From MAGA hat wearer to frustrated former teacher, these were The Tennessean’s best read opinion columns in 2019 | Plazas – Tennessean
opinion
David Plazas Nashville Tennessean
Published 6:00 AM EST Dec 30, 2019
The Tennessean published an average of 120 opinion columns or editorials a month in 2019.
We are grateful to the many authors who submitted their contributions and sometimes waited patiently while the four-person opinion staff for the USA TODAY Network – Tennessee worked to review, verify and produce each piece.
The topics varied widely because Nashville generated a lot of news and interest with the events around the Tennessee General Assembly’s legislative session at the state Capitol, the municipal mayoral and council election, and health care and music — two signature topics in Music City.
Our team received the most guest columns, also known as op-eds, on the topic of surprise medical billing. This was in response to U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander’s efforts to deal with a problem that affects 1 out of 5 Americans who go to an emergency and then receive a shockingly high bill.
The list below represents the top-read opinion articles of the year, as measured by our online analytics tools from best to 10th most read column.
Thank you again you again for your readership and here is to a Happy New Year to all!
Make your voice heard: How to submit an op-ed or letter to the editor
MAGA hat wearer stands ground
“Why I proudly wear my Make America Great Again hat,” by Ryan Moore, Jan. 30.
Ryan Moore, a Seattle resident who had work ties to the Nashville area, is a self-described former liberal who became a Donald Trump supporter and expressed his frustration at being assailed for wearing his Make America Great Again hat in public.
“Many people have wished me dead, made threats and often call me racist simply because I support the wall and the President of the United States,” he wrote.
The reaction to this piece was so vicious that it led me to write this column: “Why The Tennessean publishes diverse viewpoints, including one from a proud MAGA hat wearer.”
The Tennessean Editorial Board’s mission publicly states: “We welcome a diversity of opinions,” a philosophy that can sometimes prove to be controversial.
Members of Congress are just like us
“Congress planted a time bomb with the REAL ID, and Tennessee is letting it go off,” by U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper, Oct. 25.
Not even a sitting congressman can skip the line at the DMV.
Congressman Jim Cooper, D-Nashville, spent more than four hours trying to get his Real ID at the Department of Motor Vehicles. The Real ID will be required for air travel and entering federal buildings after Oct. 1, 2020.
He criticized Tennessee for waiting 14 years to implement the federal Real ID law.
“I encourage everyone not to procrastinate. Get your REAL ID as soon as possible,” he wrote.
Even Tennessean reporters endured long waits. Since then, the state has been working on beefing up staffing to try to deal with the growing demand.
Tariff policy consequences explained
“Donald Trump’s tariffs are paid by American consumers — not China,” by William W. Wade, May 31.
Franklin economist William Wade wanted to give readers — and maybe the president of the United States — a lesson on fiscal policy. Tariffs are hurting industries in Tennessee like farming, whiskey distribution and manufacturing.
He ended his column writing: “Mr. Trump’s repeated denial of economic reality is troubling. But … he has ignored reality on immigration, foreign policy and climate change. Fasten your seatbelts!”
Rural hospital merger irks medical doctor
“Ballad Health hasn’t been as good for its patients as the company might admit,” by Robert Berry, M.D., July 31.
Greenville primary care physician Robert Berry was rebutting a July 5 op-ed by three chiefs of staff of Ballad Health on why they said it was important to merge rural hospitals in Northeast Tennessee.
Berry criticized Ballad for its collections and billing practices and shared his concern about the organization’s dominance and the effect on competition, pricing and service.
“My patients are increasingly insisting that I not refer them to Ballad facilities when their problems exceed the capabilities of my primary care practice,” he wrote.
Warning to take care of one’s health
“I discovered colon cancer too late, but I want to make sure you don’t,” by Melissa Waddey, April 3.
Melissa Waddey was the first female president of ambulatory and operations services at LifePoint Health. She had to resign because of her colon cancer diagnosis and made it her mission to educate others about the disease and urge people to get colonoscopies to ensure early detection.
“What frustrates me to no end is that part of the reason colon cancer is the nation’s second-leading cancer killer — behind lung cancer — is because people do what I did: attribute their symptoms to something else or assume they’re not at risk because it’s supposedly an old person’s disease,” she wrote.
Waddey passed away in her Nashville home on Dec. 4.
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911 operators feel emotional toll
“911 dispatchers deserve better pay, recognition,” by Katherine Rowe, Nov. 29.
