backs of the GOP, the GOP is still quite in the Minority. Democrats remain in control (although there will be shifts (maybe seismic) in the more conservative Dems changing parties and perhaps with more retirements. If the GOP as they did after the 2000 Presidential election swing hard right and ultimately go into self destruct as a political party as evidenced by the 2008 election cycle. The GOP should get the message and take it a little slower this time and build the big tent and there will be electoral successes in November 2010.

What the President and the Democrats do in response to Senator Brown’s election may be more important to future electoral outcomes including the Big Enchilada Presidential election in 2012.

Republicans would be wise to compare and study Brown’s election and the Congressional Special election in New York’s 23 District last November. Unlike the Congressional Special Election that was held in New York’s 23 District last November Republicans did not abandon their candidate over ideology and then lose. What is taking place in the Florida US Senate election and what some Tea Party activists are doing or threatening to do will only help Liberal democrats hold on to power.

Scott Brown’s election is a strong signal that a successful Republican Party is the Party of the big tent. That’s what it takes to win in the Land of the Bean and the Cod as well with right center conservatives across America.  

A Massachusetts Warning to Obama

By: Ambassador (ret.) Yoram Ettinger

Ynet

January 20, 2010 

Scott Brown's victory constitutes an unprecedented earthquake in US politics.

 If a Massachusetts Senate seat is not safe, then no House, Senate or White House seat is safe anymore!

 Scott Brown's victory dealt a severe blow to the Democratic Party in its own Flag Ship, Massachusetts, the state of the Kennedy family and Tip O'Neil, the state which introduced the health care reform, the only state which voted for McGovern in 1972, the state which had not elected a Republican Senator since Ed Brooke in 1972, the state which accorded President Obama a 26% margin in 2008, a state where only 12% of the registered voters are Republicans.

 Brown's election highlights a victory of the unique US democracy, which evolves around constituents and not around the President, Congress or political parties.  Massachusetts voters supported Brown in defiance of the Republican machine, which did not consider him a worthy candidate at the beginning of the race, and in defiance of the Democratic machine, which attempted to discredit him.

 Brown's victory is an indicator of Obama's desertion by Independents, who represent 51% of the Massachusetts electorate and 33% of US voters. From a 31% deficit 45 days ago, Brown surged ahead by 4% due to the Independent bloc, which voted Obama in 2008, was frustrated by Obama's performance in 2009 and considers Scott Brown an effective venue to send a loud warning to the White House.

 Brown's victory will cause after-shocks throughout the USA in general and in the White House, 100 Senate offices and 435 House offices in particular. 

The victory has adrenalized Republicans, ahead of the spring 2010 primaries and the November 2010 congressional and gubernatorial election.  It entices better candidates to enter the Republican primaries and generates more campaign contributions to Republican war chests.  On the other hand, it is already causing sleepless nights for Democratic incumbents and increases the potential for retirement and possible switchovers among moderate and conservative Democrats. The closer they get to November, the closer they get to their constituents, and therefore the farther away they may want to get from the President.

 Brown's victory – on the day of Obama's first Presidential anniversary – confirms that the November 2009 election was indeed a validation of Obama's collapse in public opinion, of the growing public disappointment in Obama's character and capabilities and of Obama's increasing vulnerability at home and abroad.  Brown targeted for criticism Obama's domestic and international policies.  The Senator-elect represents the majority of the US public, which suspects – rightly or wrongly - that Obama is about to defy an American ethos by increasing taxes, exacerbating the budget deficit and expanding government involvement in the economy.  Brown has also criticized the White House soft position on Islamic terrorism and harsh attitude toward the CIA: "The President should bolster the armed forces and not bolster legal defense of terrorists." 

 Brown's victory was achieved in spite of – and due to – the intense involvement of White House Chief-of-Staff, Rahm Emanuel, in Obama's policy-making and in the Massachusetts election.  Once again, it was evident that – in the US political arena - arrogance, rudeness, scorn and aggression drive voters away from elected officials.  It constitutes a lethal boomerang.

