Connecticut Resistance

A simple conversation many months ago has led me on an interesting journey. Rob Kane told me in January while running for State Senate that Hartford gets $6.31 (now $6.65) in state aid for every dollar in state income tax its residents pay to the state. Rob then spoke that Woodbury, my town, gets $0.06 per dollar. My interest was high and I started to investigate. After some number crunching, I was outraged. I have always known that the income tax is a tool of the socialists to redistribute income. I did not know how true it is in CT.

The three cities that get the most aid: Hartford, New Haven, and Bridgeport get $676M in aid.

This is 28.46% of total state aid to towns and cities.
They pay 2.97% of the state income tax bill.
These three cities are 11.27% of the state population.

In addition, there are 36 towns that get less than 10% of their income tax back (total state aid vs. total income taxes paid). The state average is 51%. Those combined get 3.35% of the state aid and pay 43.83% of the income taxes. Those towns are as follows:

Guilford, Stonington, Brookfield, Branford, Glastonbury, Trumbull, and Goshen get 9%.

Sherman, Cornwall, Southbury, Simsbury, and Orange get 8%.

Old Saybrook, Sharon, and Fairfield get 7%.

Madison, Woodbury, Middlebury, and Salisbury get 6%.

Roxbury, Bridgewater, Old Lyme, Lyme, and Washington get 5%.

Wilton, Ridgefield, Essex, and Easton get 4%.

Avon, Redding, and Woodbridge get 3%.

Darien, Weston, Westport, and New Canaan get 2%.

Greenwich gets 1%.

I also looked at state aid vs. income tax and sales tax and the picture was basically the same. The cities get way more than they put into it. The supposed “rich” towns are the ones left paying the bill.

What does all this mean? The income tax in CT is used to confiscate money from wealthy and middle class citizens. The Democrats attack working people and steal as much as they can. This money is taken and given to cities without accountability and filled with giveaways to Democrat supporters such as labor union bosses, and lazy people who have no interest in being productive citizens. The biggest problem area for taxes is education. We spend over $13,000 per pupil in Hartford and where does that money go? It is sure not educating our children. 11% of Hartford 10th Graders reached the state goal in reading. Hartford schools, like most inner city schools, fail our children. They do not get the skills they need to become successful in life. Those who cannot read, write, or have needed job skills are destined to a life of poverty. This is now a serious civil rights issue that must be addressed. All of this occurs under the watch of CT Democrats.

The problem is not money, but accountability. The establishment exists to take care of itself, not our kids. This idea that Democrats work for the little guy is no longer true. When cities ask for more money, a lot of it goes to programs that do not produce results and the bureaucrats that “run” them.

The Republicans have fought this year for fiscal accountability with Senate bill 374. This would allow the state to audit any municipality that receives more than 35% of its budget from the state. This bill is designed to ensure that taxpayer money is being used wisely and the establishment refused it. Fifty members on the appropriations committee voted on this. It died in committee with a 25-25 tie. 15 Republicans voted yes, 10 Democrats voted yes, and 25 Democrats voted no, including State Senator Joan Hartley D-Waterbury. This is a non-partisan issue and all taxpayers should be angry.

Hartford and New Haven are now using our money to provide services to illegals, not to mention creating sanctuary cities. People who work for a living have their taxes go up and up, at the state and local level, every year. This money goes to cities without accountability or results. This is a complete outrage and the ones to blame are the establishment Democrats in Hartford. This establishment consists of self-serving, mostly career politicians who leech off the system for their own personal gain and profit, at the expense of working people.

The question becomes how can we fix this problem? First, as Barrack H. Obama states, we need change. The Democrats have run both the CT House and Senate for decades. It is time to fire them. Working folks can no longer sit on the sidelines. When they do, the inmates run the asylum and the working folks pay the bill. 45% of CT voters are unaffiliated. Doing so leaves them with no party and no influence where it matters: in the primary and convention process.

When you vote in November, there will be a question on your ballot asking if there should be a Constitutional Convention, vote yes. Then we citizens must push for referendum and ballot initiatives. Getting this will allow us to vote down the bloated, income redistributing budgets. We can then take the power away from the entrenched power in Hartford. Lastly, we should implement term limits. Too many legislators make a living off the taxpayer dollars. These lifetime bureaucrats and politicians are the ones who create these income schemes.

