The Wallingford Mayoral Election Heats Up!

Low and behold waiting for me in my mailbox this afternoon was Wallingford's independent (not Democrat any more) Mayoral candidate's flyer which sure looks almost like Mayor Dickinson's flyers. Imitation is the best form of flattery that one can receive. In trying to disect what the Trzcinski flyer slammed the Mayor on is interesting. Wallingford, like all communities in Connecticut is mandated to have reevealuation of property values. This increases the grand list for towns and shows in many cases how property values have gone up in a five and or ten year period. Guess what! The last property reevaluation in Wallingford (done at the peak of the real estate boom) showed property values dramatically up which in turn forces taxpayers to pay more in property taxes even though the mill rate has gone down. The flyer states that "For the average resident taxes have risen 88.6% since 1996!" Oh really? I feel I am an average taxpayer living in the same home for 23 years now. Since 1996 my taxes have gone up about 37% not 88.6%, that amounts to about 3.5% a year not 8.9% as the flyer states. I wonder where that figure came from?

Then there is also a mention of Community Lake ... since 1979. How critical is that for the town's future? Bringing back Community Lake is more of a luxury for tax payers than a necessity.

What about "The building on Rt.5 which has been in foreclosure since 1989?" There are several environmental cleanup issues at that location resulting in a stalled resolution to that problem.

What are the Lucille for Mayor solutions to all of these issues? I do not see any in her copy cat flyer I just received. It's easy enough to say we need long range strategic plans but what are they?

I think in Wallingford everything is going well because our community is governed by people who care and by a Conservative, non-egotistical Mayor who puts the town's needs first over any form of political glory (glory in my opinion just waiting for it to happen by the other two candidates). I have taken a second look at what's going on in Wallingford and I still like what I see. I will again vote for Mayor Bill Dickinson and the Republican candidates for Town Council and Board of Education. Real leadership for Wallingford.

Will Chris Dodd go home?

I am still confused why our illustrious Senator Dodd is running for the Presidency. I know somehow he has gotten elected for many years as both Representative and Senator, (with a great deal of help from weak and ineffective Republican candidates who have run against him) but really what has he done to help our state? I am still trying to figure out when was the last time he sponsored some sort of meaningful tax reform legislation and or spending cuts which could be passed onto working middle class citizens which inhabit our state. You see I am tired of Senator Dodd and his Democratic party’s redistribution of wealth programs. I am tired of a social welfare system has he has championed for years which has done nothing other than keep money out of the hands who truly need it and create generation after generation of welfare recipients. And I am really tired of his constant glorification of Latin and South American leaders who rape their countries and promote their form of dictatorship (in particular Castro).

Maybe it is time for Chris Dodd to come home, to forget about rewriting the history of his disgraced father and retire once and for all from public service. Connecticut would be so much better off without him.

Dickinson for Mayor in Wallingford

I love Wallingford. It is a community that its citizens are proud of. It is a town that many people want to move to because of its strong school system, low taxes, low electric rates, close location to both Hartford and New Haven, many stores and businesses. It is a community where we have seen a steady course continue through the administration of Mayor Bill Dickinson. The Mayor who has been in office for many years now has led Wallingford by example always putting the town's needs first over self glorification and personal gain. That is not say he is without his critics which are many. However, I believe that the majority of Wallingford voters wish for him to return for another two year term. I do not believe either of the other two candidates running for Mayor (Democrat and Independent) have the drive, knowledge or ability to lead Wallingford for the next two years. It is apparent to me that they are running weak campaigns and dwell on the Wooding property issue alone. There is little new thought or ideas being presented by both. This election a vote for Mayor Bill Dickinson and the Republican candidates for Town Council and Board of Education will continue the path of progress for our great town, Wallingford.

The Sub Prime Mess or Who's Mortgage Is It?

