Happy Blog Birthday Number 11

11 years done, starting year 12.

A somewhat erratic and enthusiastic post launched this humble but lovable blog. Visions of multiple posts per day flew about my brain but pretty quickly I saw that would not be the case. Amid a cacophony of online voices and corporate blog productions, I realized I could take my time, my own sweet, sweeeet time. Not much clickbait here, no advertising, just me and you humble but lovable readers. 

I am still here, many are no longer publishing. 

Thousands of posts have been written and published by myself, thousands more never made the cut. For reasons I cannot offer, the most read post on this page has been this one right here. You are welcome to ponder on why that is so.

There have been many, many posts on politics - but sadly it seems Tennessee's governing bodies have successfully eliminated all but the voices of a single political party in Tennessee. Only Republicans dominate, all other voices are dismissed and demonized and most recently they have been flatly outlawed by the state legislature -- Tom Humphrey explains that every county election commission is forbidden currently from having a Democrat chair such a commission - no minority voices allowed.

"The cited law, enacted earlier this year by the Legislature to take effect on July 1, declares that all county election commission chairmen must be members of the political party representing a majority of the commission. Under separate state law, Republicans have a majority on all county election commissions and on the State Election Commission as well."

So, yay Freedom. I live in a state where a single political party rules and has ruled for some years. I'm not saying they are bad folks - I'm saying my views, my voice, and that of many more Tennesseans, are not heard, not acknowledged, not allowed and that reality comes at a price.

The other most common posts here over the years are about movies, and I recently watched again a comedy favorite which I shall share - it's called "The Impostors", a slapstick comedy following two dim-witted out-of-work actors forced to stow away on a luxury cruise headed to Paris. The cast is chock-full of great performers - Isabella Rossellini, Tony Shaloub, Allison Janey, Woody Allen, Steve Buscemi, Oliver Pratt, Billy Connelly and many more. Worth a look --

Haslam Joins Ranks of The Frightened

Compassion leaves you vulnerable.

Civil War leaves you vulnerable.

Freedom leaves you vulnerable.

Terror leaves you vulnerable.

Trust leaves you vulnerable.

Fear leaves you vulnerable

When I read how poor billionaire Governor Bill Haslam joined ranks with terrified Republican Governors, politicians, and other frightened Americans  to slam the door on refugees,I mourned a little for the loss of courage and the rise of cowardice. 

Had these Governor's sincerely wanted to insure the security of our nation and our states, they could and should have engaged in detailed discussions with the federal officials involved. But they sought first the news cameras. Fanning fear, claiming prudence, it was a carefully staged PR attack on the Obama administration, a political attack in an election cycle. 

Worse, they announced to everyone around the world one clear fact - They are very scared.

They did not all stand up to cry Never Again or Don't Tread On Me. They've slammed shut the windows and will hide inside. Unified in their stand that opposing the Obama administration is more important than life or liberty or the pursuit of happiness.

Cowardice is a loaded word for these folks,I know. But the abandonment of the values of courage leaves only cowardice.

Tennessee: God, Guns, Booze

The State's Official Gun (almost)

State legislators aimed this year to define Tennessee via the designation of "Official State _________ " resolutions and came up with some true weirdness.

What did they select to identify Tennessee?

The Bible.
The Sniper Rifle.
Moonshine.

How did Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey describe this legislative session? 

"I have said it before and I will say it again: it matters who governs."

Gov. Haslam Needs History Lessons

For some years I've been a fan of Betsy Phillip's writing, she's wicked smart and has a razor sharp style and calls out BS for what it is. I'm sure some readers get a little uncomfortable with her honesty and her views since she doesn't shrink away from tough issues. Her work at Pith In The Wind has been a must-read.

Example - her take-down of what she calls our "beloved rich-person governor", Bill Haslam. 

"He can't claim that things are worse now than it was 50 years ago, which anyone who's had a decent recent US history class would know is just laughable on its face, and expect that claim to have rhetorical weight AND to want more people to have the opportunity to have good educations. Governor Haslam, either you need a state full of people who don't know better to believe your campaign speeches or you can have an educated populace. But you can't have both."

Her post takes issue with this quote from The Gov:

"The Republican answer — I think, the smart answer — is to say we’re going to give everybody the opportunities that they deserve,” he said. “There’s some people who say ... we can just tax more people at the top end and that can help more people at the bottom end, (and) it’ll all work out.

"But we’ve been trying that for the past 50 years, with the Great Society and all of that. The problem has only actually gotten worse.”

That idea that Republicans are going to "give everybody the opportunities that they deserve" ... I don't think most folks see that as the role of government. Isn't it more "protect the opportunities" of state residents? And oh yes, 50 years have seen huge improvements in most every aspect of life for Tennesseans, not a spiral down into Doom and Gloom. Always defining lifestyles and politics as stuck in the landscape of Us vs Them circa 1960s is a losing and deceptive game for all.

Betsy's right - coming from a family worth a billion dollars, The Gov has a disconnect when it comes to income inequality - mostly because he just hasn't brought any wisdom to the issue. He's kept everything status quo, same as it ever was. Longtime party leaders are calling the shots and defining the state's policies. The Gov is just along for the ride and too often he sounds deeply misinformed.

Keeping Time in Tennessee

I mentioned earlier (in Time) the state legislature is debating a bill to stop the back and forth of Daylight Savings Time. To clarify, sponsors want Tennessee to stay forever in DST.

Some fret over the state's businesses having to adjust with other states over the time differences, though really don't we have to do that anyway?

I have no clue what might have prompted this proposal - the change or lack of it seems capricious. Still, I'd sure like it if the changes would just stop. That said, does the idea really merit legislative debate?

KnoxViews has opinions on the debate.

Tom Humphrey talks about the debate too.

What say you?