Nashville
Members Organize Community Forum
November 3, 2001
"If you're going to get out of here, you're going to have to do
something different," Sen. Bob Rochelle quipped as he told the story of a coach's
words to a high school student who tried again and again to graduate from high
school. Good advice as well for legislators who struggle to balance the state
budget with the sales tax and robbing one-time revenue sources, when something
different is what's needed.
Education and skill-building were the words of the day when the
Nashville local organizing committee sponsored a community forum November 3
at the newly-renovated East Library. More than 50 tax reform supporters came
to hear the three speakers and see how they can get involved.
Keynote speaker Sen. Rochelle listed each of the handful of states
without an income tax and talked about their alternative revenue sources. "Unless
we change the sun's angle… and surround Tennessee on three sides with water,
we're not going to be quite the tourist attraction Florida is." Clearly, Tennessee
will never have the tourism industry of Florida nor the oil revenue of Texas.
Without that, Tennessee needs to raise revenue like other states, with an income
tax.
When you are seeking to change something in the community, "look
to the one in the mirror first," advised Rev. Enoch Fuzz of the Corinthian Baptist
Church who took the podium after Sen. Rochelle. To bring about tax reform, he
advised to learn the issue yourself first. Then teach one to three friends.
Reach out to your pastor too. "How many pastors know the difference between
a flat tax and a graduated tax? They need more information."
Concluding the forum, energetic media consultant Mimi Bliss took
the microphone and encouraged the standing-room-only crowd to be straight forward
and positive in answering the questions of the media and others in their communities.
Use your experience to plan your message and boldly and positively explain how
the issue of tax reform affects your life. "Why did you get involved? How will
tax reform change the people you know?" These are questions you will be ready
to answer when you find the microphone in front of you.
Members of the Nashville local organizing committee were pleased
with the turnout. "It was good to see a lot of new faces and energy. People
are excited and ready to do something," stated Martha Wettemann, one of the
event organizers.
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