Not on my Watch.

Let’s start with an aside, I, personally, was very pleased when yesterday’s article from Audre showed up. There is a lot going on this summer, and much of it is bad, some very bad, and so like Pontiac said, it’s very good to smile and perhaps laugh. That’s one, although not the only, reason why I value her contribution here so much. We all need that, and blogging like almost anything else concerning current events tends towards, ‘If it bleeds, it leads”. But there is a lot more to life, and we need to remember to take the time to enjoy the good things.

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Now then, we’ve had many hard things to say about various and sundry politicians, especially governors this year, and with cause, as they have caused our elderly to be put in harm’s way, with little or no protection, and they caviled and hid like the cowards they are from their responsibilities and all the rest. But not all of them.

In my neighboring state of South Dakota, they have perhaps one of the greatest governors of the last few generations, and surprising no one except the left, she is a woman, Kristi Noem.

When almost everyone was panicking and shutting down their states, Ms. Noem said:

 that South Dakotans are free Americans, not subject to arbitrary orders from politicians. They are also smart: South Dakotans can look after their own health better than any government can. So her administration has put out a steady stream of data and advice, but she has refused to order anyone to do anything. And guess what: South Dakota has a very low level of COVID fatality and, last time I checked, the lowest unemployment rate in the country.*

That’s what should have been done across the country. If people want to compete for Darwin awards, well, it’s their life, to waste if they choose. Of course, that doesn’t do much to aggrandize a politician’s power, like controlling every jot and tittle of citizens’ lives. But it decidedly is the American Way, the way of freedom to choose.

As PowerLine also reported:

When looting and arson erupted across the U.S. following the death of George Floyd, a riot began in Sioux Falls. Within minutes, Noem called out the National Guard to suppress criminal behavior. “Rioting and looting will not be tolerated in South Dakota,” she said.

And now when terrorists are threatening the public display of our heritage, Governor Noem, whose state is home to Mt Rushmore, the epic sculpture of four presidents, of which the making is an epic of its own, her comment is just as apropos “Not on my watch”. Not as an exclamation just as a matter of fact. And if South Dakotans need any help, which would surprise me, it won’t be far away. I can think of quite a few guys and girls, in Stetsons and boots carrying hardware made by Winchester and Colt who would be proud indeed to help. Truly, this is an American thing.

The men on Mt. Rushmore helped make America the greatest country in history. They weren’t perfect; nobody is. But we should learn from their example and work together to accomplish their dreams for our country. pic.twitter.com/MPBkTT8tYn

— Governor Kristi Noem (@govkristinoem) June 24, 2020

We’ve dealt with this before, this is the attempted undoing of the story told by John Ford in Who Shot Liberty Valance. And the ending will be the same.

Too often people forget, this is America, and we bloody well built it, and if a bit of remodeling might be in order, we’ll take care of it.

As is said these days, “You go, girl”, and we’ve got your six.

*via Powerline as is the picture.