From today's mailbag:
For Immediate Release – April 28, 2008
Contact: Joel Dykstra
(605) 764-2008
info@joeldykstraforsenate.com
UPDATE: Dykstra Speaks at Lincoln Day Dinners in Oacoma and Lemmon, Sioux Falls Chamber to Hold Ribbon Cutting for New Campaign Field Office on Thursday
Sioux Falls, S.D. -- Republican U.S. Senate Candidate Joel Dykstra will be speaking at Lincoln Day Dinners in Oacoma and Lemmon this week. The Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce will be holding a Ribbon Cutting for the new Dykstra for Senate field office on Thursday. On Friday, Dykstra will participate in the dedication and opening of the Pope John Paul II Exhibit in Rapid City. Dykstra will also continue to hold various campaign and fundraising meetings throughout the week.
Dykstra will be available for interviews with the media at or prior to any of these campaign stops.
Event details, times and locations follow:
Monday, April 28, 2008
Brule/Lyman County Lincoln Day Dinner
Cedar Shore Resort
Oacoma, S.D.
6:00 p.m. Social, 7:00 p.m. Dinner
Thurday, May 1, 2008
Sioux Falls Chamber Ribbon Cutting
Dykstra for Senate Office
2109 South Minnesota Ave.
Sioux Falls, S.D.
11:30 a.m.
Friday, May 2, 2008
A Blessing to One Another: Pope John Paul II Exhibit
629 Main Street
Rapid City, S.D.
12:30 p.m. (Mountain Time)
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Perkins County Lincoln Day Dinner
Lemmon Community Center
Lemmon, S.D.
6:00 p.m. Social, 7:00 p.m. Dinner (Mountain Time)
CONTACT: Joel Dykstra
Joel Dykstra for U.S. Senate
P.O. Box 8
Canton, SD 57013
(605)764-2008
http://www.joeldykstraforsenate.com/
Monday, April 28, 2008
Joel Dykstra Appearances This Week
This is the Last Day for Comments Regarding FCC Proposal
WorldNetDaily has this today regarding a proposed rule change that could have significant ramifications on Christian radio, as well as any potentially controversial programming. It would allow community advisory boards to make decisions on what is and is not permissible for local broadcast. The composition of these boards would be left to local communities to decide, but it would not be far-fetched to fear that certain groups with a particular political agenda could take control and severely restrict programming. Obviously, this ruling could cut both ways, but in any case is clearly a restriction on freedom of speech and should be rejected.
Last day to save Christian radio?
FCC rule change seen as threat to licenses of religious stations.
At issue is a proposal that would require every radio station to take programming advice from community advisory boards representative of the area's population.
Advocates of Christian programming say that would require Christian broadcasters to seek advice from non-Christians and even those opposed to the Christian message. Some radio stations fear organized groups of atheists, for instance, could demand representation on the new FCC-mandated advisory boards that would factor into licensing decisions.
[…]
The National Association of Broadcasters, which opposes the rule change, offers an online form for making comments on the FCC rule change – but the deadline is today. All comments must be filed under the assigned docket number No. 04-233, meaning that number must be included in all communications about the proposed rule change to be considered by the FCC.
Although I believe that the Supreme Court would strike this rule change down, apparently there are advocates that think they have a chance to get such onerous legislation enacted. I encourage everyone to go to the link above to leave a comment for the FCC. Who could have imagined that the Supreme Court would uphold the McCain-Feingold bill?
Generation Y--Just wait a gosh-darn minute! Where does that put us?
By Gordon Garnos
THE ISSUE: Today's young people have been branded "Generation Y" by someone. Don't know who. But it relates to today's job market in South Dakota, the generation gap and what, if anything, we can do about it. This was all centered recently at the 2008 version of the Governor's Economic Development Conference. The conference, and I have attended several over the years, is perhaps one of the best programs ever to come out of our state capital for South Dakota¹s business and industry people.
