r/worldnewsvideo Plenty šŸ©ŗšŸ§¬šŸ’œ Apr 19 '23

News Report šŸŒ The illusion of democracy in Tennessee

2.1k Upvotes

156 comments sorted by

ā€¢

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191

u/epidemicsaints Apr 19 '23

We live in a cartoon. Why not decide by Applause-O-Meter? Have a danceathon!

27

u/ZincMan Apr 19 '23

Those would be more accurate than whatever this is

7

u/Prestigious_Nebula_5 Apr 19 '23

The way he says "vote" in the video bothers me.

8

u/Tofunugg Apr 19 '23

Someone call Casey Kasem.

2

u/Mrgrumbleygoo Apr 19 '23

Don't give up try harder

4

u/skwander Apr 19 '23

Definitely a cartoon, the chairman has six eyes and two nose.

122

u/stlkatherine Apr 19 '23

Kudos to real reporting. This is what it takes to check them. I hope people listen.

8

u/[deleted] Apr 20 '23

Realistically even if people listen, they donā€™t have power to change it unless they do things most people arenā€™t willing to do. The politicians can do whatever they want without any accountability. How can anyone stand up against them when all they can do is email without getting threatened with arrest? Americans are already living under an authoritarian government that calls itself a democracy and tells people their free to gaslight them. Thatā€™s why I left.

147

u/Wyldling_42 Apr 19 '23

I cannot believe how blatantly corrupt that is. I mean, itā€™s a GQP wet dream, but this is disgusting. Every single one of them should not only never be allowed to serve public office again, but every bill they have ever passed or killed, should be audited publicly, with roll call votes.

I despise Republicans in every way.

2

u/pdltrmps Apr 20 '23

and at the end when they ask what people can do, it basically just comes down to asking them to stop. after we just watched a whole video of them doing it shamelessly while people try to call them out.

2

u/whatkindagone Apr 20 '23

I thought people knew? Lots of politicians are like this, that's kidathe way America is run.

2

u/here_now_be Apr 20 '23

Lots of politicians are like this

and 95% belong to one party.

-7

u/Chosen_UserName217 Apr 20 '23 edited May 16 '24

scary cause direction yoke merciful screw like telephone gaze hat

This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact

-2

u/Chosen_UserName217 Apr 20 '23 edited May 16 '24

cautious mysterious automatic retire marvelous coordinated homeless pie afterthought roll

This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact

7

u/right_there Apr 20 '23

I don't know. Only one party is trying to kidnap trans kids and destroy fundamental human rights.

Democrats suck, but they are not on the same level as Republicans. Voting for them is voting for my continued existence as an LGBT dude.

Not everyone has the ability to "both sides" the issues. Our lives are on the line.

-2

u/Chosen_UserName217 Apr 20 '23 edited May 16 '24

ruthless school hateful dinner dam practice combative humorous doll nose

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7

u/right_there Apr 20 '23 edited Apr 20 '23

Okay. Only one party overwhelmingly supports stripping rights away from LGBT people and women. Let's step back to the national level. Oh, wait, that's still true.

Voting Republican/third party or not voting at all is a vote for accelerationism. Are my rights and the rights of people like me not worth more than your apathy and disillusionment?

-1

u/Chosen_UserName217 Apr 20 '23 edited May 16 '24

employ deliver sulky scandalous clumsy crowd pocket correct impossible water

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3

u/[deleted] Apr 20 '23

Meh. I'll weigh in here: I fucking hate the Democratic party. They suck and are absolutely interchangeable with Republicans on economics, foreign policy and policing. You'll get more cops, more bombs, and more squeezing the working class no matter who is in office.

However, it is absolutely undeniable that liberals have a much more humane and respectable track record specifically with regards to the queer community. It's a night and day difference- which isn't hard when the right wing has been so fervently trying to exterminate them.

Say whatever else you want about liberalism in the West but is absolutely safer for the LGBT community when there aren't conservatives with power.

