Author Archives: cxpowell

By Chris Powell Governor Lamont seems to realize that Connecticut probably won’t stand for another catastrophic lockdown in the name of controlling COVID-19, a virus that 99.8% percent of afflicted people survive. But rather than acknowledge this plainly and caution people that they must take the primary responsibility for protecting themselves, the governor has passedContinue reading “Lamont punts mask decision to escape public’s resentment”

By Chris Powell A century ago and then again 70 years ago there was, if the political hysteria of the times was to be believed, a Red under every bed. Today’s political hysteria imagines a racist under every bed. But as it was with the Reds of yesteryear, most of these racists are ghosts. TheContinue reading “Racists lurk under every bed in Connecticut but who exactly are they?”

By Chris Powell Connecticut’s top elected officials quickly accommodated themselves to the disgrace of Joe Ganim’s return to the mayoralty in Bridgeport in 2015 despite his having served eight years in prison upon conviction in federal court for vast corruption in office. After all, just a year after Ganim was sent away in 2003, Gov.Continue reading “Connecticut keeps ignoring fraud and failure in Bridgeport”

By Chris Powell Accountability and integrity are slipping badly with the Connecticut state police. The agency has failed to complete an investigation of trooper misconduct arising from a retirement party at a brewery in Oxford 22 months ago. Security video reported last week by the Hearst Connecticut newspapers shows that state police Sgt. John McDonaldContinue reading “State police integrity fails; and state ignores vote fraud”

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”