Wednesday, 4.1.15 ON THE WEB: www.yankton.net views VIEWS PAGE: [email protected] PAGE 4 Press&Dakotan The Press Dakotan

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CONTACT US OPINION PHONE: (605) 665-7811 (800) 743-2968 Indiana’s Law: A Fire NEWS FAX: (605) 665-1721 ADVERTISING FAX: Of The Moment? (605) 665-0288 WEBSITE: he mushrooming controversy surrounding Indiana’s religious freedom law right now could have theoretically been South www.yankton.net Dakota’s fate last year had our legislators given their approval ––––– to a similar measure. SUBSCRIPTIONS/ TWe have no way of knowing this, but the best guess is that such CIRCULATION a decision here probably wouldn’t have sparked the same angry fire- Extension 104 storm that is engulfing Indiana currently. [email protected] Our state lawmakers killed a bill which would have created a legal CLASSIFIED ADS excuse to effectively allow discrimination against, for instance, a same- Extension 108 sex couple wishing to purchase a wedding cake from a baker who was [email protected] not real supportive of that lifestyle. While the measure didn’t specify NEWS DEPT. which group(s) could be impacted by the religious judgments of others, Extension 114 the bill — in root terms — had one group in mind with one purpose in [email protected] mind: to legally maintain a second-class citizenry. SPORTS DEPT. Frankly, it was an unfortunate piece of legislation and was wisely defeated. The Working Poor And Extension 106 Indiana has not been so wise — or lucky. [email protected] Critics of the measure say Indiana’s law is slightly different from ADVERTISING DEPT. similar laws that 19 states already have in place, or from the much nar- Extension 122 rower federal law it avers to copy. According to The Atlantic, the Indiana [email protected] law allows “any for-profit business to assert a right to ‘the free exercise The Non-Working Rich BUSINESS OFFICE of religion,’” Other language seems to legally equate a for-profit busi- Extension 119 ness with a church organization, which can cite its religious convictions BY ROBERT B. REICH tory. A study by the Boston College Center [email protected] on rather obvious grounds. (It still sounds a lot like the South Dakota proposal to us.) Tribune Content Agency on Wealth and Philanthropy projects a total NEW MEDIA: of $59 trillion passed down to heirs between Extension 136 A decade ago, such a law would have been called a “values” issue and probably would have drawn far less overall attention. Many believe that poor people deserve 2007 and 2061. [email protected] to be poor because they’re lazy. As House As the French economist Thomas Piketty COMPOSING DEPT. But these are different times, and ours is a different world. However, because South Dakota went through a very similar debate Speaker John Boehner has said, the poor have reminds us, this is the kind of dynastic wealth Extension 129 recently, the current outcry over Indiana’s law seems somewhat over- a notion that “I really don’t have to that’s kept Europe’s aristocracy [email protected] heated. This law is, broadly speaking, a variation from other laws on the work. I don’t really want to do this. I going for centuries. It’s about to * * * books elsewhere. The analyses into why it’s different — and therefore think I’d rather just sit around.” become the major source of income more dangerous — dig into subtle alterations in legislative wording, In reality, a large and growing for a new American aristocracy. MANAGERS which, while not unimportant, is the kind of thing that normally doesn’t share of the nation’s poor work full The tax code encourages all this Gary L. Wood excite and motivate the public in general to this extent. time — sometimes 60 or more hours by favoring unearned income over Publisher Instead, this law seems to have arrived at a pivotal moment in a week -- yet still don’t earn enough earned income. Michele Schievelbein the evolution of the same-sex rights issue and in the argument over to lift themselves and their families The top tax rate paid by Ameri- Advertising Director religious freedom in America. It draws a line in the sand that’s been out of poverty. ca’s wealthy on their capital gains drawn before, but this time, the pushback has been far more vigor- It’s also commonly believed, es- — the major source of income for Tonya Schild ous, the consequences of which were clearly underestimated by those pecially among Republicans, that the the non-working rich — has dropped Business Manager who conceived of this legislation. rich deserve their wealth because Robert B. from 33 percent in the late 1980s to Michael Hrycko Thus, what’s happening in Indiana may be more about a new social they work harder than others. 