0

u/Chosen_UserName217 Apr 20 '23 edited May 16 '24

marble faulty dazzling frame weary aspiring bear cause absurd pathetic

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4

u/Melodic-Grape-6701 Apr 21 '23

Tell me you don't know about history without telling me you don't know about history

0

u/Chosen_UserName217 Apr 21 '23 edited May 16 '24

rich shaggy employ bear aspiring fearless squeal label reminiscent fuzzy

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→ More replies (0)

3

u/[deleted] Apr 21 '23

For the love of god stop calling liberals the left. You sound like you've never opened a book on political science in your entire life.

Also, amusingly, none of that is actually a coherent response to what I stated.

0

u/Chosen_UserName217 Apr 21 '23 edited May 16 '24

puzzled memory alleged cows profit license spoon scary pet person

This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact

3

u/RKKP2015 Apr 20 '23

Way to ignore reality in your effort to be an enlightened centrist.

1

u/Chosen_UserName217 Apr 20 '23

you're so cool, brewster

86

u/Positive-Pack-396 Apr 19 '23

Man Tennessee is not a free state at all

how can the people of Tennessee just Sit there and allow this to happen

23

u/Mrgrumbleygoo Apr 19 '23

The highschool kids who got their proposed law illegally shut down won't forget. They probably saw this on tiktok

11

u/bodega_bladerunner Apr 19 '23

Because this is what they wanted all along

16

u/[deleted] Apr 19 '23

Not all of them, there are a lot of black people in the cities of TN who don't want this, and you'd be surprised at the number of white people who aren't actually Republican voters. Lots of them in Nashville. The state is locked up tight by good ol' boys, I don't see that changing any time soon, sadly.

2

u/[deleted] Apr 19 '23

White people too

1

u/chefroxstarr Apr 21 '23

Knoxville Tennessee is a blue city too. We've had a democratic mayor for years and years. It's just a small city though inside Knox county which is Trump's country.

3

u/reality_lovely Apr 19 '23

The state is gerrymandered to a ridiculous level. The actual representation should have a 60-40 Republican lean, but they have it fixed at an 80-20 Republican advantage.

2

u/carnationsole3 Apr 20 '23

Thank you for giving the real answer here. Thereā€™s been an intentional, systematic, and methodical gerrymandering of many southern states. This is always most visible in poor and black communities. Memphis, Nashville, and Knoxville have democratic communities but when the rest of the state is gerrymandered to hell and back it doesnā€™t matter how the largest populated areas are voting

1

u/[deleted] Apr 22 '23

[removed] ā€” view removed comment

6

u/Rev_Dean Apr 19 '23

Look, the GOP may be horribly corrupt, but at least they hate gay people and rainbows! And in TN, thatā€™s what matters most.

3

u/snewk Apr 19 '23

how? not many of us will ever know about this stuff.

1

u/Lethkhar Apr 20 '23

IDK why the report framed this as a uniquely Tennessee problem, but these sorts of things take place in every state legislature I've worked in.

1

u/Positive-Pack-396 Apr 20 '23

Well if you work with these people you should report these people and activities that happen

1

u/Lethkhar Apr 20 '23

Report to whom? State legislators write their own rules and police themselves. That's why they can do this. And since all but a handful of state legislatures operate under de facto single-party rule there usually isn't even any realistic democratic recourse - the local party will just keep nominating them because they win elections. So you have to just wait until they retire or move on to run for Federal/statewide office.

IMO while ignoring decorum/the rules is a problem, the more immediate problem I had working with this lack of accountability was all the sex pests. They're EVERYWHERE in politics, like flies on a fillet. And why wouldn't they be? Pretty ideal work situation for sex pests.

1

u/martymcfly4prez Apr 21 '23

Thereā€™s not much we can do about it, the system is rigged against the people

30

u/Sudnal Apr 19 '23

Idk why they claim this is shocking, this is exactly what republicans have been after this entire time.

