We work with the local Democratic Party and also OFA and DFA. We're finding a different crowd and some energized people away from the traditional party.

Back in the day,I thought the McGovern folks would split from the Democrats & the Goldwater folks would split from the Republicans.

I agree the election law is often arbitrary if one
defines abitrary as based on ones "preference".

What I mean by preference is:

Back during the last income tax debate,a bunch of folks that wanted to go back to the Capital City,survived tough re election campaigns vs write-in candidates.

Those folks preference was to do something about
write-in candidates.

So they went to passin' all kinda election law to
make it hard to run as a write-in candidate.

Them sly dogs,up in the Capital City,has just 'bout legislated running as a write-in candidate useless.

That kinda of election law is where arbitrary runs smack dab into capricious.

And just one example of God knows how many examples
of election law being arbitrary & capricious.

It's why election law can be hard to cipher.

Because election law is like a "secret writing meant to
be understood only to those who have the key to it;code."

And often those who haunt the Capital City are
the only ones who have the "key" to the election "code".

Sometimes those folks ain't got a clue to the
arbitrary shit they've made law.

Then it's up to a Judge to cipher the election law.

But I would disagee that the election law is the culprit
for our 2 party system,in Tennessee.

The tool..yes..culprit..no.

The first culprit is..King Caucus.

It's got to with which Party elects the Speakers of
both Houses.

And controls the committees.

Smooth move on the House Speaker,last year.

But don't see that happening again.

If it's the Republicans who control..hope it's Rep.Brooks.

If it's the Democrats..it's Naifeh.

In the Senate..it's Ramsey.

Do not forsee members of either caucus moving to make
the Capital City non partisan.

The second culprit:

If it's good for the goose it's good for
the gander.

The partisans in the Capital City is just fine
with the partisans in the Courthouse.

And the Courthouse folks is fine with that,too.

Now the biggest culprit..SURVIVAL!

Few members of either caucus are willing to challenge the partisan county election structure.

A member of the state house simply doesn't have the campaign
organization the partisans in the Courthouse have.

State Senators can raise a bunch of money.
Got a chance to survive.

But very few if any want to take the risk of
challenging the partisans @ the Courthouse.

Then you got County Commission.

Is the Commission willing to change their partisan ways?

Tank..yep I know..but there's just one Tank.

It's going to be a Republican chair elected @ the
meeting.

BUT...BUT...There's HOPE!

All those Commissioners..with 6 year terms...
one maybe able to head them toward non partisan elections.

Big maybe..but the 6 year folks are the best chance you will ever have,Rikki,to do what you want to do.

So call em & by 2016 you could get 'em going your way.

That's not a smart ass comment..these 6 year folks will be there till September 1st,2016.

I agree with most of what Rikki is saying.

Knox county's natural environment is one of the biggest loosers of the 2 party system. With the GOP having essentially conceded the environment as an issue to the Dems, and Knox Co firmly in the hands of the GOP, left in the lurch are the many many Knox countians I know who are concerned with the environmental direction our local politicians are taking us in.