People, Plans, and Presuppositions
What TFI is, who runs it, and why we have this Substack
What is Tennessee Freedom Initiative?
Tennessee Freedom Initiative (TFI) is a nonprofit that specializes in state level lobbying. We analyze barriers to true freedom in Tennessee, consult with experts to determine to fix those issues, and then draft legislation and lobby for it to become law. In the last three years we have lobbied for about fifteen bills, passed seven into law, and developed personal relationships with nearly half the members of the legislature.
We — the people who run TFI — are a small group of mostly 30-somethings based in the little town of Centerville, about an hour southwest of Nashville. Most of us run small businesses, several of us have small children, and we’re keenly aware of the ways that government affects our everyday lives through healthcare, taxes, criminal justice, education, and about ten thousand other ways. Our staff has spent the last six years working in and around state government as Legislative Assistants, researchers, campaign managers, and lobbyists. Our members are deeply committed to Tennessee, both as it is and as it could be, and we have all invested significant time and resources to learn about and contribute to our state.
This experience gives our team a unique vantage point on the issues facing Tennessee, the bills trying to address those issues, and how culture affects politics — or vice versa. Our experience also tells us that Tennesseans need constructive avenues to learn about state politics. There are plenty of news sources in the state, but they either cover politics as a side issue or they are blatantly biased and prey on people’s fears. What we haven’t seen is a tidy, politics-focused newsletter that aims for accuracy and thoughtful explanations that readers can use make their own decisions.
That’s where this Substack comes in. We have a strong political viewpoint, as you’ll see below, but we hope that this newsletter can first and foremost convey facts. And while “facts” themselves are easily biased, specifically by which ones you choose to omit, we aim to contribute a measure of honesty, reason, and objectivity to the political climate in Tennessee.
The Format of This Newsletter
This session, you can expect one newsletter per week, covering a major topic, some quick notes, and updates on the bills TFI is working on. The main topic will likely be an explanation on the impact of a bill, but we also hope to cover Tennessee political history, issues facing the state that aren’t getting legal traction, and the occasional philosophical breakdown of an issue. If we get really fancy, we may feature interviews with lawyers, legislators, or department heads to give you a peek inside government operations. Since it’s only going out once a week, we’re unlikely to break any major news stories, though with our internal connections it is possible that you’ll hear unique perspectives or the occasional “people close to the issue tell us…” that journalists use to avoid incriminating sources. Since we’re a lobbying organization and not a newsroom, I won’t preclude the possibility of endorsing or opposing certain legislation, but if we do we’ll still aim to treat the issue or bill fairly, avoiding inflammatory rhetoric, name-calling, and speculation.
For the next few weeks, we will take a few editions to explain the lay of the land in state politics, particularly the legislature. This starts with a practical overview that includes understanding basic mechanics of legislation, party control, state vs. federal power, and difficulties of passing law. Then you’ll see 2-3 editions looking at the legislative side, which will include major battles for the year, legislation that has already been filed, and what dynamics play a role in the passage or failure of bills. Finally, as session gets rolling in late January and early February, we’ll start our breakdowns of issues, bills, and amendments. We hope that you find it enjoyable, engaging, and enlightening. Please let use know if you have thoughts, questions, or suggestions, and we’ll do our best to help!
Our Foundational Principles
In order to understand the purpose of a media effort like this, it’s often helpful to know the fundamental beliefs of the people behind it. So, in the effort of full transparency, allow me to lay out ten of ours:
We believe in Jesus Christ. That He is the Savior of Souls and King of the Universe.
We believe that Jesus reigns, right now. That He is building His kingdom and that we get to be a part.
We believe that scripture gives us frameworks for civil government, and that it should be consulted first and followed foremost in questions of policy and procedure. The Bible also helps us define what “freedom” even is. For instance, as one of my board members put it: “If I’m free to murder, then you’re not free to live.” Some versions of freedom are really just anarchy, an individualistic attitude that says, “Let me do whatever I want.” We believe that, contrary to this attitude, the state has a role in reigning in evil so that every citizen can achieve maximum freedom.
We believe that we must honor Christ with politics. That doesn’t just mean espousing Christian policies, but also acting like Christians in the quest to achieve those policies. The Fruit of the Spirit can’t be left at the door of the Capitol building. Honoring Christ in politics means that how we talk about politicians has to be honest, and how we treat opponents has to be fair. It means casting a critical eye on our own legislation just like we would someone else’s, and voicing disagreement in ways that are respectful and not hateful. It means setting aside pride and letting another take the credit, if it brings about the right result. And it means that another Christian can believe differently about a political issue while still being united in the same Spirit.
We believe in building something new. Our board comes largely from a rural, conservative background, and many people we know in those circles spend their time looking back — trying to keep things as they are, or to revert to the “good old days”. But the past is past, and there’s no going back. The question isn’t if change will happen, but how. For our part, we’re trying to ask the right questions, think beyond “the way we’ve always done it”, find creative solutions to modern problems, and create something unique in Tennessee.
We believe we must take initiative. Too often, Christians in politics find themselves on the defensive, reacting to threats both real and imagined and wasting unfathomed time and effort. By taking initiative, we can design and advance Biblical concepts for government and avoid the mire of fad social controversy. Rather than simply complain about issues, we can suggest solutions and anticipate the long-term effect of our policies and legislation. We can get ahead of problems. We can become known as the most thoughtful people in the room. We can develop relationships with legislators so that they trust us, and become educated so that we can suggest realistic solutions to difficult problems. This is hard work, and it often won’t show fruit for years or decades. But it’s worth it.
We believe we must be honest about problems in our own camp. It’s easy to pin the blame on some other tribe — the Democrats or Republicans, the liberals or libertarians, the conspiracy theorists or the cabal. But what are we doing to make change? What positions are we re-evaluating in light of new knowledge or biblical understanding? How are we affecting institutions and culture? How are we setting our children up to have the influence we never could? We can sit in our glass towers throwing boulders, or we can put boots on the ground and make sacrifices for the change we want to see.
We believe that while politics is important, it is not prime. For most of us, politics should not take the bulk of our attention — we need to spend our time and treasure on families, businesses, churches; culture, the arts, relationships. We don’t have time to understand every issue, meet with every legislator, and craft every amendment. This is why we send a lobbyist to the capitol on our behalf. We pool our resources to ensure that our voices are heard. It’s also why we’re starting this newsletter to help make sense of a confusing political world.
We believe that the Tenth Amendment is key. This country was founded with the understanding that states were essentially small countries, banding together for the protection and benefits that accrue to a larger group. Now, these sovereign states have been subsumed by the federal government, and the state needs to exert its sovereignty in order to create a unique culture and laws. We think this is best done using a two-prong approach: Defensively, by pushing back against federal overreach. Offensively, by taking initiative to govern functionally, economically, and self-sufficiently. Active self-government in Tennessee may be our best chance at sovereignty.
We believe that Tennessee can show the way. By exerting our constitutional and God-given rights, and looking to scripture for guidance, we can chart a path for other states. Tennessee has a rich history of pioneers, volunteers, and presidents. And while the rest of the world may overlook us, we don’t want to overlook an opportunity to change the world.