http://www.metropulse.com/news/columns/knoxville-issues/sideways-glance/?partner=RSSMetroPulse Stories: Sideways Glance by Rikki Hallen-uscolumns/knoxville-issues/sideways-glancehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2013/mar/27/board-room-politics-tennessees-senators-fail-expla/?partner=RSSIn a healthy democracy, U.S. senators should be held in esteem. Their six-year terms insulate them from the cruder aspects of politics, allowing time for reflection and thought. Unfortunately, neither Tennessee senator has any interest in being thoughtful. Wed, 27 Mar 2013 14:53:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-25833-734954columns/knoxville-issues/sideways-glanceRikki HallKnoxville, TNBoard Room Politics: Tennessee's Senators Fail to Explain Beef with TVA'S Marilyn BrownMetroPulseboard-room-politics-tennessees-senators-fail-explaurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-25833-734954Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2013/feb/27/citys-urban-food-corridor-plan-just-what-we-need-g/?partner=RSSWe need to build local economies and wean ourselves from the globalists. It will take self-reliance and a new emphasis on democracy to slough off the wealthy parasites. Happily, we have an example of just such an effort right here in Knoxville. Wed, 27 Feb 2013 19:50:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-25720-734926columns/knoxville-issues/sideways-glanceRikki HallKnoxville, TNThe City’s “Urban Food Corridor” Plan Is Just What We Need to Grow IndependenceMetroPulsecitys-urban-food-corridor-plan-just-what-we-need-gurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-25720-734926Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2013/jan/30/fall-guy-county-loses-effective-public-servant/?partner=RSSWhen John Duncan III took office as Knox County trustee in 2010, he made a very good decision. He ceased contracting delinquent tax collections to a private attorney and instead hired a staff attorney. Wed, 30 Jan 2013 15:17:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-25597-734898columns/knoxville-issues/sideways-glanceRikki HallKnoxville, TNFall Guy: The County Loses an Effective Public ServantMetroPulsefall-guy-county-loses-effective-public-servanturn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-25597-734898Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2013/jan/02/argumentative-behavior-dont-let-bad-guys-control-c/?partner=RSSThe elementary-school massacre in Connecticut set off renewed conversations about how to avoid such violence, but as usual gun-rights advocates have no interest in discussing what “well regulated” in the Second Amendment truly means. Wed, 02 Jan 2013 16:53:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-25521-734870columns/knoxville-issues/sideways-glanceRikki HallKnoxville, TNArgumentative Behavior: Don't Let Bad Guys Control Conversation on GunsMetroPulseargumentative-behavior-dont-let-bad-guys-control-curn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-25521-734870Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2012/dec/05/seymour-alternatives-look-beyond-outdated-parkway/?partner=RSSAssume the governor (and his minions) listens to the people regarding James White Parkway and chooses the No Build alternative. What then? Wed, 05 Dec 2012 15:09:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-25426-734842columns/knoxville-issues/sideways-glanceRikki HallKnoxville, TNSeymour Alternatives: Look Beyond the Outdated Parkway Extension for Better SolutionsMetroPulseseymour-alternatives-look-beyond-outdated-parkwayurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-25426-734842Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2012/nov/14/back-future-sustainability-south-knoxville-traditi/?partner=RSSClose your eyes and imagine that you live in a sustainable community. What is your morning routine? What’s in your kitchen? How do you get around? What makes people upset? What entertains them? Wed, 14 Nov 2012 14:12:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-25336-734821columns/knoxville-issues/sideways-glanceRikki HallKnoxville, TNBack to the Future: Sustainability is a South Knoxville TraditionMetroPulseback-future-sustainability-south-knoxville-traditiurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-25336-734821Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2012/oct/10/grab-ballot-or-grab-shovel-open-letter-young-and-y/?partner=RSSI used to think of the future as mine, but having lived through a big chunk of it, I think of it as someone else’s problem. I am a minority stakeholder in the century yet to come. I ought to be jealous of the young, with so much of their lives ahead. Instead, I fear for the changes they will endure. Wed, 10 