As an instructor of Economics for 25 years now, many students of mine have asked me to comment on the current problems faced in the Sub Prime Mortgage market. To try to understand what a sub prime mortgage is, we may view it in a variety of ways. First it is a mortgage given to a consumer who may have a poor credit record, not much if any money for a downpayment on a home. Many who may have unreported income (under the table income) may be qualified for this type of mortgage along with those who wish to make a major refinancing by combining all loans into the mortgage (for example $50,000 credit card bills, $200,000 remaining on a mortgage a jumbo mortgage of $250,000-but the house has only been valued for $225,000.). After the mortgage company makes the loan they are then rebundled and resold in the aftermarket usually to a fund or investment firm in many cases in an overseas market.
So what happens now is after paying on a mortgage with 0% interest for one, two or however many years all of the sudden the consumer sees a greater interest rate along with a much higher mortgage payment each month. Property taxes also shoot up. Energy prices shoot up. People lose their jobs. Income in some cases is not even verified. Real estate values have started to decline (in my economic opinion they were overvalued to begin with) and guess what-that home worth $225,000 is now only worth $175,000 and the consumer still owes $250,000 on it.
I think that you may be able to start seeing the problems that are happening. Each segment of the market is starting to blame the other. Economic education was not even thought about in educating consumers whether or not they could realistically afford that mortgage.
Now the problem is how to resolve it. It can only be resolved through the basic laws of supply and demand in both the real estate market and the credit markets. People will lose their homes and mortgage companies will be going out of business, it is the reality of the situation. Political answers such as throwing more money into this market will do nothing to resolve it. If it is too good to be true than it is should be the result of this fiasco. Realtors, mortgage companies and consumers who have signed for these loans all should share the blame. You can also interject the word greed in this equation also. Sub primes will be gone soon enough and logic will return to this market.

Our crumbling highways, oh well!

For many years now I have discussed in my economics classes-where is the tax money going in our state to fund and repair our road and highway system on both a state and federal level? The disaster in Minnesota (which naturally is now a political field day for the Democrats since higher taxes are their answer for everything) sheds light as to the problems we have here in Connecticut with our aging and crumbling highway/road system. The state levies a great deal of taxes of gasoline and diesel in our state, with the money apparently just going into a general fund and then some of those taxes being redistributed through the DOT. Obviously if anyone drives to work one can see first hand how bad our highways are whether it is I-91, 95 or 84 (or how about the storm drain waste of money in Waterbury?). The costs of upkeep are somehow considered in a budget (although how I can't figure it out) and it seems to me a handful of projects on occasion are completed usually after a long period of time and overbudgetted. If one travels I-95 you see the daily mess of the Q-Bridge through East Haven. I can only imagine what a mess it will be when they try to rebuild the Bridge itself.
Is there any solution? Obviously the cry will be greater taxes to rebuild our crumbling infrastructure because there just seems never to be enough money appropriated for the politics of our highway/road system. However, higher taxes will not solve the problem. Maybe here in our state politics could be put aside for a little while and we could force accountability so that we do not see a bridge fall here. Maybe taxpayers and users of our highway/road system deserve better. Maybe state officials could actually do the job they a re paid to do. What a concept.

The Failed Connecticut State Legislature

Ethics violations, corruption, greed, graft, waste, over taxation. I feel these words describe the Connecticut State Legislature. As evidence by these ruling elite, taxpayers have seen the waste of our hard earned tax dollars throughout this session. Why was nothing accomplished in this session? Why are taxpayers no longer represented in our State Legislature?
Nothing was accomplished for any of us who work for a living here in Connecticut. We are still the highest taxed states in the country. We have one of the highest gasoline and diesel taxes in the country and the beauty of it is that the money does not even go to maintain our crumbling and failed highway system in the state.
If a person breaks a law whether they are Democrat or Republican shouldn't they be punished? In this assembly they have placed themselves above the law. Ethics violations in both parties is now the norm with no repercussions for the violators. And the list goes on and on.
Taxpayers need to analyze what happened in this legislative process and view how poorly we are represented in Hartford. In my opinion we have no representation in Hartford. I again call upon a recall election immediately in order to clean out these inept politicians and also a referendum on the state budget allowing those who are paying for this mockery to be able to vote whether we accept it or not. Our state legislature is broken beyond repair and needs to be fixed immediately. Why do taxpayers need to continue to pay for this ineptness called state government?

Are Both Parties For Real?

With the two proposals for a new state budget, I as a taxpayer am wondering are both parties for real? If you have a constitutional amendment to cap state spending, then why do both parties ignore it? Why are taxes being raised so much (even though the Democrats claim a small drop in the income tax rate-most will be paying more in the long run)? Is the concept of fiscal restraint unknown by both parties?
The two state budget tax and spending proposals are shocking, outrageous and ill timed-do any of our elected officials realize we are already the highest taxed state in the country? Our tax freedom day is now May 20th, the longest in the country!
I would really like to know when Connecticut will have Taxation with Representation again. What a pathetic government.

