To Vote Or Not – What’s Your Excuse?

Image Credit: Marco Verch / CC

By Thomas Antkow [Special to The Tennessee Conservative] –

I cast my first real vote in 1974. Watergate, the resignation of Richard Nixon, and the Arab oil embargo created a “perfect storm”. Northern Democrats, known as the “Watergate babies” replaced Southern Democrats and some Conservative Republicans in the House of Representatives. 

The nationwide popular vote margin for the Dems was 16.8 points. The democrats would go on to control the House with an overwhelming majority.

The voter turnout in the 1974 election was the lowest in an off-year election since 1946.  Voter participation was about 10 points lower than in the previous election in 1970. Well below the 1972 Presidential election. That election had one of the lowest turnouts for a Presidential election in recent American history. The Republicans finally regained the house majority, during the second term of Bill Clinton. The Conservative “circle” remained relatively unbroken until recently. Fast forward to the present.

I decided to throw my hat into the ring in the Blount County Tennessee primary election for County Commission in 2022. My goal was to “inject” new life into a “network” of reps and “good old boys” who had held seats for several years. After  all of the useless Covid-19 vaccinations, I felt that most citizens were primed for another “jab”. 

I was becoming distressed with the direction I was seeing in my newly constructed home in the east central part of that county.

I have lived in several states over the years. I had seen the trends happening daily. I noticed the same previous “Red Flags”, popping up here in Maryville. After spending time in Colorado Springs as a radio talk show host and seeking solace, I made the leap along with my wife to settle in the comfort of a more conservative State.

I had witnessed tract developers before. Local “Leaders” establishing commercial/industrial zones in the name of expanding employment opportunities. Politicians raising taxes. Rural properties, sometimes held within families for several hundred years, disappear. Crime, homelessness, black market drug sales, counterfeit medical marijuana cards, legalized and legal drug transactions, cartels, and super gangs. I couldn’t stand idly by while transplants from liberal states, looking for greener pastures and new hunting grounds, brought liberal ideas, crime, and legalized drugs with them in their moving vans. The final match was lit when my own peaceful new home, built on a half-acre and guarded by woods and wildlife was shattered by bulldozers and chainsaws. Tract housing developers who were given a green light by the County Commission, had prevailed. Heavy equipment operators raked in tons of cash selling the downed lumber that had stood since the Civil War. Most of the cardinals fled. Even the three-legged racoon who we religiously fed left town for the Smokies. My castle was under siege. With election office documents in hand, my crusade began. I placed signage wherever possible and knocked on countless doors. Victory seemed within my grasp! Wrong. The “network” had prevailed. 

I learned several things from my campaign. There is a huge number of “talk about it but won’t vote about it” folks in the County. Voter turnout was abysmally small even for a mid-term primary vote. Average “voters” I encountered while door knocking had no clue who their own County Commissioner even was or even what district that they resided in. They didn’t understand who the people responsible for controlling growth, development, and taxes affecting their lives every day were, or did. 

Liberal minded residents are moving in and eroding Blount County and East Tennessee’s Conservative reputation and stronghold. Some transplanted voters are certainly sure to be “wolves in sheep’s” clothing. Democrats proved that they are much more masterful and effective at registering and motivating people to vote. Determined to prevail at all costs. Our local Republican Party is, as many across America are, sorely lacking in organizing, registering, and mobilizing new and younger voters. 

If East Tennesseans wish to maintain any power, they MUST VOTE and show up at the ballot box! For every election, with the same zeal they possess for supporting the University of Tennessee Vols and local High School football teams. I may be down now. But not out.

About the Author: THOMAS ANTKOW is currently a freelance writer and produced and hosted his own daily radio show on KCSF AM 1300 and co-hosted talk shows for KVOR AM 740 for Cumulus Broadcasting in Colorado Springs. He can be reached at taradio863@gmail.com. You can subscribe and follow Tom Antkow’s free newsletter at: “antkow.substack.com”.