"You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all of the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time" -- attributed to Abe Lincoln
The slam on Ryan Fazio, running for governor of Connecticut
on the Republican ticket, is that he is a political nerd. Some, managing to
cough up a chuckle, have compared him to Clark Kent, without bothering to ask
whether he is a political superman as well. His superficial critics may have
underestimated him.
It is true that Fazio is a master of detail, as may be seen
in virtually all his comments on budget and spending
matters. As a general rule, the voting public on both sides of the aisle tend
to drowse when budget figures are produced, largely because budget makers have
introduced into their calculations a welter of confusing detail that allows
quite a few rhetorical escape hatches. A politician not interested in “fooling
most of the people most of the time,” Abe Lincoln’s formation, will deploy a
cut-to-the-quick analysis of complex issues, and Fazio appears to be
accomplished in the art of not so gentle persuasion.
There is no question from friend and foe alike concerning
Fazio’s political orientation. He is a literate American conservative, quite
different from a British conservative or a Shia Iranian conservative terrorist.
The terms “liberal,” “progressive” and “conservative” have been misapplied so
often for tendentious reasons that their once clear meanings have been bleached
out of them. Fazio is a man of the right. Most of his Democrat political
opponents are men and women of the left.
The term “moderate” is usually deployed to designate politicians
occupying a position midway between left and right. The late U.S. Senator
Lowell Weicker presented himself to Republicans and majority Democrats in Connecticut
as a “moderate” Republican before he saddled Connecticut with an income tax
and, his cleverly disguised imposture exploded, and he ran for governor on an
independent ticket, “A Connecticut Party.”
Fazio has made no attempt to hide his conservative light under
a bushel basket.
Here is Fazio on energy costs: “The cost of
electricity in our state is too damn high.
Today, Connecticut pays the second-highest utility rates in the
continental United States. Democrats’
policies in Hartford have contributed to these sky-high electric rates, by
imposing $1 billion in “public benefits” taxes on our residents. In the Senate, Ryan Fazio has led the charge
to lower electricity costs. As Governor,
he will pass his comprehensive energy reform plan and finish the job he set out
to do by eliminating the ‘public benefits’ charge crushing Connecticut
families.”
Here is Fazio on taxes:
“After two terms of the Lamont
administration, Connecticut is the third-highest taxed state in the nation,
with families and jobs fleeing Connecticut for greener pastures. This is just not acceptable. In the State
Senate, [Fazio tells us that he has been in the state Senate] a leading voice
for tax cuts and responsible spending.
Ryan has a plan to lower income taxes for every family in Connecticut by
$1,500 and cap property taxes. He has a
100% rating from the CBIA for his pro-economic growth voting record. He will bring sanity to the state budget by
restoring the fiscal guardrails that were broken by Ned Lamont and Hartford
Democrats in their last tax-increase budget.”
Here is Fazio on immigration:
“Independent analysis tells us that
Connecticut is now spending hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars on illegal
immigration. On top of that, Governor Lamont and Hartford Democrats have
created sanctuary state policies that are protecting criminals at the expense
of our citizens’ safety. Real leadership
means prioritizing services and public safety for Connecticut taxpayers, not
asking them to foot the bill for those who came here illegally. Ryan will reduce taxpayer spending on illegal
immigration and reverse the sanctuary state policies passed in 2019 that
protect illegal immigrants convicted of felonies from immigrations enforcement
in Connecticut. It’s time for common sense and public safety in our state.”
Here is Fazio on housing:
“Connecticut needs sustainable solutions
for housing that protects the ability of towns and cities to make their own
decisions while improving affordability.
Ned Lamont and Hartford Democrats have increased the power of the state
government over our towns without making anything more affordable. Ryan will find solutions as governor that
protect the ability of towns and cities to make their own decisions while reducing
the costs of housing construction and making it easier to build middle-income
housing like accessory dwelling units and residential units in mixed-use areas
that blend in to current neighborhoods.
He will reduce licensing taxes on workers in the trades and make it
easier for apprentices to enter the workforce to support our whole economy.”
Here is Fazio on veterans:
“Connecticut is home to over 130,000
veterans who deserve more than bureaucratic delays and broken promises.
Progress on veteran homelessness, healthcare access, and job training has
stalled. Ryan will ensure those who
served receive the support they’ve earned.
As Governor, he’ll streamline services, reduce costs, and make it easier
for veterans and their spouses to work and make a life for themselves in
Connecticut by cutting fees, recognizing licenses from other states and
more. Ryan will always honor those who
risked everything for our freedom.”
Here is Fazio on crime:
“Homicides, car thefts, and other serious
crimes rose to unacceptable levels under the Lamont administration. For our families to prosper, first they must
feel safe – especially in our cities.
The culture under one-party Democrat rule in Hartford has become one
that fails to support law enforcement, while creating a revolving-door for
violent and repeat offenders. As
Governor, Ryan will support our law enforcement by changing the 2020
anti-police law, close the revolving door of parole for violent criminals, and
reinstate proactive policing policies like consent searches. In his Senate campaigns, Ryan has repeatedly
received endorsements of law enforcement organizations because he supports our
local police.”
Here is Fazio on
Education: “Ryan Fazio believes that
every family and child deserves a great education in Connecticut, but not every
student is getting that now. In the last
decade, student outcomes have fallen in Connecticut more than the national
average—and for low-income students most of all. That is not acceptable to Ryan, who saw
firsthand how great schools in inner cities can create hope. Ryan volunteered
as a tutor for seven years in inner city charter schools and continued to fight
for school choice and high standards for families as Senator. Ryan believes that our investment in
education should be focused on supporting students, parents, and teachers – not
on a bloated educational bureaucracy.
Connecticut can and should have the best public education in the world
available to every student and Ryan will make that his goal as Governor.”
Now then, all the positions listed by Fazio on his site and
quoted here are necessary for good government in Connecticut. They likely were written, in consultation
with others of course, by the man professing them. In his public appearances,
Fazio reels them off without benefit of notes. National actors and well fed
consultants are not whispering to him through ear buds, an indication that he
is the author of these sentiments sincerely, even passionately, held. Moreover,
each item of interest is vital to Connecticut voters that have in the past been
led down rose strewn paths by politicians who, having won office, soon forget
their promises and false campaign postures.
At some point, people who have been fooled some or all of
the time will set their sights on a modest, truth telling politician who will,
once in office, do the truths they have unreeled on the campaign trail, rather
than commit while in office to actions that satisfy the usual professional
political pretenders. The public goods Fazio wishes to bestow on hard pressed
Connecticut citizens are very good indeed: Taxes are too high; veterans have
been neglected; honest citizens should have a low tolerance threshold for
violent crime; the most profitable way to increase housing is to make the building
of housing profitable to free market builders.
Historically, on those occasions when the relationship
between governors and the governed are inverted – so that the richer the
governors become, the poorer the governed become; the more powerful the
governors become, the weaker the people become – the imbalance is readjusted
through a revolutionary struggle for God given rights and independence and a
restoration of ancient individual freedoms and rights of property. Such was the
struggle for independence heralded in the Declaration of Independence, a
revolutionary spark that lit the world 250 years ago. It was Lincoln who often said, “I have
never had a feeling politically that did not spring from the sentiments
embodied in the Declaration of Independence.”
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