Pork-Please let me spend more and more and more

Pork, pork and more pork. I see things have not changed in Congress. Under the “New” Democratic leadership, a mockery has made of the current Iraq bill which will allows an incredible amount of non related Iraq spending to take place. So much for the elimination of pork barrel spending. This bill adds a mere $30 billion plus to non war related activities to help buy the votes to pass it. Thus you as taxpayers are seeing the great lie of the Democratic party. Even though they campaigned to eliminate pork barrel spending it is just more of the same. Any kind of spin can be placed on this, Democrats will try to manipulate this bill to their advantage and again nothing changes. How can taxpayers have any faith in a Congress which is so out of control and clueless to the real problems of our country? Again we need term limitations, both the House and Senate need to be four year terms, each limited to two terms. You may serve for eight years and move on. This would bring in fresh and new ideas to both bodies of Congress and hopefully eliminate the fraud that takes place each day they are in session. I conclude by asking what has Ted Kennedy really done in over 40 years as a Senator? He is the greatest argument for term limitations that I know of. And the waste and pork continues ad infinitum.

Connecticut's Energy Induced Recession

Connecticut's State Department of Public Utility Control truly amazes me. Whatever any utility wants in the state gets from this supposed balanced commission. With yesterdays United Illuminating ruling of an incredible 50% increase in rates, we can see from an economic point of view that Connecticut will be going into an energy induced recession from this ruling. The comedy of the whole situation is that Connecticut's do nothing legislature has help create this mess by forcing both UI and Northeast Utilities out of the generating business for electricity. Thus by buying electricity on the open market, this deregulation has forced prices through the roof. It has not have the intended impact of our feel good legislature thought it would have. I give UI credit for its total disregard for its customers by asking for and receiving this astronomical increase. I am sure that UI's management staff will receive its annual performance bonuses, stock options and the like.
Thus Connecticut will be going into an energy induced recession. The blame for it can be equally shared by the electric companies, the Connecticut Legislature and last but not least the Connecticut DPUC. Consumers will be doing without to pay for their incredibly high electric bills, businesses will be moving out of our state due to high electric costs and sadly the same stale politicians in Hartford who supposedly represent us will be back yet again in 2008 saying what a great job they did.
I just hope that the last person who leaves Connecticut will turn out the lights once and for all.

I thought Iraq was a free country?

I thought Iraq was a free country? I guess I am mistaken after looking at new commission report which was developed by a group of experts(?)and their findings. I have always wondered why influential individuals seem to lose their common sense when acting in a group or committee. In this case the report makes no sense to me what so ever nor can be applied to the conflict. We as a nation need to remember that many terrorists wish to murder us all and eliminate our freedom. We must realize that terrorism loves to embrace our economic system to fund its activities. Yet their hatred of us is ironic. 9/11 still remains in our history due to the murders of many innocent US citizens whose only crime was that they went to work that day. Negotiating with terrorists is not an option.

Terrorists have a great hate of themselves and others in our world. That is why they wish to continue their terrorist activities. Our American freedom has been fought for since before 1776 and will continue to be fought for in the future. How many people throughout our world crave freedom? And are willing to give their lives for it? Iraq is a developing free democracy in the Middle East. And one day with our help it will remain free. It is a lesson that other countries should understand.

No thanks but I won't vote for Lamont

I am still confused by the current Connecticut Senate election. I really need to know who Ned Lamont is. No, I am not going to vote for him or support him, but I really can’t see how he could possibly represent my family or anyone else in Connecticut. As far as I can see the reason why he won the primary by a slim amount of votes is because he is anti-war candidate. Joe Liebermann lost because he has taken a view point that we need to finish what we started in Iraq and allow those people freedom.
Does this mean that all people in Connecticut are anti-war? I don’t think so.
Trying to understand Lamont’s other stances becomes more difficult. He is in favor of many liberal causes which in my opinion have failed our economy miserably. He is very wealthy and here we have just another example of a multi millionaire liberal trying to dictate to our state what we can and can not have. I guess the economic system is ok when he was trying to make his fortune and now that he has it the hell with it.
I believe that there are many voters like me here in Connecticut, who are middle class and conservative in our beliefs and life styles who dislike this candidate for all of his liberal stances. We are tired of the ranting and raving of how bad things are and the excessive costs of the liberal fixes that a candidate like Lamont wants.
Ned Lamont reminds me of Lowell Weicker – an opportunist with an ego that does not seem to be satisfied. No, I will not vote for Ned Lamont, nor do I feel a majority of Connecticut residents will either.