Oct 2012 15:55:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-25175-734786columns/knoxville-issues/sideways-glanceRikki HallKnoxville, TNGrab a Ballot or Grab a Shovel: An Open Letter to the Young and Young at Heart MetroPulsegrab-ballot-or-grab-shovel-open-letter-young-and-yurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-25175-734786Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2012/sep/12/backcountry-tax-charging-backpackers-camp-against/?partner=RSSThe Great Smoky Mountains National Park plans to charge backpackers $4 per person per night to camp in the backcountry, starting next year. Local hikers have fought this idea since it was first suggested, and this month they sent a letter to Superintendent Dale Ditmanson stating their intent to challenge the decision in court. Wed, 12 Sep 2012 15:03:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-25068-734759columns/knoxville-issues/sideways-glanceRikki HallKnoxville, TNBackcountry Tax: Charging Backpackers to Camp is Against the Spirit of the SmokiesMetroPulsebackcountry-tax-charging-backpackers-camp-againsturn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-25068-734758Change734759Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2012/aug/15/democrats-unchained-perhaps-its-time-tennessees-le/?partner=RSSThe State of Tennessee has a golden opportunity to reduce spending in future elections: Stop funding Democratic primaries. Wed, 15 Aug 2012 14:57:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24955-734730columns/knoxville-issues/sideways-glanceRikki HallKnoxville, TNDemocrats Unchained: Perhaps It's Time for Tennessee's Left to Find a New Political IdentityMetroPulsedemocrats-unchained-perhaps-its-time-tennessees-leurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24955-734730Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2012/jul/18/rub-some-dirt-it-august-ballot-abrasion-democracys/?partner=RSSEarly voting started last Friday, but you haven’t voted yet. You’re still hoping an asteroid will strike the planet or the governor will sign a stealth bill requiring proof that you’ve donated $10,000 to political campaigns to be eligible to vote. Wed, 18 Jul 2012 16:33:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24856-734702columns/knoxville-issues/sideways-glanceRikki HallKnoxville, TNRub Some Dirt On It: The August Ballot is an Abrasion on Democracy's KneeMetroPulserub-some-dirt-it-august-ballot-abrasion-democracysurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24856-734702Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2012/jun/20/state-officials-are-grabbing-more-control-over-who/?partner=RSSIn Tennessee, the majority party in the state Legislature gets control of the election commission in every county, a contrivance with no constitutional basis. Wed, 20 Jun 2012 21:51:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24754-734674columns/knoxville-issues/sideways-glanceRikki HallKnoxville, TNState Officials Are Grabbing More Control Over Who Can Be on the BallotMetroPulsestate-officials-are-grabbing-more-control-over-whourn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24754-734674Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2012/may/23/will-gov-haslam-ever-rise-above-party-politics-and/?partner=RSSWhile Gov. Haslam is to be commended for making Amazon collect sales taxes, his overall stance toward corporate interests has been supplication. He has weakened Tennessee’s already laggard regulatory agencies and launched an attack on transparency. Wed, 23 May 2012 19:08:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24656-734646columns/knoxville-issues/sideways-glanceRikki HallKnoxville, TNWill Gov. Haslam Ever Rise Above Party Politics and Deliver Us From the Kooks?MetroPulsewill-gov-haslam-ever-rise-above-party-politics-andurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24656-734646Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2012/apr/25/knox-county-charter-review-committee-needs-think-b/?partner=RSSKnox County’s charter is its constitution, the document that defines county government. The Knox County Charter Review Committee is the local version of a constitutional convention, and it has convened this year, as required every eight years. This is a time for big thoughts, but so far the committee has taken a small and unimaginative approach, combing through the existing charter to find areas that need tweaks and clarification. Wed, 25 Apr 2012 15:07:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24525-734618columns/knoxville-issues/sideways-glanceRikki HallKnoxville, TNThe Knox County Charter Review Committee Needs to Think