Elect Elliott Schuchardt

Tuesday, December 2, 2025

Interview with the Candidate

We recently had the opportunity to sit down with Elliott Schuchardt, and ask him a few questions. The interview went as follows.

You are the author of America's Achilles Heel, a book about the dollar. Why did you write the book?

For a long time, I have wondered how the United States could close its steel mills, and replace them with shopping malls selling imported goods. I couldn’t understand why the dollar remained high, and the United States could import so many goods.

I became really concerned when I started looking at the numbers. If the dollar were to fall in value by 70%, then the price of good imported to the United States would triple. So, clearly the value of the dollar is very important to our standard of living.

When I started digging into the question, I realized that the dollar was being artificially sustained by the world’s use of the dollar as the primary reserve currency. The oil market alone creates over $5 billion of artificially demand for the dollar every day. If the oil market were to sell oil in a currency other than the dollar, then the value of our currency would drop – and quickly. Given our dependence upon imported oil and goods, our country could be in a very dangerous situation.

How long did it take you to write the book?

I started worrying about the dollar in 2008, at the time of Global Financial Crisis. At that time, American leaders were moving large numbers of manufacturing jobs offshore. I started writing in earnest about two years ago. The project was much harder than I expected. It’s kind of like rowing a boat across the Atlantic. You work hard all day long, and – at the end of the day – it seems like you have made no progress at all. You just have to have faith that you are going in the right direction.

Why are you running for office?

I am running to ensure that Tennessee is ready, when the United States loses the reserve currency. Since 1980, the United States has become dependent upon imported computers, cell phones, clothing and car parts. We need to think through our supply chains, and make sure that they are sustainable.

What would you change in the Tennessee law?

I think we need an elected attorney general in the State. Almost every state in the United States allows its people to elect the state attorney general. Tennessee is different – the attorney general is appointed by government employees. As a result, the attorney general defends government insiders, rather than the people. That needs to change. We also need to change the state’s law of defamation. Current law says that a judge can make findings of fact, without holding a hearing. That too needs to change. The law simply does not comply with due process.

What is your favorite book?

Years ago, in high school, I read John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath. The book tells the story of the Joad family, as it flees the Dust Bowl in the 1930s. The book was eye-opening. People actually starved to death in the United States – within living memory. As a nation, we have to remember these lessons. We have to make sure we have factories in America, so that we can produce for ourselves. In a balance of payments crisis, goods won’t be coming in from overseas.

What is your favorite movie?

I like all the old classics – the Star Wars trilogy, Indiana Jones, and The Godfather – Part II. I have recently become a fan of older, black-and-white films, from earlier in the 20^th century. Our parents produced some pretty good cinema, that is definitely worth watching.

Anything in particular?

Sunset Boulevard, from 1950, is really good. Humphrey Bogart’s performance in the Caine Mutiny and Key Largo are worth watching. I am a big fan of Bogart. Alfred Hitchcock had some great stuff. The old version of Cape Fear, with Gregory Peck, is worth watching.

What do you like about living in eastern Tennessee?

Eastern Tennessee is quite amazing. We have the mountains and Pigeon Forge located close by. Knoxville has done a great job of rejuvenating its downtown. Market Square, Gay Street and the Old City are tremendous accomplishments that are quite interesting. We are lucky to have some beautiful architecture that has survived, and been repurposed in recent years.

What do you like best about the campaign?

This is my first election, so it’s been a steep learning curve. Fortunately, I enjoy meeting people. Over the last few months, I have met a large number of people in Knox County, Tennessee. This has been a lot of fun. Everyone has a different story, and I enjoy hearing them.

Tell us a little about yourself.

I enjoy learning. I recently took a class on how to be a home electrician. I was astonished at how complicated the industry is. All the mathematics and different types of wires! I have a great deal of respect for people who do this sort of thing for a living.

Describe yourself in three words.

Driven. Friendly. Curious.

If you could meet someone living or dead, who would it be and why?

I used to practice law with a lawyer named Robert Lampl. Robert was what we would call a “lawyer’s lawyer.” When the judges got into trouble, they would go to Robert for representation. That was an astonishing achievement on his part, showing how respected he was. Sadly, Robert passed away a few years ago. It would be great to chat with him again, and get his opinion on current events.

Any other goals?

I recently wrote a screenplay that portrays an 80% collapse in the value of the U.S. dollar. The film is intended to be a warning to the United States, like the films On the Beach, Dr. Strangelove and The Day After warned of the risks of nuclear war. The dangers are different today – but we still need to be prepared. I am reaching out to people in the entertainment community to get the film produced – hopefully in time to be effective.

