Funding non-profits is NOT the role of government. It is the responsibility of the community and the churches to help those who are in need in their area. This vote clearly shows those on the County Commission who understand the role of government and those who do not.

In the very next paragraph, the article points out that Commssioners LeBel and Jarvis voted against the phase out of funding for non-profits, but suggested a property tax increase to do the job that government is supposed to do – pave the county roads. This vote shows the clear division between those who would spend taxpayer dollars where they should not be spent and those who spend taxpayer money on the things that are the responsibility of government.

Since property taxes are the very worst form of taxes as they give government the right to take your home if you do not pay the taxes, it is necessary that all taxpayers pay attention and elect only those people who wil lspend their hard earned money on those things that benefit all taxpayers instead of increasing the role of government into every area of life while ignoring things like sewers and roads. The role of government is to keep the community safe through the sheriff’s department and the justice system, take care of garbage collection if there is any, and take care of roads if there are any, and attempt to control the ever growing school system budget. Beyond those responsibilities, elected officials are spending your taxdollars improperly and you have NO choice about paying those taxes unless you want to lose your home.

I am delighted to see that at least some of our County Commissioners understand the role of government. Let’s keep those and replace the others.

Opinion piece

Karen F. Laffredi

Citizens for Accountability and the American Patriot Tea Party of East Tennessee are sponsoring a FREE Foundations of Freedom seminar on Saturday, April 21, 2012. Our speaker is Georgia State Senator Barry Loudermilk of Firm Reliance Ministries.

Four 50-minute sessions and a final 30-minute session include: The Declaration of Independence: Inspiration for Freedom; Six Truths of Civil Government. The Constitution of the United States: We the People; The Bill of Rights; and Effecting Change.

Join us as we seek to reconnect with the vision, faith, philosophy and Biblical worldview that our Founding Fathers had for our Country.

If you plan to attend, please RSVP (423-748-9670) so that we can get an approximate number regarding attendees. The seminar itself is FREE. Jimmy’s Dog House is offering a Tea Party Special which includes: choice* of 7” quarter-pound all beef hot dog, chips and a drink for only $6.00. Pay (cash please) and place your order when you sign in that morning. No orders will be taken after the seminar has begun.

Please help us get this invitation out to as many people as possible. Print and hand out; word of mouth; or simply forward. Details are as follows:

Date: Saturday, April 21, 2012
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Location: West Hamblen Co. Volunteer Fire Dept.
6301 W. Andrew Johnson Hwy.
Morristown, TN 37815

Hope to see you there. Bring a friend!!

*Chicago Style, Meaty Chili and Cheddar Cheese, Meaty Chili and Homemade Cole Slaw; plain.

Foundations of Freedom
 Constitution Seminar 
There is a renewed interest among Americans to understand the basics of our government and the principles of the Constitution. However, to fully understand the type of government our Founding fathers envisioned, we must understand the ideas and beliefs of the men who designed it.
The Foundations of Freedom seminar is a two to five session educational program that explores the faith, philosophy and Biblical worldview of our founding fathers as expressed through the founding documents of this nation.

Sessions 1 & 2
 The Declaration of Independence 
Through the Declaration of Independence, our Founding Fathers give clear evidence of their faith and philosophy regarding the limited role of Civil Government. Through these two inspiring sessions, Barry defines key terms and phrases written in the Declaration to reveal the Founders true intent of our form of government. By exploring the Declaration, Barry shows how this historic document reveals the Biblical worldview of the Founders and is the blueprint for the Constitution.

Session 1 – Inspiration for Freedom (50 minutes)
In this session, Barry reveals the core beliefs of the Founders by exploring key terms and phrases written in the Declaration of Independence. Our Founders held a core conviction that God gives men two gifts, “Rights and Powers.” Attendees will explore this core philosophy and learn how our entire government was built upon this basic Biblical truth.

Session 2 – Six Truths of Civil Government (50 minutes)
In this session, Barry continues his analysis of the Declaration by revealing the Six Truths of Civil Government which are clearly expressed in the Declaration. By understanding these self evident truths, attendees will be better prepared to understand the basics of the US Constitution, and the Founders true intent.

Sessions 3 & 4
 The Constitution of the United States 
In 1787 the Constitutional Convention passed a document that established a new form of government for this young and growing nation. In sessions three and four, Barry examines this document as it was viewed through the eyes of those at the Constitutional Convention. Through fascinating stories of the Convention and examining personal beliefs of the Founders, attendees discover that the government established by the Constitution was a model prescribed thousands of years earlier.
Session 3 – We The People (50 minutes)
This session builds on the knowledge obtained during the first two sessions and reveals that the Bible and the Declaration of Independence were the blueprints for the Constitution. By examining the Constitution of 1787, Barry reveals the Biblical foundations of this document and the distinct limits placed on the federal government.
Session 4 – Bill of Rights – Modern Interpretation vs. Original Intent (50 minutes)
Through this session, Barry explores the Bill of Rights, its original purpose, ratification and how it is interpreted today as compared to the original intent of the Founders. Special emphasis is placed on the First and Tenth Amendments and how modern interpretation has negatively affected the protection of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Session 5
 Effecting Change 
Session 5- Effecting Change (30 minutes)
Led by Christiana Loudermilk, attendees learn how to best effect change in our government, by communicating with and holding accountable elected officials at all levels. As a legislative aide in both the Georgia House and Senate, and a Christian political activist, Christiana shares her experience in how the individual citizen can ‘effect change’ to help put our nation back on course. Barry closes out the session with some additional insight.