Tennessee Wants to Imprison People Without Proving Its Case

Why Tennessee Must Reject Amendment No. 1 

By Elliott J. Schuchardt

In November 2026, Tennessee voters will face a critical decision on their ballots that threatens to fundamentally alter the state's legal landscape. Tennessee Amendment 1, a proposed constitutional amendment passed by the state legislature, seeks to significantly expand the categories of crimes for which judges can completely deny bail. Currently, the Tennessee Constitution guarantees the right to bail for all defendants, with a singular, strict exception for capital offenses—which in practice applies almost exclusively to first-degree murder. Amendment 1 proposes to strip away this historic protection, allowing judges to deny bail entirely for a broad list of additional offenses, including aggravated rape, rape, aggravated stalking, terrorism, and certain domestic violence charges.

While the stated intent of this measure is to enhance public safety and protect victims, the actual legal, social, and economic consequences of expanding pretrial detention present a profound challenge to our fundamental constitutional protections. In our collective desire to address violent crime, we must not fall into the trap of trading our foundational liberties for a false sense of security. To preserve the integrity of our legal system, we must firmly restrain government overreach and protect the core tenets of American freedom.

The Case for a New Plaza Accord: Why the United States Must Devalue the Dollar

By Elliott J. Schuchardt

For decades, American policymakers and economists have treated a strong U.S. dollar as an unassailable metric of national economic health. The prevailing orthodoxy asserts that a powerful currency reflects a robust economy, suppresses domestic inflation, and cements the United States at the center of global finance. 

However, this perspective is fundamentally flawed.  A strong dollar means a weak United States.  

To restore competitiveness and correct massive global trade imbalances, the United States must actively pursue a strategy to devalue the dollar.  Let's take a closer look at the problem, and how we can make America strong again.  

The Knox County Bypass: A Necessary Solution for an Overburdened Interstate Corridor

By Elliott J. Schuchardt

For anyone who has driven through the western stretch of Knox County during rush hour, the reality is undeniable: the interstate infrastructure is at a breaking point. What was once a relatively smooth commute has transformed into a daily gridlock of idling engines, brake lights, and frustrated motorists. The combined corridor where Interstate 40 and Interstate 75 merge west of Knoxville has become one of the most severe bottlenecks in the state of Tennessee.