When, in the course of political events, it becomes necessary to expel the entrenched relics of the past that have failed to be honest stewards of the public trust, and replace them with true representatives of the people, an honest and faithful accounting of the reasons for such an action are owed to the electorate which for so long has suffered.

We hold certain truths to be self-evident, that:

• in spite of rumors to the contrary, the people still rule in Connecticut
• citizens of Connecticut deserve full-time representation
• arrogance of political leaders increases with extended terms in office
• leadership is by personal example, not by personal promotion
• a public office is a sacred public trust

Whenever any political leader, even one so lofty and powerful as King Dodd II, does take upon himself the airs of arrogance, remoteness and indifference associated with the petty despots of ages past, that it is the right, indeed it is the duty of the people, to cast off the affects of his oppressiveness and replace him with a true, honest and new representative of the peoples’ interest.

Such has been the patient suffering of the lowly vassals in the remote hamlets, towns, cities and counties of Connecticut that events compel them to alter their current representation in the United States Senate. The recent history of the present dreaded and lordly sovereign King Dodd II is one of shocking indifference, callous arrogance and flagrant violations of the public trust that the facts, as now available through a free press, are submitted for public view:

• that he has ignored his duty to his constituents while embarking on a failed quest for the presidency
• that during said campaign, he abandoned Connecticut and took up residence in a distance land known as Des Moines
• that as Chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, he was the one person on Planet Earth who was in a position to anticipate the present financial crisis and do something to prevent it, yet failed on both accounts
• that while carousing with lobbyists, he found time to arrange a sweetheart mortgage deal from one of the worst subprime mortgage companies in the nation..a company that was ostensibly under his jurisdiction that caused untold hardship to millions of innocent  people countrywide
• that in an era of full transparency, when in his own committee he has pontificated at length over humbled corporate executives about the need for rigorous public inspection, that he insulted his constituents, and the free press, with a redacted and edited transcript of documents that would have made Richard Nixon blush
• that he obtained a Presidential Pardon for a criminal who had stolen money from hapless investors
• that his 28 years of service to our State, which started well, is ending in an all-too familiar tale of greed, corruption and self-service

We therefore, the lowly, unwashed, irrelevant and unimportant tax-paying activists of Connecticut, now declare our desire that this state of Connecticut ought to be and should be fully freed and absolved of any obedience or allegiance to our sovereign and dreaded King Dodd II.  That it is our desire, that some humble person of lowly birth come forward and with a popular level of support, replace his mighty majesty and return to our peace-loving state the true, right, law-abiding roots from which it grew.

We ask that the State of Connecticut overthrow our Senator, Chris Dodd.  He has served too long and is no longer an effective advocate for our needs.  It is quite fair to say we’re done with Dodd.  His competency as been called into open question, to the point that the next person in line behind you in the donut store would be better qualified to be our Senator.  Connecticut deserves better.

While declaring independence from King Dodd II, our candidate will embrace the principles that have made America great.  We declare ourselves free of the fear of standing up against the leftists who have overtaken Connecticut and the nation.

• We reject the notion that public service is a right.
• We reject socialism because it stands in the face of everything America stands for.
• We reject high taxes because citizens are best equipped to spend their own money.
• We reject appeasement of our enemy.
• We reject bail outs of failed business models.
• We reject the out of control government spending.
• We reject the Welfare State, not because we are mean, but because it enslaves individuals by forcing them to be dependent on government.
• We reject open borders and the marginalization of our culture.

We, therefore, as citizens of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, assembled in peace as enemies of the current regime, do solemnly publish and declare the state of Connecticut is of right, free and independent from any allegiance to the crown.  We rightfully conclude our business with the tyrannical crown that has ruled over us for 34 years on this day the 16^th of May in the great year of 2009.

Thomas Jefferson

The keys to success have never really changed.  It starts with a simple foundation of hard work, humility, and a handshake.

Hard work is critical to success.  Everything worth having is earned.   In a free market, capitalist system, your wealth is directly related to the value you provide the marketplace.  The greatness of our system is we are all given the same opportunity, not a guaranteed outcome.

