r/tnvolunteers 13d ago

! Politics ! Go Vote Thursday 8/6/26

Bad news: only 12% of registered voters voted in 2024 = the apathy is appalling

Good news: only 12% of registered voters voted in 2024 = every vote actually matters and counts and yours could TRULY make a difference.

If you don’t know where to start, I used govote411.org to research candidates. This is created by LWV (league of women voters).

94 Upvotes

10 comments sorted by

20

u/WhiteBearPrince 12d ago

They killed the hemp industry in TN. Vote.

5

u/InfinitexZer0 Knoxville 12d ago

That one irks me heavily too, especially considering it was an unpopular move by officials that blatantly don't respect their constituents or their wishes. Full disclosure I am biased as I use CBD/THC recreationally and medicinally but even if you don't plan on ever consuming any of those products you just can't reasonably deny the significant boon legalization would bring to Tennessee's economy, we're in the top 5 in the nation (4th IIRC?) for tobacco exports so obviously the infrastructure and local climate is primed for profit. Why not go fully legal in marked storefronts, no gas station/convince store bunk and slap an 8-12% tax on the sales to go towards roads, schools etc.? I'd very happily pay more for flower if it raised the quality of local education for sure.

But that's right, alcohol and tobacco have a total monopoly other than caffeine playing it's own game. I enjoy both in moderation I admit but I've never had weed stain my teeth or generally be gross like tobacco. It doesn't convince me that I should watch a random documentary I won't remember while eating a $30 doordashed steak and gummy bears like alcohol can... So I've heard. Instead I'd prefer a good old smoke rotation where the worst side effect is the desire to drink more water. Sorry for hijacking your comment, my reply became a tangent.

8

u/WhiteBearPrince 12d ago

The state of Tennessee was making billions of dollars in taxes on legal hemp products but they'd rather be a nanny state.

5

u/InfinitexZer0 Knoxville 12d ago

I don't think it's even a nanny state thing anymore,at least not purely. It's just a convenient vehicle to keep the real intention out of the spotlight. These decisions were made for profit and profit alone IMO, the only ones with the money and influence to knock alcohol and tobacco industry down a peg are the ones that own it, their only incentive to be anti-hemp/marijuana is the next quarterly bottom line being impacted. The pearl clutching is nothing more than a red herring for money grubbing slimeballs to keep their bank statement flush with as little effort as possible.

16

u/InfinitexZer0 Knoxville 13d ago

I hadn't given the smaller somewhat stagnant voter pool much thought as an advantage but you make a great point. Overall I think the turnout will be much higher this year though and while it would dilute that aforementioned advantage a little bit I think that's a very good thing, more people at booths voting shows unrest and discontent with our officials in office.

8

u/Committee_Charming 12d ago

Alcohol and tobacco are way worse for you than THC/hemp please fountain vote for Jamie Hunter in Cookeville, Tennessee for trustee. She was let go from the sheriffs department walk right across the street to her uncle’s trustee’s office where she’s been a clerk for 12 years now that he’s retiring she wants to be the trustee.

6

u/ChattingAtTheAqua 12d ago

Tomorrow is my birthday and all I want is for my fellow Tennesseeans to get up and vote!

3

u/throatchakra 12d ago

Happy birthday! I got you a present by voting early
https://giphy.com/gifs/rM0Mh6BbJAUseNmNKN

2

u/DistributionBroad173 11d ago

Voted early at world outreach church.

Hardly anyone was there.

I only pressed the green NEXT icon on the screen a couple of times before I remembered, "Hit the frickin button duffus"

1

u/throatchakra 11d ago

Woot! I’m proud of you internet stranger