First Tuesday guest July 2, Stephen Fincher

From First Tuesday:

1ST TUESDAY members and friends,

First... let me apologize for being tardy getting the invite to you for our guest, Congressman Stephen

Congressman Stephen Fincher

Fincher  [R, TN-8] on Tuesday, July 2nd.

Some of you know its been a more-than-tragic time for multiple families and friends of mine. ....

As you know, Washington DC continues to be ALL-A-BUZZ with ever more information coming on multiple fronts. Congressman Fincher will be a wealth of 1st-hand insights and information. 

MORE coming next week, but in the mean time let me encourage you to secure your seat via our 1ST TUESDAY website ASAP !  www.1sttuesdaynashville.com

AS MANY of you will recall, our normal meeting room at Waller is undergoing a renovation. SO.. we are meeting in the 26th floor room that holds on 70 seats.   IN SHORT.. it will be those  1ST to SECURE their seat(s) who get to join us !

As USUAL... we will meet at The Offices of WALLER LAW  -- 511 Union.. 26th floor for this special event ! ... Doors open at 11AM for  Coffee and Social time..  Lunch will be at 11:30AM and program starting promptly at NOON..  Lunch is $20 for MEMBERS and $25 for Guests.. a waiting list will be started once we hit 70 RSVPs. 

Lunch for those on the waiting list who do get join us will be $25 and collected at the door.    

MORE info soon !

Thanks again for you patience... and please keep Kim and our other friends in your prayers in the days.. ahead....   [ "BIG Guy".... you will be missed ]

See you July 2nd !

Tim Skow

Host of 1ST TUESDAY

Top Stories

Michele Bachmann and Conservative Hypocrites taking Government Handouts.

Last night liberal broadcaster Lawrence O'Donnell took Michele Bachmann to task accusing her of hypocrisy for preaching a message of anti-socialism and free markets yet at the same time accepting a quarter-million dollar agriculture subsidy for her family farm. Is that criticism justified?  Does it make her a hypocrite?  I don't know but I am bothered by it.

I like Michelle Backmann but think her anti-government, pro free-market message would ring more true if she were not taking a government hand-out. Our own Rep. Stephen Fincher, a tea party favorite,  from 1995 to 2009 received over $3.3 million in farm subsidies. How devoted is he to curtailing the reach of government? Would he support policies that would end that subsidy?

If one accepts a government hand-out does that mean you give up your right to criticize the government and have an opinion on economic policy? A relative of mine criticized me for my opposition to Obamacare pointing out that I had good insurance through the Metro government due to my former service in the Metro Council, as if that made me a hypocrite for opposing Obamacare.  If one used government subsidized student loans to go to college, or takes the home interest deduction on their income tax, or draws a social security check, does that mean they give up the right to express an opinion on government fiscal and economic policy? I don't think so.

The danger in an expansive government is that when people do get on the dole, they are less likely to criticize the welfare state of which they are now a part and once they start receiving benefits they fear losing them. The welfare state can turn almost everyone into an advocate for a larger and larger public sector.

We all have to work in the environment that exist. If one is entitled to a handout, they should not be criticized for taking it. A person who qualifies for food stamps is doing nothing immoral by getting food stamps. It is the system that makes food stamps available to so many people that is at fought, not the individuals legitimately qualifying for the assistance. It is the policy that makes $3.3 million available to Stephen Fincher that is at fought, not Stephen Fincher accepting the subsidy.

Nevertheless, I think people who have benefited to the extend of Bachmann and Ficher need to explain themselves. They need to reassure us who believe in less government that despite personally benefiting from agriculture subsidies that they are committed to reform that would vote to end those subsidies.

Top Stories