54

u/PixelatedpulsarOG Apr 19 '23

How is this not infuriating anyone from the right?? Wasnā€™t their whole stance solely based on limited government?

25

u/LASpleen Apr 19 '23

All their stances are taken for convenience and arenā€™t actually things they believe.

2

u/[deleted] Apr 19 '23

[deleted]

1

u/blurredsagacity Apr 21 '23

Technically you should be saying "they" instead of "he" because the monarch could be -- aaaaand I can't keep it up. It would absolutely be an old white dude.

2

u/Mrgrumbleygoo Apr 19 '23

I bet it scares and infuriates a bunch of the practical human beings. It's whether or not it's bad enough to get people going. People are getting uncomfortable. The fire is getting hotter.

2

u/A1rh3ad Apr 20 '23

The right based on limited government? Lol you must be joking.

2

u/freakrocker Apr 20 '23

The right absolutely deep throats government power. They lust for it... just not for them, for the "coloreds" and the "gays"

1

u/disisdashiz Apr 20 '23

I did a political canvassing thing awhile back. It was just to get a Democrat ag on the ballot. There were 3 republican ones. I used do you want a fair race as my pitch. Had a lot of Republicans ask if they could sign up. Very very few were dicks about it. This was colorado though.

51

u/beeafletcherberry Apr 19 '23

Good ole boys

12

u/Mr__O__ Apr 19 '23 edited Apr 19 '23

You know itā€™s bad when an Americans for Prosperity representative is calling it corrupt.. thatā€™s the Koch Brotherā€™s $100M political advocacy group that gave the Tea Party power.

3

u/Snow-x- Apr 19 '23

Oh damn fr? That's crazy lol

2

u/A1rh3ad Apr 20 '23

Yeah they are pretty much responsible for the downfall of the Libertarian party.

1

u/Mr__O__ Apr 20 '23

And Republican Party - Tea Party is the evangelical foundation that became MAGA

16

u/Sleth Apr 19 '23

Denial of an actual vote count? Golly gee those republicans sure are on the straight and narrow. Here's an idea. Everything voted on is a role call vote. I think that's called democracy if I remember correctly.

-3

u/Top_Relationship_399 Apr 19 '23 edited Apr 19 '23

It says halfway through the video that roll call is required (in multiple instances). Did you watch it or are you just commenting for upvotes?

2

u/disisdashiz Apr 20 '23

Some dude asks to have a role call vote. But the vote was already passed or denied via voice

16

u/okletmethink420 Apr 19 '23

Illusion of everything. Either that or Iā€™m crazy. Who knowsā€¦

14

u/Tofunugg Apr 19 '23

Anyone paying attention has to feel crazy at this point.

5

u/okletmethink420 Apr 19 '23

I can honestly say I definitely donā€™t feel alone, but itā€™s similar. Idk if weā€™re watching it fall apart or people are just too lazy/ignorant to care. Combination of both, I suppose.

2

u/Tofunugg Apr 19 '23

Weā€™re absolutely living in the Twilight Zone at this point. Keep hanging in there, buddy.

3

u/okletmethink420 Apr 19 '23

I really am trying; same to you too though!

2

u/Bun_Bunz Apr 19 '23

Both.

I've felt melancholy for so long that it's hard to keep caring. Especially with no hope in sight.

2

u/okletmethink420 Apr 19 '23

Iā€™ve been waiting on some change or something different myself. Even something small would make a huge difference. The way some people will keep their blinders on is almost completely demoralizing.

11

u/VorMan32 Apr 19 '23

This is what our local news should look like. Real reporting about issues that actually affect us.

1

u/A1rh3ad Apr 20 '23

Back when Fox had some integrity and had people like John Stossel on their team.

