By Marjorie Lloyd 

The man had it right.
As much as I have shifted away from my young adult view that the world could be saved from poverty, it has come around to this.
More and more Americans are feeling the penny pinch.
I have recently pulled out all my purses and scrambled through the interior pockets looking for forgotten change.
Money has become the barometer of the nation: “Congress spends too much, taxes are too high, food and gas prices would have been unimaginable yesterday, who can take a vacation?” And the list goes on.
But the serious question is how do we survive until the economy leaves the sludge behind and kicks its heels in the air again?
A new car costs more than all three of my parents’ houses, even the last one they owned. 
Many who own a home owe more than it is worth in certain areas of the country that have been hardest hit by the downturn.
A roof, whether rented or owned, is more important than an investment right now.
Remember when the license plates said, “Will the last person to leave Michigan please turn out the lights?”
That could also be a humorless joke for California. How close to unthinkable that is.
Most businesses have already shrunk their operating costs to a skinny column, and many people are choosing meals based on expense, with nutrition shoved into second place.
What has happened to American life?
In the turmoil surrounding decisions that were habits in years past, we have examples right here in our own county.
Hendersonville city government gave city employees a raise for this year.
“We gave a two percent raise,” said Mayor Scott Foster, “but not until about halfway through the fiscal year, so around November, employees will get two percent, effectively one-and-a-half percent for this fiscal year.”
He added, “City employees did not get a raise last year.”
Fortunately for the people of Sumner County, our county government has sliced and diced the departmental budgets so that there remains a healthy reserve fund, barring another extreme weather disaster in the immediate future,
Now is the time to pause and consider those who perform the day-to-day functions of the county.
Commissioners should give the county general employees a raise next Monday, at the special called meeting about the 2010-11 budget, whether two percent or one percent, or more–all commissioners should vote for approval for this.
These people drive ambulances and save lives; they rescue their neighbors  from fatal waters; they aid other counties and even neighboring states when they experience deprivation or disaster; they repair our bridges, roads and road shoulders so that we can drive across the county safely.
They provide services that we no longer are able to do independently.
In the overall county budget, this raise is more than appropriate.
The reserve fund would remain above the targeted $7M. And the money from the sale of Sumner Regional Health Systems to LifePoint is expected to be approved next week. That bird is almost in the hand and brings with it hope for the future with the potential for more jobs being available and the influx of revenues.
For those commissioners who are not returning and for those new commissioners who will be taking their seats next month and will soon be examining the budget structure again in a few months, it would be negligent to ignore those 575 county general employees who carry out your policies and make the machine of Sumner County function without breakdown.
To paraphrase County Executive Anthony Holt in the budget committee on Monday, let’s not balance the budget on the weary backs of the county employees.
The next time your home floods in the spring or a bridge gives way to the force of flashfloods or a tornado destroys the landscape or even lives–you will believe that no amount is actually enough recompense.
Money does set the world in motion, not always in a negative way. This is one opportunity government  can demonstrate its compassion and its practicality in the same vote.

By Candy Webb

Listen. Hear that? It is the sound of peace and quiet that always follows an election primary. Thank goodness it’s over for now, right?
Elections always remind me of the floor on Wall Street. Early on, the floor is relatively quiet, as information begins to move and things begin to happen, the action picks up. By the end of the day, the place has worked itself into a frenzy that threatens to explode and then the bell rings, signaling it is over and everyone can finally go home.
Elections are like that too. The frenzy this week was unreal as candidates made last ditch attempts to secure votes. Signs were everywhere, people were everywhere and voters were bombarded with information, some true, some not so true.
Which leads me to the Sixth District Congressional race. Oh my. I was surprised and disappointed to see Lou Ann Zelenik resort to such nasty, mud slinging tactics. Those television commercials were juvenile at best and slanderous at their worst.
Why, oh why, must one candidate every election, decide to conduct themselves with such a lack of decorum?
Diane Black and Jim Tracy both conducted clean campaigns. They are diametrically opposed in some areas and very similar in others. I had the opportunity to speak to both of them on more than one occasion and was consistently impressed with their attitudes and actions on the campaign trail.
I also attended an event for Lou Ann Zelenik, and I was shocked by some of the things she said there.
I have received several calls from around town, from people who heard I was there and wanted me to verify some of the things she said.
I am going to go out on a limb here and declare Zelenik the loser of the race before it is even over. This newspaper doesn’t come out until Friday and the election is Thursday night, but I feel confident that Zelenik won’t even be in the running when all is said and done.
And do you know why?
Adults are not impressed with mud-slinging tactics. The more it happens, the less support the candidate can expect to garner. Even if a voter is not thrilled with her opponents, they will turn away from her because if she cannot conduct herself any better than this on the campaign trail, how is she going to conduct herself when debating serious political issues in Washington?
I commend Black and Tracy for running a true political race. The kind of race that once again makes me proud to be an American. The kind of race that reminds me that I live in the best nation in the world. They spoke about their concerns, their goals and their plans. They let the voters know where they stood on various issues and managed to make their points without ever tearing their opponents down.
Lou Ann Zelenik could take some lessons from the two of them, in my opinion.
When I vote for a candidate, I choose a candidate that not only has beliefs and values similar to mine, but is also someone I won’t be embarrassed by in Washington.
I want to congratulate the candidates who won. I want to commend the candidates who lost, but can still look at their reflection in the mirror tomorrow because they still have their self respect and know they ran a clean campaign.
November is around the corner.
Let the next frenzy begin. 