In “the old days”, your word was your bond.  Your reputation was everything you had. People want to deal with people they trust.  All solid relationships start with this trust: marriage, business partnerships, and the like.  Marriage vows meant until death do us part, not until marriage is too much work, I find a much younger girlfriend, or I am too lazy to make it work.  “In the old days,”a deal was a deal.  If you shook on it, you had better honor it.

What we have today is millions of Americans who have no clue what this country was founded upon.  We have generations of families who have been enslaved to welfare and government dependence.  We have union bosses who buy off politicians to over inflate wages for their members.  We have trial lawyers who sue over everything.  We have a two-party system that is socialist and socialist-lite, neither defending the Constitution they were sworn to uphold.

We have the average Joe the Plumber who goes to work, puts in an honest days work, provides for his family, goes to church on Sunday, and minds his own business.  We now have a political party and movement who has declared war on him.  Us regular folks have decided to stand up and defend our values and way of life.  We have been called racists, nazis, domestic terrorists, and right wing extremists.  We have been beaten up at town halls for simply defending our way of life and expressing our opinions. This is not my America.

We see bailouts for companies who make bad decisions simply because they buy off politicians of both parties with donations.  We see people who buy homes they cannot afford get bailouts while those who can afford their homes get nothing but the bill.   We have seen spending that will leave our grandchildren in debt, if our economy will last that long.  Now we see our elected representatives take phone calls while we ask them questions, if they will even listen to us.  They make fun of and belittle people who they are elected to represent. This is not my America.

We have “do-gooders and know-betters” who tell us they will run our lives better than we can.  They tell us we have to wear seat belts for our own good, how much soda our kids can have, and how much sugar we should have in our ketchup.  No thanks, I can make my own decisions.  This is not my America.

I want the America of 1776 where we had a small federal government, not the smothering abomination of today.  I want the America where if I want to pray somewhere I can.  I want the America where I have the right to defend my home and family from the criminals who wish to violate it.  I want the America where I can be as successful as I want to, provided I will earn it.  I will stand up and sacrifice everything I have to do so.  I will work to defeat these crooked politicians who serve themselves long before they serve us.  I will never back down from what is right, no matter the cost.

I started my life with no basis on abortion.  I was begrudgingly raised Catholic, but do not recall any teaching on life and abortion.

In my twenties, I started to get interested in politics.  I definitely considered myself a Republican, due to my support on small government and cutting taxes.  I made a lot of money in my summers running house painting crews.  I did not like all the taxes and I felt too many who were not productive benefited from my efforts.

I was really turned off by the feminist movements I saw in college.  I spent my last three years in college in Boston, where liberals roam the city.  I found liberal women in general as whiny and constantly complaining about not being given enough.  I heard frequently comments like do not tell me what to do with my body.  This argument has never held any validity for a few reasons.  First, pregnancy is a result of sex.  If you do not want pregnancy, abstain.  It works every time.  This point is black and white to me.  I disliked hangovers, so I stopped getting drunk.  Actions have consequences.  Secondly, it comes across as narcissistic.  All I hear is ME in this.  Thirdly, after my car accident in 2001, I turned back to God and realized the whole misery is part of a better plan.  I started associating with religious people.  I find them better people and I see they have more fulfilling lives.  I grew up in Fairfield County in CT and have seen my share of self-centered, Godless types.

I read the book Men in Black by Mark Levin.  I understood from listening to him discuss the Constitution that the 10th Amendment was set up to keep maximum rights reserved for the states.  This made Roe vs Wade an unconstitutional decision, not only the basis for it, a right to privacy, does not exist in the Constitution.  Abortion matters should be left to the state unless there is a constitutional amendment giving the federal government the right to interject.  This means 67 of the 100 US Senators, 290 of the 435 House, and 38 of the 50 states.

At some point in my life, I realized that life begins at conception.  The very beginning of a human life is when a sperm fertilizes an egg.  About 9 months later, a baby shows up.  This is another example where I see black and white.  If you can stop the fetus from becoming a born human, you are stopping life.