41

u/vabch Apr 19 '23

Fascism has to curb voters. Fascists regime does not need voters. They need your money. They will not stop taking away civilians rights. Their prisons need you. Run away. Take as many as you can. RUN šŸ˜¢

15

u/giantyetifeet Apr 19 '23

No, don't run. FIGHT!

1

u/Long_Educational Apr 19 '23

Stop resisting!

8

u/Dear-Unit1666 Apr 19 '23

This country is a joke,the constitution is just toilet paper to these people they don't understand that it was written by the people for the people they think they can just do whatever they want. Both parties are just side tracking every real issue for their own political gain at this point it's disgusting. What about the rest of us that don't support either party anymore and are just sick of watching this circus on play as the country just dies both literally and figuratively.

3

u/right_there Apr 20 '23

The US Constitution is toilet paper compared to any modern constitution anyway. Read Portugal's constitution, for example. It's available in English and grants them rights I didn't even know we needed.

2

u/Dear-Unit1666 Apr 20 '23

Will do. It's hard to keep telling ourselves this is ok when it's obviously not... And there are solutions that are working.

2

u/disisdashiz Apr 20 '23

Oldest constitution in the world of I believe. Only one to not make a new one.

2

u/mikeysgotrabies Apr 20 '23

I just read it and I am jealous. It's like progress is happening everywhere except here.

9

u/SirDiesel1803 Apr 19 '23

Can anybody outside the state fix this. I'm not from the US so just wondering if it could be fixed through federal means

4

u/Artilikestoparty Apr 19 '23

Well seeing as how the republican far right speakers have passed so many laws making it "State laws" that prevent the higher ups in Washington DC from intervention in the law making process, they basically have been given full reign to do and pass whatever they want and legally the federal gov can't do anything about its because the states citizens elected these officials (these douche bags) to represent them and since its unchecked power and they have a majority party they can do and say pretty much anything without having to answer to anyone or face consequences its highly corrupt and fucking scary how far all this has gotten but they're doing this mad dash scramble for power as much as they can while they can because a new age of Republican voters with views that don't align with these old rep senators they are terrified because they know they will be on there way out soon but the damage they are doing now and will continue to do is pretty much Reprehensible

2

u/SirDiesel1803 Apr 19 '23

I hope regardless of political affiliations this nonsense will be resolve. But I feel your massive anger. It feels justified l. But with a system that works like this. When democrats get in charge they change the system rather than use it to their own ends.

I think the system needs changing. But I do understand the pain of the people who are are hurting now

3

u/[deleted] Apr 19 '23

Lock them up.

3

u/yubnubmcscrub Apr 19 '23

And the the GOP have the gall to say ohh these black democrats canā€™t put forward any legislation so they are just lashing out and arenā€™t following the rules. As of the GOP is following the rules and not just silencing them no matter what. Calling representative Pearsonā€™s display ā€œperformativeā€. Well then do your job and donā€™t not allow them to perform their duty. Itā€™s ridiculous

3

u/Kado_Cerc Apr 19 '23

Bunch of shitheaded fuckers

2

u/DisastrousTeddyBear Apr 20 '23

Born and raised a Tennessean and this makes me sick to my stomach. This bleeds all that is wrong with that generation of politics and Tennessee government. We are absolutely better than this, and this is is simply shameful. Wake up Tennessee! Wake up America l!

-1

u/BrotherEnoch18 Apr 20 '23

Ok this is bs nonsense. This is like suggesting I can use my Costco card with my name and pic as my passport. Why note use a state issued ID? The reason you do this is so the state/govt can verify if you are a legal voter among many other things like are you voting in your right station. You donā€™t need a state issued ID to get a college ID nor technically do you need to be of legal age to attend.

Most educational institutions and their admin are left. Happy to post facts. Itā€™s not a question if high schools should tell people on how to vote (they should if it was that simple) itā€™s more so of a question of how do you control influence on how they SHOULD vote.

State laws dictating election information are strictly forbidden on influence. Behind closed doors how do you prevent that? Doesnā€™t matter which side of the isle you are on, keep the playing field level.

