STRAIGHT OUTTA PIERRE | Representation matters — even when it’s uncomfortable
Sharp, snappy and South Dakotan — an anonymous shot of insight with a twist of sarcasm
Pierre is a place where people generally try to avoid uncomfortable conversations.
The burgers downstairs at TKO are first-class, the breakfast sandwiches are top-notch and when something awkward comes up around the Capitol, the preferred strategy is often to keep walking and hope someone else deals with it.
And in politics, avoiding the conversation rarely solves the problem.
Which brings us to two empty chairs in the South Dakota Legislature.
Before anyone gets the wrong idea, the situations themselves are completely understandable. One legislator has been unable to attend after a serious medical event. Another has been deployed overseas with the military.
In both cases, the only appropriate response is the same: wish them well. Health crises happen. Military service deserves respect.
But there’s also a basic principle of representative government that doesn’t disappear just because the circumstances are sympathetic.
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