Why Wallingford Does Not Need Charter Revision.

Wallingford does not need charter revision. If you happen to be around town you see several individuals trying to get signatures to form a committee and have voters vote to change the charter of our town. I was approached twice by former Democrat Geno Zandri to sign the petition at both the town wide electronics recycling day and yesterday at the recycling center. I was amazed to see him at both places and concerned that voters who were signing the petition really did not know what they were signing.
In my opinion all charter revision is, is a way for the Democratic party in town to strip power from Mayor Dickinson and make him a ceremonial Mayor. This would force the town to hire a Town Manager and watch the politics fly. The Democrats and a few in town can not find an effective way to try to get rid of Mayor Dickinson. They fail to run good candidates (look at how many votes Geno Zandri lost by when he ran), they fail to come up with new ideas. No it is always the same, the chronic complaints of how bad Dickinson is and how bad he runs the town. Politically they should see the light, Mayor Dickinson is a non egotistical, powerful leader who puts Wallingford above his personal self interests. Why does he win by such a large vote count each election?
Maybe those fighting for charter revision should do the same like the Mayor.

Senator Dodd- Resign

Senator Dodd- Resign. Simple and to the point. Resign. The abuse of your position of power is an insult to the citizens and taxpayers that you supposedly represent. To act as naive as you have with regards to this mortgage that both you and your wife obtained is inexcusable. Are you that naive with regards to all the legislation that you vote on such as the Countrywide/Bank of America taxpayers bail out bill? Do you think that taxpayers do not understand that you feel that you are above any law of our country because you are a United States Senator? That your power on the Senate Banking Committee entitles you to all the perks and rewards that you can obtain, whether they are legal or not.
Your denial is an obscene gesture to the taxpayers that you supposedly represent. Those same taxpayers who pay higher interest rates for their mortgages and who are not entitled to any V.I.P. treatment.
Senator Dodd- Resign. Simple and to the point. Resign.

The Power of the Position

The Power of the Position. If you are Senator Dodd you have it. Power in the mortgage industry for sure. In my economic opinion there has been a grave misuse of power by him and several other elected officials with regards to obtaining favorable mortgage rates with Countrywide. He did indeed receive a favorable loan at a lower interest rate than other consumers. Why? Because of their V.I.P. program which amounts to paybacks to our elected officials for pro mortgage legislation.
Mr. Dodd is Chairman of the Banking Committee and now overseeing a great taxpayer bailout of the greed and ineptness that graced this industry for many years now. This is unjust and does a grave disservice to those who pay their mortgages on time and followed proper procedures, rules and laws to obtain their mortgages.
Mr. Dodd lacks ethics in his denials. This is just another blatant disregard that the United States Congress has for taxpayers and the citizens they represent.

Here is the solution to high gas prices: pay cash for gas and get a 100% discount!

Here is the solution to high gas prices: pay cash for gas and get a 100% discount! Well maybe not that much. Rumors are that our state government will actually allow gas stations to give discounts for paying for gas with cash. Rumors that this could be as high as .20 cents a gallon are being floated as I am writing this. To bring this back into perspective, a station in Wallingford offers a .5 cent discount per gallon for paying with cash not .20 cents a gallon.
Thus we as gas consumers to add insult to injury must make sure we have that extra $80 to $100 in cash in hand for that next fill up in the quest to save realistically about .5 cents a gallon. For a twenty gallon fill up we can save $1. Wow! What an incentive!
It is funny how this is in the news today and we are not hearing anything about repealing the secret gross earnings tax which has help create the excessively high gas and diesel prices in our state.
Let me see what I can do with my new found $1. Thanks Hartford.

Repeal the Gross Earnings Tax

Simply, Connecticut needs to repeal the secret gross earnings tax. An addition $25 million dollars will begin to be drained from the state economy beginning July 1 as this tax jumps to 7.5% from its current 7% level. Governor Rell finally has initiated dialogue with regards to cutting $25 million somewhere else in the bloated $18.4 billion dollar budget that has been forced on state taxpayers for this fiscal year in exchange for lowering this tax. In my economic opinion there is a great deal of pork and fat found in $18.4 billion dollars worth of state spending. Excessive state government spending has caused Connecticut to have the highest tax level in the country and it seems that the Democrats in Hartford are disinterested in doing anything about it.
Why is this tax that important? Simply because it continues to allow our state its rampant and wasteful spending. It is time for this tax to be lowered back down to its original 5% level. The money is not going to support transportation projects but is dumped into the General Fund with little or no accounting for it. Stop this tax increase now. Taxpayers have had enough.