3

u/mikeysgotrabies Apr 20 '23

Is your mind too narrow to actually pay attention to the entire video? You're commenting on a tiny snippet of it and ignoring the entire point of the video.

-2

u/Lethkhar Apr 19 '23 edited Apr 20 '23

Hate to break it to people but this is literally how it works in every state legislature in the country. Party leadership has all the power.

EDIT: You don't need to take my word for it. Watch a Committee hearing in your state legislature and you'll see all kinds of voice votes and last-minute amendments.

1

u/mykilososa Apr 19 '23

ā€œPronounced ten-USSYā€

1

u/Mrgrumbleygoo Apr 19 '23

For the first time I appreciate toktok and see a positive.

I need to sit in my local political meetings

1

u/loicwg Apr 19 '23

A failed state by any other name...

1

u/shaunl666 Apr 19 '23

White men and their god

1

u/Thatdewd57 Apr 20 '23

Thereā€™s this crazy invention called a button and you can program a button so that when you press it, it submits your vote. I donā€™t get why this isnā€™t commonplace nowadays.

1

u/HairlessHoudini Apr 20 '23

Unless something is done to stop them it's all over but the concentration camps. In 20 years it will look like a futuristic Syfy post apocalypse movie

1

u/[deleted] Apr 20 '23

This is dead democracy. This is not only undemocratic, it is fascist autocracy. We need to remove Tennessee from the Union. Start cutting off Federal funding to these states who are choosing autocracy.

1

u/[deleted] Apr 20 '23

Many states are only in the control of Republicans because of corruption and gerrymandering. I guarantee Texas is only Red because of corruption at this point. The tide is shifting to liberal policies so the reactionary right is using Fascism to suspend democracy in the states they manage to control. If the right can convince enough moderates to sit on their asses every election, our democracy is doomed

1

u/[deleted] Apr 20 '23

Many states are only in the control of Republicans because of corruption and gerrymandering. I guarantee Texas is only Red because of corruption at this point. The tide is shifting to liberal policies so the reactionary right is using Fascism to suspend democracy in the states they manage to control. If the right can convince enough moderates to sit on their asses every election, our democracy is doomed

1

u/DevilsLettuceTaster Apr 20 '23

Absolutely disgraceful.

2

u/mikeysgotrabies Apr 20 '23

Happy cake day

1

u/RoboticJello Apr 20 '23

Fantastic reporting. So often news tries to be neutral where they give both sides equal weight. But in an abuse of power, giving both sides equal weight is complicit with the status quo. This news team was objective and that made them extremely effective at getting this story right.

1

u/AutoDeskSucks- Apr 20 '23

Because they know if people actually participate in the process republicans will lose every fucking time.

1

u/Quirky_Yesterday9407 Apr 20 '23

This is bananas.

1

u/Black91crx Apr 20 '23

I hate living in Nashville so much

1

u/ibeyou44 Apr 20 '23

This is why Republicans condemn the media. They donā€™t want us to see them.

1

u/Randolph- Apr 20 '23

Lol. What a joke.

1

u/QuantumTea Apr 20 '23

Does anyone have a link to the official video on news5ā€™s website?

1

u/i7oldgr3gg Apr 20 '23

Their the poorest state in the Union for a reason

1

u/Head-Advantage2461 Apr 20 '23

TNgop is a farce. Theyā€™re out-fascisting the TXgop, which says a lot. What a great example for why NO ONE SHOULD VOTE FOR THE GOP ANYWHERE.

1

u/DumbUglyCuck Apr 20 '23

The solution is for people to demand things??? Thatā€™s fucking ridiculous. The fed should step in. This is how fascism starts.

1

u/shnanagins Apr 20 '23

United Corruption of America

1

u/freakrocker Apr 20 '23

Tennessee is absolutely corrupt.

