The South Dakota Standard

Greetings.

Welcome to the launch of The South Dakota Standard! Tom Lawrence and I will bring you thoughts and ideas concerning issues pertinent to the health and well-being of our political culture. Feel free to let us know what you are thinking.

Memo to Louisiana and other states: Thou shalt not force your view of the 10 Commandments upon others

Jul 4

Jul 4 Memo to Louisiana and other states: Thou shalt not force your view of the 10 Commandments upon others

Looking back as far as 1960, some presidential debates mattered to voters, while others were quickly forgotten

Jul 3

Jul 3 Looking back as far as 1960, some presidential debates mattered to voters, while others were quickly forgotten

Did poor performance in his debate against Donald Trump doom Joe Biden's re-election bid? It’s debatable

Jul 2

Jul 2 Did poor performance in his debate against Donald Trump doom Joe Biden's re-election bid? It’s debatable

Too often we ignore it, but historical context matters — even in matters as seemingly trivial as email signature blocks

Jul 1

Jul 1 Too often we ignore it, but historical context matters — even in matters as seemingly trivial as email signature blocks

Examining the issues as President Joe Biden and Democrats seek support while gearing up for 2024 campaign

Jun 30

Jun 30 Examining the issues as President Joe Biden and Democrats seek support while gearing up for 2024 campaign

Say hey for Giants centerfielder Willie Mays, the greatest baseball player who ever stepped on the diamond

Jun 29

Jun 29 Say hey for Giants centerfielder Willie Mays, the greatest baseball player who ever stepped on the diamond

Biden did OK on substance but lost where it counted most, performance. Dems should be in a panic.

Jun 28

Jun 28 Biden did OK on substance but lost where it counted most, performance. Dems should be in a panic.

Native people celebrate their victory at the Battle of Greasy Grass (aka Little Bighorn) during a civil war against them

Jun 27

Jun 27 Native people celebrate their victory at the Battle of Greasy Grass (aka Little Bighorn) during a civil war against them

Diane LongFox-Kastner

Politics makes strange bedfellows, as the marriage of Donald J. Trump and the Christian right proves

Jun 26

Jun 26 Politics makes strange bedfellows, as the marriage of Donald J. Trump and the Christian right proves

It’s two years since Roe v. Wade was overturned. In South Dakota and the rest of the country, the stakes are high.

Jun 25

Jun 25 It’s two years since Roe v. Wade was overturned. In South Dakota and the rest of the country, the stakes are high.

Sylvia Ghazarian

Is it all Greek — or Latin — to you? We can learn valuable lessons on how to communicate better with others

Jun 24

Jun 24 Is it all Greek — or Latin — to you? We can learn valuable lessons on how to communicate better with others

Kahler's part 2 on underestimating your life expectancy: Don’t let your brain shrink your retirement benefits

Jun 23

Jun 23 Kahler's part 2 on underestimating your life expectancy: Don’t let your brain shrink your retirement benefits

Rapid City financial advisor Rick Kahler: Will taking Social Security early leave retirement income on the table?

Jun 22

Jun 22 Rapid City financial advisor Rick Kahler: Will taking Social Security early leave retirement income on the table?

Make your voice heard and demand Congress brings long-denied passenger rail service through South Dakota

Jun 21

Jun 21 Make your voice heard and demand Congress brings long-denied passenger rail service through South Dakota

Another misfire. Effort to deny South Dakotans their constitutional right to vote on reproductive freedom is DOA

Jun 20

Jun 20 Another misfire. Effort to deny South Dakotans their constitutional right to vote on reproductive freedom is DOA

Dakotans For Health

Free at last. The history behind the holiday called Juneteenth is worth knowing, and the day is worth celebrating

Jun 19

Jun 19 Free at last. The history behind the holiday called Juneteenth is worth knowing, and the day is worth celebrating

Brookings pastor Kline: We face a choice. We can continue to fight amongst ourselves and fail, or work together and succeed

Jun 18

Jun 18 Brookings pastor Kline: We face a choice. We can continue to fight amongst ourselves and fail, or work together and succeed

Trump is hung up on trade wars. His new plan to lower taxes by raising tariffs will hurt, not help, consumers.

Jun 17

Jun 17 Trump is hung up on trade wars. His new plan to lower taxes by raising tariffs will hurt, not help, consumers.

Missing conversations with one old farmer in particular — my dad Vernon A. Lawrence — this Father’s Day

Jun 16

Jun 16 Missing conversations with one old farmer in particular — my dad Vernon A. Lawrence — this Father’s Day

Jumping into the car and taking a family trip, stage by stage by stage, with South Dakota humorist Dorothy Rosby.

Jun 15

Jun 15 Jumping into the car and taking a family trip, stage by stage by stage, with South Dakota humorist Dorothy Rosby.