Who has been the biggest influence on your life?

I am a fan of Earl Nightengale. He was a radio announcer in the early 1960s. For five minutes every day, Earl Nightengale would tell his listeners about “Our Changing World.” Nightengale encouraged continuous learning. He suggested having a shelf of books in your field. I have always thought that was a good idea.

Saturday, November 29, 2025

Meta Press publishes favorable review of Schuchardt's book

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Knoxville, Tennessee -- November 29, 2025 -- The Meta Press has published a favorable review of Schuchardt's book, America's Achilles Heel: How to Protect Your Family When America Loses the Reserve Currency.

The review is located at Meta Press Review.

Elliott Schuchardt wishes all of his readers a Happy Thanksgiving! Schuchardt is grateful for the coverage from Meta Press.

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Elliott J. Schuchardt is a candidate for the Tennessee General Assembly in the August 2026 primary. Schuchardt is running in Tennessee District 18.

Wednesday, November 26, 2025

Schuchardt's book featured on TechBullion.com

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Knoxville, Tennessee -- November 26, 2024 -- The Schuchardt Campaign is pleased to announce that Schuchardt's book, America's Achilles Heel, has recently been featured on the website TechBullion.com

The site's article, "What's Next for Gold?" discusses Schuchardt's book, and his conclusion that gold could rise much higher than $4,000 an ounce.

The article is located at https://techbullion.com/whats-next-for-gold/.

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Schuchardt is a candidate for the Tennessee General Assembly in the August 2026 primary. Schuchardt supports no sales tax on the purchase of precious metals in the State of Tennessee.

Sunday, November 23, 2025

Schuchardt Calls for Reform of Tennessee Law on Defamation

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Knoxville, Tennessee – November 23, 2025 – Elliott Schuchardt, a candidate for the Tennessee General Assembly, is calling for reform of the state’s law of defamation.

Traditionally, Tennessee permitted the recovery of monetary damages, if someone made a false statement about another person. This was known as libel or slander.

In 2019, Tennessee passed a law called the Public Participation Act. The law made it much more difficult to recover on a libel lawsuit in Tennessee.

Schuchardt says that the Public Participation Act should be repealed, as unconstitutional.

The law allows a judge to make decisions about a defamation case on the basis of written affidavits, rather than testimony in court. According to Schuchardt, this violates the due process clause of the 14th Amendment.

According to Schuchardt, due process requires a hearing to determine the facts of a case. “Affidavits, by their very nature, are hearsay and are not admissible as evidence,” he says. According to Schuchardt, “if there is no witness, you can’t read body language and voice tone, to determine credibility.”

Schuchardt says that there are other problems with the Public Participation Act. The Act contains a controversial “fee shifting" provision. The provision forces the plaintiff in a defamation case pay the defendant’s legal fees, if the judge dismisses the case, on the basis of affidavits. According to Schuchardt, the fee shifting provision closes the courthouse doors to litigants. “A plaintiff in a defamation case runs the risk of paying tens of thousands of dollars of legal fees, simply by filing a slander case in Tennessee,” he says.

According to Schuchardt, “this is not consistent with the spirit of the law.” For hundreds of years, courts required each side to pay their own legal fees. Courts only shifted legal fees if a party acted in a bad faith.

According to Schuchardt, the courts are set up to resolve disputes between parties. “When we impose the risk of a $50,000 fine, simply for filing a case, the courts are not doing their job,” he says. “This is a denial of due process, which encourages litigants to take justice into their own hands,” says Schuchardt. “Do we want people shooting each other, or do we want to resolve disputes peacefully in court?” he says.

According to Schuchardt, it is virtually impossible to challenge the law in the Tennessee court system. “If a plaintiff loses a defamation case in the trial court, then the plaintiff runs the risk of having to pay $100,000 in legal fees, simply to have the appellate courts look at the case,” he says.

According to Schuchardt, the law is so bad, that the federal courts in Tennessee are refusing to enforce the Public Participation Act. He says that the Tennessee state courts need to do the same, because the law is unconstitutional on its face.

Schuchardt, a former lawyer, is running for the Tennessee General Assembly in the August 2026 primary. Schuchardt says that he brought these concerns to the attention of his adversary, Elaine Davis, over a year ago. To his knowledge, Davis has introduced no legislation to make the law comply with the state and federal constitutions.

