By Chris Powell Schools increasingly are prohibiting students from operating or even carrying “smart phones” — internet-equipped telephones — in class. Some schools are investing in special pouches in which students must lock their phones in school, being able to unlock them only with a special device made available when they are leaving. At $25Continue reading “‘Smart phones’ aren’t why Connecticut’s students are dumb”
Author Archives: cxpowell
Repulsive as Trump may be, his remarks weren’t racist
By Chris Powell For the sake of argument stipulate that Donald Trump is the most repulsive creature to walk the Earth since the dinosaurs. But that doesn’t mean he is always wrong or that his adversaries are always right. Contrary to what his adversaries are trying to construe from what they consider Trump’s repulsiveness, itContinue reading “Repulsive as Trump may be, his remarks weren’t racist”
Murphy’s silly tip to Democrats: Claim success on illegal immigration
By Chris Powell Identifying the weakest feature of one’s product and then promoting the heck out of it is said to be the first principle of cynical advertising. Connecticut U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, running for re-election, seemed to grab for it last week as he urged fellow Democrats to stop cowering amid illegal immigration. RespondingContinue reading “Murphy’s silly tip to Democrats: Claim success on illegal immigration”
Murphy’s money for nothing only makes poverty worse
By Chris Powell Running for re-election, Connecticut U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy proposes that the federal government spend $4 billion over four years to provide free summer camp to poor children. Connecticut might get $40 million of that. “Outside experiences, adventure experiences, summer experiences where you get to improve your socialization skills, where you have yourContinue reading “Murphy’s money for nothing only makes poverty worse”
Bears become less cute; and Central blows $763,000
By Chris Powell As their appearances in Connecticut become more frequent and damaging, bears become less cute and amusing. According to the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, in the last two weeks: — A woman sitting in her back yard in Cheshire was attacked by a bear that snuck up on her fromContinue reading “Bears become less cute; and Central blows $763,000”
Lamont subverts competence in state government’s hiring
By Chris Powell Racial preferences in hiring used to be considered unfair because they treated people as members of groups rather than as individuals. This unfairness was euphemized as “affirmative action” and for a few decades the U.S. Supreme Court maintained an ambiguous stance on it. But recently the court took the forthright position thatContinue reading “Lamont subverts competence in state government’s hiring”
Ousting Biden, Democrats show Trump isn’t the only liar
By Chris Powell Forgive Democratic leaders for what seems like their hypocrisy, their overthrowing their presumptive nominee for president, the incumbent, Joe Biden, who won the party’s primaries, and replacing him instantly with Vice President Kamala Harris, who didn’t have to earn support for the nomination from the party’s ordinary members. It’s no big dealContinue reading “Ousting Biden, Democrats show Trump isn’t the only liar”
Block housing development and your taxes may go up
By Chris Powell Blame for rising property taxes in Connecticut may be shared more broadly than most people think. It’s not just the fault of elected officials who yield to the demands of special interests, particularly the demands of government employee unions for higher wages and benefits. Property taxes are determined in large part byContinue reading “Block housing development and your taxes may go up”
Democrats get rid of Biden to save themselves, not the country
By CHRIS POWELL A historian as much as a politician, Winston Churchill foresaw the outcome of events like those of the Democratic Party’s last few weeks. “The loyalties which center upon No. 1 are enormous,” Churchill wrote. “If he trips, he must be sustained. If he makes mistakes, they must be covered. If he sleeps,Continue reading “Democrats get rid of Biden to save themselves, not the country”
Municipalities should be posting their most interesting records
By Chris Powell Greenwich First Selectman Fred Camillo is sore at people who, he says, make lots of requests for access to town records under Connecticut’s freedom-of-information law. “Some people are abusing the system,” Camillo says, and requesting town records “has been weaponized and we’re getting harassed.” So his administration has begun posting on Greenwich’s internetContinue reading “Municipalities should be posting their most interesting records”
Chris Powell column 