Connecticut’s Damaged Economy

Connecticut’s economy is damaged.  Today is Day 320 of Ned Lamont’s Imperial Executive Order one man rule shutdown.  And it is supposed to continue until April 20th.  I guess it will never end even as the governing body of Connecticut, the State Legislature has gone back into session.  So far the Democrat controlled Omnipotent One Party Rule 2021 Legislature has come up with-you guessed it-new and higher taxes for the upcoming session.  What I am confused about as a Taxpayer is even though the Governor has extended his Executive Order Administration for yet another two months, why has the State Legislature gone into session just to install new and higher taxes?  A session that already does little to address the massive economic damages that have been inflicted upon the state economy by our Executive Order Governor and the Democrat Party with a never ending shut down of the state.  Can we then logically assume that if any disease causes the death of one Connecticut resident that the economy will be shut down until a cure for that disease occurs?   No matter how severe or mild the health issue is? 

Some of the new taxes that the Democrat 2021 Legislature has come up with includes tolls again, a one mill tax on property taxes and capital gains, a $20 tax if you do not vote, just to mention a few.  I still am wondering how well the tax increases since the state income tax was enacted in 1991 have bettered Connecticut’s economy, created economic growth and economic stimulation?  Can some elected official explain to me how having as many taxes and excessively high tax rates that we have in the state on an incredible amount of goods and services has brought about economic prosperity for Connecticut Taxpayers and Businesses?  

There again has been no mention of any cuts in state spending for the new fiscal year.  Political patronage jobs continue to flow freely in the state.  The Governor’s Hedge Fund has benefited economically during our never ending Covid-19 crisis.  And Connecticut’s economy remains badly damaged by the years of unyielding and incomprehensible tax increases, new taxes and unchecked state spending that produce little if any benefit to the Connecticut Taxpayer.  Why is it still continuing in the face of massive unemployment in the state, colossal amounts of businesses that have closed for good, and $150 billion dollars in short and long term debt along with unfunded liabilities?  What is the economic benefit any more to tax increases?  To satisfy a failed liberal Democrat agenda of socialism and keeping citizens from gaining economic freedom? 

Is that the real reason that the Connecticut Democrat Party has damaged our economy beyond recognition?  And what is the plan to fully reopen Connecticut?  When illness and disease has been completely eliminated in the state by the Governor's Hedge Fund?  Or when his Hedge Fund has made enough profit?

Connecticut Taxpayers deserve much better from their failed Executive Order Governor and Government.   We need checks and balances once again in the state.

It is time to cut state spending and cut state taxes to turn our economy around.  The lies of the Connecticut Democrat Party are now the truths they believe in and expect us to believe in also.  These are still the lies that on a daily basis that we are being force fed that continue to damage Connecticut’s economy.  Enough is enough.

History Repeats Itself. Free America.

History has always been very interesting to me.  I have always felt history repeats itself.  In 2020 and now in 2021 history in my opinion is repeating itself again with the new but mostly old Biden Administration.  

Being born in 1958 and growing up at the time I did, I was taught in grade school during the 1960's to “Duck and Cover” by squatting underneath my school desk in case of a nuclear attack and when I heard the air raid sirens.  We practiced that exercise once a month that was supposed to save our lives.  My early years from when I can first remember was spent dealing with and trying to rationalize the never ending Vietnam War which in my opinion could have been won by our country if our elected officials did not try to run the war especially President Johnson.  If the war was won South Vietnam and Cambodia would have been independent and free countries.  Many lives would have been saved and Cambodia would have never seen the atrocities of the Khmer Rouge and Pol Pot who murdered over 1.7 million of his own people during their four year reign of terror.  This twenty year war finally was lost in 1975 while in the interim America saw massive protests against the war on almost a daily basis along with the issues of President Nixon and his spying on his political foes ultimately ending in his resignation in 1974.  Then throw in the mix an energy crisis in which we are lead to believe that if we don’t conserve energy we will run out of it in a few short years.  That was the fear I was forced to understand during my childhood and teen years.

