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America is exceptional, but we need fresh leadership, innovative ideas, and a different direction for the Fifth District of Tennessee.

Manny Sethi| Guest Columnist

Tennessee Voices: A conversation with Manny Sethi

Opinion and Engagement Director David Plazas spoke with U.S. Senate candidate and trauma surgeon Manny Sethi.

David Plazas, USA TODAY NETWORK Tennessee

America is the greatest country in the world. My family and millions of others are proof. My parents were legal immigrants and came to America with nothing, but by the grace of God, hard work, and rural community values, my brother and I lived the American Dream in Tennessee.

I vividly remember as a young boy my father taking me to India to show me the slums where he grew up. He always said, Be very grateful you were born in America.

My dads words ring as true today as they did when I was a young man.

As we return to some sense of normalcy, we face incredible hurdles both at home and abroad. These obstacles are a direct result of the Biden Administration, who is clearly out of touch with the American people. In short, this administration is off the rails with endless mandates, international gaffes, and overall incompetence.

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Internationally we face serious threatsthe greatest comes from China. Economically, China is unquestionably our greatest rival, and yet we continue to allow them to dominate American supply chains, manipulate the value of their currency, and steal intellectual property.

As China grows its military with a navy fleet that rivals our own and a new hypersonic missile, it is critical that we reinforce our commitments to freedom in places like Taiwan, Hong Kong, across the Pacific, and beyond. China is filling the vacuum in Afghanistan forging new relations with the Taliban in the wake of our chaotic exit. We needed to end the war in Afghanistan, but the disorganized evacuation did not honor the American patriots who served and sacrificed for our country over two decades.

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At home, we also face very serious uncertainty. America went from having the strongest economy in our nations history under President Trump, to inflation rates not seen since the 1970s.

Instead of harnessing the power of the private sector, we find ourselves doubling down on big government through uncontrolled federal spending, higher proposed taxes, and new vaccine mandates.

Americans are also starting to encounter unthinkable challenges as prices of gas and groceries soar.

America is exceptional, but we need fresh leadership, innovative ideas, and a different direction. A new congressional Fifth District in Tennessee that is currently under discussion is important to our nations future. I believe that we must elect a conservative Republican who will fight for America first, politicians last, and policies that will once again bring respect back to our country.

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I am grateful to the hundreds of supporters who have encouraged me to pursue this new congressional seat, but after faithful deliberation, my path leads me to family and patients who need care, especially those impacted by the unprecedented pandemic.

One day my journey may take me back to the political arena, but only the good Lord knows that.

But during this season of Thanksgiving, one thing is clear to me I remain hopeful and optimistic about our countrys future. I am so grateful to those who protect our freedoms, defend our Republic, and always keep America first.

Manny Sethi is an orthopedic trauma surgeon in Nashville and president of Healthy Tennessee. He was a candidate for the U.S. Senate in the 2020 Republican Primary.

Excerpt from:
Nashville needs a conservative Republican to fight for citizens in Congress | Opinion - The Tennessean