Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen was repeatedly warned about problems within the Tennessee Highway Patrol, but was preoccupied with other issues.
I take back the Knoxville comment, but not the middle and northern Tennessee - basically all urban areas vote Dem in Tennessee.
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Liberal Unfriendly Place: Knoxville, TN (and Blount County)
http://www.cjnetworks.com/~cubsfan/places/knoxville.html
These are comments on Knoxville, submitted by other Turn Left visitors. They do not necessarily represent the opinion of the webmaster. You may add a comment on Knoxville if you want.
These East Tenn. communities rank among the most incorrigibly arch-conservative communities in the U.S. Home of 2nd Congressional District Congressman Jimmie Duncan who inherited the seat from his now-deceased father, Rep. John Duncan. He consistently votes against "liberal" programs that he then hypocritically exploits in rendering constituent services. Adjoining Blount County is the home of Lamar Alexander, advocate of such clever ideas as school vouchers and a staunch opponent (with Sen. Mitch McConnell of Ky.) of campaign finance reform. Fundamentalist churches in cahoots with the Christian Coalition act with impunity in promoting the candidacies of people who are anti-choice, anti-sex ed in schools, etc. Knoxville and Maryville (Blount County) each have only one newspaper. Both cater to the psychosocial ignorance and impoverishment that have long prevailed in the region. Enough said?
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Strongly anti-tax of any sort. However, the short-sighted local government manages to screw up any publics work project and creates enough environmental damage that taxes have to be raised anyway to take up the slack. Tell me why such a strongly anti-taxation area has an 8.25% sales tax, one of the highest in the country.
Another good example of their absurd tax policy: Knoxville has a special 'entertainment tax' that was originally levied on all public musical/art performances to help pay the bonds for a local sports/music venue. A few years after levying the tax, politicians decided to *exempt* all performances at the new venue (performances with large draws), while leaving it in place on smaller performing locales. In effect, the small struggling acts are subsidizing a venue for well-established performers.
Needless to say, Knoxville doesn't get much decent music. Popular performers even steer clear of the lower-cost large venue because Knoxville has gained the reputation of a cultural wasteland.
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Knoxville is the shiny brass buckle of the Bible Belt. Country music - a sure sign of rightist arrogancy - rules here. Pat Summitt, Lady Vol basketball coach, when asked about her political aspirations, politely refused the possibility of elected office, but added that she'd have to run as a Republican in Knoxville, even though she calls herself a Democrat.
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It is my understanding (I'm an ex-Knoxvillian) that, a few years back, the city council passed a resolution declaring that gays were not welcome in the city. The resolution had no legal teeth, but its a pretty sad thing anyway.
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I have recently relocated from the Chicago area (Arlington Heights) to Knoxville.
I am an information technology professional and make a living implementing multi-million dollar software projects. My work requires me to fly to the client site each week. I am always eager to return to Knoxville.
I spent the first 30 years of my life growing up in the suburbs of the windy city and really believe that I made an excellent decision to move to Knoxville. Unlike while living in Chicago, I do not feel like I am being punished for being a white male. The Knoxville area's ethnic populations relate to each other with much less tension, as well. The Chicago area, which is famous for its racial tensions (and liberal values) is far to focused on social re-engineering, rather than allowing individuals to excel at whatever their goals might be. This strong liberal social re-engineering helps to fuel racial tensions.
Go Vols!!