Is progress possible in Tennessee?

[foxeyes2]

I have lived in Nashville for a little over 12 years after leaving the State for about 12 years and I am not encouraged by what I see.
It seems the elected Democrats are pretty much DINOs and have no desire for progressive politics. They seem to put profit and business interests over people, they do no support marriage equality or any other gay friendly legislation and they seem content with the status quo. My question is Can we do anything to affect change in Tennessee to make it a more progressive place to live and work? Of there is something would there be anyone really committed to doing the work?

[southerncrone]

1. Remember, we ARE the South! Things move slowly here.

I think that Tennessee is less progressive than it was 35 years ago.

There has been an influx of corporate repukes into the state because of the growth of the Southern economy. This is especially true in the Nashville area. My own county was solidly Blue for decades, but we are a bedroom community of Nashville, & have so much new growth because of corporate transfers that we are becoming purple. It is a sad thing, but this kind of "growth" has led to an extreme change in the political complexion of the county.

East TN has not changed that much politically. Still a Repuke stronghold. West TN, too, except Memphis proper.

I don't think things will change until the country has a change of heart & moves solidly toward the Dems. Then, we might see some change here, but it will be slow, IMHO.:(

[WizardTN]

2. Apathy

As long as the apathy persists in the TN Democrats we will get nowhere.

It goes all the way to the top. I had a discussion with the current Chair (Gray Sasser) of the party back at the beginning of the year. I raised what I considered to be a valid issue with him at that time. and he took notes and my phone # and email address and PROMISED someone would get back to me. This was the same issue that I had brought up previously with an intern during the previous year with the former Chair. I am STILL waiting, 9 mos. later.

I have given up on getting anything done locally or even statewide. I have decided to stop funding anyone or anything local and am now devoting my time and resources to things nationally. I will not even support local candidates, but am focusing on promoting issues.

I have been here for 25 years and am in my 60's. So I do feel that I have some knowledge. It is all "Good Ole Boy politics" as usual around here.

The lack of posts in this particular forum does more to underscore the fact than anything I can say.

[SharonAnn]

3. Yep. You said it.

[anniebelle]

6. I just found this forum. Chattanooga's my home.

Actually, we live on Signal Mountain, just outside of Chattanooga. Very RED up here in my neck of the woods. We were the only ones with a Harold Ford, Jr. sign in the yard, I'll just say that. Mostly middle class on my street, before you get into the more lavish homes on the hill. Anyway, I'll check back here every day to see what the word on the street is. Thanks for your input, don't hear anything here but right-wing talking points.

[southerncrone]

7. Welcome to DU, anniebelle.

I grew up in Red Bank, went to school w/a few of the Signal Mtn. crowd. Definetly RED & getting REDDER! It has grown so much in the 35 yrs. since I left. Mostly neocon types have moved in because of increased Southern economy expansion by corporations.

Are you originally from there?

I was in Chatta. last week to visit my mom & saw 2 Ron Paul signs but no others. But the Mtn. is different.

[anniebelle]

8. Hey, yes I grew up in North Chattanooga.

Went to Normal Park, Northside, then on to City across the river. Tells you how old I am. Anyway, we moved up here on the hill about 4 years ago after an 8 year stay in the North Carolina mountains. Yes, Ron Paul is the only sign I see up here, but lots of hummers with that W still attached. My husband and I publish in the LTTE (Chattanooga News Free Press) just about every month and I will have to tell you, we get some nasty letters and phone calls. We finally disconnected the ringer on our phone so we don't have to be bothered with them night and day. Hateful people up here on the mountain, I must say.

[4_TN_TITANS]

21. Right on.....

[DeSwiss]

4. Yes, its possible. In our lifetime???

My sense is that the major cities will always contain a number of progressive politicians. We're the "Silver Streak" in the Democratic hair. But it doesn't seem enough to have a real impact at the legislative level in state politics. That streak gets covered up pretty quickly.

When I first moved to Nashville in 1965, we had two Dem governors -- Buford Ellington and Frank Clement, who were (believe it or not) considered to be "progressive" for the time. At least in the civil rights arena, but again, it was for THAT time. You just had to be there I guess. But that's about a far as the Dem party has moved, unless you count the support (not enough) for Harold Ford in the last cycle. And Southerncrone is exactly right about the infusion of corporatists into the state and in Middle Tennessee in particular. Mostly thanks to the current Democratic governor, who is a REAL DINO.

And Wizard tapped the nail on the head: "The Old Boy Network." Its the only thing Dems here know and aren't inclined toward wheel-reinventing. Even if its an old canostoga wagon wheel. As long as it works. And most progressive efforts and organizations seem to be all seeking their own agendas instead of working together to maximize their power. And a lot of that has to do with the heavy influence of religious institutions, schools and businesses. Many of which are tax-exempt, yet wield more power than anyone else, with the possible exception of the major corporations. But few are prepared to take the church-folks and their repressive agenda on.

My father, who was himself a preacher, once told me when I complained of the old-fashioned ideals still held by members of the fundie church I was brought up in, said to me "some changes don't come until some of the older folks in the church die. Its just the way it is." Of course I was stunned with his candor, but since then have concluded that he was right. We're already seeing the early vestiges of this on a national level with the religious-right organizations who seem in disarray and fighting among themselves.

So to answer you question again -- yes, its possible. But only after the bell tolls....

[Claire Beth]

5. I am optimistic....

I believe Tennessee can and will become more a progressive state, and hopefully sooner than later. The fact that Harold Ford, JR. ALMOST (I did say ALMOST) win the 2006 senate race was a good sign. Bush has helped democrats by showing just how radical the GOPERS (most) are. We have a dem governor who has been elected for two terms now, which is also a good sign. At least we didn't put that radical Van Hileary in office a few years back.

