Jackson Local Organizing Drive
 After
three months of one-on-one meetings, the Jackson local organizing committee
(LOC) held its first meeting on the 10th of October.
This local organizing committee is much like the TFT local committees in other
parts of the state. It’s the TFT grassroots coalition organized at a local
level to change the tax system in Tennessee.
Many of those who were present at the kick-off meeting came to
hear about the way our State collects its revenue through state taxes. There
was much discussion of the issue so that people would have clear information
that they could pass on to others.
The group engaged in TFT’s now common "Budget Exercise"
where people in small groups developed budgets for different families and looked
at the way in which the sales tax affects them differently. Personal experiences
with the present tax system were shared, along with why people wanted change.
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 The
people who were at the meeting were enthusiastic, yet very practical about what
it is going to take to change our tax system and bring about economic justice
in this State. Suggestions and strategies for solving the problem were put forth.
Many of those who came felt that public education was the main component necessary
for people to make intelligent choices about tax reform.
Before organizing the group, TFT engaged in evaluations of other
TFT local committees and compared those lessons with the unique personality
of Jackson. A unified, strategic, committed, and persevering group of people
is what members hope to develop in Jackson. "This is a fight for justice,
not just a fight for winning an issue, and it must be looked at on a long term
basis."
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