Saturday, February 18, 2017

Will there ever be a debate between Connecticut Progressives and Connecticut Conservatives?

Will there ever be a debate between Connecticut Progressives and Connecticut Conservatives?  On the future of the Connecticut economy?  On the tax structure of Connecticut?  On benefits, wages and pensions for Connecticut state employees both union, non union and management positions?  On addressing the short and long term debt structure of Connecticut? 
It logical that many would view this debate as being fruitless. 
The Connecticut Democrat Party has an exceptional liberal and progressive view of the state's economy and economic conditions.  It seems on annual basis their policies and plans of action include the elimination of more personal and business freedoms.  It also includes implementation of new taxes, extensions of existing taxes and shifting state mandated programs to most local towns and cities with no or limited funding being given to them to run them.  To them and to the voters who back them this seems to be an acceptable way to run Connecticut's government.  Transparency and the rule of state laws also are ignored.  The protection of illegal immigrants and a non equilibrium minimum wage are a priority.
The Connecticut Republican Party has a handful of conservatives in the party who try to act as a voice of reason in their limited debates with running Connecticut's government.  The most noted in my opinion are State Senators Joe Markley and Len Suzio and State Representatives Rob Sampson and Craig Fishbein who are fiscally and socially conservative.  They are in my opinion a guiding light in trying to correct the excesses of the failed economic and social programs in our state.  Peter Lumaj a conservative who most recently ran for Secretary of State in 2014 is leading a drive for the Republican Gubernatorial nomination in 2018.  The Connecticut Republican Party has continually fought to be allowed to be included in state budget negotiations but have been boxed out for years now.  2017 is no different in my opinion.  Also in my opinion the Connecticut Republican Party over the years has become very moderate and liberal in its views, thus becoming non existent  in the governing process.  In the cities of Bridgeport, Hartford and New Haven the local Republican Party is irrelevant and virtually non existent as the local Democrat Party rules with an iron fist with horrific economic results.  
The 2017 Connecticut State Budget offers more of the same policies and taxes that keep Connecticut in the bottom five states in our country as far as job creation, debt per capita, unfunded liabilities, economic vitality, economic wellness and highest tax categories.  The payment for these excesses in now being passed onto to local taxpayers through the form of higher property taxes. 
Will there ever be a debate between Connecticut Progressives and Connecticut Conservatives?  I highly doubt it as those are economically and financially mobile are moving out of Connecticut daily. Many of Connecticut's middle class are trapped here in an economic cesspool of taxation without representation.  The debate here is real.  It has been ignored too long.  A rational economic thought process needs to begin again in Connecticut.  It still has not started in 2017. 

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