Declare Your Independence!

Many of us in Tennessee have been greatly disappointed in the outcomes of the August primary.  Unfortunately many of the best party candidates were eliminated during the primaries, and members of the liberty movement in Tennessee have expressed their frustration and concern at the outcome.  The two party system has yet again failed, in most cases, to produce candidates who will fight to push back the federal government into its proper constitutional role.  Instead, we are left with an over-abundance of candidates in both parties who will only maintain the status quo and continue to allow the expansion of the slow and steady intrusion of the federal government into the lives of Americans.

Almost daily, I hear people extol the virtues of holding one’s nose and voting for the lesser of two evils.  They say, “we must vote Republican or we waste our vote.”  Where is the virtue in voting for an evil, even if it the lesser of two?  John Quincy Adams certainly didn’t agree.

“Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost.” – John Quincy Adams

Looking back at the elections in which I have voted, all I have done my entire adult life is to hold my nose and vote for the lesser of two evils.  I suspect that this what most people do.  All voting for the lesser of two evils has done is push us closer and closer to the precipice of the same tyranny from which our Founders fought so hard to free us.

“The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” – Albert Einstein

Albert Einstein certainly hit the nail on the head with his definition of insanity.  We, the voters, cannot keep doing the same thing over and over and expect different results.  All we will get is more of the same – career politicians who are more concerned with maintaining their political power and perks than in doing what is right for our country.

Don’t get me wrong, there are some incredible Republican candidates out there who are firmly committed to restoring the federal government to its proper constitutional role.  Several of those candidates are listed below.  Unfortunately there aren’t enough of them.  We have to stop doing the same thing over and over again, and instead start voting for constitutional conservatives who understand the proper role of government, regardless of party.

Fortunately, there are a number of phenomenal candidates still in the races in Tennessee who have signed our 10-4 Pledge.  Each of these candidates have vowed to do their best to restore the rightful constitutional balance between the state and federal governments, just as our Founders intended.  While the Tennessee Tenth Amendment Center does not endorse candidates, we do encourage you to take a look at the list below.  Read these candidates’ positions on the issues and vet these candidates for yourself.

Most importantly, just as John Quincy Adams said, vote your principles without fear.  Declaring our independence from the two party system is the only way that we will win the battle for the future of the great state of Tennessee and the United States.

Tennessee 10-4 Pledge Signers:

2nd Congressional District:

Joe Leinweber (Independent) – www.joeleinweber.com
Greg Samples (Independent) – www.gregsamples.org

3rd Congressional District:

Mark DeVol (Independent) – www.devol2010.com
Greg Goodwin (Independent) – www.goodwinfortennessee.com

8th Congressional District:

Donn Janes (Independent) – www.donnjanesforcongress.org

2nd District, Tennessee House of Representatives:

Rep. Tony Shipley (Republican) – www.tonyshipleytn.com

18th District, Tennessee House of Representatives:

Steve Hall (Republican)

36th District, Tennessee House of Represenatives:

Dennis Powers (Republican) – www.powersforthepeople.net

53th District, Tennessee House of Representatives:

Daniel Lewis (Libertarian) – statehouse53.lewisdt.net

57th District, Tennessee House of Representatives:

Heather Scott (Independent) – www.electheatherscott.com

67th District, Tennessee House of Representatives:

Neil Revlett (Republican) – www.neilrevlett.com

Lesley Swann is a Co-Host for Tenther Radio and the state chapter coordinator for the Tennessee Tenth Amendment Center. She is a native of Anderson County, Tennessee.

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, September 8th, 2010 at 2:23 pm. It is filed under 10-4 Pledge, Elections, Featured and tagged with Albert Einstein, Daniel Lewis, Dennis Powers, Donn Janes, Greg Goodwin, Greg Samples, Heather Scott, Joe Leinweber, John Quincy Adams, Mark DeVol, Neil Revlett, Steve Hall, Tony Shipley. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.