1

u/SithLordSid Apr 20 '23

Those who have the power make the rules, or sometimes ignore the rules they don't like.

Sounds very Christian of them, ignoring things they don't like, like scripture in the bible.

1

u/Bluccability_status Apr 20 '23

Prison. For all treasonous politicians who block bills that expand voting education and understanding. Itā€™s harmful/destructive to society.

1

u/[deleted] Apr 20 '23

Because post secondary students practice critical thinking and tend to not vote against their best interests after that. So they don't support republicans lol

"The Land of the FreeTM"

1

u/TillThen96 Apr 20 '23

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KEyntjUYiY (link to original YouTube video)

Source:

5/3/2022

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) ā€” In politics, those who have the power make the rules.

In the Tennessee House of Representatives, an exclusive NewsChannel 5 investigation discovered they also ignore the rules they don't like.

Those questionable practices allow the state's Republican supermajority to introduce dramatic changes in legislation with no public notice. They can also kill bills they don't like without anyone knowing who did it.

A couple of recent examples: a bill to require high schools to tell seniors how they can register to vote, another just to study whether college student IDs can be used for voting ā€” both killed this past session in committee on unrecorded voice votes.

"All votes constituting final action on any bill or resolution shall be by roll call vote."

ā€” Tennessee House committee rules

"What we're experiencing now is an abuse of power," said House Democratic Caucus Chair Vincent Dixie, D-Nashville.

"They have so much power, and they don't know how to wield it."

In committee on the Senate side, also controlled by a GOP supermajority, committee members themselves decide whether bills live or die with recorded roll-call votes.

On the House side, that power is wielded almost exclusively by the people who chair the committees and who rule based on what they think they hear on voice votes.

https://www.newschannel5.com/news/newschannel-5-investigates/revealed/revealed-tennessee-house-follows-rules-that-hides-votes-proposed-amendments-from-public

Searched this topic within News Channel 5 site:

Their "solution" is not public, unless one registers, nor would it seem to address how committees function:

https://www.newschannel5.com/news/newschannel-5-investigates/revealed/new-tennessee-statehouse-web-portal-makes-amendments-public-before-votes

https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/Dashboard/Login

Yet another "rule":

https://www.newschannel5.com/news/newschannel-5-investigates/revealed/gop-supermajority-votes-to-limit-debate-in-tennessee-house-cutting-members-time-to-just-five-minutes

1

u/CreatorofMemories333 Apr 20 '23

The system isnā€™t broken, it was designed to work this way. šŸ˜ž

1

u/SkateTheGreat Apr 20 '23

Waitā€¦ are you telling me Republicans only care about power?! Iā€™m shocked, I tell you.

1

u/AlmoBlue Apr 20 '23

There's no real democracy in the US

1

u/SomewhereShot91 Apr 20 '23

Republican are now just fascists, and they don't even care that we all know it.

1

u/chefroxstarr Apr 21 '23

I love in Knoxville and this is horrifying. How much better could this state be if these people ran the state by democratic methods rather than based on their own desires and agendas. This is disgusting.

1

u/JCTN87 Apr 21 '23

The prediction is a BLUE WAVE in Tennessee šŸ’™

1

u/Live_Palm_Trees Apr 21 '23

I am happily surprised at this local news coverage. It's actual journalism. Usually you just get a few mugshots of the latest poor person caught committing a crime, followed by a police spokesman further condemning them prior to a trial, then some weather and sports. Never holding those in power accountable outside of the occasional "Seven on Your Side" segment where a small business is ambushed with accusations that they overbill for dry cleaning.

1

u/Gunker001 Apr 21 '23

The news shouldnā€™t just say ā€œpeople should demand answersā€. The news should explain to people HOW to demand answers. They should provide names, phones numbers, emails. Basic instructions on how the process works to file a complaint about this problem.

1

u/[deleted] Apr 23 '23

Tennessee is truly a shithole State. This is the perfect documented example of corruption.