Left wing White Nationalist are marching in Murfressboro and Shelbyville

Labels of "left" and "right" and even "liberal" and "conservative" are often confusing and the meaning of the terms can change over time.  Classical Liberalism would now be called conservatism. When the Soviet Union was collapsing those who wanted to maintain a Communist empire were called "conservative."  Nazis are considered part of the right but Nazis were National Socialist who opposed  free market capitalism and believed that people should subordinate their personal interests to the common good.

In an article in the Tennessean, "White Lives Matter rally: Who are the groups involved, and what do they believe?", the believes of the principle participants in the march were laid out. The bigots organizing the Murfressboro and Shelbyville protest are left wingers when it comes to most issues other than race. 

The Traditionalist Workers Party opposes capitalism and colonialism and calls for a “National Socialist government, economy and society for our people.” There website echos Occupy Wall Street saying, "Democrats and Republicans put Wall Street Greed Ahead of Main Street Values." They also demand an "end of foreclosures and taxation on the primary dwelling places."  On environmental issues they say, "We stand for investing in and developing renewable and green energy sources for long-term energy independence and reduction of carbon emissions to give clean affordable power to our nation, millions of jobs to our citizens, and cleaner air and water for our families."  On healthcare they say, "Healthcare is a right for our people, not a business opportunity where working families and the poor are left without adequate access to doctors, medicines and proper treatment."

The National Socialist Movement calls for a livable wage, the ending of taxes on food, medicine, housing, clothing and other necessities, affordable housing, and universal health care.  They "demand the nationalization of all businesses which have been formed into corporations." They are also strong environmentalist. They see access to higher educations as a right. They advocate for "the common good above self interest."

Vanguard America is a group that has splintered several times and recently Word Press closed down the organization's website so one can not get first hand information about what they believe but the group's "manifesto" does not reveal many positions on issues other than those related to race.  They do condemn global finance and say of ​multinational corporations​ they "have bled this nation dry will not be allowed to continue their detrimental efforts unabated." The League of the South does not address any issues except those related to their advocacy of session from the union.

When one hears white supremacist groups defined as "right-wing" or "alt-right" keep in mind that many of them are anti-capitalist, favor a system of national health care, and are environmentalist.  They could just as easily be called socialist or leftist.

Marsha Blackburn on the Uranium One scandal, The Clinton Foundation and Hillary's pay-to-play

From Marsha Blackburn - Many of you contacted my office this week about the news stories on the Uranium One deal and the Clinton Foundation. As part of our oversight work here in the House, my office has been looking into the Clinton Foundation and the appearance of “pay to play” activities and improprieties while Hillary Clinton was Secretary of State. In 2016, I authored a report outlining my findings, my efforts to have other agencies investigate, and the responses we received from those agencies. With the latest news bringing up more accusations and questions, House committees have opened further investigations into the matter. I support their efforts and will do what I can to get the facts. 

My Comment: The mainstream media can still not get excited about Obama era scandals or any wrongdoing involving Hillary Clinton or the Clinton Foundation but we may be reaching the point to where the establishment media cannot keep sweeping Clinton crimes under the rug and hiding them deep within the newscast.  When it come to revelations of Hillary misconduct, instead of screaming, bold, above-the-fold banner headlines, the press hides the stories as if they were inconsequential.  It looks like the crimes of Hillary Clinton and the misuse of her office as Secretary of State are going to see the light of day, however.  It may not be too late for Hillary to go to jail or at least have her reputation damaged to the point that even the most liberal partisan can no longer hold her in high esteem. I hope Marsha Blackburn and others in Congress will be relentless in pursuing this issue.

The liberal establishment will claim that any focus on Hillary misconduct is a distraction to take the focus off of the alleged Trump campaign-Russian collusion, but the truth matters.  We already know that the source of the allegation of Trump-Russian collusion was allegation in a dossier resulting from Clinton campaign financed opposition research that involved Russian sources. Maybe the real Russian collusion is the Hillary campaigns.   So far, there is no proof of Trump's collusion with the Russians to influence the election but we know that under Clinton's term in office as Secretary of State that Russia was able to get control of 20% of America's uranium and that at the same time $145 million dollars in Russian contributions were made to the Clinton Foundation. 

