Sheriff Gobble

Here is an opinion piece that I submitted to the Chattanoogan, but it never got published. It was in response to sheriff Tim Gobble opinion piece entitled Sheriff Gobble Looking Forward Maybe it was a bit harsh, and that is why the Chattanoogan did not publish it. I just hate not questioning career politicians as they work their way up the ladder. I have heard him speak two different times and by all I can tell he is just a classic neo-conservative. Haven't we had enough of the new conservatism?

Sheriff Gobble,
You spoke at the Tea Party rally on the 15th and many of us there were shocked to see you take the stage. Your "Sheriff Gobble Looking Forward" opinion piece in the Chattanoogan exemplifies why many of us were dismayed at your participation. The main point of the Tea Party was not only that we are over-taxed, but that we are over-taxed due to our federal government over-stepping its constitutional bounds. As conservative Republicans, Democrats, Constitutionalists, Libertarians, and Independents, we came together around our Constitution, demanding that our leaders follow the road map our Founders gave us. We are tired of our Senators and House Representatives only bringing up the words Strict Constructionist and Originalist when it is politically advantageous or when Supreme Court Judges are being nominated. It is time for politicians to get a constitutional backbone, and I am afraid you have shown us exactly how you will behave if elected as our Congressman.

Sheriff Gobble, just because our out-of-control government chooses to spend our money in ways the Constitution has not specifically mandated, it does not mean you should belly up to the feeding trough. Tennessee's third district should be leading the country as stalwarts of constitutional excellence. Sheriff Gobble, I really can not imagine that you would think the federal government has any constitutional authority to get involved with the funding of police officers. The Tenth Amendment clearly makes the funding of police officers a state issue.

My two points are this. First, even if you were to take our money to fund new police officers for the next four years, the big question is how are you going to pay their salary once the grant money runs out? Sounds like either a tax increase or you are planning on President Obama's spend-our-way-out-of-debt scheme to work. Secondly, by taking this dirty money you are doing exactly what Madison in the 10th Federalist Paper referred to as an "improper or wicked project". What you are doing is taking part in indebting our children and grandchildren so that you may enjoy the security of extra police officers now.

Sheriff Gobble please answer this question: if the Bradley County Commission somehow had the power to take your great grandchildren's money to fund police officers now, would you take it? I hope you would not. You must agree that the ethical ground you tread on is part of an improper and wicked project. Sheriff Gobble it is not your money to spend. Period.