VIEWPOINT | South Dakota shines in index on life, liberty, pursuit of happiness

South Dakota is a clear national leader in upholding the values of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. According to the Independence Index, Advancing American Freedom’s new measure of civic wellbeing and social capital, South Dakota ranks at the top of the country for multiple categories related to individual freedom, flourishing families, and a thriving republic.

A respect for life

The Coyote State boasted the highest fertility rate as measured by the CDC, with 2.04 expected children per woman, topping runner-up states like Nebraska, Idaho, North Dakota and Iowa. The five lowest fertility rates were in coastal areas such as Oregon, Rhode Island and the District of Columbia. The total fertility rate in the United States has fallen to the lowest level in the nation’s recorded history, which brings long-run consequences for the economy.

VIEWPOINT | Xcel Energy seeks continued public input on transmission project

Guest column by Steve Kolbeck, Xcel Energy South Dakota, director of state affairs and business relations

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The Heart of Everything1 month ago

Know the source—I’m a little skeptical about this glowing report given that Advancing American Freedom (AAF) describes itself as a conservative policy and legal-advocacy organization which promotes Trump’s “successful” policies. Not sure what those successful policies would be, tariffs, a war with Iran, a triumphal arch, cryptocurrency, Russian collusion, hiding the Epstein files, concentration camps, the deportation of American citizens? Ironic since its founder, Mike Pence, was deemed a traitor by Trump.

Oly_InSD4abit1 month ago

"...the deliberate elimination of the unborn..." That is one of the most moronic things I've read in a political screed like this one.

Dean Nasser1 month ago

What was missing from this discussion of "individual freedom" is anything to do with self-sacrificial love of fellow man which is supposed to be the ultimate controlling value. There is a lot of that in South Dakota. Unfortunately and politically, especially among the far right, that quality doesn't quite fully make it to the checklist we saw in the article. Unless the individual's love is going outwards to others rather than inward to his/her own selfish concerns, the prescription "love thy neighbor" remains shallow.