Roy Exum
If it weren’t for Patsy Hazelwood, I probably would not vote in our state’s General Election when early voting begins today. For the first time I can remember, I honestly believe it is a waste of my time and as “voter apathy” has reached a pandemic proportion in America, I have always believed that a person’s right to vote is one of our country’s most profound freedoms.
I appreciate and respect what Patsy has done in the business sector and am well aware of a lifetime of contributions she has already made to our community.
She’s a renowned leader and will serve well when she represents me and my neighbors in the state legislature. But, other than that, I am literally ashamed to admit I could care less about another soul on the entire ballot.
It is a miserable feeling. According to a story in the Wall Street Journal last week, “Two-thirds of registered voters believe the country is on the wrong track, while just a quarter say the U.S. is moving in the right direction - the widest gap before a mid-term election in more than 20 years, The Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll found last month.
“’In the past, there was a feeling that government was on their side; now they feel the government is against them,” said Rep. Nick Rahall (D., W.Va.), who is in a tough re-election fight. “’It makes it doubly difficult for me to make my case.’”
That’s “my case,” exactly. So as I ruefully join what I feel will be an extremely light turnout in the land of the free, here are my thoughts as I go to the polls:
GOVERNOR – Bill Haslam will win by a landslide because he’s on the ballot against six virtual ghosts. John Jay Hooker is the only opponent anyone has ever heard of and what we heard wasn’t good. I moan that Haslam hasn’t solved our health care crisis very well and that a lot of people are suffering due to too much politics and a loathsome inefficiency of state government. What kind of leader Haslam will be in the second term is vital to the state but he’ll win by such a wide margin a single vote means little. That’s what is called apathy.
SENATE – As a conservative, Lamar Alexander is the lone choice and he has become Tennessee’s greatest disappointment in just the last four years. When he got in bed with the “sore horse crowd,” it left an indelible stain against the achievements he has made in previous years … if you can forget he’s the genius who actually triggered the Common Core debacle. Democrat Gordon Ball is a delightful guy – I really like him – but in an age where we can’t trust a politician, a Democrat is a shade even worse and another ally for Harry Reid is unthinkable. So I’ll leave this one blank and, no, Lamar shouldn’t have any say-so who gets appointed to the TVA board.
CONGRESS – Chuck Fleischmann has been a disaster for four years, in my opinion. Seriously, I can’t find anything this guy has done since he was first elected. Oh, he’s great in helping jam up Congress and in trading rude jabs but he’s also deeply controlled by the evil “Big Lick” segment of the horse industry. I saw what his top challenger said about the Supreme Court’s “Hobby Lobby” decision and ever since Democrat Mary Headrick’s voice has been mute to my ears. Here’s another selection I’ll leave blank.
TENNESSEE LEGISLATURE – Bo Watson, Gerald McCormick, JoAnne Favors, and Mike Carter face no opposition and should all be elected if they did. Marc Gravitt will be a good choice in the 30th District and, of course, Patsy Hazlewood will pick right back up where Richard Floyd left things. Our community has a tremendous delegation in Nashville but we need to push for help on Erlanger’s indigent care.
WINE AT GROCERIES – Vote “YES” because people enjoy the convenience and 35 other states think we are stupid for waiting so long. If it passes, the legislature shouldn’t force us to wait until 2016 either when liquor stores already have an unfair head start on beer and non-alcohol items. This whole issue has been costly and ridiculous.
AMENDMENT No. 1 – Vote “NO” for every female you love. If they change the Constitution here, will God or guns be next? I feel very strongly the legislature has no business dictating what a woman can do with her body as long as it isn’t already against the state or federal law. Further, I believe that if we should change our rules about abortion, the roguish use of our state’s females as the conduit is morally wrong. Men in Tennessee should be held equally accountable. Figure that out and any solution, whatever it is, will be easier to stomach.
AMENDMENT No. 2 – Vote “YES” to let the Governor appoint judges until it is done in a general election. What makes you weep is the news that the recent state Supreme Court retention squabble had a price tag of $2.4 million, which in itself is embarrassing to anyone who contributed to either side.
AMENDMENT No. 3 – Vote “YES” that the legislature shouldn’t levy state or local taxes on payroll or earned income. (How does this stuff get on the ballot?)
AMENDMENT No. 4 – Vote “YES” to empower the state legislature to authorize lotteries via a two-thirds vote for annual events that benefit 501 (c) (3) and 501(c)(19) organizations both nonprofit and exempt from federal taxes. 501(c)(19) organizations are veterans organizations. Then again, who really cares when it is charitable dollars?
And that sums up the entire ballot. I’m betting you’ll be startled by the number of voters who don’t care enough to go to the polls.
royexum@aol.com