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A Heap of Trouble
Maybe the most trouble in our lifetimes
By an overwhelming margin, Nashville Power Poll members say they think African-Americans are treated more harshly by law enforcement than whites. That said, members say Nashville police did a good job dealing with the violence that took place after Saturday's peaceful demonstrations in the wake of the death of George Floyd.
Finally — and this is the big-picture question — more than seven in 10 Power Poll members said that when you take everything going on in the country right now — riots, poor relations between police and African-Americans, a pandemic, and a really bad economy — the nation faces a crisis best described as either "very severe" or "the most severe I have seen in my lifetime."
Presenting sponsor
Racism must end: equal respect, treatment, justice and opportunity for all

By JD Hickey, MD
President and CEO
BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee
As our nation struggles, the last few weeks have exposed more unquestionable inequality and tragic loss of life, and the need for justice for victims of police violence.
Racism must end.
BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee has long fostered a culture of diversity, inclusion and mutual understanding. We stand in solidarity with our communities, our members and our business partners against racism, especially during these difficult times.
We know that for real change to take place, we must look within to see how we can better serve our communities. We must acknowledge the real pain, hear the hurt voices, and recognize that our African American colleagues, members and communities have unique experiences and are in need of our support to combat not only racial bias, but also social determinants of health and health care disparities.
We are here to listen, to learn, to understand, to grow, and most importantly, to reinforce our support. We know racism in all its forms, whether overt or unintentional, has clung to our society for far too long.
We believe in equal respect, treatment and opportunity for all individuals, and we are committed to the hard work of removing the stain of racism, no matter how long it takes.
As CEO of BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, JD leads 6,800 mission-driven employees serving nearly 3.5 million members as the state’s leading health plan.
Related stories from BlueCross:
Why cultural competency is imperative
What it means to be intentionally inclusive
Why BlueCross is recognized as a “Best Place to Work for LGBTQ Equality”
Here are the specific questions and answers to this snap Power Poll, which was taken Monday and Tuesday only of this week.
Question #1: Taking into account everything going on right now, how severe would you rate the state of crisis in our country on a scale of one to five, with one being not severe at all and five being the most severe crisis you have seen in your lifetime.
Question #2: Do you think that African-Americans are treated more harshly by law envorcement than whites?
Question #3: Has Nashville law enforcement conducted itself appropriately in dealing with the vandalism and violence that followed Saturday's demonstration?
A total of 846 Nashville Power Poll members were surveyed. 282 responded, for a participation rate of 33.33% The Power Poll is not a scientific poll. It is, however, a fascinating and non-partisan glimpse into the attitudes and opinions of those individuals who essentially run the city.
About Power Poll: Power Poll asks questions of the most powerful, influential people in U.S. cities. It is not a scientific survey. But because the people responding to the surveys comprise the leadership structure of their cities, the results afford a fascinating glimpse into the thoughts, opinions, and beliefs of those in a position to make change. Power Poll is distinctly nonpartisan.
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