Larry Linton - Sevier County Conservative Activist

08/27/2026

08/20/2026

The most dangerous political blindness isn’t failing to see what the other side is doing. It’s seeing what your own side is doing—and finding a reason to excuse it.

We like to believe the threat to our liberty always comes from them. Republicans point at Democrats. Democrats point at Republicans. Conservatives point toward Washington. Tennesseans point toward Nashville. And while we’re busy watching the other team, government keeps growing.

Look at Washington.

Our national debt has climbed beyond $40 trillion. Government spends more than it takes in year after year. Surveillance powers have expanded far beyond what many Americans would have imagined possible a generation ago. And the argument is almost always the same: We need these powers for your protection.

Then look at Nashville.

Tennessee has no $38 trillion debt—but that doesn’t mean we should stop paying attention to the steady expansion of government, spending, taxes and fees, regulations, and the willingness of politicians to spend other people’s money whenever they can justify it.

The problem isn’t confined to Washington. It’s a mindset.

And here’s where we, the voters, have to accept some responsibility.

We become outraged when the other party expands government. We call it tyranny when they spend too much. We condemn surveillance when the other administration uses it. We demand constitutional restraint when the other party holds power.

But when our own candidate does essentially the same thing?

We suddenly discover exceptions.

“But this is different.”

“Our guy has a good reason.”

“We have to do this because of the circumstances.”

“At least they’re better than the other side.”

That’s how principles become preferences.

That’s how constitutional limits become suggestions.

And that’s how liberty gets eroded—not necessarily in one dramatic event, but one exception at a time, one spending bill at a time, one new government program at a time, one surveillance authority at a time.

History gives us an uncomfortable lesson here. The Holocaust is not an appropriate comparison to contemporary American politics, and pretending otherwise trivializes one of history’s greatest atrocities. But there is a broader lesson from history that is worth remembering: free societies depend upon citizens who are willing to pay attention and refuse to look away when government exceeds its proper authority.

And today, too many Americans simply aren’t paying attention.

We obsess over presidential elections while treating congressional, gubernatorial, state legislative, and local elections like they don’t matter.

But Nashville doesn’t stop governing because it’s an off year. Washington doesn’t stop spending because it’s an off year.

Yet millions of Americans can’t be bothered to vote.

And that is more than apathy.

Apathy is a political choice—even when we don’t realize we’re making one.

When you don’t vote, you haven’t removed yourself from the political process. You’ve simply allowed someone else to make the decision.

The special interest still votes.

The political machine still votes.

The government employee still votes.

The activist still votes.

The person who desperately wants something from government still votes.

You just didn’t.

And then we act surprised when Nashville and Washington don’t look the way we want them to look.

The answer isn’t to blindly elect Republicans. It isn’t to blindly elect Democrats. And it certainly isn’t to defend everything a politician does simply because the candidate has an R or D beside their name.

The answer is to become citizens instead of fans.

Judge Nashville by the same standard you use to judge Washington.

Judge Republicans by the same standard you use to judge Democrats.

Judge Democrats by the same standard you use to judge Republicans.

Judge your own candidate more harshly than the candidate you already know you dislike.

If warrantless surveillance is wrong, it’s wrong regardless of who authorizes it.

If reckless government spending is wrong, it’s wrong regardless of who spends the money.

If a $40-trillion-plus national debt threatens our children’s future, changing the party responsible for adding to it doesn’t make the debt disappear.

And if Nashville passes legislation that expands government beyond what we believe government should be doing, we shouldn’t excuse it simply because the people who passed it are the people we voted for.

Liberty doesn’t have a political party.

Neither does fiscal responsibility.

Neither does the Constitution.

And neither does our obligation as citizens to hold our own side accountable.

Otherwise, we’re not really defending freedom.

We’re sitting in the stands, cheering for our team while Nashville and Washington spend our money, expand their power, and gradually spend our freedom.

And the most frightening part?

We may not notice how much we’ve surrendered until we finally decide to look up.

08/19/2026

I can get behind this!

07/24/2026

My bride and I voted for “Liberty & Less Government” today!

07/19/2026

https://x.com/montyfritts4tn/status/2078640846597996659?s=46&t=S5XT8hEx3Sb36BmQhAhnrg

07/14/2026

Tomorrow, I celebrate my 57th birthday.

Just seven months ago, I honestly didn’t know if I would ever be able to write those words.

When I was diagnosed with muscle-invasive bladder cancer in early January, the future suddenly became uncertain. Having watched the man who raised me and my biological father succumb to their cancers, I was fearful. There were moments of fear, difficult conversations, countless prayers, surgeries, treatments, and days when Denise and I simply had to trust God for the next step. We didn’t know what tomorrow would hold—but we knew Who held tomorrow.

Now, by the amazing grace of God, tomorrow has arrived.

And while I am deeply grateful to be here to celebrate another birthday, the journey still isn’t over. I still have a few more cycles of chemotherapy ahead of me, and after that, I will begin eight more six-week cycles of immunotherapy. We are thankful for how far God has brought us, and we are trusting Him for every step still to come.

I have the incredible privilege of celebrating another year of life with my beautiful bride of more than 30 years, Denise, and our daughter, Kaley. After everything we’ve walked through together, I don’t take a single birthday, a single hug, or a single moment with them for granted.

My heart overflows with gratitude to Jehovah Rapha—The Lord Who Heals. He has faithfully carried us through every appointment, every scan, every surgery, every infusion, every setback, every victory, and every anxious night. He has answered prayers in ways I could never have imagined, reminding me over and over again that His faithfulness never fails.

I am forever grateful for the incredible medical team at the University of Tennessee. Thank you to Dr. B, Lynette, and everyone in Urology, and to Dr. G, Sara, and everyone in Oncology. You didn’t just treat my cancer—you cared for me as a person, encouraged my family, and gave us hope when we needed it most.

And to Drip VanWinkle—my stoma—thank you for giving me another shot at life. Adjusting to life with an ileal conduit has been difficult, but with the help of God Almighty, it is very doable. Every day is a reminder that even in the hardest changes, God provides grace for what we need.

To my teammates at CAVU International, thank you for standing by me throughout these past eight months. Your support, encouragement, patience, and kindness have meant more to me than I can adequately express. I am deeply grateful to work alongside such wonderful people.

To my mother, Kathy, and my brothers, Bill and Rob, thank you for your love, prayers, and encouragement throughout this journey. Your support has meant more to me than words can express.

To our pastor, Chris Kendall, and my church family at Oak City Baptist Church, including our completely awesome besties and travel buddies Brian and Kristi - thank you for faithfully praying with us and for us. Your prayers have been a constant source of strength for Denise and me throughout this journey. We have felt the love of Christ through each of you.

One of the greatest blessings we never expected was meeting so many incredible people in the infusion suite. God turned a place of treatment into a place of ministry. He gave Denise and me the privilege of listening to their stories, sharing ours, praying with them, and being reminded that even in the middle of suffering, God is still drawing people to Himself.

Cancer has changed me.

It has taught me that tomorrow is never promised, that every day is a gift, and that gratitude is a choice. It has deepened my faith, strengthened my marriage, and shown me the beauty of God’s presence in life’s hardest moments.

If my journey has proven anything, it’s this: God is still in the miracle-working business. He is still healing. He is still answering prayers. He is still faithful.

As I celebrate another birthday, I don’t celebrate because life has been easy. I celebrate because God has been faithful. My greatest gift isn’t life itself—it is salvation through Jesus Christ.

🎼 “God, I’m Just Grateful.” 🎼

“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits—who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases.” — Psalm 103:2–3

To God be all the glory.