Commentary
Editor’s Column: Kelsey’s defense of slavery exception fails Four-Way Test
A good friend of mine joined her local Rotary Club several years ago when she wanted to become more involved in the community. I was skeptical at first, knowing little about the organization. I’ve learned more about it and Rotary is a fine civic organization that outlines its mission as a group of “friends, leaders, […]
Editor’s Column: Slatery and Hargett protest too much about voting rights act
Tuesday, reporter Sam Stockard reported Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett and Attorney General Herbert Slatery have both joined their peers in signing letters that announce their disapproval of the “For the People” Act, a voting rights package that passed in the U.S. House March 4. The package, which passed along party lines — 220 […]
Commentary: How “Niceley” to Advocate Nonsense
Few legislators are as unintentionally funny as Tennessee’s Frank Niceley. He’s a farmer from Strawberry Plains whose state senate district sprawls across Claiborne, Grainger, Hancock, Hawkins, Jefferson and Union counties. The Republican Niceley was elected to the state house in 2004 and moved up to the State Senate after the 2012 election. His career has […]
Editor’s Column: Tennessee’s Constitution should be handled with care
On Monday, Tennessee officials staged a parade to move three physical versions of the Tennessee Constitution to their new home in the freshly completed Tennessee Library and Archives building. The Tennessee National Guard color guard turned out in smart uniforms, the Tennessee State University drumline high stepped along the downtown parade route, and the constitutions […]
Bare Minimum
I need a research assistant. I’ll pay you $725 a week. Assuming your performance is good the first year I’ll drop your weekly pay to $702. The next year it’ll be $688, and then $678. In year five your pay is $667, and if you hang in with me for a decade, I’ll reward your […]
Commentary: Cockfighting is uncivilized and barbaric. Tennessee shouldn’t tolerate it.
The origin of cockfighting dates back thousands of years, but it was during Ferdinand Magellan’s voyage to the Philippines in 1521 that modern cockfighting was first documented by his chronicler, Antonio Pigafetta, in the kingdom of Taytay. It’s a grisly and still-rampant blood sport, unnervingly present in the Volunteer State. Most states banned cockfighting in […]
Commentary: Tennessee Republicans’ words cannot be taken at face value
If there’s one thing we’ve learned during the age of Trump, it’s that Republicans cannot be taken at face value on anything. So when GOP lawmakers in Tennessee claim they are pushing anti-transgender legislation to “protect” girls’ high school athletics, we need only to look at their political records, personal behavior and the predators in […]
Analysis: Nashville should ban facial recognition technology
In 2017, the Metro Nashville Council overwhelmingly passed an ordinance 25-2 taking steps to limit the use of surveillance technology by the city government. The resulting law, Section 13.08.080, requires council approval when placing surveillance devices onto public rights-of-way, with “surveillance” covering technology from biometric software to RFID scanners. In short, the law does not […]
Editor’s Column: The Tennessee-Texas connection extends to emergency in Memphis
The first line of “Blue Yodel #1,” by one of the pioneers of country music, Jimmie Rodgers, goes, “T for Texas, T for Tennessee.” The pairing of the two states is appropriate. There’s long been a kinship between the pair, dating to the 1846 Mexican War. When the United States called for 2,800 Tennesseans to […]
Commentary: It’s time to recognize that doulas are vital community health workers
This legislative session, Rep. London Lamar introduced a resolution to recognize doulas as vital birth and community health workers in Tennessee. For millions of families who are expecting or will be expecting soon, this would be one of the first steps toward realizing a Tennessee where all expectant parents have access to the full range […]
Commentary: Justice will be found in we the people
The U.S. Senate vote to acquit former President Donald Trump for the second time affirmed what most of us have known since Nov. 8, 2016—Donald Trump is dangerous; and, despite overwhelming evidence, Republicans will put partisan politics and personal gain over protecting America’s democracy. “For those that continue to feign great surprise about what happened […]
Editor’s Column: Altered state
Monday night, I switched on Facebook to watch Gov. Bill Lee’s third State of the State address. There’s much which I disagree with Lee on but having read a preview of the speech, I felt confident I at least knew what to expect going in. Sure — we are mid-COVID-19 pandemic and Lee had already […]