In addition to the Russian connection there is a lot of other evidence of corruption and misuse of Hillary's office. It appears to me that the Clinton Foundation, which never delivered more than 15% of their donations to the causes they supported, was nothing more than an instrument to facilitate pay-to-play. There should be a full investigation.  The Uranium One deal should be fully investigated as well as the allegation that the Clinton Foundation likely facilitate the distribution of watered down HIV/AID medications in sub-Saharan Africa through its Health Access Initiative. Allegation of Hillary's corruption and misuse of her office should be fully investigated. I am hopeful that the truth comes out. 

Rep. Charles Sargent announces he will not seek re-election

In announcing he would not seek reelection Sargent said he had been battling skin cancer on and off for years and is retiring to focus on his health. He has served in the State legislature for 21 years. Rebecca Ann Burke is a declared candidate for the seat and was going to challenge Sargent in the primary. So fare she is the only announced candidate but with Sargent not seeking reelection other candidates may announce. For more, follow this link  and this link.

The Alexander-Murray bill stabilizes insurance markets, saves money and nibbles away at Obamacare

by Lamar Alexander - Over the last four years, the 350,000 Tennesseans who purchase their health insurance in the individual market have seen their premiums skyrocket 176 percent. Our insurance commissioner has called the market in Tennessee "very near collapse."

Last week I announced that a group of 24 senators—12 Republicans and 12 Democrats— is cosponsoring the short-term bipartisan legislation I authored with Senator Patty Murray that will help stabilize premiums and expand access to insurance in the individual health insurance market for those Tennesseans and millions of other Americans. I've spoken to President Trump four times about our legislation and he encouraged me to reach a deal.

This week, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office released its report finding that our bill will benefit taxpayers and consumers—not insurance companies. The president has said repeatedly and I have said repeatedly that our plan must not bail out insurance companies. We've written language to make sure it does not. Now the Congressional Budget Office says it does not. The analysis found the Alexander-Murray proposal would also reduce the federal deficit by $3.8 billion. So not only does it not cost anything, it saves the taxpayer money.

The Congressional Budget Office also found that a provision that would allow people over the age of 29 to purchase a new catastrophic insurance plan would bring healthy people into the market and lead to lower premiums.

Only about six percent of insured Americans get their health insurance in the individual market. This is where people who don't get insurance on the job or from the government purchase insurance. Imagine yourself, a 45-year-old songwriter in Nashville, who loses her job, has three kids, and goes out into the individual market and finds out she can't buy health insurance because no company is offering it. If we do not act, this is the kind of consequence we are talking about.

The agreement will protect Americans facing higher premiums this year, give states permanent, meaningful flexibility to create more choices among health insurance policies in the individual market, and includes new access to a ‘copper plan,’ which would allow people of all ages to purchase catastrophic insurance so a medical emergency does not become a financial emergency. I talked with Bret Baier of Fox News last Thursday about the conservative wins in the legislation and said I agree with President Trump 100 percent that insurance companies should not be bailed out.


My Comment:  I commend Lamar Alexander for his work on advancing a needed reform to  Obamacare that will stabilize the insurance market, save money and nibble away at Obamacare. Some Republicans do not want to do anything to improve Obamacare, instead hoping that it will utterly fail and thus improve the chances for a Republican repeal and replace. That is wrong on several levels, the way I see it. First of all, the people who will be without insurance if prices continue to skyrocket and if insurers pull out of the market place are real people who will be hurt. Secondly, instead of causing people to turn to a Republican alternative to Obamacare, the collapse of Obamacare may cause people to demand a larger roll for government. The collapse of Obamacare may lead to an acceptance of a nationalization of all healthcare.  If markets collapse instead of people turning to a Republican solution, "medicare for all" may gain appeal.

Alexander has been able to get Democrats to sign on to a bill that significantly nibbles away at Obamacare. It begins to jettison the idea that plans must cover a whole list of government mandated essential services. This bill allows the sale of catastrophic insurance plans.  That is a big deal.  It also allows for some state flexibility.  These may be small steps, but small steps may be all we are going to get and may be the only way forward.  I do not think Republicans can achieve wholesale repeal of Obamacare anytime soon, but "Obamacare" can be modified and reformed till it is unrecognizable.  Alexander has allowed Democrats a way to pull back from Obamacare without admitting they are doing so.  This allows Democrats to save face. Continuing down this path of nibbling away at Obamacare while simultaneously expanding consumer choice and market forces is probably the best we can get.  Lamar Alexander's bi-partisan approach to reforming Obamacare may be the best way forward to deal with a healthcare system that is still in crisis.