20 percent today, putting it sub- Circulation Director status quo and serve as a new litmus test for human rights, personal In reality, a large and growing REICH stantially below the top tax rate on dignity and/or religious liberty. portion of the super-rich have never ordinary income (36.9 percent). Tera Schmidt How it ends will be important. But one has to worry that the road is Classified Manager broken a sweat. Their wealth has If the owners of capital assets going to get a lot bumpier and angrier before it ever soothes over. been handed to them. whose worth increases over their Kelly Hertz kmh The rise of these two groups — the work- lifetime hold them until death, their heirs pay Editor ing poor and non-working rich — is relatively zero capital gains taxes on them. Such “unreal- James D. Cimburek new. Both are challenging the core American ized” gains now account for more than half Sports Editor D.C. LAWMAKERS assumptions that people are paid what they’re the value of assets held by estates worth more worth, and work is justly rewarded. than $100 million. Beth Rye SOUTH DAKOTA Why are these two groups growing? At the same time, the estate tax has been New Media Director SEN. JOHN THUNE: United States Senate SR-493, Washington, D.C. 20510; The ranks of the working poor are growing slashed. Before George W. Bush was president, Kathy Larson Washington Phone: (866) 850-3855; Sioux Falls Phone: (605) 334-9596; Fax: because wages at the bottom have dropped, it applied to assets in excess of $2 million per Composing Manager (202) 228-3855; Web: thune.senate.gov. adjusted for inflation. With increasing num- couple at a rate of 55 percent. Now it kicks in SEN. MIKE ROUNDS: Russell Senate Building, Courtyard 4, 20510, Wash- ington, D.C. 20510; Washington Phone: 202-224-5842; D.C. Fax: 202-224-7482; bers of Americans taking low-paying jobs in re- at $10,680,000 per couple, at a 40 percent rate. Kristina Tunink tail sales, restaurants, hotels, hospitals, child Last year only 1.4 out of every 1,000 estates District Manager Sioux Falls Phone: 605-336-0486; S.D. Fax: 605-336-6624; email: N/A REP. KRISTI NOEM: 2422 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, D.C. care, elder care and other personal services, owed any estate tax, and the effective rate * * * 20515; Washington Phone: (202) 225-2801 or (855) 225-2801; Sioux Falls Phone: the pay of the bottom fifth is falling closer to they paid was only 17 percent. (605) 275-2868; Fax: (202) 225-5823; email: visit https://noem.house.gov the minimum wage. Republicans now in control of Congress DAILY STAFF NEBRASKA At the same time, the real value of the fed- want to go even further. Last Friday the Senate Melissa Bader eral minimum wage is lower today than it was voted 54-46 in favor of a non-binding resolu- Cassandra Brockmoller SEN. DEB FISCHER: 825 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. Brandi Bue 20510; Washington Phone: (202) 224-6551; email: N/A a quarter century ago. tion to repeal the estate tax altogether. Earlier SEN. BEN SASSE: B40E Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington DC Rob Buckingham In addition, most recipients of public assis- in the week, the House Ways and Means Com- 20510; Washington Phone: (202) 224-4224; email: N/A tance must now work in order to qualify. mittee also voted for a repeal. The House is Caryn Chappelear REP. ADRIAN SMITH: 503 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, D.C. Randy Dockendorf 20515-2703; Washington Phone: (202) 225-6435; Fax: (202) 225-0207; District Bill Clinton’s welfare reform of 1996 pushed expected to vote in coming weeks. Jeannine Economy Phone: (308) 633-6333; email: log on at www.house.gov/writerep/ the poor off welfare and into work. Meanwhile, Yet the specter of an entire generation do- Jordynne Hart the Earned Income Tax Credit, a wage subsidy, ing nothing for their money other than speed- Jeremy Hoeck has emerged as the nation’s largest anti- dialing their wealth management advisers is Sarah Lynde poverty program. Here, too, having a job is a not particularly attractive. It puts more and Shauna Marlette ABOUT THIS PAGE prerequisite. more responsibility for investing a substantial Robert Nielsen The new work requirements haven’t re- portion of the nation’s assets into the hands Diana Smallwood The View page provides a forum for open discussion of issues and duced the number or percentage of Americans of people who have never worked. It also Cathy Sudbeck in poverty. They’ve just moved poor people endangers our democracy, as dynastic wealth Sally Whiting interests affecting our readers. Initialed editorials represent the opinion JoAnn Wiebelhaus of the writer, but not necessarily