 Brown's election represents the victory of mainstream America's worldview over the worldview of President Obama. Brown represents non-apologetic patriotism, belief in liberty for the people and checks and balances for the government, Judeo-Christian values, pride in the moral, military, technological and economic US exceptionalism, reservations about the UN and the European state-of-mind, determination to defeat – and not to engage – rogue regimes, supporting mutually-beneficial cooperation with allies, which are bonded by shared values, mutual threats and joint interests.



President Obama finally met yesterday with his National Security team and says our intelligence community had the intelligence to stop an attack on the airplane bomb that descended on Detroit on Christmas day. The President said we had the intel but “failed to connect the dots” that would have prevented the sky bomber.

Sounding very tough the President acknowledged, “We dodged the bullet.” While he has finally focused on our National Security instead of his tennis backhand, the President should understand while they may have failed, it was not the CIA or Department of Homeland Security that was sending a suicide bomber into the Motor City. Our national security apparatus is not our enemy. Acting tough on the National Security team maybe appropriate but it is not nearly enough.

Our enemies are the terrorists and Al Qaeda that want to destroy America and Western Civilization as we know it.

Mr. President, as Americans we feel better that you are back on your watch at the White House. You always get the words right but what actions have you taken?

Ultimately we have to take action to stop our enemies. Focusing on just prophylactic measures to protect us is not enough and ultimately without engaging the enemy, they will despite stronger security measures pierce our security veil.  

Mr. President - You wanted to be Commander in Chief, start acting like it.



Word in local political circles is Sue Roust, Minnehaha County Auditor is retiring and not seeking re election.  County Auditor from an executive standpoint is the most important official in County Government.

Duties of the County Auditor are (taken from www.minnehahacounty.org):

The County Auditor as the clerk of the County Commission is required to keep records of Commission proceedings and to preserve any documents, books, accounting records, maps, and other materials deposited in the Auditor's Office. The Auditor's fiscal duties include conducting a monthly verification of all bank balances and cash items in the County Treasurer's Office and making a report of the same to the Commission, preparing warrants for all disbursements made by the Treasurer, publishing an annual report of the receipts and disbursements as well as the assets and liabilities of the County, and keeping inventory of County property.

 Election duties include voter registration, ballot preparation, appointment and training of election officials, canvassing and making abstracts of the votes cast, and issuing certificates of election.

Particularly important to the political process, the Auditor is responsible for overseeing State and local elections in the County. The importance of the Minnehaha County Auditor is exacerbated by the County’s population. More than one in five South Dakota voters lives in Minnehaha County.  All auditors are important but in this reference Minnehaha County is extremely important.

In South Dakota our County Auditors play by the book but it is helpful to have the election official be of your party. It just provides for better communication. Elections with voter registration, petitions, election judges, establishing precincts, counting and canvassing votes, recounts and other questions, political parties are more comfortable having the auditor on your team.

The clerical and administrative duties should not be overlooked either.  The County Auditor controls the information which in many instances shapes the policy debate. With the exception of the States Attorney and Sherriff who have law enforcement and police powers, the County Auditor is the most powerful official in County government. Because of the control of the money and the information, the Auditor has great influence over County Commissioners and other elected officials including the States Attorney and the Sherriff.

In Minnehaha County the Commissioners have a Commission Administrator who additionally provides program and fiscal information to the Commissioners as well as administrative support. Thus in Minnehaha County the Auditor’s ability to control information to the Commission is ever so slightly blunted, but in my view Sue Roust still is in information control. Just for perspective in 2009 Minnehaha County had a budget of $65 million. (The Auditor’s office budget was approximately $590,000 and the Commission budget was approximately $507,000.)

Leaders of the political parties should not overlook recruiting candidates for this important post. In the 2008 election cycle Republicans in Minnehaha County failed to recruit candidates for the County Treasurer and States Attorney positions. It is important to remember incumbents in County offices get re elected. Candidates must be found for open seats.