IF OUR YOUNG people today are known as Generation Y, that should put my generation up somewhere in the B or C categories. Not that I am so old, nor they so young, but Generation B or C people have to recognize there is a vast difference in their way of life from ours, especially when it comes to work. I don't know how far back this Generation Y goes, but I suspect it trails as far back on the calendar to the time I was still hiring help for the newsroom.
A couple of cases in point:
This young woman comes in for an interview, resume in hand, well-dressed, high heels, with stockings, hose or, pardon me, panty hose, or whatever they're called today, and a nice dress and also wearing a very confident smile. I knew I was going to hire her before she even handed me that piece of paper outlining her credentials for the job.
I knew I wasn't going to be able to keep her for very long, but while she was under my employ, she proved to be a winner. Today, she has outgrown her next job and is now deservedly advancing up her third corporate ladder.
Now, I must admit, many of us B'ers and C'ers disapproved of such job jumping. Our philosophy was get 'em and keep 'em. That was the way we came up, and years later, 40 of them, and we are proud of our accomplishment. But not today's youth and we have to learn to accept the fact that they are on the move--live and then work instead of work and then live as we did it.
BUT BEFORE I FORGET about Case Generation Y Applicant Number Two: She arrived at the newsroom door with boyfriend in hand, both in bib overalls, I believe that is what they're called today. She had at least a tank top on under her bibs; he, nothing. And, at least she was wearing "flip-flops," I guess I can't call them "thongs" any more. He was barefooted and both had just graduated from a South Dakota university.
As she left him standing in the doorway I heard him blurt, "Give'm hell, Honey!" That was probably the shortest interview I ever had with a potential employee.
I mention these two young people because of the vast differences between each of them. They are individualists demanding a different life than what we grew up to believe.
THIS WAS BROUGHT out at this year's conference. According to a news article, Micah Aberson, a representative of Lawrence and Schiller of Sioux Falls, the firm is launching the state's new "Live Dakota" promotional theme. According to a news article, he told the audience that "results from research and focus groups that Generation Y members tend to feel entitled to good jobs, expect promotions and large annual raises. They also seek instant gratification, have never been given negative feedback, are 'super technical' and like to work on teams with friends.
"These attitudes are a contrast to older generations whose members feel they had to earn successes, can handle criticism, had to learn new things to stay current in their jobs and work better individually."
Other challenges these young people face in South Dakota is its cold weather and the perceptions of low pay, driven by teachers' salaries, and not much to do after a day on the job.
WE CAN'T ARGUE about the cold weather, especially this past winter. The perceptions about low pay has some merit, depending on what job training the young person has. Not necessarily to counter this, young people graduating from many of the classes in our four tech schools. Considering the vast majority of these students stay in South Dakota and join the work force here, the low pay perception I would have to say is a little faulty.
Then, when it comes to the argument about nothing to do, my dandruff gets stirred up. There are plenty of things to do if they would only have a leadectomy and see what is out there for them.
What today's employers need to remember is that the young people have different attitudes than what we did when we went to work. And if today's employers adjust accordingly, they will help "Live Dakota" become a reality....
Gordon Garnos was long-time editor of the Watertown Public Opinion and recently retired after 39 years with that newspaper. Garnos, a lifelong resident of South Dakota except for his military service in the U.S. Air Force, was born and raised in Presho.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Virginia: This Day in History
American Minute from William J. Federer
English settlers landed in North America on APRIL 26, 1607, at the site of Cape Henry, named for Prince Henry of Wales.
Their first act was to erect a wooden cross and commence a prayer meeting.
They ascended the James River, named for King James, and settled Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in America.
Virginia, so named for the "Virgin Queen" Elizabeth, stated in its Charter, April 10, 1606: "Greatly commending...their Desires for the Furtherance of so noble a Work, which may, by the Providence of Almighty God, hereafter tend to the Glory of His Divine Majesty, in propagating of Christian Religion to such People, as yet live in Darkness and miserable Ignorance of the true Knowledge and Worship of God."
The Second Charter of Virginia, May 23, 1609, stated: "The principal Effect which we can expect or desire of this Action is the Conversion and reduction of the people in those parts unto the true worship of God and the Christian Religion."