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Schuchardt is a graduate of Cornell University and Columbia Law School. Schuchardt practiced law for nearly thirty years, before running for office. He focused his legal practice on civil liberties issues in the courts.

Schuchardt is the author of America’s Achilles Heel: How to Protect Your Family When America Loses the Reserve Currency. In the book, Schuchardt argues that the United States needs to devalue the dollar to remain competitive as a nation.

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For more information:

Elliott J. Schuchardt

2322 Jockey Run Road

Knoxville, TN 37920

Phone: (865) 304-4374

E-mail: elliott016@gmail.com

Author Website: www.elliott-author.com

Campaign Website: www.elect-schuchardt.com

Campaign blog: www.elliottschuchardt.blogger.com

Book link: Book link at Amazon.com

Thursday, November 20, 2025

Schuchardt campaign announces new website

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Knoxville, Tennessee -- November 20, 2025 -- The Schuchardt has established a new website, to provide updates on the campaign. The website can be located at the domain name, www.elect-schuchardt.com.

Tennessee resident, Elliott Schuchardt, is running for State Representative, for Tennessee District 18. District 18 comprises much of west and south Knox County.

Schuchardt is the author of America's Achilles Heel: How to Protect Your Family When America Loses the Reserve Currency. In the book, Schuchardt argues that the United States will need to devalue the dollar, to remain competitive as a nation. He says that Tennessee needs to prepare for a foreseeable drop in the value of the dollar.

Schuchardt is a graduate of Cornell University and Columbia Law School. For the past seven years, a group of court-insiders have attacked Schuchardt's license to practice law, for personal gain. Schuchardt is running to establish greater oversight over the court system.

For further information:

Elliott Schuchardt

2322 Jockey Run Trial

Knoxville, TN 37920

Phone: (865) 304-4374

E-mail: elliott016@gmail.com

Campaign website: elect-schuchardt.com

Book website: elliott-author.com

Book website: Amazon.com link

Wednesday, November 19, 2025

Schuchardt Announces Campaign for Tennessee State House

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Knoxville, Tennessee – November 19, 2025 – Elliott Schuchardt has announced that he is running for the Tennessee General Assembly. Schuchardt will oppose incumbent Elaine Davis in the Republican primary in August 2026.

Schuchardt is the author of America’s Achilles Heel: How to Protect Your Family When America Loses the Reserve Currency. In the book, Schuchardt argues that the United States is not competitive as a nation, because the U.S. dollar is too expensive. He says that we need to devalue the U.S. dollar now, to manufacture locally.

“We have lost our factories and industrial base because our currency is too high,” he says. Schuchardt supports Trump's tariffs, as a means to restore the nation’s industrial base.

Schuchardt says that the dollar could decline in value – causing gasoline prices to rise – if we don’t get the trade deficit under control. “The United States is courting a balance of payments crisis,” he says. “If we allow China and Russia to issue their own reserve currency, we could find ourselves unable to afford many things that we view as necessities,” says Schuchardt. “This includes computers, car parts, cell phones, clothing, food and medicines – as well as face masks,” he says.

Schuchardt says that Tennessee needs to work with the federal government to ensure that we are ready, in the event of a balance of payments crisis. According to Schuchardt, “we need to ensure that we have adequate supplies of oil.” He says that the Strategic Petroleum Reserve is only about half full. “We need to refill the reserve faster,” he says.

Prior to running for office, Schuchardt practiced law for nearly thirty years. Between 2018 and the present, a group of court-insiders attacked Schuchardt’s license to practice law, to obtain a $200,000 payment for themselves. Schuchardt filed a complaint against the court insiders, for self-dealing. However, the Tennessee Supreme Court has not taken action in connection with the matter.

Schuchardt’s adversary in the election, Elaine Davis, is the Vice Chair of the Judiciary Committee in the Tennessee General Assembly. According to Schuchardt, “Elaine Davis has known about this situation for nearly two years.” To his knowledge, Davis has taken no action to enforce the rules of ethics in connection with the matter. Schuchardt is calling for greater oversight of the courts, to prevent this sort of self-dealing in the future.

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CONTACT:

Elliott J. Schuchardt

2322 Jockey Run Trail

Knoxville, TN 37920

Call or Text: (865) 304-4374

E-mail: elliott016@gmail.com

Website: www.elliott-author.com

Blog: https//elliottschuchardt.blogspot.com

Book link: Link to Book on Amazon.com