Correction on the Secret Connecticut Gross Earnings Tax

Now everything makes sense to me. I need top correct my last blog regarding Connecticut's Secret Gross Earnings tax levied on all fuel in the state. It is now 6.724% not 5.8% as I thought it was. I got conflicting information regarding it. Also two more secret taxes that are now charged include a Lust Tax (Leaky Underground Storage Tank) which is .001 per gallon and a Federal Spill Fee Record tax of .0012. The reality of this tax in addition to the State tax of .25 cent per gallon and a Federal tax of .184 cents per gallon and bingo you have one of the highest tax rates in the country! The Secret Gross Earnings tax adds from .17 to .21 cents per gallon more in costs. I guess our clueless State Legislature did not think the oil companies were going to pass on this tax to the consumers. Guess again. Now I see that the Legislature may go back into special (and maybe secret) session to come up with answers to Connecticut's energy problems. I do not see why they should as they have yet been able to come up with anything since 1973 except to raise taxes. Here is the solution-get off our dependency of foreign oil and use less. The State I am sure wastes energy everywhere, from State employees in State vehicles going faster than 65 miles per hour, lights on everywhere in State Buildings, and the list goes on and on. Let us face up to it, there is no thought for either taxpayers in our state nor for energy consumers. And now State taxpayers will foot the bill for this useless special session.

Again higher gas prices, again higher gas prices, again...

Again higher gas prices-I just read a nationwide survey that we have the third highest average prices for gasoline in the country. We are only behind Hawaii and California. $3.19 is the average although I know of a few stations that I can buy cheap gas at $3.09.9. I always hear the stories of supply and demand as a long time instructor of Business and Economics classes I have difficulty with some of the same arguments that I hear over and over again. Connecticut has one of the highest gas taxes in the country and I do believe that the long run implications of this high tax is both a state recession and people once again leaving in droves from our state. Our elected officials passed a secret increase in the gross earnings tax up now to 5.8% (and please do not let anyone kid you, motorists pay for this tax-making an average of .54 cents a gallon with federal taxes thrown in).
I know that you and I have an unlimited amount of income to pay for higher energy costs and higher taxes here in our state. We receive constant cost of living increases in our pays to offset these higher costs. Wait you don't believe me? Again higher gas prices...Again higher gas prices...Again higher gas prices...to infinity.

The Legislature that can't

I am still trying to figure out what the Connecticut State Legislature accomplished this past session. I really do not know. There are many pressing problems in the state and it seems once again that our legislature shortchanged taxpayers.
What happen with tax reform? There were some great concepts which may have been mentioned however I guess time just runs out and the net result is that we are still the second highest taxed state in the country. I also must be happy then that no known new tax taxes were passed (I am sure some technical ones were and will be passed on to consumers in some way i.e. CT Gross Earnings Tax on fuel)
What happen with judicial reform? Or does anyone care how secret our court and judge system has become? Why is this system fearful of applying the freedom-of-information law to all judicial functions? Are they afraid that the taxpaying public will see the charade that is going on masked as justice in Connecticut?
What happen with transportation reform? We know there will be many new trains in service but what about our archaic highway system with projects that just goes on forever and ever? Obviously none of the legislators use our highway system because if they did they would have done something about it already. Anyways we as taxpaying commuters are stuck with it, just deal with it, when did the state legislature care about commuters anyways?
Connecticut’s legislature needs to be reformed. Terms should be made 4 years with term limitations of 2-4 year terms being allowed. Pay should be increased to $52,000. a year so a wider range of individuals from our state may serve and actually come up with solutions to our state’s problems rather than the current bunch of lawyers who are creating greater laws to perpetuate their own self interest. Also after their terms ended they would not be allowed to become lobbyists until five years later. This would eliminate a lot of the problems that we currently see with lobbying in Hartford today.
So once again another session has ended and golly gee nothing got done. Oh well, who cares anyways, taxpayers have an infinite amount of money to support our state government.

Energy independence without big oil dependence.

As energy prices continue to escalate, energy consumers must start to face the reality of these excessive costs. It seems to me that energy consumers have an abundance of extra income to pay for the high costs of gasoline, heating oil and electricity. Since I do not believe that consumers have this abundance of extra income, severe cuts in other areas of their personal budgets will occur. Inflation which is apparently non existent in our economy depending upon whom you believe will only skyrocket in the future.
We as an economy and as a nation just do not seem to get it. We need to collectively decrease our use of energy and switch to alternative sources of energy such as solar power, windmill power and hydroelectric power. The solutions are simplistic and realistic. We need to take charge of our won futures if we wish to survive as a nation for the next two hundred years. Energy independence without big oil dependence. The cry of 2006.