Bloggers personal personnel speculation – Democrats would enhance their chances of winning the Secretary of States position by recruiting Sue Roust to run for that position. She is far more qualified and more capable than Ben Nesselhuf who offers a thin resume. Being proven competent, well liked, well known, and from the State’s biggest county – Roust would be a formidable choice for the Democrats.

For a candidate for Roust’s position on the Democrat side I am clueless but could see some irony if County Treasurer Pam Nelson became a candidate. Nelson clearly understands the power aspect and given her rocky relations with the Commission it could be entertaining if not exactly the model of Working Together. Treasurer Nelson who is blunt and direct has tons of government experience and does win elections. She would not risk her current job by running. I really don’t expect her to become a candidate but you never know…. Otherwise the Dems should find some preferably thirty something professionally ambitious person from the business community (not non profit) to become a candidate.

The Republicans first choice might be County Register of Deeds Julie Risty. Julie is doing a fine job and is comfortable just doing her job without political ambition or designs on power. I expect Julie will seek re election as Register of Deeds. Commissioner Anne Hajek also would make a fine Auditor. Anne’s term as Commissioner is up this year. Anne is a former City Councilwoman and professionally is an attorney. I do not expect that she is looking for a full time job in government, so do not expect her run. I think it is quite possible she might seek a third term on the Commission.

On the GOP side, pretty much the same could be said as for the Democrats – a thirty something professionally ambitious person from the non profit community. State Representative Deb Peters comes to mind as a logical candidate, a Certified Public Accountant with political experience. She also is a Trojan campaigner and tight with a buck. I do not expect Deb would seek County Auditor as she plans on seeking term limited Tom Dempster’s District 9 Senate Seat.

While there may be that fresh face or overlooked face out there Sioux Falls City Clerk Debra Owen would make a really good candidate. Mrs. Owen is an attorney, has political experience, has conducted elections and worked with budgets. She is personable and would be a good campaigner. I am unsure that she has any desire to leave her current employment but do feel she would be energize by the increased role she would play in government as County Auditor.

The filing deadline is in less than three months (March 30). The parties need to recruit candidates. This one is too important to ignore.



President Obama needs to get off the beach, off the golf course and off the tennis courts, terminate his Hawaiian vacation and get back to the White House and demonstrate that the Government is serious in dealing with terrorism.

While he is at it he should also terminate the Secretary of Homeland Security, former Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano. The President’s more than initial response (before yesterday when he figured out public opinion believed the bombing is a national security threat) was to show a little concern and dismiss the incident as a possible act of terrorism.

In his first two very brief press appearances on this issue, the President had little to say that indicated that America was doing anything or even taking the bombing seriously. President Obama, always hip and always cool couldn’t even bring himself to put on a necktie.

Governor Napolitano for her part, in her initial (now well reported) response in talking about air traffic security said “the system had worked.” The President’s Press Secretary, Robert Gibbs, echoed, saying exactly the same thing.

Democrat spin doctors said that this quote was taken out of context.  Horse Puckey! Those were her words in a live interview on CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday.

Secretary Napolitano and Press Secretary Gibbs now insist they were talking about the system working after the event happened. Without saying it they now are implying that the system failed to provide any prevention.

The President yesterday decided to intervene to put his thumb in the dike of a big political problem – talking as always, as opposed to sending those who would destroy us a message with teeth in it. In various sound bites he said the security system had a “catastrophic breach” and “a systemic failure has occurred and I consider that totally unacceptable.”

The President sees all this as a political problem not as a War.

Do you think that Al Qaeda thinks we are very concerned?  

Mr. President - Actions speak louder than words – Come home NOW, have a real War Council, find out now what failed, and tell the American People and Al Qaeda what we are going to do about it.



Horse trading and back scratching are time honored legislative practices but the “legislative process” that transpired in the U S Senate since Thanksgiving gives even sausage makers and horse traders a bad name.

