The Flawed Anti-Preschool Alligator Tears

Add this one to the anti-HPV vaccine nonsense.

The people who are whining about the state's efforts to improve and standarize preschool programs in the state are crying alligator tears.

They are claiming that any sort of improvement in preschool programs will take away parents rights. That is about as flawed as their claim that HPV vaccines will turn your ten year old daughter into Paris Hilton.

Even if the state did everything they are proposing parents would still be able to decide where and how their children are educated just like they do for children in K-12. Children in K-12 can go to public school, private school or be schooled at home. So if state standards are created for preschool the only thing that might change would be that those who do not want to send their kids to a preschool program would be required to prove that they are actively teaching some of those basic skills to their kids at home. Nothing would force parents to send their kids to one of these programs - period.

What? Yes, you will have to shut off the PTL show, the 700 club and Oprah long enough to actually teach your children some basics if you don't wish to send them to public or private pre-school along with all those unwashed heathen children. So yes, you can continue to lock your children in your homes lest they be made aware of the outside world and its oh so wicked ways.

Nobody would be taking away parents rights, stealing their children or eating babies like certain tin foil hat wearing morons in our state are crying about.

THREE Abortion Bans Die In The Senate

Three down and one left to go!

The Senate Committee reviewing these two bans killed both in one swoop dashing Roger "orange jumpsuit" Hunt's dreams of Southdakotaistan.

HB 1296 The Sonogram Bill, aka: Roger Hunt wants pictures of your uterus bill died after passing the house.

SB 172 aka: The 44 point type bill died in committee. This one would have forced clinics to post a rather large sign telling people nobody can force them to have a medical procedure (abortion) against their will. Well duh. Is that pile of forms people sign to see a doctor are for lining the cat box?

SB 172 aka: Make doctors Leslee Unruh's parrot bill. This one would have forced doctors to also tell patients what was on the sign in the lobby.

So three out of four gone in one day. These were supposed to be the moderate approach preferred by the SD Right to Life group and legislators like Brock Greenfield.

The last bill HR 1293 is scheduled to be voted on the House floor this week.

State Sanctioned Hate Of Brown People

When brown people are outlawed only outlaws will be brown.
This is true nanny state legislation. The desire to control every level of society has just evolved into the absurd. Ironically the most of the legislation seems to attack women or things that seem to be used mainly by women.

Emergency contraception - not yours
Abortion - not yours
Tanning - not yours

Huh? Yea, tanning. Our esteemed legislature is working on outlawing tanning if your under 18.
(hat tip to PP at SDWC)

Yes there are some risks to tanning bed use. There are also health risks to drinking too much soda. The nanny state madness really really has to stop already.

If people are really up in arms about these things there are better ways to handle them rather than making more and more confusing and unenforceable laws.

If you want teens to know the dangers of tanning beds, make people sign a waiver informing them of the risks. Make stores post a sign in the lobby. Done, solved. Even adults may not be aware of the potential risks of tanning bed use. You don't need to make laws restricting teens use and potentially making store owners criminals.

Same goes for the smoking bans. Everyone has concerns for second hand smoke and the health of people working in such establishments. Does the legislature find a common sense approach? Noooo. Let's just ban that too. One common sense suggestion that has been passed around in non legislative circles was to make establishements get a permit to allow smoking. Part of getting and keeping that permit is to prove that you have installed proper air filtration and circulation equipment. It would require most places to install new high quality air filtration systems to comply but it solves all issues without blanket banning smoking. They either spend the money to make it reasonably safe for everyone in the bar/restaurant or they don't get a permit.