Needless to say one could argue that is was a very unsettling time to grow up in our country.  Daily on the news was the mix of war, protests, a “bad” President along with no more energy.  Inflation, shortages and fear were the norm of the time.  Sort of what we have just experienced since March 2020 and still going on today, news filled with protests, a government mandated shut down of the economy in Democrat controlled states, a civil war against those who don’t agree with your political beliefs, certain death from Covid-19 if you do not follow the draconian mask centered guidelines that have been developed on the fly by both “political” and “health” experts and a rigged election and election process.

Getting back to history, I finally got some relief during the Reagan Administration as energy prices became deregulated, oil became plentiful and America became a strong country both economically and in the world view.  President Carter literally destroyed our economy and was a weak world leader during his term in the late 1970's and 1980.  President Reagan believed in freedom and ultimately he helped to bring about the end of the Cold War.  It paved the path for freedom to the oppressed people of Communist Eastern Europe and Russia.  I personally never thought Communism would be torn apart like that in my lifetime.  It was a period of prosperity for both our country up to roughly 1990 until the short Gulf War of 1990-91 that occurred which created the foundation for horrific events that were to happen ten years later.  1991 began the long decline in Connecticut’s economy with an “Independent” Governor’s lies about a Utopian Income Tax and all the revenue problems it would solve.  Connecticut thus began a thirty year decline based upon fraudulent tax and spend policies that has led the state in 2021 to a staggering $150 billion dollars in short and long term debt along with unfunded liabilities.  Connecticut sees a continuing recession until this day.   On a national level in 1993 President Clinton started an eight year term of deception, White House sexual adventures and the ignoring of worldwide terrorism growing especially in our country.  

9/11 is a day that lives in history.  We all know what happened that day the murder of many innocent American lives by terrorism.  President Bush reacted quickly and swiftly and the country is back at war although this time it is even more difficult to know who the enemies are.  The war on terrorism continues this day costing once again many lives and money to keep our country and world free from terrorists.  News at that time presented to Americans on a daily basis expresses fear and uneasiness especially if one wishes to fly again.  Massive changes are implemented immediately to “protect” those who travel in and out of our country.  We as Americans must “Say something if we see something”.  Fear seems to be everywhere.  The economy is up and down.  

In 2008 the presidential election brings us eight long years of President Obama and a rapid decline in our economy, unchecked immigration and our status in the world as the President feels a need to apologize to the world for our country’s strengths and history.  America becomes stagnant, restless and unsafe.  There is growing unrest by those American citizens who believe in freedom and the greatness of our country.  This leads to the rise of the anti-politician and the election of a non-politician in President Trump.  President Trump oversees a reversal of the failed policies of the political swamp of Washington leading to massive increases in our economy with more jobs, more disposable income, great gains in the stock markets and a feeling of prosperity that has not been felt since the days of President Reagan until what amounts to being a planned pandemic of a deadly flu virus via China that hits us in March of 2020.  And as we all know President Trump exposed the Washington political scene for what it really is, a combination of deception, lies and fraud.  The swamp despises our freedom and the American Taxpayer. And President Trump is made to pay for it with a constant barrage of accusations thrown at him daily and with two baseless impeachments.  Just think about the amount of Taxpayers monies that were wasted and are continuing to be wasted in pursuit of the Democrats bias against President Trump.  The hatred of President Trump by the elite ruling political class and the biased media is and was astounding. It seems like it will never let up.  This hatred only increases the intensity of the 75 million plus people who legitimately voted for President Trump in November and still believe in his goals and programs.  The same goals and programs that President Biden has started to strip away in just four quick days.  He has undone already tremendous growth, prosperity and most importantly personal freedoms that are guaranteed by the United States Constitution.  He combines the worse of our worse Presidents in our nation’s history such as President Carter, President Johnson and President Buchanan.  It will be a long four years if this Administration lasts that long.