Music City for Marsha: Sunday, October 29th

More info and RSVP here

 

Who is running for Beth Harwell's seat? Repubs' Joseph Williams, and Brent Moody; Dem' Bob Freeman.

Joseph William

With Beth Harwell vacating her House seat to run for governor, this creates a vacancy for the seat she now holds. The seat is a rare Republican stronghold in overwhelmingly Democratic Davidson County. The seat encompasses Belle Meade, Greenhills, Oak Hill, and Forrest Hills. It is one of the top districts in the country for big Republican donors.

Seeking to fill the seat is Joseph Williams a Nashville attorney formerly with the conservative Christian public interest law firm of American Center for Law and Justice and a former teacher at Whites Creek High School with Teach for America. Also seeking the seat is Republican Nashville surgeon Brent Moody.  Seeking the seat as a Democrat is Bob Freeman son of Democrat super fund raiser and real estate developer and former candidate for mayor Bill Freeman.

For more details, see the following.
The Tennessean: Republican Joseph Williams to run for Beth Harwell's Tennessee House seat
The Tennessean: Nashville surgeon to run for House Speaker Beth Harwell's District 56 seat
Website: Joseph Williams

A victory for private property rights and affordable housing in Antioch

The Ridge at Antioch

A ruling from the State Court of Appeals  upholding a Davidson County Chancery Court ruling ends the long fight to deny a property owner his property rights and stop the construction of an affordable housing apartment complex in Antioch.  Property rights and affordable housing won.

Last year a developer proposed building a 96-unit apartment complex in Antioch. The development met the existing requirements and did not require a property zone change. Neighbors in Antioch did not want additional affordable housing in their community and fought the development. Councilman Karen Johnson introduced legislation to "down-zone" the property to a zoning that would not allow the construction of apartments.  A down zoning is a form of "taking." The owner retains title but the government takes away the development rights the owner previously enjoyed. At the public hearing to down-zone the property, neighbors favoring the down-zoning argued the development would "ghettoize" their community. Johnson did not have the votes to pass the bill which was disapproved by the Planning Commission and would have required 27 votes to pass on Third Reading, and she differed it indefinitely. (link)


Meanwhile, some Antioch residents filed suit to stop the development and lost in court, appealed and lost the appeal. The apartment complex knows as The Ridge at Antioch will be priced to be affordable to people who make 60% of the median Nashville area income, which for a family of three is $37,140. The financing of the project included $11 million in tax credits awarded by the Tennessee Housing and Development Agency. When the councilman tried to kill the project, THDA threatened to withhold future tax credit grants to Nashville if that occurred.

Having worked in the non-profit housing sector most of my career, I am well aware of these type tax credit properties.  They are not "the projects." The rent price is not based on an individual's ability to pay, but on what is "affordable" for a person of that income bracket.  While I do not know the actual rent these units will bring, affordable rent for a person making $37K would be $925 a month. Many people living in apartment developments of this type are not even aware they live in property restricted to people of modest income. There are a lot of single mothers with two children whose income does not exceed $37K and lots of young couples with one child just starting their careers whose income does not exceed $37,000.  One will not see old junker cars or any indication that a project of this type is priced to be affordable housing. The people living in these units are not generally people on welfare but are often young working people.

While a lot of lip service is paid to affordable housing, there are a lot of metro policies that discourage the development of affordable housing and a lot of hypocrisy around the issue.  Some of the Council's biggest advocates of  "affordable housing" supported Johnson's effort to kill this development.  While I am pleased this affordable housing project can move forward, I am more pleased that there was a victory for private property rights.  While I am not an opponent of planning and zoning and think that establishing land uses is proper function of government, it is morally wrong to take away one's property rights.  In this case it was especially reprehensible, because the developers and owners were already vested in the development. Plans had been drawn, financing arranged and the project was ready to move forward when the councilman and community tried to take away the property owners right to build. This was a good outcome.

To read The Tennessean story, follow this link.

Former Republican Rep. Stephen Fincher enters Tennessee U.S. Senate race

Former Republican Rep. Stephen Fincher enters Tennessee U.S. Senate race