What is the root cause of this American “affordability crisis” we hear so much about these days? The truth lies in something no Democrat wants you to know. The affordability crisis started in the 2020 election of the incompetent and incontinent President Joe Biden in a highly suspect election that laid bare the very integrity of our democratic processes. After this election rigging, decent Americans were horrified by seeing four years of reckless spending sprees, incompetent DEI personnel picks, economic bungling, the shutdown of the Keystone Pipeline and the arrogant and reckless policy of open borders. All these grievous and sickening errors ignited an inflationary inferno that scorched the pockets of everyday families, as groceries, gas, and housing became luxuries only the elite could afford without a second thought. After his 2024 election, President Donald J. Trump set his mind to undo this economic disaster, as the irrational and insane fight bitterly every day against him while he deals with the affordability crisis they themselves created.
But what exactly is this concept of “Affordability”? Affordability is defined as “able to be afforded: having a cost that is not too high.” For Connecticut taxpayers, the definition of affordability seems to be a constantly moving target as interpreted by the delusional ruling elite. Before President Trump was elected in 2024 we listened daily to the nonsensical blather of hopeless functional incompetents such as Karinne Jean-Pierre and Kamala Harris tell us that “Bidenomics is working” or “Inflation is under control” while it is more than evident the affordability conditions then were far worse than now. But as readers of my column know, the rules of fact and common sense do not apply to the delusional ruling elite.
But let’s drill down on Connecticut affordability. Does affordability in Connecticut mean that the Democrat Connecticut state government dictates to its legal and illegal citizens what they can and cannot have? Does affordability mean that the Democrat Connecticut state government builds housing and then dictates how much rent can be charged? Does affordability mean that the Democrat Connecticut state government can control all zoning in the state (as seen in HB 8002), and you, dear citizen, can screw off? Does affordability mean that the Democrat Connecticut state government will start running state-run grocery stores? Does affordability mean that the Democrat Connecticut state government will now insure all drivers in the state, since car insurance has increased dramatically due to the massive amount of car thefts and road takeovers over the past five years, and insurance companies no longer want the risks of insuring a lawless state? Does affordability mean that the Democrat Connecticut state government continues to use Connecticut taxpayers’ money to pick and choose economic winners via its non-transparent and malignant Department of Community and Economic Development ("DECD") or its taxpayer-paid penny stock "boiler room" operation known as "Connecticut Innovations?"
Like their incompetent predecessors in the Biden regime, the concept of Connecticut’s “affordability” is a vague construct by the Connecticut Democrat Party, their state-run media and attendant state-paid media image consultants. Here are some real economic facts showing that Connecticut is not affordable to work and live in: The first problem area is naturally, taxes. The state has one of the highest state and local property taxes in the country. High state sales tax, user and license fees, and excessive business taxes in every way, shape, and form continue to burden Connecticut taxpayers to the point of no return. I have stated numerous times: why does a state as small as Connecticut spend over $26 billion a year in its budget? Needless to say, no one on the state food chain would dare admit that a reduction of state spending would increase affordability for citizens because preservation of their bureaucracy takes precedence over the citizen, (and why has that not sunken in by now?)
But let’s move down the line. Please look at what Connecticut taxpayers pay for state employee salaries, benefits, and pensions, as it should astound any working person in the state. The state spends a mere $6 billion a year in pension payments; that does not consider the future unfunded liabilities of the state pension system. Connecticut already has $100 to $150 billion in short- and long-term debt along with unfunded liabilities. What is the plan to pay off this debt? There is none, and never has been one as just about everyone in political land chortles about the need for the “fiscal guardrails”, which “fiscal guardrails” do not take into account this bulbous and unsustainable amount of legacy debts and liabilities.