History repeats itself.  I have lived through many incredible man made and natural crises, wars, economic recessions/depressions, flu pandemics, diseases, and fear.  And I have seen time and time again history repeating itself although never to the extent that I see at this time of the destruction of our freedom of speech and personal liberty and freedom.  We need to understand our history and also remember that in our history our country was founded based on prayer, faith in the almighty Lord, and freedom from tyranny and unjust rulers.   It cannot be forgotten.  Nor will it be forgotten as the next real leader and President for our country is nestled somewhere in our United States of America waiting to come onto the political scene.  And he or she will emerge soon to lead America to its greatness once again.  Don’t despair.  Pray for our country’s health, prosperity and well-being.  The country will survive.  History does repeat itself.  Free America from its current tyranny.  It will be free once again.

 

Connecticut’s Constant Budget Mess

 

Connecticut’s budget year is upon us.  Connecticut Taxpayers are used to the usual rhetoric spewed by Ned Lamont, his consulting groups, his hedge fund and the Democrat controlled state legislature.  The rhetoric is new and higher taxes, new and or higher “user” fees, cuts to programs that impact people most in need such those with disabilities and the elderly, and once again for “tolls”.  If one goes back and looks at the last thirty years of Connecticut’s budgets one will see a massive increase in state spending, a massive amount of programs placed “off budget” to hide them,  massive increases in taxes, new taxes, and new and higher user fees.  2021 starts the same as it has since 1991.  Connecticut is running a massive budget deficit this year anywhere from $2 to $3 billion dollars and we will probably see new and or higher taxes and tolls as being the only way to solve this deficit.  Sound familiar?  It should because it is what Connecticut Taxpayers have heard for the past thirty years from their government.  These "new" taxes were going to solve all the revenue problems of the state from the fairness of a state income tax, to a secret gross earning tax on gasoline, to a $250 tax to file a piece of paper to the Secretary of State’s office to state that you are still in business, to a tax on every can of paint you buy, a tax of every plastic bag you use for your groceries, a tax to be placed in a supposed fund to pay for people for family leave in 2022, a tax on your car registration to get into state parks whether you use them or not, etc.  This list of taxes and user fees is endless in Connecticut and to me is the result of out of control state spending that has shown little if any positive economic results for either businesses or citizens of the state while at the same time running up an insurmountable $150 billion dollars in short and long term debt along with unfunded liabilities.  Why is this lost on our elected officials?

Connecticut’s elected officials need to get a handle on spending.  The amount of money that is wasted on a state level is enormous.  I would love to hear a brave state legislator from either party introduce a bill for a full forensic audit of all of the state’s assets, liabilities and spending.  I would enjoy bills introduced in the State House and Senate to decrease state spending on political patronage jobs, programs that have failed the state economically and an across the board cut in all state agencies budgets.  Start taking action on the economic crisis that this state has had to live through since 1991.  Start respecting Connecticut Taxpayers and not use them as their personal bank accounts to gain wealth and power.  Start demanding economic efficiencies from each state agency to cut spending.  Force any state agency that must deal with the public to become consumer friendly and courteous to the Connecticut Taxpayers they are dealing with.  

Ned Lamont, his consulting groups, his hedge fund and the Democrat controlled state legislature should admit once and for all that the state has serious economic issues and a state spending problem.  Instead, 

Connecticut Taxpayers must deal with and live with a constant budget mess.  Thirty years of this is enough-don’t you think?

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Really? The First Day Of Connecticut’s Comeback Story? Where?

 