Deal making on the so Senate Finance Committee’s so called Health Care Reform bill has never been so open (at the end) or expensive. Deals have even been given their own names. The $100 million dollars for New Orleans to gain the support of Senator Marry Landrieu named “The Second Louisiana Purchase.” (Senator Landrieu has stated it is in reality $300 million.) The series of give backs to Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson, the last holdout and Mr. 60^th Vote, is referred to as “Cash for Cornhuskers.”

Senate Leader Harry Reid yesterday at his press conference when claiming credit about his self described historic legislation and questioned  about criticism of the give a ways for votes was not apologetic. He said, “This is what legislation is all about, - it’s the art of compromise,” He added, “it’s no different than other pieces of legislation.” Further and unbelievably he added if Senators didn’t get deals then they were not being effective.  

Some of the juicier (and more egregious) trades for bill support were:

If you live in Florida (compliments of Senator Bill Nelson) the percentage that Medicare pays for services is not going to be cut. – In all the other States Medicare recipients will pay more.

The federal government forever will cover 100% of the cost of all new Medicaid cost for recipients in Nebraska.  Also as part of the “Cash for Cornhuskers” deal is “certain” nonprofit insurers are exempt from the tax on health insurers in the bill (read Mutual of Omaha and other Nebraska mutual insurance companies).

Majority Leader Reid even put a sop in the “manager’s amendment” for the Longshoreman’s Union (a longtime supporter and political ally of the Democrat Party) that exempts Longshoremen from the 40% excise tax on high cost insurance plans called for in the bill. (the Longshoremen have a Cadillac plan)

There is a give back to South Dakota in the bill as well. Senator Conrad of North Dakota put in (new expression to me) a “carve out” for the States where over half the counties are “frontier counties” with low population density (seven persons per square mile.) Included are North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana and perhaps a few more. The give back if you can call it that is to let the states with frontier counties receive higher Medicare payments than previously. Previously these rural areas received less. In effect the gift we got is to be treated like everyone else.

As stated previously this type of legislating isn’t new, just the size and how blatant it was.

There is broad disagreement about Health Care Reform. Something needs to be done about both access and affordability. I think this bill stinks and hurts our Country. You don’t have to agree.

The bill we get should be the result of real compromise not with what has transpired. President Obama said in his the second Presidential debate, “We’re going to have to change the culture in Washington so that Lobbyists and special interests aren’t driving the process.” Clearly that has not happened. The President who says the bill is a victory for the American People may not have bought into his rhetoric. In fact, David Axelrod one of his senior advisors when asked about the vote trading said, “I think Every Senator uses whatever leverage they have to help their States. That’s the way it has been. That’s the way it will always be.” Axelrod apparently does not but into the President’s rhetoric either.

We were promised Change – what we are getting is the Socialization of America. This isn’t the change we need.

As always it’s all about politics. Democrats want a national health plan. They have gotten maybe a half loaf but it is a start. The American people are divided; a little over half are against this bill. Democrats are betting the next election that they can change the subject and voters will forget about how this sausage was made and come to understand how they (Democrats) feel their pain. Consequently the rush to finalize the bill this year and conversely why the GOP is trying to slow it down. In some fashion a new law is inevitable. Observers are watching closely how the U S House will deal with the Senate bill in Conference since their bill was not considered.

While there is unhappiness among Democrat Liberals with the Senate bill, I believe there is a real possibility (say 40%) that the Democrat leadership in the House will hold their nose and pass the Senate bill. No Changes no Conference Committee – Voila new law!

I am big believer in preventive medicine and have been somewhat patiently waiting my age appropriate bite at the apple, consequently yesterday afternoon found me at the Sioux Falls Convention Center getting my H1N1 influenza vaccination.  

I arrived at the Convention Center at 4:32pm (I arrived wondering how long I would wait so decided to time my stay). The Convention Center’s main east parking lot was nearly full and the south parking lot was about 50% full. I would estimate there were perhaps 900 to 1000 persons present to get shots and at least 100 staff if not more. Additionally the Police and Fire and Rescue Departments had a very visible presence.