In viewing this, I see all abortion as morally wrong.  Taking an innocent life is wrong.  The other question in this is what is the role of government in this.  Government cannot simply pass laws to stop all injustices in the world.  We have laws against drunk driving, yet we still have it.  We have laws against drugs, yet we still have overdoses.

After witnessing a miscarriage, my whole outlook on abortion changed.  It dawned on me that I do not want the government in every aspect of our lives.  There are some circumstances where the government cannot pass a one-sized fits all solution.

In 2009, I began my crusade to create a conservative coalition in Connecticut.  The Republican Party is a joke.  It is dominated by Fairfield County RINO’s (Republicans in Name Only) who are way left on social issues, wrong on guns, and want to get along with their liberal friends.  Basically, they are wealthy and high income people who hate taxes.

I knew that in order to pull this off, I must understand the abortion issue (which is the most divisive issue amongst Republicans in the state).  I asked people who are pro-life and pro-choice what their positions mean to them.  I was amazed what I learned.  I read a poll recently that reflected the following:

1. Abortion is morally wrong because it takes a life.  I know from polls that around 20% of Americans oppose abortion in all circumstances.

2. Abortion should be legal in any circumstance, period.  About 20% of Americans are here.  I call these people abortionists.

3. The rest of America 60% oppose abortion on demand.

In my investigation into abortion, I learned that there are three sides to Pro-Choice.

1. Abortionists.  These people include NARAL and NOW (National Organization of Women).  These people believe it is okay to abort any time for any reason.

2. Anti-government.  This one is really interesting to me.  These people want the government out of their lives.  They do not want to be told what to do. Grover Norquist said this best, if you believe that a fetus is just a bunch of cells and not a human being then the woman is the only human and government should leave her alone. (paraphrased)

3. Support exceptions for rape, incest, and health of the mother and generally oppose abortion.  The ironic thing here is many pro-lifers believe this.  For some reason, they think Pro-Lifers support banning all abortion at all times.

The interesting thing here is the debate is not Pro-Choice vs Pro-Life.  The question is what is the role of government.

I suspect if a poll was done that at least 60% of Americans would support the following:

1. Abortion being used as contraception is wrong.

2. Abortion after viability is wrong.

3. Minors must have parental consent to have an abortion.  (Obviously exceptions are made if the father is a parent).

4. There should be a 24 or 48 hour waiting period from deciding to have an abortion.

5. Partial birth abortion is barbaric and should be banned.

6. There should not be a complete legal ban on abortion.  If the pregnancy could lead to significant bodily harm, death, etc. or the pregnancy was conceived against her will, she should not be forced to keep the pregnancy.

The only people who win in this Pro-Life vs Pro-Choice debate is the radical abortionists.  They are the ones who advocate killing babies.

The next issue is how do we Constitutionally resolve this issue.

Our country has been taken over by radical leftists.  They are interested in radically changing our country, regardless of whether we want it or not.

It is clear the Democrats do not represent a majority of Americans.  It is also clear that the Republicans talk it, but when given power, they do not walk it.  This is why so many Americans are not affiliated with a political party. A majority of Americans are conservative, whether they identify themselves with that label or not.

The message to political parties is being said loud and clear from the Tea Party movement: We are sick of both of you, Republicans and Democrats. There are elites in both parties who feel they have the right to rule over us commoners.  Politicians are bought off by special interests because they need millions to run for reelection.  The folks sit on the sidelines and are the ones hurt.

Lessons the Average Traditional American Must Learn.
1. You must get involved.  We cannot leave political parties to the leeches who profit off it at our expense.  We must get involved in the Republican Party and work to find and elect good candidates.

2. You must donate to worth candidates. Politics right now is a game about money.  Ron Paul supporters have been doing “money bombs” and raising a lot of money.

3. Educate yourself on how this whole process works. Politics is a rough game.  Traditionalists are just regular folks who work to provide for themselves and their family and just want to be left alone.  We must learn how to navigate the political system.  Connecticut Resistance will teach those willing to learn.

Who Should Make up the New Republican Party

1. Ron Paul supporters. We have a Two-Party System.  The Republicans can be the party of true representation and implementation of the Constitution.

