By Chris Powell Does recognizing that the “war on drugs” is a failure and that people are entitled to be left alone in their personal lives require not just legalizing marijuana and taxing it heavily but also putting state government into the marijuana business and turning that business into racial political patronage? Governor Lamont andContinue reading “State shouldn’t promote marijuana; and housing can’t be a right”
Author Archives: cxpowell
Wealthy should pay more, but in federal taxes, not state
By Chris Powell Having just gotten big raises amid an economic depression with horrible unemployment in Connecticut, the state employee unions have proclaimed that they won’t consent to Governor Lamont’s budget proposal to freeze state employee salaries for a while. The unions insist that state government should raise taxes on the wealthy so they payContinue reading “Wealthy should pay more, but in federal taxes, not state”
A great Connecticut journalist leaves a legacy of justice
By Chris Powell Without taking much notice, Connecticut lost a hero of journalism and justice the other day: Donald S. Connery, 94, who lived in Kent for almost 60 years even as he traveled and reported from around the world for United Press International and Time magazine and its related publications. Connery’s feats of journalismContinue reading “A great Connecticut journalist leaves a legacy of justice”
Governor’s budget is scorned most by his fellow Democrats
By Chris Powell Since Governor Lamont mused the other day that he has rather enjoyed being able to rule by decree for the past year without having to bother with the General Assembly, maybe it’s not so surprising that most criticism of his state budget is coming from fellow Democrats, who are used to sharingContinue reading “Governor’s budget is scorned most by his fellow Democrats”
Teachers of your memories aren’t necessarily today’s
By Chris Powell Nearly everyone will forever remember some admired or even beloved teachers whose insight, enthusiasm, and caring pointed students in the right direction. Of course there were and are some mediocre, incompetent, and even malicious teachers too, but they are easily forgotten. So even as society becomes more fractious and angry, there isContinue reading “Teachers of your memories aren’t necessarily today’s”
Washington had no ‘coup’ but Connecticut had one
By Chris Powell Democrats ran against Herbert Hoover for 20 years after 1932. Now they seem to be planning to run against Donald Trump for another 20. The Democrats’ second attempt to impeach the former president even though he has left office is only part of it. Many in the party are campaigning to banishContinue reading “Washington had no ‘coup’ but Connecticut had one”
Legislative Democrats are plotting to bypass Gov. Lamont on taxes
By Chris Powell With Governor Lamont discouraging “broad-based” tax increases, many fellow Democrats in the General Assembly are planning to raise taxes around the edges. Most industrious may be Senate President Pro Tem Martin M. Looney of New Haven. Looney would impose a special state property tax on expensive homes, a “mansion tax,” the revenueContinue reading “Legislative Democrats are plotting to bypass Gov. Lamont on taxes”
To defeat exclusive zoning, stop failing with poverty
By Chris Powell Maybe Connecticut should be grateful to the Desegregate CT organization for having just provided a map detailing how local zoning regulations make it almost impossible to build multifamily housing in most of the state. But didn’t nearly everybody already know that in principle? After all, the roots of exclusive zoning in theContinue reading “To defeat exclusive zoning, stop failing with poverty”
Schools fail with the basics but legislators say: Add sex
By Chris Powell From the legislation they have placed before the General Assembly’s Education Committee, you might think that state Reps. Jeffrey A. Currey, D-East Hartford, Jillian Gilchrest, D-West Hartford, and Nicole Klarides-Ditria, R-Seymour, just awoke from long comas. Their bill would require schools to teach about “lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and other sexualContinue reading “Schools fail with the basics but legislators say: Add sex”
Student loan debt problem is the vanity of college itself
By Chris Powell President Biden’s new education secretary, Miguel Cardona, lately Connecticut’s education commissioner, says he will give priority to the issue of college loan debt. About 45 million U.S. residents, nearly 14 percent of the population, owe an estimated $1.7 trillion in college loans, with the average debt believed to be about $38,000. PeopleContinue reading “Student loan debt problem is the vanity of college itself”
Chris Powell column 