By Marjorie Lloyd

There is much local excitement for this Election Day, which is so much different from the two days after the floods of May,
Of the six school board seats up for election, districts 1,3,5,7,and 9 are contested. David Brown of Westmoreland has the only odd-numbered district with no opposition.
Don Long, the current chair of the board and representing District 3, is opposed by a write-in candidate. This is arguably one of the more important aspects of the election because the tenor of the board could be changed significantly if Long is defeated. Long, who led the board to its first Board of Distinction designation by the TSBA, has a history of being an on-site board member who has generated several new approaches to board policies and the direction of school building construction programs.
District 1 has three new, distinctly different candidates competing for the chair now held by Mike Fussell, whose vision has been occasionally controversial, but whose sincerity has never been questioned.
Rob Wheeler, a lawyer from Goodlettsville who specializes in public school law, has vacated the District 5 position. His choice not  to run for re-election will leave a measured and often provocative voice absent from proceedings.Two candidates are vying for his chair.
Ben Harris has chosen to seek re-election to the County Commission, so the District 7 position is being contested among three candidates, also of widely varying positions. Harris has not been one to dominate the discussions of the board, but his decisions on voting have always been indicative of the wishes of his constituency and strongly supported. Three men are running for his position, and the winner will likely determine the voting power of the board.
Will Duncan, the District 9 incumbent, has served the board for 22 years and is a beloved member of the community. He brings a thoughtful, gentle breeze with him to calm the turbulent waters of disagreement. He has a newcomer for opposition.
In addition to the school board members, the party primaries are turning into a Republican feeding frenzy in the 6th Congressional district and the governor’s race. 
I don’t know of anyone who is not displeased at the direction that some candidates are taking in attacking their own party members.
The Democrats are remaining relatively unscathed in the process, for once, because most of the attention has been given to the vicious name-calling, accusatory statements and just plain brawling with the Republicans.
However, the history of our nation gives evidence of all sorts of shenanigans during elections. At least we no longer allow guns at voting precincts.
I would like to request that all who continue to seek public office in November focus on why they should be elected, not how incompetent their opponents are.
Give me a reason to choose you in November, not this unpleasant queasiness about the conduct of our candidates.
A general hope
English instructors have a habit of referring to writers and lines they have cherished over the years of re-reading and teaching them.
I found one of those poems in a well-marked collection that has become worn, with bent-corners and faded highlight marks.
“Let America be America again,” wrote one of the best poets to come from our nation.
His voice is distinctly American, and he never tiptoes across sensitive subjects but instead confronts them full force with startling metaphors and clear words in accessible language.
“Let it be the dream it used to be.”
Do you recall the age when you believed that an individual could actually change our society for the better? Do you still carry what some might call that  naive belief in your heart?
“Let America be the dream the dreamers dreamed– / Let it be that great strong land of love / Where never kings connive nor tyrants scheme / That any man be crushed by one above.”
Travel almost anywhere outside the United States and you learn to appreciate the above words.
On a daily basis, we can choose what time to get up, what to eat, where to drive or walk, with whom to spend time chatting, what clothes to wear, what church to attend, what music to play in the background or sing out loud and what books  and newspapers to read.
“O, let my land be a land where Liberty / Is crowned with no false patriotic wreath, / But opportunity is real, and life is free, / Equality is in the air we breathe.”
“False patriotic wreath”–what danger hides behind the trappings of patriotism? The answer is unspeakable danger.Think of any tyrant from history, think of the genocides (yes, the plural is correct)) in the twentieth century alone, and the potential for abuse of government by those who  say they are acting in the best interests of the people while destoying lives, homes and limiting knowledge, thought, research, informative discussions and debate, and you have unspeakable danger arising.
“Out of the rack and ruin of our gangster death, / The rape and rot of graft, and stealth, and lies, / We, the people, must redeem / The land, the mines, the plants, the rivers, / The mountains and the endless plain– / All, all the stretch of these great green states– / and make Amnerica again!”
Thank you, Langston Hughes, for reminding us of the importance of free elections.
Every vote does count. Every election does make a difference. Any individual has the potential to become President of a great nation.
Election Day. Say the words reverently.

By Marjorie Lloyd

County Executive Anthony Holt spoke with employees of Sumner Regional Medical Center after the County Commission meeting on Monday was adjourned.
About a dozen approached him with questions, since they were not allowed to speak during the public hearing part of the meeting. According to Chair Merrol Hyde, the county’s rules state that no one may address an issue not on the agenda, and he cautioned the SRMC people they were welcome to stay but could not speak.
“Everybody needs to be calm right now,” said Holt. “I’m being honest. For this thing to work, everybody ‘s got to walk out in a win-win  situation, and I think we’re going to do that, “ he told the small group.
He also explained that the county and LifePoint have reached an agreement that puts the sale closer to reality. Holt also restated his position that the bondholders need to recognize the county’s interest in the property, based on the reversionary clause in the original agreement with Sumner Regional Health Systems.
“I’m very positive about it,” said Holt.
“I feel very positive that we’re seeing some movement on both sides. I can assure you right now, the county is willing to negotiate.
“I feel it’s in the best of everybody involved to settle this thing; the alternative is not going to be as advantageous as this particular situation. But, as they say, the devil is in the details.”
What occurred during those few minutes was democracy in action in its truest form.
The citizens who elected Holt to his position were seeking information on an issue that directly affects their lives and also will potentially affect the county’s budget, since SRMC spokespeople are estimating $1.5M in annual tax revenues.
Those individuals talking to Holt were respectful and actually listened to his responses.
Holt was listening to their questions and respectful of their concerns.
Respect.
We see less and less of it in today’s political arena, whatever level.
I would like to hear and read less name-calling and hate mongering.
But then American politics might not be recognizable without them. Unfortunately.