2. Conservatives. President Reagan was elected on a strong conservative coalition of pro-life, pro-Second Amendment, small government, and a strong national defense.   We really have not had a home since.  The establishment in the GOP keeps marginalizing us and keeps losing badly.  WE can no longer sit it out.  We must vote in primaries and get real candidates into the nominations and winning the general election.

3. Pro-Lifers. Liberals have shown their stripes recently.  The House proposal for government controlled health care reform (which is not) shows the left believes in euthanasia, forced abortions, and the “Death Panels” (Thanks Sarah Palin).  Liberals have no regard for life and they show it.

4. Anti-government Pro Choicers. There are two distinct types of people who call themselves pro-choice.  The first, which we have no interest in, is the abortion-on-demand crowd.  This group is about 20% of the population.  These people oppose any limitations on abortion at any time.

The group that should be included in the new Republicans is the anti-government pro-choicers.  These people are consistently anti-government.  They just enough government to protect us from anarchy.  Deep down inside these people want individuals making their own decisions because they are best equipped to do so.

What Do These Two Ideologies Have in Common?

The real question is not Pro-Life and Pro-Choice.  The question is what is the role of government in this process.  Pro-Lifers believe life begins at conception and that baby is as worthy as its mother of being protected with civil rights.  The question is at what point is a fetus definitely a human being and thus worthy of having the same protections as the rest of our citizens.

This question must be answered and addressed.  We had the US Supreme Court decide to take this issue on.  The people have to decide this matter.  It is time in America when we have this conversation and come to some consensus if there is one to be had.

Grover Norquist said it best in his book Leave Us Alone that if you believe a fetus is a baby then it deserves legal protections.  If it is not, then the government has no right to be involved in the process.  This is a good assessment of the debate between these two new Republican groups.

What Do Most Americans Believe on Abortion?

1. Abortion is a Serious Matter. This notion that a woman can just terminate a pregnancy and resume life is patently false.  There are serious potential ramifications: emotional trauma, physical trauma, and the inability to have children again. If abortion is going to be legal, we should treat it as the very serious issue it really is.

2. Abortion Does Not Exist for Contraception. Sex is a responsibility with consequences, just like life.  With the right to have sex comes the responsibility to behave like an adult.  There are many women who have one abortion and never recover physically and/or emotionally. Taxpayers should not be funding elective abortions.  Too many Americans resent this policy.

3. Parents Must Consent to a Minor Having an Abortion. Young girls are not equipped to handle these types of issues.  Parents are responsible for their children until they are 18.

4. There Should Be a Waiting Period for an Abortion. Since the issue is so serious and so significant, if women are going to have one, they should be granted a day or two to make sure it is the right decision for them.  The issue is so serious that someone should not make such a decision in haste. Women should also be offered an ultrasound to help in her decision.

5. Abortion After Viability Should Be Banned. We know that a baby can survive outside its mother after about 20 weeks.  At that point, it is clear it is a human being.

6. There Should Be Circumstances Where The Government Must Stay Out of the Process.

There are some times where the government should not have a mandate or a law to deal with the situation.  In situations where the pregnancy was conceived against her will, government should not mandate the woman keep the baby.  Conservatives want limited government and having laws in this situation violates the concept of limited government.  In situations where the woman’s life or well being is in jeopardy, the individuals involved must be fully informed and make decisions that are in their best interest.  The message is clear: Individuals must make tough decisions.

This policy does not mean that pro-lifers cannot advocate their beliefs.  In fact one of the best things that pro-lifers do is help women in crisis with private funds.  The A Better Choice center in CT is an excellent example of this.  They help women keep their baby and assist them in doing so.  They walk the talk.

Government cannot pass a law to end bad behavior by individuals.  We have a huge drug problem in America and thousands of Americans kill themselves with drugs, alcohol, and the like everyday.  As much as we would like to never have abortions, we must win our culture back first.

The people who win in this unending Pro-Life vs. Pro-Choice debate is the radical abortionists.  The Traditionalists fight over words and they continue with taxpayer funded elective abortions, abortions when the baby can live outside their mother, and the like.