#1 at the Pumps and #1 in Taxes - What a combo to be proud of!

#1 at the Pumps and #1 in Taxes - What a combo to be proud of! I hope everyone campaigning for reelection in the Connecticut House and Senate will be placing this in their brochures during the campaign so that all voters can read about it. This distinction is something that all elected officials in Connecticut should be proud of. We now have the highest gas prices in the country along with the highest level of taxes in the country. And the best part of it is that our gas prices will be going up on July 1 again when the secret gross earnings tax goes up to a mere 7.5% increasing per gallon taxes on gas to at least .53 cents a gallon or more depending upon the wholesale level price. But again what do we as motorists or taxpayers care, we have unlimited sources of income to deal with these obscene costs. And what do our elected officials care, they have no accountability or responsibility to the people they serve. November - I can only hope for a massive cleaning in Hartford.

Sue Them and Make Them Pay!

Sue Them and Make Them Pay! This is the new energy policy of the United States. The House recently passed a bill which enables them to sue OPEC. I am sure that OPEC would gladly respond to this type of lawsuit with no problem. Let me see - I can picture Hugo Chavez in a courtroom in Washington after having lunch with liberal members of the Congress. Or better yet Ahmadinejad from Iran enjoying afternoon tea with several lobbyists before his court appearance. How stupid can Congress be? We have just seen our new energy policy. Never mind expanding oil production, new refineries, expand nuclear and hydroelectric energy, expand geothermal energy. Nope, let us sue them and make them pay. OPEC's response will probably be that they can sell their oil elsewhere with little problem. How much is heating oil now, $8 a gallon? Thanks Congress and please by all means reelect these fools again in November.

Why Must Corruption Pay In Connecticut?

Why must corruption pay in Connecticut? Why must taxpayers be forced to pay retirement benefits for those state workers and politicians who are corrupt, break the law and are convicted? Why has it been so difficult for the State Legislature to pass a meaningful law which is retroactive to take away these benefits to corrupt state employees and politicians? Has the function of state politics become so inept and corrupt that there is actually a debate on the level of corruptness and in the level of benefits that must be mandated to pay these same corrupt workers and officials? I am truly lost with this debate and it shows the amazing level of arrogance and disregard that our state legislature has for the taxpayers of this state. Again I urge voters to vote these legislators out of office in November. What a waste of taxpayers monies and what a waste of a debate for all. If you have been convicted you have forfeited your rights and benefits-why is that so difficult to understand?

I Forgot It Was May 8, 2008 Since I Have Been Too Busy Working

I forgot it was May 8, 2008 today. I know I should have remembered an important day like today-Tax Freedom Day, but I have been too busy working to pay my taxes and trying to survive here. There is not much that can be said about it. In Connecticut we work longer than any other state to pay for our Federal, State and Local taxes. And our elected officials, especially on a state level could care less about it as evidenced by this last horrific state legislative session which has just closed. Thus we must shut up and work and support a failed liberalism which is embraced by self serving politicians who continue to do nothing to improve our state. Their belief of tax and spend has failed and will continue to fail us in the future at all levels of government. Change is essential if we are going to survive. I can only hope it happens in November.

Congratulations On Doing Nothing!

Congratulations On Doing Nothing! The Democrats in Hartford have achieved the ultimate in poor government. Spending $18.7 billion dollars in a reckless manner with no thoughts as to the overtaxtion of the public, the squandering of the surplus, while raising the minimum wage and giving absolutely no thought to the impending deficit that will be coming in next years budget. What an incredible waste of taxpayers monies! The budget in my economic opinion is a cruel hoax to the taxpayers in our state. Why the inaction? Why must we cut our personal spending due to the excessive costs of energy, excessive local and state taxes and our leaders just continue to spend to infinity? Please, please wake up and vote these mediocre leaders out of office in November. But before that I wish to congratulate each one on doing nothing.