Virginia's Charter continued: "It shall be necessary for all such our loving Subjects...to live together, in the Fear and true Worship of Almighty God, Christian Peace, and civil Quietness, with each other."
Friday, April 25, 2008
McCain 1 or Bush 3?
BY STAR PARKER
FOUNDER & PRESIDENT
COALITION ON URBAN RENEWAL & EDUCATION
It's no surprise, while the Democrats do battle, that John McCain is using the down time to go on an "I'm not George W. Bush" tour around the country.
We've got a very unpopular Republican president and this translates into heavy baggage for Sen. McCain to unload.
The latest Gallup poll reports President Bush's disapproval rating, 69 percent, as the highest presidential disapproval the organization has ever recorded. Even the beleaguered Nixon peaked at 66 percent disapproval in August of 1974 before he resigned.
But I'm straining to see or hear the new market differentiated Republican product as McCain makes his "forgotten places" tour around the country.
The Washington Post has called this Version 2.0 of Bush compassionate conservatism. From what I see so far, they're right.
In Kentucky, Sen. McCain talked about poverty and Lyndon Johnson's expensive and failed war on it. He pointed out that Johnson's mistake was to think that government could provide the answer to poverty. He then proposed his own new government poverty program. Special tax breaks for telecom companies to deliver Internet service to poor communities.
Then on to New Orleans to apologize for the failure of leadership at the "top" during the Katrina debacle.
And the point? To confirm to liberals and blacks that yes, Republicans and conservatives are racists, indifferent to poverty, this explaining what happened during Katrina?
Congress issued a report on Hurricane Katrina called "A Failure of Initiative" showing poor performance at all levels of government -- local, state, and federal. However, the primary responsibility for emergency action is at the local and state level. The abysmal performance of New Orleans mayor Ray Nagin and Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco during Katrina is well documented.
Rather than disputing the simpleminded charges about what went wrong (remember Spike Lee's footage showing Condoleezza Rice shopping for shoes while New Orleans was sinking?), President Bush gave a televised address from New Orleans paying credence to it all.
So, rather than distinguishing himself from George Bush, John McCain seems to be joining a long tradition of Republicans who think that the way to win the votes of poor and working class Americans is to legitimize liberal distortions.
Whether this comes from a confused and misplaced compassion, or confused and misplaced politics, the result is that the poor get no leadership, stay poor and the poor and blacks vote for Democrats in as large number as ever. The only winners in the whole equation are liberal Democrat politicians.
Along with George Bush's dismal approval ratings, Sen. McCain also has reason to be concerned about the Gallup polling this week on Iraq.
Sixty-three percent of Americans now say that it was a "mistake to have sent troops into Iraq." This almost triples the 23 percent that felt it was a mistake five years ago.
According to Gallup, this is the highest "mistake" rating they have ever recorded for a conflict involving U.S. troops. The highest it every got during the Vietnam War was 61 percent.
Making small talk the other day with a young maintenance man hanging a fixture in my office, he made clear to me that he wasn't much into politics. Then he added that all he cared about was that we get out of the war and that he can afford to put gas in his truck.
My young nephew, my sister's only son, called me the other day to tell me he's on his way to Iraq with his army unit. She's concerned. I'm concerned.
There simply is a disconnect between the kind of pabulum that Sen. McCain served up to Americans this last week and asking them to push on in this difficult and increasingly confusing war.
How can we provide moral leadership abroad, asking our parents and children to make the sacrifices that this demands, if we have a president who will not provide that same moral leadership at home? I'm talking about bold leadership regarding limited government and traditional values.
Simply stated, if John McCain wants to avoid the Bush 3 label, he should establish himself as a conservative.
Star Parker is president of the Coalition on Urban Renewal & Education and author of the new book White Ghetto: How Middle Class America Reflects Inner City Decay.
Prior to her involvement in social activism, Star Parker was a single welfare mother in Los Angeles, California. After receiving Christ, Star returned to college, received a BS degree in marketing and launched an urban Christian magazine. The 1992 Los Angeles riots destroyed her business, yet served as a springboard for her focus on faith and market-based alternatives to empower the lives of the poor.
