Author Archives: cxpowell

By Chris Powell Consolidation of the banking industry is gaining speed, in part because technology increasingly allows routine retail banking functions to be conducted via the internet and cell phones, reducing the need for branch offices. But there is another reason: Government’s indifference to the loss of competition. The fearless financial journalists Pam and RussContinue reading “Has consolidation in banking gone too far in Connecticut?”

By Chris Powell Whatever “critical race theory” is, fears about it are easy to understand. It is seen as a mechanism for impugning the country and all white people for at least passive racism, for political indoctrination and inducing racial guilt, and for gaining power over not just education but all society. This interpretation isContinue reading “Lincoln and progress refute fans of ‘critical race theory’”

By Chris Powell Last week’s well-attended forum on juvenile crime and justice, called by Glastonbury’s Town Council, was illuminating, just not so much about juvenile crime and justice. Dozens of people expressed their anger about the inability of state and municipal government to curtail the explosion of car thefts, burglaries, and other misconduct by youngContinue reading “Juvenile crime forum avoids relevance and accountability”

By Chris Powell Hesitancy about COVID-19 vaccination is becoming resistance and even hostility in Connecticut and throughout the country, news reports say. Blame is cast on former President Donald Trump, though he began and touted the vaccine development program. Also blamed are some crazy Republican officials for spreading misinformation. But few in authority and journalismContinue reading “Vaccine skeptics don’t need Trump and Republican nuts”

By Chris Powell Connecticut has its own aspiring terrorist and subversive group, and it’s not the Ku Klux Klan, the Proud Boys, or even al-Qaida. No, it’s the Self-Defense Brigade of “the Reverend” Cornell Lewis of Hartford and Power Up Connecticut founder Keren Prescott of Manchester, who are stomping around the state displaying guns andContinue reading “Our own aspiring terrorists; and burying Henryk Gudelski”

By Chris Powell Good for Governor Lamont and the state legislators who approved the new state budget, which is providing 7½% raises to about 1,700 managers in state government, along with $2,000 bonuses for some, adding up to more than $15 million. It’s not just good in itself. It’s also good for demonstrating just howContinue reading “Little management remains in Connecticut state government; and Lamont sounds Republican”

By Chris Powell Connecticut’s state employee unions may be rendering great service to Governor Lamont’s probable campaign for re-election by complaining about him. This service may be greater than their usual provision of manpower to Democratic campaigns. For their complaining suggests that the governor isn’t their tool as most Democrats are. Last week the unionsContinue reading “State employee unions help Lamont as they criticize him”

By Chris Powell At Governor Lamont’s order state government is reducing its direct subsidies to businesses coming into the state or expanding here — cash grants, discounted or forgivable loans, and tax credits. These subsidies have reeked of political patronage and corporate welfare, have sometimes cost more than they gained, have incurred financial risk toContinue reading “To end corporate welfare, Connecticut should cut taxes for all businesses”

By Chris Powell “Life imitates art far more than art imitates life,” Oscar Wilde wrote. But sometimes it’s awful both ways. Many years ago an episode of the television drama series “Law and Order” showed police detectives entering a dingy New York City apartment where an abandoned baby was crying. The detective played by JerryContinue reading “Connecticut must examine the causes of its social disintegration”

By Chris Powell Fall out of bed and kill yourself in Connecticut and your state legislators well may introduce legislation memorializing you by purporting to do something about the manner of your demise.These laws have little actual impact; mainly they aim to console the families of the victims. So Connecticut recently has enacted laws purportingContinue reading “Democrats strive to conceal the failures of Connecticut’s juvenile justice system”