that of the PRESS & DAKOTAN. from being unemployed and impoverished to inevitably and invariably accumulates political Brenda Willcuts Bylined columns represent the view of the author. We welcome letters on being employed and impoverished. influence and power. * * * current topics. Questions regarding the Views page should be directed to While poverty declined in the early years Consider the rise of both the working poor Kelly Hertz at [email protected]/. of welfare reform when the economy boomed and the non-working rich, and the meritocrat- Published Daily and jobs were plentiful, it began growing in ic ideal on which America’s growing inequality Monday-Saturday 2000. By 2012, it exceeded its level in 1996, is often justified doesn’t hold up. Periodicals postage IN HISTORY when welfare ended. That widening inequality — combined with paid at Yankton, South At the same time, the ranks of the non- the increasing numbers of people who work Dakota, under the act of By The Associated Press that Pope John Paul II was near death, his working rich have been swelling. America’s full time but are still impoverished and of oth- March 3, 1979. Today is Wednesday, April 1, the 91st breathing shallow and his heart and kid- day of 2015. There are 274 days left in the neys failing. President Bill Clinton’s former legendary “self-made” men and women are ers who have never worked and are fabulously Weekly Dakotian year. This is April Fool’s Day. national security adviser, Sandy Berger, fast being replaced by wealthy heirs. wealthy — is undermining the moral founda- established June 6, 1861. Today’s Highlight in History: On pleaded guilty to sneaking classified Six of today’s 10 wealthiest Americans are tions of American capitalism. Yankton Daily Press and April 1, 1945, American forces launched documents out of the National Archives; the amphibious invasion of Okinawa dur- he was later sentenced to two years’ pro- heirs to prominent fortunes. The Walmart Dakotian established April heirs alone have more wealth than the bottom Robert Reich is Chancellor’s Professor of 26, 1875. ing World War II. (U.S. forces succeeded bation. in capturing the Japanese island on June Five years ago: Roman Catholic Postmaster: Send 40 percent of Americans combined. Public Policy at the University of California 22.) cardinals across Europe used their Holy Americans who became enormously at Berkeley and Senior Fellow at the Blum address changes to Yankton On this date: In 1789, the U.S. House Thursday sermons to defend Pope Ben- Daily Press & Dakotan, of Representatives held its first full meet- edict XVI from accusations he’d played a wealthy over the last three decades are now Center for Developing Economies. His new film, 319 Walnut, Yankton, SD ing in New York; Frederick Muhlenberg of role in covering up sex abuse scandals. busily transferring that wealth to their chil- “Inequality for All,” is now out on Netflix, iTunes 57078. Pennsylvania was elected the first House Dayton denied the previous year’s na- dren and grandchildren. and Amazon. speaker. tional champs another title as the Flyers In 1815, Prussian/German statesman beat North Carolina 79-68 to win the NIT. The nation is on the cusp of the largest * * * Otto von Bismarck was born in Schoen- Actor John Forsythe, 92, died in Santa inter-generational transfer of wealth in his- MEMBERSHIPS hausen. Ynez, California. In 1865, during the Civil War, Union One year ago: Mocking his critics, The Yankton Daily forces led by Maj. Gen. Philip Sheridan President Barack Obama boasted that 7.1 Press & Dakotan is a routed Confederate soldiers under the million people had signed up for his health LETTERS TO THE EDITOR member of the Associ- command of Maj. Gen. George Pickett in care law, and said “the debate over repeal- ated Press, the Inland the Battle of Five Forks in Virginia. ing this law is over.” Congress demanded Great Tournament the individual skills contest; Pastor Rick Slat- Daily Press Association In 1924, Adolf Hitler was sentenced answers from General Motors’ new CEO, tery for the invocation; Jim Ryan for reading and the South Dakota to five years in prison for his role in the Mary Barra, on why the automaker had Todd Larson, Yankton Newspaper Association. Beer Hall Putsch in Munich. (Hitler was taken 10 years to recall cars with a faulty the athlete’s oath; Jared Drotzman from the The Associated Press released in Dec. 1924; during his time be- ignition switch linked at that time to 13 traf- SE Region Special Olympics Basketball Tournament Yankton County EMS for medical coverage; the is entitled exclusively hind bars, he wrote his autobiographical fic deaths; Barra acknowledged that the Director Yankton Police Department