Can Connecticut survive?

Why are there no solutions to Connecticut’s budget problems? As an instructor of business and economics I feel that I should grade the State of Connecticut on two serious issues so as our elected officials may be able to improve their job performance. In an election year it is critical that they do this so that they may get re-elected yet again (maybe some of them who have opposition will actually lose).
For lowering of one of the highest tax burdens in the country- F. You may have thought you saw some tax relief with the elimination of the property tax on vehicles but that was an illusion. If we cut that we might have seen some relief. But why cut taxes here in Connecticut? We all know that taxpayers have an unlimited source of funds to continue to pay the ever increasing burden that our state legislature puts us under. For businesses there is no relief at all. Besides coping with all the increases in input costs, workmen’s comp and energy, I am surprised any business at all can compete here in Connecticut.
Transportation issues- F. I guess most individuals who represent us do not travel on the state highway system. If they did they would come up with a realistic plan to improve the system or privatize the Transportation Department. Commuting in our state is a sickening experience. The roads are in lousy shape, construction projects have unlimited time and funds to be completed and in my opinion there is no accountability to what is going on. The time has come to either fix it or privatize it. What about an effective public transportation system to actually move commuters from one point to another? I guess it just can’t be done.
Change is desperately needed in our state. It will only come when reform our state legislature to being full time with full time pay, with term limitations of 8 years (4-2 year terms). We would force a different group of people to realistically come up with solutions to our states problems not a bunch of lawyers creating more laws to perpetuate their own existence. Connecticut needs a change and needs it fast if it is to survive in the future.

A Trilogy of Economic Problems

A trilogy of problems are at work in our nation's economy.
First, the uncertainty of stable energy prices will play out over the next few months. I feel gas prices will shoot up with ease to over $3. a gallon in the foreseeable future. This again will increase costs for consumers and businesses throughout our country. Where does this money come from? Many will just charge the difference and not worry about paying it back while others will cut back yet again from other areas of their personal budgets. Where is effective, reliable public transportation in our economy?
Second, the United States national debt is a grave issue that 435 members of Congress continue to ignore. Pork seems to be King in our land and an $8 trillion+ dollar national debt continues to be ignored by all. Why does the Federal Government need to spend $.22 cents of each dollar just on interest alone on the national debt? Why can't government live within its means like many Americans choose to do? If they do not curb this problem immediately, the long run economic implications will be severe and far reaching. Look out for a great erosion in our standard of living.
Third, the magnitude of General Motors economic problems are far reaching. And no I do not wish to see government bail them out. It is a fixed cost that every consumer pays when buying a GM car or truck that includes paying their workers who do not work. Their Jobs Bank program pays workers full salaries for not working. What other business allows this? And you may wonder why the cost of autos has gone up so high over the years? Examine this program and you will see the incredible sums of money GM must pay. Why? A bankruptcy will have a grave ripple effect in our economy. However, much of this is due to GM and its union for these incredible costs that are passed on to the consumers. And consumers are saying no to GM vehicles in droves.
What are the answers to this trilogy?
My advice to you the reader is to pay off your personal debt as fast as you can...

Energy Independence

Energy independence. What does that mean? Since 1973, we have heard many differing opinions regarding the ending of America's dependency upon foreign oil. The severity of our situation today should give our economy the impetus to start to use alternative sources of energy. These sources include solar power, hydroelectric power, wind power and improved gasoline efficiencies for automobiles. Here we are 33 years later and what has happened? Energy costs continue to skyrocket. Depending upon which excuse you hear at any time, the most simplest interruption will cause a .15 cent a gallon increase in the pump price. Energy prices in my opinion are flexible upward and very inflexible downward. The drain that energy prices have on our economy is incredible. We are the largest importer of oil draining nearly $550 million dollars a day out of our economy and into our foreign trade deficit. We are eroding our standard of living and our children's standard of living because we can't curb this incredible appetite for energy.
Let us start by using less energy. Can we save electrical usage in our homes and businesses? Can we each use one less gallon of gasoline a week? Can we have a mass transportation system that actually moves people from one place to another rather than a bureaucratic nightmare that it seems to do.
There are simple solutions, however it is too bad that we can't see them and accept them. Energy independence-33 years later?