Why State Spending Is Enigmatic

Many Conservatives have clamored that spending is excessive and problematic in the state of Connecticut. This is true, at least somewhat, but there are omissions that are being ignored for political pageantry. Conservatives would have us believe that there is too much wasteful spending, and certainly they are not entirely wrong. But, it is important to note that this is true of every governing body across the country, and the argument is nothing new.

We all are keenly aware that there is always a way to get things for less, perhaps privatize more of government, and certainly cut those social programs that have earned such a terrible record.

Well no one doubts that spending needs to be streamlined, especially during hard economic times when government and the deficit grows in tandem with poverty. Sadly what is being overlooked is the paradox of tax cuts during a Recession/Depression (depending on your view of the current economy.)

The paradox in state spending today is accompanied by its rhetoric. Rhetoric that reminds voters that people are hurting, there are few good jobs out there and several other preventable conditions exist that are agitating poverty. With the spread of rich to poor now at at record 14.5% Connecticut, and many other states for that matter, has to factor this increase in poverty into its budget. We also have to consider the cost of Un-employment (at a record 99 weeks for some) , food aid, and a record level of need as requested by the Connecticut Department of Social Services. Lets also factor in the interest on our debt, accompanied by inflation and the associated cost of dealing with increases in crime and punishment, and then it becomes easy to understand how our state ran some record deficits.

Connecticut has the highest debt to person ration in America and a pension fund set to run out by 2019 because of negligent cuts that are threatening everyone. The disingenuous nature of economic repair men is dangerous and irresponsible. Once again we have a tax paradox in Connecticut, whereby we all overwhelmingly agree that the poor should be helped, children deserve health care, and that the tide of poverty must be reversed. But few dare offer a genuine solution by way of new jobs and economic opportunity.

There are several places where money can still be saved in government but those cuts will hardly match the money that is needed to solve the basic humanitarian issues we have incurred in our state. For this reason I question the MRTC produced graph as little more than a political ploy emblematic of a half truth. A half truth that will become self evident in time when all cuts that have been made get made. Then it will become clear that such a graph accompanied by more conservative tax rhetoric will amount to severe austerity losses. Austerity losses accompanied by the unwelcome sight of homeless people living on the street, children being left uninsured, and pension funds being denied to new employees while older employees receive less.

The answer is as I stated in previous articles, and that is Connecticut needs to challenge the monetary policy of the Federal Government, resist austerity measures, challenge the supremacy clause of the Federal Government, sue the Feds against all job killing treaties and consider rebuilding our state from the vantage point of the sovereign position of individual states rights. This may require us to pass new "xeno-tax" laws that specifically target the Federal Government and the glut of outside slave produced goods dumped on our markets. Lastly and most importantly we need to embrace the green economy and protect our remaining jobs from export. Connecticut cannot "fix the world," but Connecticut can independently work to fix its economy from within our own borders by not allowing "the world" to "drag us down."

Cap And Trade Bill May Bankrupt Milford

At the peak of the energy crisis, electricity along with pension obligations was cited as being one of the root causes of a whopping 8.1% tax increase. The quote below is from the Kerri Rowland website who published the article from the Feb. 2007NH Register.

"The mayor’s proposed city budget totals $92.6 million. This year it is $85.6 million. The combined city and schools proposed budget is $170.8 million, compared to this year’s $160.1 million, representing a 6.69 percent increase. The proposed budget basically keeps services at the same level. Fixed costs such as health insurance, electricity, contractual wages, pension contributions and workers compensation make up 91.2 percent of the increase."

Should our inept Congressmen continue to vote in favor of these bills without reading them, as they did in the "cap and trade" bill we could expect Two things for certain.

One... The economy will not recover, and Two... The city of Milford will have an inability to properly manage its finances save some extreme measures. This climate bill is the one praised by local Democrats and environmentalists in town who have no problem steering our community in the gutter over their belief that this giant tax bill will create something good.

To all those who may have forgot, Milford already saw a doubling of its electric rates over the last decade. The Obama energy bill will merely double it again or quadrupole your UI bill from eight years ago. This spells a disaster for every citizen of Milford, CT and the US.