Ned Lamont recently gave his State of the State speech.  It was the “First Day of Connecticut’s Comeback Story” according to our state run media.   Obviously the speech was a glorification of Ned Lamont and the Connecticut Democrat Party.  Obviously the speech was written with the help of the many Connecticut Taxpayer funded consultants that are in the Lamont Administration via no bid contracts. Obviously the speech had to be prerecorded and given if front of an empty General Assembly.  Obviously the speech stated the usual promises of what a great job he has done as Governor, how he feels the state is his family (especially when his family can profit from Covid-19 and his Executive Orders).  Obviously the speech announces more new revenue streams that will be the cure all to Connecticut $150 billion dollars in short and long term debt along with unfunded liabilities via the legalization of marijuana, sports and online betting, etc.  Obviously Connecticut no longer has a drug overdose problem since marijuana becomes legal and taxed.  Obviously Connecticut with its massive amount of “legal” gambling already will flourish even more with this new revenue stream of even more legal gambling.  Obviously the states unemployed will somehow see jobs created for them via his speech.  Obviously the businesses that were shut down due to Lamont’s Executive Orders will somehow reopen again, be debt free and flourish from his speech.  Obviously the state I live in and work in is much different than the state that Ned Lamont talked about in his speech.  I wonder what state he is talking about and where is it located?  Because to me it is not Ned Lamont’s Utopian Connecticut.

It is funny that most Democrats called President Trump a Dictator.  However I and many others feel that Ned Lamont through his Executive Order Decrees that have ruined the state’s economy. This coupled with his no bid secret state contracts with some of his family’s Hedge Fund companies represents a Dictator in a pure political power role over his subjects known as the Connecticut Taxpayers who foot the bill for this corruption and abuse of power.  

Lamont’s speech was once again short on specifics big on what he did two years ago and long on political generalizations.  His speech lacked depth and understand of the grave economic conditions that are seen in Connecticut in 2021.  What is the plan?  More taxes?  More new commissions to study why the state economy has collapsed?  Connecticut Taxpayers have been hearing this type of speech since Lowell Weicker’s State Income cure-all in 1991.   And Connecticut Taxpayers are now in their 30th year of listening to 30 years of the same “First Day of Connecticut’s Comeback Story” year in and year out, over and over and over again.  And guess what Connecticut has yet to come back. 

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Connecticut's New Year-2021

 Happy New Year.  It is now 2021.  Unfortunately Connecticut's New Year seems to be replicating 2020 already.  Supposedly a new General Assembly will be sworn in on Wednesday in a safe and protected environment (obviously the same environment that Connecticut Taxpayers must do their grocery shopping in at large chains).  Thus they will apparently be wearing their masks (N-95 type?), take Covid-19 tests supplied by a Lamont hedge fund invested company, only walking one way up and down their outdoor aisles and have their temperatures checked possibly hourly in order to assemble.  Could they possibly meet and address the massive economic problems the state has since Ned Lamont locked down the state in March?  Could they possibly cut state spending to address the massive downturn in tax revenues and yet again another budget deficit? Could they possibly overturn and eliminate the new .05% Payroll Tax on a hypothetical Family Leave Act/Law/Decree giveaway that may go into effect in 2022?  Could they make Connecticut Taxpayers safe from theft and thieves who seem to be running rampant in the state due to the lack of enforcement of laws by our Police especially with car thefts and car break ins?  Could they address the 25% State Unemployment rate?  Could they state in writing what are all the incredible new jobs that unemployed state residents are going to be training for?  Could they eliminate the upcoming 17 cents gasoline tax that Lamont has signed on to?  Could they tell Connecticut Taxpayers what is the plan to pay off $150 billion dollars in short and long term debt along with Connecticut's unfunded liabilities?  Could they tell Connecticut Taxpayers what is the plan and time frame to fully reopen Connecticut's destroyed economy?  Could they explain to Connecticut Taxpayers why the Lamont's family hedge fund invested companies and those individuals/businesses who have ties and connections to the Connecticut Democrat Party have received and are continuing to receive no bid Connecticut Taxpayer funded contracts?  Could they make these same contracts public knowledge and post them daily on the Connecticut Taxpayer funded state website in their entirety for public knowledge?  

2021 to me seems a great deal the same as did 2020 here in Connecticut.  We still have a corrupted secret executive order government.  We still have high taxes, high unemployment, a horrific business environment, massive debt and a net migration of population out of the state.  I think Connecticut Taxpayers should get some answers and accountability out of our new General Assembly.  I think however we will get more of the same failed General Assembly that used to meet in 2020 and has been meeting since 1991.  Free Connecticut from this tyranny called government in 2021.