GOP Viewpoint:

“Men are from Mars, women are from Venus”.  Viva la difference! Now if you have followed recent Gubernatorial Candidate Forums held for Republicans in Ridgefield and for Democrats in New Haven, you might shout out ”Republicans are from Earth” and Democrats are from, well pick any another planet. Viva la difference!

In the last GOP Viewpoint, our State Representative John Frey wrote in stark terms the seriousness of the budget deficits and the lack of urgency by Democrats to provide serious solutions. During the Democrat Forum, Ned Lamont noted that Connecticut’s population has been flat for a generation.  Mr. Lamont also noted that the prison population has been tripling at the same time. People, being who they are, have a unique ability to identify opportunities for improving their lives and the lives of their families. In watching human behavior, Mr. Lamont’s statistics suggest that Connecticut is not the “go to” state for opportunity. We need to make dramatic changes, which once again make Connecticut business, consumer and opportunity friendly.

Candidates at The Republican Forum at Veterans Park Auditorium, sponsored by the RRTC, spoke just as candidly as Mr. Frey about Connecticut’s present fiscal track. The sheer size of the state government is smothering Connecticut residents with debt, regulation, unfunded mandates and the inability to effectively enforce laws already on the books. This is not a state government whose size is to be managed moving forward. It is a behemoth that needs to be rolled back so that individuals from other parts of the US, the world and Connecticut itself make our state the “GO TO” state.

In contrast, Democrats spoke of more taxes, such as a local and internet sales tax, and transportation tolls. Mary Glassman, First Selectman/Simsbury, proposes a program to link graduates between Connecticut’s’ institutions of higher learning with areas of job creation. This will be a tall order if taxing and government spending remains the same or higher and no jobs are created. There may be a link created but no one will be using it. More wasted tax money, how about creating some jobs first?

Connecticut Republicans say” yes” to shrinking the size of our government, to lowering our taxes, to attracting and keeping innovation and to empowering people. Yes, this is a distinct philosophical difference with Democrats and their proposals. But, the difference is also a “practical matter”. Republicans adopt these policies because they work, because they support our core belief that the individual and not the government have the inalienable right to life, liberty and happiness as defined by the individual. In its essence, this is what makes America so unique and so successful.

The appeal of a special interest, balkanized America can only be a short term phenomenon. The principles that Republicans espouse are at the core of every individual who wants to live in America and Connecticut. And ultimately, they will emerge in the face of a smothering government. Republicans want to see this happen sooner than later, more specifically this November.

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