We blog, because in the absence of watchful media, there is no alternative way to get the news and analysis of county government and local issues out.

In that case, I love everything that this County does. I don't fault anyone, and I wish we'd all get along. Global warming is a myth. We can pray our drought away. Jesus would have wanted us to invade Iraq. Burr Haircuts and Rebel Flags show modesty and open-mindedness. Blount County has too little asphalt. Bloggers are all mean-spirited. Foreigners are anyone who didn't come over on the Mayflower. Ronald Reagan was resurrected in Mike Huckabee's body. Gay bashing is a good Christian ideology. Fred Thompson is the best thing that's happened to the South since George Wallace and Jefferson Davis. All other Nations owe us their resources. When we kneel to pray, we should face Houston or Crawford. I should be able to take my guns anywhere I want to. It's American to drive huge Gas Hogs, and eventually our Savior will bring the pump prices back down to $1.00 / gallon.

I am not so much interested in opinions on the specific issues
...
I also will need the screen name under which you have written on BlountViews, though that can be withheld from publication, thus preserving your anonymity.

But withholding the screen name is not automatic; you would have to request that.
...
fairness requires that I talk to people on the other side of the issues also, the ones who are generally the targets of your comments.

I am not completely understanding regarding the point of your "project". You ask why are people compelled to blog. You are not interested in opinions on issues. You are interested in "people on the other side of the issues", "targets of your comments". What input will these "other side" people have regarding reasons for blogging?

What is the actual purpose for your project? Will it be an article in Blount Today? How does the purpose of blogging fit in with people who do not blog?

Also, do you have an official email at BlountToday and a phone number?

Speaking of anonymity, how do we know "Redfox" is Robert Wilson, an agent for the newspaper BlountToday?

Mr. Wilson, glad you asked.

I am Forrest Erickson and I blog because I am a scientist. As a scientist I feel I must visibly challenge the champions and adherents of supernatural explanations for the world around us. I am also a human being. As a human, I am an opponent of the immorality of the Bush / Cheney, torture, war regime. It is an outrage and that they have been empowered to commit war in Iraq biased on lies and that they were re-elected by appeals to the adherents of a supernatural world view. It is a crime against morality and humanity that this regime has championed the use of methods of the inquisition, such as partial drowning, in our name. Such acts will not go unchallenged while I draw breath.



I am
Forrest Erickson

I mostly just lurk at newsy blogs and forums, here, there, and everywhere. While lurking earlier today at a brand new discussion group that appears to be a conservative answer to Blount Views, I found a thread about corruption that caught my eye.

There are the usual inuendos, but then if you keep reading someone has posted some material regarding a committee nomination. There are two seperate items. Link... It occured to me that if this stuff is for real and was about a Democrat it would have been headline news. If it is not true, it would seem easy to prove and a story in defense of the nomination could be written. I do not know when this appointment is, but this inofrmation would seem of general public interest.

So why am I reading it on some obscure discussion site, Mr. Wilson?

So why am I reading it on some obscure discussion site, Mr. Wilson?

That's news to me. If you want real news, tune into Comedy Central's Jon Stewart or blog. The MSM is too invested in the status quo.

Let's hope his vetting process doesn't turn into a "moot point".

Greetings:

I recall an initial lecture in freshman History 101 at a "highly rated in-state university" where the professor from Grinnell College (Link...) touted the necessity of studying the discipline of History.

From that lecture, I only recall the quote attributed to a famous western philosopher:

Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. George Santayana (Link...)

What I read in Blountviews, the DT, and now this "Government Corruption-Civil Discussion" blog leads me to believe that BC and the powers-that-be (in apparently all branches of BC government) make poor decisions, decide that embarassing issues should prematurely become moot, and then delay and delay and delay other decisions important to the citizenry until the point becomes moot or forgotten or lost to the public memory.

Let me take a breath after that compound, complex sentence that my grade school teachers warned me about . . . please bear with me . . . (deep breath)

Ok, my humble opinion: Bloggers and web commentators uniquely expose and juxtapose recent and historically relevant facts. These facts compare and contrast ideas not published for analysis and dissemination to the public by traditional forms of media (TV, radio, traditional printed newspapers). In my view, we are respecting fundamental notions of the democratic process and first amendment rights, regardless of political persuasion.

Unfortunately, it just so happens that the BC powers-that-be (a/k/a what has been termed on Blountviews and otherwise as the "GOB") are apparently uniquely gifted in their collective attempts to stifle our consciousness. Fortunately, we bloggers now have a method as exhibited by Blountviews (and, not surprisingly, denounced by the County Mayor) by which to educate ourselves and the public.

Of course, one must also remember that the freedom of speech exercised by the bloggers (on this site and otherwise) is the antidote to a political ideology whose key attributes involve intolerance of others: other religions, languages, political views, economic systems, cultural practices, etc. For example of this ideology, see, Link...

To sum up, I eventually completed my B.A. in History at the same in-state university with high honors and a firm belief that was related to me in my senior year by another professor regarding my senior thesis:

I may disapprove of what you say, but I defend to the death your right to say it.

We/you are important-no, crucial-in the dissemination of information. Those who would seek to eliminate ideas contrary to their individual and collective thought process are not disciplined: they are the ones who would devise schemes to encourage the populance to forget our history and their history.

The powers-that-be are the ones that my teachers warned me about.

Tom

Thomas F. Mabry
P. O. Box 52385
Knoxville, TN 37950

Fax 1-888-215-3119
Phone 1-865-271-9224

Dr. Mabry:

Thank you for having the fortitude to allude to the F-Word. Most folks are afraid of that word, for it makes their vanity mirror ugly. However, all over our country right now, from the Federal to Local level, it appears that we're experiencing that good ole' Mein Vaterland Über Alles!