Another issue in this is what is the role of the federal government.  Under our Constitution, the 10th Amendment leaves matters not explicitly in the Constitution to the states.  If the United States wants a federal blanket policy on abortion, we must pass a Constitutional Amendment on it.  This requires 67 Senators and 290 Congressmen to pass it and 38 states to ratify it.  Americans should have an open and honest discussion on this matter.

5. Second Amendment Supporters. The Second Amendment is one of the clearest rights guaranteed to us by the Constitution.

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

Our government does a horrible job of teaching the Constitution.  The point of the Second is for states to be able to defend themselves.  Our government is designed to have a small and limited central/federal government.  The states must care for themselves.  The best way to do so is for its citizens to be well-armed and be able to form militias as needed.  Back when our country was founded, we needed militias of citizens.

more to come…

Connecticut State Budget
Connecticut is in huge financial trouble. As usual, both parties have withheld the whole story.
The first thing is we have a huge spending problem. No surprise here. This state is run by leftists who have no concept what free markets are like. The Republicans have been the party of caving in for years. Governor Rell is a politician, not a leader. She has repeatedly shown she will not make tough decisions.
Current Budget Situation
In 2007, CT had almost $1 billion in surplus. Governor Rell decided that since the cash flow was good, she would increase the income tax and spend away. The Republicans in the Assembly eventually got the budget down to only spending the surplus (which was in fact a tax increase). The GOP touted this as a victory. In reality, it was punting the problem a few years down. The losers again were the productive taxpayers of Connecticut.
The Connecticut budget has been a redistribution scheme that would make Karl Marx proud. The Democrats have run the Assembly for 36 out 0f 40 years. Republicans won the Senate in 1984 and 1994. In 1991, CT implemented the state income tax. Since then, the wealthy and affluent have been subsidizing the inner cities. Hartford, New Haven, and Bridgeport get over 28% of the State Aid, pay about 3% of the income tax bill, and are about 12% of the population.
The income tax has been over 40% of the entire state tax revenue. Of this, about the same 40% comes from Fairfield County. With Obama’s war on capitalism, companies in New York City, who a lot of their employees live in Fairfield County, that money will be significantly less.
The other problem for Connecticut is the lack of sufficient private sector. CT is the only state with net private sector job loss over the past 20 years (though this may change). CT is consistently voted one of the worst states to do business in.
To make matters worse, State Senator Toni Harp, co-chair of the Appropriations Committee stated publicly that “it is a fallacy that Connecticut is overtaxed.” This is the co-chair of the committee where spending comes from. I can honestly say the Democrats who run this state are oblivious to how the world works.
With a dwindling private sector, a huge constituency that feeds off the system and manipulates it for personal gain, and a cash cow that that is not, Connecticut has a problem.

FY 2009 ($ Billion) FY 2010 FY 2011 FY 2012
Revenue $15.375 $14.430 $14.853 $15.762
Spending $16.980 $18.539 $19.520 $20.500
Deficit ($1.605) ($4.109) ($4.667) ($4.738)
% of Budget 9% 22% 24% 23%

FY 2009 Budget
The Republicans in the Assembly have once again come out with their own budget proposal. It is once again the cream of the crap. It is a balanced budget, but at what cost? The answer is more borrowing, taking federal stimulus money (and the strings attached which will certainly cost more in the long run), and once again spending more than the state takes in. Remember, this is the best plan.
The Republicans will cry how afoul the state budget is. Just remember, two years ago, every single one voted for the compromise budget that spent the surplus, with one exception, State Senator Sam Caligiuri.
In order to balance the budget, the Republicans propose using a portion of the rainy day fund, in addition to federal money. Take these two out of the equation because they are onetime items and I suspect we are near the $4 billion in the hole that is expected for the 2010-2012.
Compounding the problem, Governor Rell cut a deal with the state employee unions to where there will be no layoffs. This will make this all but impossible to cut the needed spending. If CT fired every state employee, their salary savings would not cover the deficit. We spend just under $3.2 billion a year on salaries. Include benefits and pensions and you get closer.
Since the Democrat controlled legislature cannot balance a budget without borrowing and CT spends 10.7% of its budget on debt service, when will we not be able to borrow anymore? Then what? That is the real key issue. This issue is coming. The economy will not rebound anytime soon. Everything done at the federal and state level will only compound problems.