Are we good people? Some would have to believe we are a nation of evil. We became great off the back of slaves brought in from Africa and Europe, turned a blind eye to the Chinese slaves that built the railroads, and fought a war to keep people in suppression.
Any student of history who has done an honest survey of the past will know these statements are not completely true and ignore many of the facts surrounding the founding and growth of our nation.
I’m not saying that our nation hasn’t done evil things over the course of the past 235 years. There have been terrible things done in the name of our nation, but I don’t think we are evil. Overall, the United States has been a force for good in the world. Without our intervention in the two great wars the world would look much different today than it does.
Most of the major inventions of the last 150 years have come from the United States. Our system of Capitalism, individual freedom, and personal rights, is unlike any other nation in the world. While there are those in our society who feel we should hate our individualism and selfish pursuits, those are the things that make us great.
Here is one simple question to judge a country as good or bad: Do people want to get into it, or out of it? More people want to get into America than want to get out. Although there are quite a few I would be glad to see go personally. I’m sure there are some with similar feelings about me.
Now, on a local level, do more people want to move into Blount County, or move out? I’ve spoken to several who are thinking of leaving. The current government for Blount County has chosen their own path in recent decisions concerning, Fluoride in the water, the purchase of the old Levi’s building (Ceramaspeed property), the purchase, and sell, of fairground property, allowance of private airstrips, and a general feeling that the constitution, the current zoning laws, and the will of the people have no bearing on their decisions in many cases.
A general failure of understanding, and unwillingness by several representatives to study the issues in depth has put many of our individual freedoms at risk in the past four years.
Those we serve decide whether or not we are good. Have the current Mayor, Sheriff, Commission member’s and other elected officials served you well?
One good man can change the course of history. I may not be a history changer, but the government is best run by local people on a local level. I don’t want state or federal government directing my life from an office somewhere in D.C. or Nashville. I feel the local government has rubber stamped too many of Washington and Nashville’s directives without questioning if we must abide them by law, or if they even apply to the people of our county.
Are we good or not? You decide, beginning May 4th.

Jerry Harvey–Candidate District 4, Seat A