Fair Taxation vs. Internet Freedom?
A political fight seems to be brewing between brick-and-mortar retailers in Tennessee-or at least some of their lobbyists-and Amazon:
The arguments of both sides in this situation are severely flawed. Amazon.com has been operating in the way that it does for years before that company ever proposed to open distribution centers in this State. One of the beauties of internet-only retail is that it is either very low-tax and is more often no-tax. That's why there is so much freedom in the internet and why it is such a wonderful medium in which to do business, because there is so little government interference. The internet allows a business to sell directly to consumers who seek a certain product, and if a business doesn't have a good online presence in the 21st Century, it is likely to be left wanting as more and more business is done on the internet.
Labels: Conservatism, Local politics, Tennessee politics
What's In A Name?
The Tennessee Highway Patrol wants to change some of their public image by changing their name:
Many times liberals often accuse conservatives of "playing with semantics" when we speak of the State or federal Constitution, or when we refuse to refer to our fair country as a "democracy" (it is a constitutional republic). If you want to go deep into the semantics game, that game is being played out in the Tennessee Senate over whether we should continue to call the Tennessee Highway Patrol the "Highway Patrol," or whether their name should be changed to the Tennessee STATE Patrol. The primary concern that some members of the Senate Transportation Committee seem to have is that the name change somehow would send the signal that Tennessee now has a State police agency.
Labels: Democrats, Local politics, Republican Party, Tennessee politics
Ash Wednesday
Joel 2:12-18:
Now therefore saith the Lord: Be converted to me with all your heart, in fasting, and in weeping, and in mourning. And rend your hearts, and not your garments, and turn to the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, patient and rich in mercy, and ready to repent of the evil. Who knoweth but he will return, and forgive, and leave a blessing behind him, sacrifice and libation to the Lord your God? Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly,
Gather together the people, sanctify the church, assemble the ancients, gather together the little ones, and them that suck at the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth from his bed, and the bride out of her bride chamber. Between the porch and the altar the priests the Lord's ministers shall weep, and shall say: Spare, O Lord, spare thy people: and give not thy inheritance to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them. Why should they say among the nations: Where is their God? The Lord hath been zealous for his land, and hath spared his people.
Labels: Faith, Holy Mother Church
The Democrats Are A Political Party?
More proof that Democrats are irrelevant:
The Tennessee Democratic Party believed that they could make a major issue over the pending legislation to ensure that unions cannot hold government or local school boards hostage in the Special Election in Senate District 18. Democrats also believed a lower voter turnout in an increasingly Republican district would help them pull off an historic upset and turn the new tide of Republican domination on its head. As it turns out, they were wrong on both counts Tuesday.
Labels: Conservatism, Democrats, Elections, Local politics, News Media, Tennessee politics
Health Freedom
Health freedom
passes the Tennessee House:
The Tennessee House of Representatives approved by a vote of 70-27 the controversial Tennessee Health Freedom Act, a bill which will allow for Tennesseans to make the free choice as to whether or not they wish to accept a health insurance plan that would be mandated by the federal government. Despite some people trying to say that this isn't a nullification bill, it is essentially a piece of opt-out legislation giving Tennesseans the right to ignore the federal law and do what they think to be best for themselves at their pleasure.
Labels: Conservatism, Federal politics, Local politics, Tennessee politics
Lamar! In Hamblen With Loud and Proud GOP
Hamblen County
shows new Republican power:
Tennessee State Republican Chairman Chris Devaney was also in attendance, along with Congressman Phil Roe, and former Congressman David Davis, who Roe defeated in the 2008 Republican Primary. In his remarks, Devaney said that there were some good results of President Obama's policies, and we could see some of those results that night in the persons of State Representatives Jeremy Faison (R-Cosby) and Don Miller (R-Morristown) along new Republican Hamblen County Mayor Bill Brittain.
If someone wanted to see a microcosm of how much the Republican Party has grown in influence in Tennessee over the last year, it was on display in Morristown Friday night.
Labels: Conservatism, Elections, Local politics, Miscellany, Republican Party, Tennessee politics