Katherine Rowe, a Middle Tennessee State University graduate student who works as a 911 dispatcher, advocated for the 911 Saves Act to reclassify dispatchers as public safety employees and bump their pay.
“This career path does not lack its challenges. In fact, dispatching can have many negative effects on the employees. Dispatch is a field that is saturated in emotional labor,” she wrote.
Historian demands Lamar stand up to Trump
“‘Come to the aid of your country:’ A letter to Lamar Alexander from a Vanderbilt historian,” by Joel Harrington, Dec. 12.
Joel Harrington, Vanderbilt University’s Centennial Professor of History, called on Tennessee’s senior senator to speak out against President Donald Trump.
“Please speak up for common decency and against this president’s abuse of our fellow Americans and his imperilment of our country’s civic culture,” Harrington wrote.
I interviewed Alexander on Dec. 19, and while we did not discuss Harrington’s column, the senator pledged to be an impartial juror in the impending Senate impeachment trial of Trump.
Nashville’s not what it used to be
“Ken Burns’ ‘Country Music’ documentary showed me how much of Nashville we’ve lost,” by Beverly Keel, Sept. 30.
Beverly Keel, the new dean of Middle Tennessee State University’s College of Media and Entertainment, has been a frequent contributor on issues of music, politics and culture.
The popular Ken Burns’ PBS documentary “Country Music” is filled with references to and stories about Nashville, which inspired Keel to write this op-ed.
“Our city, as well as our musical genre, is in a transition. While I understand that change is not only necessary but inevitable, I feel like the progression is leaving some of the city’s soul and heart behind,” she wrote.
Nashville should avoid Detroit’s path
“Will Nashville go from ‘it’ city to ‘pit’ city?” by David Plazas, Nov. 19.
I wrote this column as a call to Nashville Mayor John Cooper and the Metro Council not to follow in Detroit’s footsteps and be taken over by the state to put the city’s financial house in order.
A takeover “would be an embarrassment of gargantuan proportions to an otherwise prosperous city and a disservice to a community that prides itself on self-governance,” I wrote.
On Dec. 11, Cooper’s Finance Director Kevin Crumbo presented a plan to the council’s budget and finance committee that the state Comptroller’s office accepted. Crisis averted for now.
Former teacher laments state of public education
“Nashville teachers are underpaid. That’s why I quit,” by David Oldham, May 16.
David Oldham taught in Metro Nashville Public Schools for six years, but finally had enough.
“We simply cannot afford to continue pinching pennies when it comes to our schools,” he wrote.
He said while he was leaving the classroom, he would continue to support public schools and urged city leaders to do the same.
Other notable columns of 2019
Former Gov. Bill Haslam explained why he would not seek to succeed Lamar Alexander when Tennessee’s senior senator retires. (“Why I am not running for U.S. Senate in 2020,” July 11.)
Fallon Wilson, research director at Black Tech Mecca, lamented the relationship between the Nashville School Board and former MNPS Director Shawn Joseph. (“Nashville school board’s battle with Shawn Joseph has deeper meaning, and it’s disturbing,” Jan. 18.)
Tennessean staff columnist Alex Hubbard criticized Gov. Bill Lee for not showing leadership during the scandal involving former state House Speaker Glen Casada. (“Why has Bill Lee been so tepid about Glen Casada? Tennessee’s governor must lead,” May 8.)
Tennessean contributing columnist Keel Hunt excoriated the Nashville School Board for ousting Shawn Joseph. (“Nashville’s school board should step down — or be recalled — after latest debacle,” March 27.)
Longtime contributor Saritha Prabhu, who wrote about her transformation from liberal Democrat to Trump supporter, criticized Democrats for purporting to be for the “little guy” while favoring elitists. (“The coming civil war in the Democratic Party won’t be pretty,” June 21.)
LeBron Hill is the newest addition to The Tennessean opinion team as an op-ed editor and columnist. The 2019 Lipscomb University graduate wrote about his personal experience to frame the issue of homelessness. (“We don’t have a homeless problem in Nashville, we have a solidarity problem,” July 19.)
David Plazas is the director of opinion and engagement for the USA TODAY NETWORK Tennessee and an editorial board member of The Tennessean. Call him at (615) 259-8063, email him at dplazas@tennessean.com or tweet to him at @davidplazas. Subscribe and support local journalism.
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Published 6:00 AM EST Dec 30, 2019
