To Mr. Haslam,

I’m a very concerned Tennessean. I’ve been annoyed by the ridiculous campaign ads that have saturated the airwaves of late. In fact, most of your fellow Republicans have come across as close minded.

What I’ve liked about your campaign is the simple message of fiscal responsibility that has been communicated. However, that doesn’t mean I’m opposed to the much needed healthcare reform. I firmly believe health care is a right, not a privilege.

Also, I believe in immigration reform. The rhetoric coming out of the other Republican camps seems to be in line with the racist law that is in Arizona. Your opponents have already expressed their view, including Mr. McWherter. I expected more out of him.

I want to vote for you. You seem like a pragmatist. That’s what we need now. I’ve had enough of the bluster. How do you feel on these topics? Can you convince me to give you my vote?

Very Respectfully,

Jonathan Sanders

UPDATE (7-30-10): I’ve not heard back from Mayor Haslam. I guess we’ll see who gets my vote. I don’t think I’ve got any great options.

I know. As if they all aren’t. In my 33 years, however, I don’t think I’ve ever seen more vicious and inflammatory rhetoric. Here in Tennessee, you’re seeing heated battles for Governor and U.S. Representative.

I’m sure most Tennesseans have seen the campaign ads from the likes of George Flinn, Diane Black, Zach Wamp and Ron Ramsey. Anyone who has read this space before, knows how I feel about Ramsey. The candidates have been disappointing with the almost cartoon-like tone of their campaigns.

In my mind, all this does is divide the people. Not one of them has said how they would like to bring us together. To me, this is the problem with politics. These politicians work at stoking the flames of fear without giving any concrete plans for how to solve the state’s and the nation’s problems. My vote will go to those who demonstrate true leadership. I don’t want the loudest voice. I just want the fairest one.

Tennessee Governor, Phil Bredesen, has responded to an email I sent him last week. Education has typically been an important issue for him, and he didn’t disappoint in his response to me. As I thought before, the real problem in our state lies with the legislature. Here’s my original email, and his response.

Dear Gov. Bredesen,

I watched on tv the shameful interruption of a press conference by Pre-K advocates by Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey. I found it incredibly childish. I can’t understand why politicians get so offended by criticism. It is part of the job. As I told him in an email, criticizing the government is one of the fundamental rights in this nation. I believe you are of like mind. I’ve never seen you respond to the Nashville Scene’s constant criticism.

More than his behavior, I am very concerned by his mindset. I fear that mindset still has a hold on Capitol Hill. I’ve heard other lawmakers refer to Pre-K as “subsidized daycare”. That comment is highly offensive. I strongly desire for our education in Tennessee to be the finest in the nation. This can never happen if it is underfunded. Quality education is one of the best deterrents for crime. When people know better, they generally do better.

We must group Pre-K together with K-12 and higher education. I believe success in school and life starts at a very early age.

Respectfully,
–
Jonathan Sanders

a very concerned Tennessean

June 22, 2009

Dear Jonathan:

Thank you for contacting me about the Tennessee Voluntary pre-K Program.  I appreciate hearing from you.

In my travels across the state and conversations with educators from Memphis to Bristol, there is one thing I consistently hear. Teachers and principals all speak of the important role preschool plays in a child’s success by putting kids on an even footing on the first day of school. I am a firm believer that the foundation for building a better education system begins with preschool.  Pre-K remains, dollar for dollar, the best investment we can make in improving the chances for our children’s educational success.

Because of this, I support pre-K classrooms in communities throughout our state. My commitment to this program has continued through good budget times and through difficult ones such as those we are now experiencing.  As we work through the budget process and find ways to deal with a revenue shortfall of about $800 million, we will have to make difficult decisions about where we make cuts.  Even so, my budget fully preserves pre-K and K-12 education funding.

Please be assured that the education of our young people remains my top priority as Governor.

Warmest regards,

Phil Bredesen

Here is the email that so inflamed Lt. Gov. Ramsey, he felt he needed to “address” it.

This email is in concern to the recent action of Senate Finance to dismantle pre-k by moving $22 million to a non-recurring funding source next year.

I am writing to  advise you of a news conference to be held on Tuesday, June 26 (tomorrow) at 1:00 in Room 30 (tentative room number) of Legislative Plaza. We are requesting Pre-K leaders and advocates from across the state to join those legislators who are committed to fighting these cuts in this news conference. We especially would like the areas of Anderson, Knox and Rutherford Counties to be represented at the news conference.

Would you help us spread the word? We need LP 30 to be filled to capacity tomorrow with Pre-K supporters. We realize this is short notice but the budget is an urgent matter and will most likely be voted on this week.

The following is a message that needs to be diffused throughout the Pre-K community and state:

We’ve spent years trying to educate legislators about the value of early childhood education. Unfortunately, some of them continue to work to dismantle pre-K. Most recently, the Senate Republican Caucus is proposing to move $22M in pre-K funding to a dwindling source of non-recurring funds. In doing so, they are clearly setting up pre-K for future cuts. This move would jeopardize future funding for as many as 250 pre-K classrooms.

Bottom line: It’s not just disappointing and ill-advised; it’s reckless and short-sighted.

We hoped lawmakers would be statesmen this year. Instead, some seem intent on dismantling a nationally recognized pre-K program and undermining local efforts in some of the most forward-thinking education communities in our state — places like Anderson County (which has perhaps the longest history of pre-K in Tennessee); Rutherford County (which now has the highest pre-K demand in the state); and Knox County (which plays a perennially pivotal role in advancing sound policies, partly because of UT but also because it’s an intellectual capital that takes pride in its thoughtful approaches to education).

Thank you for your support of our state’s youngest learners!

Bobbi

Bobbi Lussier
Executive Director
Office of Early Learning
TN Dept. of Education
9th Floor Andrew Johnson Tower
710 James Robertson Parkway
Nashville, TN   37243
ph.  615-253-3167
fax: 615-532-4989

Lt. Gov. Ramsey’s email: lt.gov.ron.ramsey@capitol.tn.gov