BiggerMetroPulseknox-county-charter-review-committee-needs-think-burn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24525-734618Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2012/mar/28/state-lawmakers-chase-agenda-21-while-real-problem/?partner=RSSA joint resolution passed this month by the State House condemning a 20-year-old United Nations document should be placed into a time capsule so future generations can understand why they inherited an unsustainable and deteriorating world. The legislators who sponsored HJR0587 embarrass not just Tennessee but also humanity. Wed, 28 Mar 2012 18:33:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24424-734590columns/knoxville-issues/sideways-glanceRikki HallKnoxville, TNState Lawmakers Chase Agenda 21 While Real Problems Get Worse MetroPulsestate-lawmakers-chase-agenda-21-while-real-problemurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24424-734590Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2012/feb/08/next-months-primary-golden-opportunity-screw-campf/?partner=RSSThere is an election next month, with early voting beginning Feb. 15. Did you know Stacey Campfield is on the ballot? Wed, 08 Feb 2012 20:43:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24236-734541columns/knoxville-issues/sideways-glanceRikki HallKnoxville, TNNext Month's Primary Is a Golden Opportunity to Screw With CampfieldMetroPulsenext-months-primary-golden-opportunity-screw-campfurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24236-734541Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2012/jan/04/looking-forward-rogero-administration/?partner=RSSWith a new year and a new city government, what lies ahead for Knoxville? Mayor Madeline Rogero’s promise to make our town greener and more livable needs to be translated into policies, and there is cause for optimism. Wed, 04 Jan 2012 17:10:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24103-734506columns/knoxville-issues/sideways-glanceRikki HallKnoxville, TNLooking Forward to the Rogero AdministrationMetroPulselooking-forward-rogero-administrationurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24103-734506Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2011/dec/07/why-green-opportunities-make-good-business-sense/?partner=RSSUntil this month, no composting facility near Nashville could accept food waste. A couple of Lipscomb University graduate students noticed this opportunity a couple years ago. Now, finished with their degrees, they have started a business, obtained permits, and built a 37-acre facility in an adjacent county that has just begun operations. Wed, 07 Dec 2011 16:06:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24005-734478columns/knoxville-issues/sideways-glanceRikki HallKnoxville, TNWhy Green Opportunities Make Good Business SenseMetroPulsewhy-green-opportunities-make-good-business-senseurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24005-734478Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2011/nov/16/why-rural-counties-should-tax-1/?partner=RSSCoal and timber land is often owned by small holding companies that are owned by larger corporations and institutional investors. This makes it difficult to find an actual person associated with the land, and even county property assessors are sometimes unsure who is behind whatever corporate acronym appears on the deed. Predictably, taxes are often delinquent. Wed, 16 Nov 2011 20:57:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-23919-734457columns/knoxville-issues/sideways-glanceRikki HallKnoxville, TNWhy Rural Counties Should Tax the 1%MetroPulsewhy-rural-counties-should-tax-1urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-23919-734457Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2011/oct/12/mayor-burchetts-loose-ways/?partner=RSSWith a new Carter Elementary now assured, County Mayor Tim Burchett deserves cheers, but only in the sense that you clap for stragglers in a charity 5k run who were just trying to prove they could finish Wed, 12 Oct 2011 15:19:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-23755-734422columns/knoxville-issues/sideways-glanceRikki HallKnoxville, TNMayor Burchett's Loose WaysMetroPulsemayor-burchetts-loose-waysurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-23755-734422Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2011/sep/14/lets-put-stop-redistricting-shenanigans/?partner=RSSRedistricting is one of the ugliest processes in our democracy. But there is a way to stop the shenanigans. Wed, 14 Sep 2011 15:45:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-23620-734394columns/knoxville-issues/sideways-glanceRikki HallKnoxville, TNLet’s Put a Stop to Redistricting Shenanigans MetroPulselets-put-stop-redistricting-shenanigansurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-23620-734394Change0Usable