Federation of Connecticut Taxpayer Organizations

Your weekly update on what others are thinking, doing, and planning
Send your comments or questions to me, and
I will include in next week's publication.

Susan Kniep, Katzrus50e@aol.com
East Hartford Taxpayers Assoc.
Subject: 2003 EH Mayor's Race
October 5, 2003
She'ssssssss back............ Wow, just came off the campaign trail. The Republicans refused to put anyone up against the incumbent Democrat Mayor. He therefore had no opposition, so naturally, I threw my hat into the ring as a petitioning candidate. I didn't win - but at least he didn't walk away with a mandate - in fact, I surprised myself. All grassroots - lots of door to door - had little money compared to my opponent but would recommend for those wishing to lose weight - better than the Jenny Craig diet. Got lots of folks interested in FCTO. My campaign manager was the former Republican Town Chairman, Joe Kronan. He and his wife, who was my treasurer, are two dynamic people who made the campaign interesting and fun. They also participate in FCTO events and are concerned taxpayers.

Some great news follows from John Durand in Tolland and Bob Green in Salem. Also, thanks to Peter Arcidiacono for his contribution (read below). Let me know what has been happening in your area and I will publish in next TAX TALK. Sue
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John Durand, JohnD@leed-himmel.com
Tolland Taxpayers Assoc.
Subject: Tolland Charter Revision...BUDGET REFERENDUM
October 5, 2003
Susan, Congratulations on the good showing in the E.H. race. It would have been nice to have a win, however, I think a message was sent.
I also want to pass along the good news that Tolland voters have approved the Charter Revision as proposed, except for reduction in the size of the B.O.E..This means we now have a mandatory Budget Referendum in Tolland. Other important changes were incorporated which mandate more information be released on bonding issues such as estimated costs beyond construction like operating an staffing if a building project. Voters also approved a $2MM open space referendum. On the down side we lost two council seats to pro-spenders. All in all a good day however. Regards, John
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Robert Green, �green_robert@hotmail.com
Salem Taxpayers Assoc.
Subject: Election 2003 - Salem Board of Ed
October 5, 2003
Good morning, Sue. Thought you might like to know that I was elected to another six-year term on the Salem's Board of Education last night, even after I raised the binding arbitration issue in a debate two days before the election. I think I'm beginning to make headway with the public at large with the "No Child Left Behind" issue as well. People are starting to see it for what is: submission to voluntary servitude (on the part of the State) to the Washington bureaucrats whose intent is to set up EVERY school district nationwide for failure, so THEY can federalize the school systems and control our children's future at our (the local level) expense.
I seem to recall a similar 70-year experiment that included federally
controlled school systems. In 1989, it was deemed a dismal failure when the Iron Curtain fell. I'll be raising the NCLB issue with the State Board of Education during the CABE conference this week. Have a nice day.
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Peter Arcidiacono, PJArcidiacono@aol.com
Common Sense-East Hampton
Subject: Great Quote
October 13, 2003
At about the time our original 13 states adopted their new constitution in 1787, a Scottish history professor by the name of Professor Alexander Tyler had this to say about "The Fall of the Athenian Republic" over 2,000 years previous to that date."A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves largesse (generous gifts) from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that a democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policy, (which is) always followed by a dictatorship." "The average age of the world's greatest civilizations has been two hundred years. These nations have progressed through this sequence. From bondage to spiritual faith; from spiritual faith to great courage; from courage to liberty; from liberty to abundance, from abundance to complacency; from complacency to apathy, from apathy to dependence, from dependence back into bondage."
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