It was reported in 6 hours 5574 shots were given.

Each patient interaction was broken down into stages for maximum efficiency; completing forms, screening and triage to determine vaccination appropriateness and dosage, pre shot staging, and the actual vaccination. Additionally there were several what I am guessing were community volunteers shepherding patients (crowd control) and others available at the various stations or working the fast moving waiting lines to answer questions.

There were 40 tables just giving the shots.

I also noted that many of the health care providers were wearing Sanford / Merit Care or Avera id badges.

At every stage you were asked, “Are you feeling well today?” or “How do you feel?” I assume this was a qualifier to screen for persons who might have some negative reaction to the vaccine. If I was asked once, I was asked 4 times.

It was a bonus for me that I printed my “application” off the Internet from KELOland.com and probably saved 3 or 4 minutes because I bypassed the filling out the paperwork stage.

I had my flu shot and was on my way at 4:50pm. – 18 minutes! (car to car)

Kudos goes to the Public Health providers. This was no Katrina like operation it was a well oiled machine demonstrating that government can work efficiently. It was well planned and well executed. I am unsure exactly who gets the credit but certainly Minnehaha County Government and the City of Sioux Falls Health Department had their hand in executing this near perfect operation.  Media also deserves a pat on the back for their part in informing Citizens about the specifics of the public clinics.

Time magazine named today Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke as their 2009 Person of the Year. Essentially Bernanke was named because the Economy has been the number one issue this year and Bernanke has played the central role in managing the economy.

His selection is well deserved.

Because the Fed Chairman was one of the Fathers of TARP (Troubled Asset Relief Program) that was enacted at the zenith of last year’s credit crisis, his appointment offers the opportunity to look at the now maligned program. Without question since its creation TARP has become a bastard son. The other dad was then Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and without question TARP was fostered by President George W. Bush.

I supported TARP, it was the right thing to do at the right time and I continue to believe that. As I posted in September of 2008 “Swift Action is needed to reassure the Public and calm the markets.” Few living in America have lived through a financial panic. History suggests today’s public living in the digital – service – knowledge economy are ill prepared for the consequences.

President Bush, said it was necessary and our Senator John Thune responsibly supported it. Both since have expressed some misgivings about it.

Sidebar – When President Obama re nominated Chairman Bernanke this past August to a second term he said, "Ben approached a financial system on the verge of collapse with calm and wisdom, with bold action and out-of-the-box thinking that has helped put the brakes on our economic free fall.”

I too had and have misgivings because of its State socialization of the markets. Certainly TARP’s passage has raised the grade on the slippery slope of giving the Federal Government increased responsibility in micro managing our Economy.

The Troubled Asset Relief Program at its inception was intended to stabilize our banking system. Its primary function was to purchase or insure up to $700 billion of troubled assets.

A political football – if memory serves me it took two votes to pass TARP. Since it was first implemented and Bailout became the number one word in out political vocabulary TARP has become a political slush fund and been used and proposed to be used for a variety of government programs other that the purchase of troubled assets. Our government has “invested” in General Motors and Chrysler and it has been suggested it now be used to fund a second stimulus package or jobs bill.

There is extensive debate even as to how to apply repayments from the beneficiaries, i.e. other non financial institution programs or paying back the Treasury (thus paying down the National debt). I would add the banking system is far from out of the woods. There still remains the issue of commercial real estate and consumer credit indebtedness (credit cards).

TARP though not without problems (hindsight is wonderful) avoided a financial panic. Thank you Ben Bernanke.

Endbar – Currently there is a Battle Royale transpiring in the Congress whose effects on our lives and economy exceeds that of health care reform. The Banking Committees in the Congress (Financial Services it's called in the U S House) are working on legislation to take regulatory authority from the Federal Reserve and give it to the far more politicized Legislative and Executive branches. Stay tuned for this one. Letting politicians oversee banks rather than the more independent Federal Reserve would be a monumental mistake. (perhaps another post)