[Dewlso]

9. Change is painful

You have to remember alot of the people who have lived here for generations are still upset over the outcome of the civil war. The area I live in is populated with people that don't follow politics but they all vote. They cast a blind vote, a vote for whoever the republican is. At my job I asked some people why they vote for republicans this is a sampling of the answers:

"I always vote for the republican. I don't need a reason."
"My family always votes for republicans. They wouldn't like it if I voted for a Democrat."
"My grandpa told me he would disown me if I voted for a Democrat."

So, to think that these people would be open to change would just be wishful thinking. The truth is that they don't follow politics enough to cast an educated vote. They are like bleating sheep. They just follow the herd. I have tried talking about current issues and most people don't like to discuss politics except for the usual brainless faux noise viewer that regurgitates an opinion they heard on faux noise or faux radio. Heck, I know of Churches that have told people to vote for the republican candidates because they represented stability where as the others represented change. I am with you. I would like to see Tennessee become more progressive. It has become a museum of hatred and bigotry. They don't want to change. They rather keep it the way it was back during the civil war. I cannot speak for urban areas. I am speaking for the neocon rural areas. (unfortunately where I live because of my job)

[SharonAnn]

10. Hmm, you must live near me.

[tennlib]

11. Is progress possible in Tennessee?

It's will be an uphill fight for sure.I don't know about your part of the state,but in the eastern part there are a lot of Democrats that want Bush's hide!!
That being said,religion and guns get attention. Unfortunately prejudice still plays well here in this part of the state too.
There was some encouragement by the close race for senate between Harold Ford Jr.and Boob Dorker,er I mean bob corker last year.
I guess a lot of people here are either blind or just haven't been stung bad enough by the RW crowd to change their thinking. Just have to take little steps before you can make big strides!!

[Dewlso]

12. Hmmm

I live in East TN too. Although the feelings I get from the people in the city I live in, is that they think bush is a savior, but these very same people cast the blind ballots. They think a war with Iran is necessary. Although when you ask them if they will send their kids and grandkids to fight they just about jump out of their skin.

[Duppers]

13. We moved from Knoxville almost 30 yrs ago...

to Virginia and in my experience, Knoxville has gotten a lot redder over the yrs.

Am I wrong?

My mother lives in Morristown and my dad's family are in Greeneville---both VERY RED towns.

And my hubby family in Memphis are such awful, awful racist republicans that we no long talk to them.

So, when you ask if progress in TN possible? I don't think so. Sigh.

[Dewlso]

14. Knoxville has a Democrat counter-culture

I heard a report that Democrats in Knoxville donated more money during the last 3 years than any other city in Tennessee. They even surpassed the repugnants in fundraising.

[Duppers]

15. thank you so much for that info

I only keep up with my dem friends in K-patch but I was assuming that Knox county was repub.
Hubby and I are considering where to retire and thought of going back, but are now so concerned about the continuing drought conditions. If it's not one thing, it's my mother! ;)

[K Gardner]

16. I live in Knoxville and its a strange conundrum..

Our party leaders are lazy and self-absorbed. You will get absolutely NO help on an organized political level here. Our Republican congressman has been in office virtually unopposed for decades, although he has voted consistently against the Iraq war and funding. To be fair, he also voted against SCHIP, but that's another story.

I personally know NO ONE who is for Bush, or for the War. As a nurse, I rotate through most of the hospitals and hear this from doctors, nurses, patients, etc. We are also home of the Univ of TN, which has a huge number of progressively-minded students. But there is absolutely NO organization. And I just don't get it and it infuriates me.

Tennessee went for Clinton/Gore, then turned Red again twice when Shrub was running... I think there only needs to be decent organization here for TN to coalesce to BLUE again. It doesn't help that no candidates spend any time here, absolutely none. They write us off as "red" without realizing how much Blue Spirit there is here, under the surface.

[SharonAnn]

18. Lots of political infighting among the party "leadership". Knoxville is an

"old boy" town in many ways, including this one. The same 7 (or 10 people) run everything and always have.

They want to be in charge. They don't want to do anything constructive. They just want to be in chrge.

BTW, that's true for most counties in East TN. The Democratic parties are not "led" by experienced political operatives, but by legacy operatives.

The famous statement is "We don't do it that way here". Once when that was said I responded with "We don't do what? Win elections?" That was simply ignored and they went right on with the discussion.

My favorite anecdote is about the Harold Ford, Jr. committee in one of the towns around Knoxville had progressive brunch where you went to one house for juice and coffee, another for brunch, then another for dessert. They restricted the guest list to the few people they knew. Hardly anyone showed up. And later they said they "worked so hard for Harold."

They just don't understand the mechanics of a political operation. They "don't do it that way here."

Sigh!

[K Gardner]

20. That is so true ! I had a similar experience..

Back after the stolen election of 2000, when Shrub visited Townsend - bunch of us from the internet wanted to meetup and go protest. I called our Democratic Party Chair about their participation/support and was told, "We don't think it's a good time for that." (We 'rabblerousers' went anyway)

I was like.. WTF?? "When do you think MIGHT be a good time?? He just stole the White House.."

Nothing much has changed since then, not even with all that has changed with the country. It's the one thing I absolutely despise about living here. There is this old southern attitude that "we don't want to stir up any trouble or make a scene". Anyway, good to know I'm not alone in my frustration, and that it wasn't my imagination!

[NashVegas]

17. Have You Considered Running?

I've been in Nashville for 13 years now (WOW!); every year it's a little more like the kind of city I want to live in, and that's mostly because of private entities, businesses, and people who are making their own scene and not waiting for the rest of town to catch up with them.

Just a thought.

[SharonAnn]

19. It's important to do that, but the legacy party operatives block "outsider" candidates

It would be funny if it weren't so sad.