Jay,
Question #1: You are a proponent of wind energy. How could the state of South Dakota generate revenue from wind to add to our tax base?
Yes I am a proponent of wind energy production - call me the Drill Baby Drill of Wind.
I see wind as a new crop - a new source of sales income for South Dakotans. I don't want our wind production capabilities to be owned by out-of-state corporations that will take the profits out-of-state. I want the opportunity to purchase my energy from local production. By purchasing from others outside the state we are exporting the profits from our consumption. This need not be the case for our energy consumption. We have the means and the technology to produce our own energy. Let's keep the profits in-state. More money staying in the state translates to a boast in sales for homes, retail, restaurants...all tof which increase our sales tax revenue.
For South Dakotans to own the production process - the windmills, I support Federal, State and our local investment class to guarantee loans through our local banks and credit unions enabling individuals, if they choose, to purchase the means to tap into wind and solar. The opportunity to produce and sell energy is particularly good for rural South Dakotans. Loan guarantees are not subsidies - they are means to provide the necessary capital for South Dakotans to develop their own means of production.
Question #2: Japan was home for you during the early 1990's. How could you maximize that international experience to increase and build new ag and tourism markets?
Great question - I appreciate the opportunity to answer it. Before getting to the specifics of tourism and ag, I want to mention the Japanese value of community-based economics.
My living experience in Japan taught me that as a culture the Japanese are incredibly good at maximizing a very limited amount of natural resource available to such a huge population living in on very small island country. The Japanese are great at refining... improving quality and process. The economy, for as large as it is, is very community-based. The Japanese buy from each other first, then if items are not available from Japanese-based production, they then turn to the outside world. This allows for the refinement process, as everyone and all the processes are connected. By keeping the chain of production local, they support each other. The emergence of their economy into the second largest on the planet is evidence of this very simple economic value.
I want to see South Dakota do the same - we are so blessed with abundant resources and well-educated hard-working people, yet a vast amount of our consumption of goods produced outside our state - most of our retail consumption is produced outside the country. This is economic insanity in my opinion.
To your question of tourism and ag. My travels and living abroad make in easier for me to understand exactly how unique the Black Hills are. Our agriculture is produced with some of the last remaining naturally pure water in the world. Our beef and buffalo production is done ethically - small and medium sized ranches, not large scale animal production lots. Our production process still is naturally ORGANIC! The Japanese value quality, and have the means to pay extra for the increased value.
Also, I'd like to see a broadening of our tourism promotions to market to a more up-scale traveler. I'd like to see our state promoted as one enormous sculpture garden . Not just our two biggies - Rushmore and Crazy Horse, but our city sculpture gardens - the Presidents here in Rapid, the sculpture walk in Sioux Falls and Yankton, the great art popping up along I-90. We truly are emerging as a sculpture destination. I'd like to see the state promote our sculptors abroad. Local sculptors are emerging as masters - Dale Lamphere, John Lopez, Jim Maher just to name a few.
Question #3: The state Veteran's Home in Hot Springs is being lured by the elected leadership in Rapid City to place new roots in Rapid. Where would the Home best serve all veteran's?
Thad, I need to know more about this issue before I'm able to offer an intelligent opinion. Please point in the direction of any information to get me up to speed on the issue.
Question #4: Medicaid is a growing item in our state budget that has an insatiable appetite. How do we manage this going forward?
Big Pharm has us by the balls. I'd like to see South Dakota join with other states in the region to buy in bulk. Obama in my opinion screwed the nation when he made a backdoor deal with Big Pharm by agreeing to not negotiate price. Canada negotiates as a bulk buyer, so should we! I think Medicare Part D needs to be repealed.
"Calculations by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office and other independent fiscal experts show that the $1.1 trillion cost over the next 10 years of the Medicare prescription drug program, which the Republican-controlled Congress adopted in 2003, by itself would add more to the deficit than the combined costs of the bailout, the stimulus and the health care law."
Thanks for your time and answers Jay. Good luck on November 2, 2010.
