VIEWPOINT | Don’t blame voters for lack of trust in South Dakota politics: Look in mirror
Guest column by Daryl Christensen
Too much of today’s political conversation revolves around personalities, endorsements and internal political scorekeeping. We argue about who is conservative enough, who is endorsed by the right people, who is supported by the right organizations and who belongs to the right political tribe. While politicians and activists debate those questions, many ordinary voters are simply asking who is focused on solving problems and improving their communities.
Across South Dakota, I keep hearing the same message from people regardless of their age, occupation, or political affiliation: They are tired. They are tired of negative ads, attack mailers, social media outrage and political arguments that seem to generate more division than solutions. They are tired of campaigns that spend more time tearing down opponents than explaining how they intend to serve the public. Most of all, they are tired of a political culture that appears increasingly focused on winning internal battles rather than addressing the concerns of the people.
That should concern every elected official, candidate and political party. When citizens become weary of politics, they do not simply stop paying attention to campaigns. Many begin disengaging from the democratic process itself.
VIEWPOINT | Pass key bill to preserve parks’ infrastructure, protect South Dakota economy
As executive director of the Black Hills Parks and Forest Association, I work closely with the public lands that define western South Dakota. From the Black Hills National Forest to the surrounding parks and grasslands, these landscapes are central to our economy and our way of life.