Cut taxes-not now, not tomorrow, never! Never!

The Democrats in Hartford along with Governor Rell's budget chief just do not get it. Cutting taxes during an economic slowdown will help stimulate our economy and help keep businesses in the state. But this would counter the Democrats and the Budget Chief's enjoyment of our state being ranked #1 per capita in taxes in the country. Do they feel this would actually become an incentive to have businesses move into our state and create jobs? I will give credit for a group of Republicans actually forcing the issue and show a tax cut along with forced cuts in spending through early retirements. The Democrats laugh at it and thus nothing again will be done about our economic crisis in Connecticut. I urge voters to truly consider who they will vote for in November in the state election. We can no longer afford this misrepresentation by a Democratic majority in Hartford which is leading us to economic ruin. Cut taxes-not now, not tomorrow, not never! Never!-Connecticut's Democratic Party mantra.

What price gasoline and diesel?

What price gasoline and diesel? Will it soon be $5 and $6 a gallon? Connecticut now has the second highest gas tax in the country. Between federal, state per gallon and the state gross earnings tax at 7.52%, motorists are paying .63 cents per gallon in tax. Why? Is any of this money supposedly going to highway and road maintenance? Has anyone driven on I-84,I-91 or I-95 lately? Our highway system looks like a vast parking lot with daily projects that never end.
Gasoline is approaching $4 a gallon. Diesel is at $4.50 a gallon and rising. Over 16%percent of the cost of gasoline and diesel is now taxes and will continue to escalate as gas prices continue to go up. Our costs of living are increasing daily because of this. Our elected officials in Hartford are enjoying this as they see more tax monies going into the general fund so that more can be spent. The secret gross earnings tax will go up again on July 1. And there is no action by Hartford. Nothing at all.
We are already the highest taxed state in the country at 38.3% per capita income based on local, state and federal taxes. Apparently state elected officials are proud of this distinction. Lower the fuel tax today. However, we know this will not happen any time soon.

May 8, 2008

May 8, 2008 is coming. And it can not come too soon. For in Connecticut it represents Tax Freedom Day, a mere 129 days into the year that we have to work to pay for our taxes. 36% of our year we work to pay for our local, state and federal tax burden at a mere 38.3% per capita of income. To restate this we work over 1/3 of the year to see more than 1/3 of our salaries go to pay the highest tax burden in the country. And our state legislature again ignored any type of tax relief in this session. Highest taxed state in the country along with a do nothing, know nothing, see nothing state legislature. The ultimate result will continue to be a constant outflow of businesses out of the state and citizens fleeing. I am sure our state legislature is proud of that.

The Video Says All - Sees All - Tells All

Yes, the video that Democrats have found (with taxpayers monies) says all, sees all, and tells all. We as taxpayers have to be amused with the lack of governing that goes on in Hartford. This new episode of cost overruns on the new rail facility in New Haven and who heard what and at what time, again reeks of politics. After all, why should the Democrats in Hartford worry about our state having the highest taxes in the country. While we work the longest in the nation to May 20th, just to pay taxes at a mere 38.3% per capita (or .383 cents of each dollar we earn goes to pay taxes). Or how about a meaningful law that puts criminals away which might make us safer in our homes. Or how about an elimination of the secret gross earnings tax on fuel as gas just went up yet again - fast approaching $4. a gallon.
No, what we have is good old boy he said she said politics at its best. Voters and taxpayers, we really need to vote these stale and pathetic politicians out of office in November once and for all.

Connecticut Tax #1 - Congratulations!

Connecticut Tax #1 - Congratulations! If you read the article by Scott McCredie http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Taxes/Advice/TheBestAndWorstStatesForTaxes.aspx
you will see that our beloved state pays the most in combined state, local and federal taxes per capita at a mere 38.3%. Yes we are #1 in the country a full 1.2% less than New York. I wish to personally thank all of our elected officials at all levels of government for helping us to be #1. It is a great honor to bestow upon our state and one that they all should be proud of. Thus we will see a continual flow of our children, our brightest, our business and industry continue to flee our state for the foreseeable future. Why stay here and be overtaxed? Why stay here and support a never ending lobbyist form of government who steals from the middle class and give to themselves? Why does this exist?