for handing out to use of all the local screed, “Mein Kampf.”) company took too long to act. Yankton volunteers were awesome again awards; the Yankton High School Cheerleaders news printed in this In 1933, Nazi Germany staged a day- Today’s Birthdays: Actress Jane as the City hosted the SE Regional Basketball newspaper. long national boycott of Jewish-owned Powell is 86. Actress Grace Lee Whitney for administering the cheer competition; and a businesses. is 85. Actress Debbie Reynolds is 83. Tournament at the Summit Activities Center huge thank you to the Yankton Knights of Co- * * * In 1954, the United States Air Force Country singer Jim Ed Brown is 81. Actor on Saturday, Feb. 21. The 2015 tournament lumbus for providing lunches to 400 athletes Academy was established by President Don Hastings is 81. Baseball Hall of Fam- was organized by the Department of Parks and SUBSCRIPTION Dwight D. Eisenhower. er Phil Niekro is 76. Actress Ali MacGraw and 215 coaches and leaders. In 1962, the Katherine Anne Porter is 76. Rhythm-and-blues singer Rudolph Recreation. If anyone was missed, I apologize. But RATES* novel “Ship of Fools,” an allegory about Isley is 76. Baseball All-Star Rusty Staub Thank you to all the volunteers who helped (Payable in advance) the rise of Nazism in Germany, was is 71. Reggae singer Jimmy Cliff is 67. Su- again, thank you, Yankton, for making this officiate, scorekeep, run the clocks and work tournament a shining star in the state. CARRIER DELIVERY published by Little, Brown & Co. on April preme Court Justice Samuel Alito is 65. at all the different events taking place on 1-month...... $12.09 Fool’s Day. Rock musician Billy Currie (Ultravox) is In 1970, President Richard M. Nixon 65. Actress Annette O’Toole is 63. Movie that Saturday. Thank you to the following 3 months...... $36.27 signed a measure banning cigarette ad- director Barry Sonnenfeld is 62. Singer people and groups who made the tourna- Income Opportunity? 6 months...... $72.53 vertising on radio and television, to take Susan Boyle is 54. Actor Jose Zuniga is ment a success: Byron Williams, Yankton High 1-year...... $133.09 effect after Jan. 1, 1971. 53. Country singer Woody Lee is 47. Ac- Rita Eckmann, Bloomfield, Neb. MOTOR ROUTE In 1972, the first Major League Base- tress Jessica Collins is 44. Rapper-actor School Special Events Staff; Sheila Woodward, ball players’ strike began; it lasted 12 days. Method Man is 44. Movie directors Albert I just thought of a way to bring down the (where available) recruited and organized all officials, score- national debt. Why not fine everyone who In 1975, with Khmer Rouge guerrillas and Allen Hughes are 43. Political com- keepers and clock keepers; Hailey Baugh for 1 month...... $14.51 closing in, Cambodian President Lon Nol mentator Rachel Maddow is 42. Tennis continually says “you know” when attempting 3 months...... $43.53 resigned and fled into exile, spending the player Magdalena Maleeva is 40. Actor singing the National Anthem; Troop 102 of the to express a thought? 6 months...... $87.05 rest of his life in the United States. David Oyelowo is 39. Singer Bijou Phillips local Boy Scouts for presenting the colors dur- 1 year...... $139.14 In 1984, recording star Marvin Gaye is 35. Actor Sam Huntington is 33. Come- ing the opening ceremonies and helping with MAIL IN RETAIL was shot to death by his father, Marvin dian-actor Taran Killam is 33. Actor Matt Gay Sr. in Los Angeles, the day before Lanter is 32. Actor Josh Zuckerman is 30. Trade Zone his 45th birthday. (The elder Gay pleaded Country singer Hillary Scott (Lady Ante- 1-month...... $16.93 guilty to voluntary manslaughter, and re- bellum) is 29. Actor Asa Butterfield is 18. 3 months...... $50.79 ceived probation.) Thought for Today: “The only sin is KNOW YOUR RIGHTS: “Congress shall make no law respecting an estab- 6 months...... $101.57 In 1992, the National Hockey League mediocrity.” — Martha Graham, American Players’ Association went on its first-ever modern dance pioneer (born 1894, died lishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging 1-year...... $148.82 strike, which lasted 10 days. this date in 1991). MAIL OUTSIDE Ten years ago: The Vatican reported RETAIL TRADE ZONE the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to 1 month...... $19.35 assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” — The 3 months...... $58.05 FROM THE BIBLE 6 months...... $116.09 FIRST AMENDMENT to the U.S. Constitution 1-year...... $186.33 Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the * Plus applicable sales tax wicked. Psalm 82:4. Portals of Prayer, Concordia Publishing House, FREEDOM OF THE PRESS: It’s Your Right To Know! for all rates St. Louis.