For much of my early adult life, I witnessed the struggle between fiscal responsibility and the reach of government, particularly at the Federal level. Without a statutory requirement to balance the budget, the temptation… Read More
Lieutenant Clark “never hesitates to offer well-reasoned, if sometimes unpopular views.” Those words adorned the comment block of my first Officer Efficiency Report. This column offers both; a “well-reasoned” argument but some in this… Read More
“Everyone wants things to be different, but no one wants anything to change.” That could be the mantra of our region. Yet changes, in technology, culture, business activity, as a result of the Pandemic… Read More
It pains me to watch us flog ourselves like some medieval flagellants. Certainly, our region is far from perfect; we suffer from many of the same ills as other rural areas. Yet, despite significant… Read More
A New Year. Time to shed off the old and start anew. But sometimes, the baggage of the past comes back to haunt us. The weight of events gone by seem to overwhelm the… Read More
Regardless of the name (Tri-Cities, Upper East Tennessee or Appalachian Highlands), we live or die as one region. However, we have been unable to formulate a coherent story that incorporates and mutually benefits the… Read More
I grew of age (politically speaking) in the Reagan era. I watched the economic and social malaise of the 1970s recede before a message of hope and optimism. A renewed American spirit took hold.… Read More
America is unique in many ways. Perhaps the most remarkable feature of our country is the fact that for over 230 years we have had a peaceful transition of power and leadership. Even during… Read More
There is growing momentum to rethink the saga of our country. This “Revisionist History” is the reinterpretation of orthodox views on evidence, motivations, and actions surrounding past events. This development has both ardent proponents… Read More
Our country seems to be at war with itself. Peaceful protests over the specific cases of police abuse have devolved into a broader, more violent protest against government institutions and actions. These issues have… Read More
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