Is There An Energy Policy In Our Country?

I am curious, is there any energy policy in our country? I know by eliminating regular light bulbs that might save some electricity and by increasing by a few miles per gallon new vehicles gas mileage that might save some gas, but do we have any energy policy to finally get off the transfer of wealth from our country through the purchase of foreign oil sold by rogue countries. Are we going to do anything to expand our development of new fuel sources in our country? Are we going to do anything to expand our refinery capacity? Does anyone care? Obviously Congress does not. Nor does the state of Connecticut since its tax revenue goes up each time the price of fuel goes up through its secret gross earnings tax on fuel.
We really have not learned anything since 1973.

In A Perfect World, Everything Would Be Taxed

In A Perfect World, Everything Would Be Taxed. This quote must have been said sometime, somewhere in Connecticut. I am trying to find out who said it. Or maybe I misunderstood what was trying to be said. Maybe I misremembered the statement. Maybe it is ok to have a special city sales tax which can help drive businesses and jobs out of the cities. Maybe it is ok to have a sales tax on all deliveries in the state. Maybe it is ok to have a tax on all oil and gas deliveries in the state and make it a secret. And maybe it is ok to continue to see a mass fleeing of businesses, workers and residents out of Connecticut to states which actually have lower taxes and vibrant economies.
Yes, In A Perfect World, Everything Would Be Taxed. Taxpayers can see this clearly in the sham called government which is led by Democrats in Hartford.

How Many More Must Die?

Besides being one of the highest taxed states in the country we are now going to be a state in which we must fear for our lives because of home invasions by criminals who are paroled. Isn't that great! I really wonder how many more people must die before the Democratically controlled State Legislature will actually pass the the three strikes and out bill. I know that if a politicians family member was brutally murdered then something would be done about it. Until that time their failed liberalism for criminals becomes a shame for law abiding citizens. Why must law abiding citizens have less rights than convicted criminals? What is wrong with being tough on crime?
How many more innocent Connecticut citizens must die before this legislation is passed?

What Price Energy?

At what price energy? For energy consumers in Connecticut the answer is always unknown. Depending upon the time of day you can choose one of the many answers; increased demand from developing countries, supply disruptions, change of season, high temperatures, low temperatures, new formulas, and the list goes on and on.
In my economic opinion we have an energy market which has become a collusive oligopoly, where prices are controlled by this oligopoly.
Our state enjoys the excessively high fuel prices as they reap greater and higher tax revenue from the secret gross earnings tax on fuel. This tax is obscene greed by our state government and should be eliminated in order to provide relief for energy consumers. But why cut that tax (or any tax)? That would mean that the state like us would have to cut spending and we know we can’t have that when an overspending bureaucratic government is Hartford's desire.
Here are some solutions that should be enacted immediately. Eliminate the secret gross earnings tax on fuel. Ban heating oil heat and water systems for all new housing. Give one year full property tax abatement for all housing that converts to hydroelectric/solar/geothermal and wind energy. Make all of these same systems exempt from state sales tax. All hybrid vehicles should be fully state sales tax and property tax exempt. Redevelop nuclear power plants to generate electricity. Develop greater efficiencies to our rail systems to move products to our state. Develop a monorail system which would be user friendly moving us from place to place. Connecticut could have for 35 years taken a lead in these areas. Instead we have 35 years of frivolous and inept energy policies from both federal and state government.
For 35 years I have been writing about high energy prices and our lack of energy policy. I am sure I will be writing for 35 years more about it also.

Maybe 30 strikes and you are out?

The Democrats in Hartford could not bring criminals to justice. They could not get tough on those who murder and commit ruthless violent acts to the public. They have chosen to take the liberal easy way out and hope that hardened criminals and murderers will not harm anyone else. Please give me a break! Connecticut needs to get tough on our criminal element. I am tired as a taxpayer supporting the liberalization of crime and those in the legal profession that support them. The Democrats in Hartford continue to show their inability to lead. This November I can not see why anyone will vote for these same individuals who have a blatant disrespect against law abiding citizens. The three strikes and out bill should have been
immediately voted upon and signed into law.