ISSUES OF INTEREST
There are a variety of issues confronting Tennesseans which need to be addressed on both the State and national level.
Health Care Reform
The Southern National Congress adopted a statement on "Government Health Care" during its session 12 September 2009, in Delta, Alabama.
Agrarian / Economic Issues
National Animal Identification System (N.A.I.S.)
Agribusiness has lobbied the USDA to create a system to protect them from legal liability if an epidemic of disease breaks out. But more importantly, NAIS would protect agribusiness market share, forestalling a public revulsion against their product by "confirming" that only a few animals were sick, rather than not thousands. NAIS enables huge agribusiness conglomerates that concentrate thousands of animals (and so concentrate the chance for spreading diseases) to point their finger at someone else.
RAW MILK
Evidence supports the health benefits of non-pasturized milk. Legislation has been repeatedly introduced to allow a farmer to sell "raw milk" directly to the public. The financial benefits to the local farmer would help local economies.
Liberty Issues
USA Patriot Act of 2001
The Patriot Act was presented to Congress in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Not a single member of Congress had access to the entire legislation prior to voting on it. This single piece of legislation signaled a turning point in American history. Not since the Alien and Sedition Acts were passed under President Adams had there been such an onerous attack on the US Constitution and our personal, Constitutional liberties.
Challenge to the USA Patriot Act
Specific areas in which the Patriot Act conflicts with the U.S. Constitution are contained in a press release issued by the Tennessee League of the South just shortly after the passage of the legislation.
Gun Rights / Second Amendment
Every challenge by any level of government against the God-given obligation for self-defense will be opposed by the Tennessee League of the South.
FEMA
In 2006, FEMA began a program of recruiting local pastors to become "Community Chaplains." The "Chaplains" must go through a disaster credentially course which enables them to participate in any "Disaster Response." Several church and para-church organizations are encouraging pastors to sign-on with FEMA. The problem with the program is that it completely restricts those pastors from any reference to Christ or to actual Biblical counseling with disaster victims.
In New Orleans, following hurricane Katrina, the pastors were used to confiscate weapons from law-abiding citizens.
We have published two documents to inform you further.
1. A promotional brochure published by the Seventh Day Adventists (click here)
2. The actual training manual for "Pastoral Crisis Intervention" (click here) It has margin notes from the pastor who attended the training.