Oh.. one final point, China and India do not have to cut their emissions. Are you ready to call our Senators Yet?

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Update 6/29/09

All Five of our Ct Congressman, Himes, Delauro, Murphy, Larson, and Courtney approved this massive job killing massive tax hike bill. This proves what we all know, that CT's Congressmen have more in common with the Borg from Star Trek than actual free thinking patriots.

We should all be asking who runs the Caucus in CT and why are the Voters excluded from the decision making process? This is a "slap in the face" to all those people in CT who bravely took to the streets by way of a "Tea Party." In case our leaders in Congress did not get it, the purpose of that "Tea Party" was an emblematic protest of our voice against the excessive tyranny caused by excessive public regulation and taxation that our Congressmen routinely vote in favor of.

Update 6/30/09

Jim Himes Praises 1,300 page Energy Bill he did not even read!! Lord Help Us All!!

Tax Day Tea Party Coming To Connecticut

The kettle is brewing and about to boil over this April 15Th at a city near Milford. Years of taxation without representation, excessive wasteful spending, looting of our treasury and runaway debt on the backs of countless future generations of children are what is on the hearts and minds of the American people.

Congress and its 9% approval rating, both our state Senators Dodd and Lieberman now publicly despised for their party betrayal and cronyism to banks and the war agenda's are seeing their campaigns in trouble next election cycle.

This WEBSITE (CLICK THE LINK) has at least three tea parties going on in our state. These tea parties are part of a grass roots movement comprised of not one single leader but many brave citizens who are angry and wish to organize their local communities to exercise their First Amendment rights. They ask for our leaders to redress their grievances, and hold accountable those responsible for the tax and debt malfeasance that is undermining America and its ability to prosper and recover from the current Recession and widespread unemployment.

Anyone who wishes to show these organizations their support should visit the link listed above and participate in what is a PEACEFUL NON-VIOLENT PROTEST, this is how a successful protest works and all those wishing to participate should express their views with with signs, handouts, a megaphone or something that does not result in injury to another individual.

A Novel Solution To The State Deficit

Some time ago about a year ago today to be precise I said that the economy and local businesses would falter. As our clueless leaders balk at the balanced budged amendment to the state constitution, they shutter at the thought of eliminating yet another 3 billion dollars from our state economy.

The impossible mission is to balance the budget and still have friends show up to your party at the local club. With the new legislature expected to arrive into session in the coming weeks, baptism by fire is apropos in lieu of the burgeoning budget catastrophe. But perhaps there is hope, and in times of turmoil it is always good to think "outside the box" something I think I may be good at.

But here is the big idea, and this idea is based on all the technology that I find so annoying. These include texting on your cell phone, X-Box, and like gaming consoles, dollar menu garbage food, game shows, Facebook, Myspace and of course the I-Pod and all those annoying musical devices that cloak people into the matrix of technology.

Safe to say that these technologies have become, in my opinion, as irritating as people who smoke near others, and drink until they have no friends and a reputation for drunkenness. This brings me to the point, how many people would object to being ejected or "taxed out" of the technology matrix.

The countless hours people and kids spend disconnecting from reality is really a disgrace, and on occasion I could personally say that I have witnessed the "looneyness" of texting friends and relatives in the same house. The cellular companies are getting wealthy with this trend alone, and the music industry is cashing in a good sum by selling 99 cent songs, the video game industry is already in "hot water" and is being forced to label their games, and even have recalled some like "San Andreas" a version of a killer road rage game called "Grand Theft Auto."

With our state leaders calling for a "balanced budged" i.e. Gov. Rell and Cafero, who wish to achieve this without raising taxes, should at least consider implementing a win/win tax approach to the financial malaise now at hand.

Nothing would give me more pleasure than to see a new tax implemented against the digital matrix of society. This in my opinion would be a blessing, a tax that makes gizmo's more of a luxury than a commodity. This of course could be thinly disguised as the lifeline our state so desperately needs. Why not tax it into the abyss? And as a last note stop sending "weed" smokers to prison for years and years shorten their sentence these people are "stoned" and the punishment does not fit the crime 3-6 months is plenty. Lots of savings there at $55,000.00 P/Y per prisoner.

Rocco Frank