Connecticut Commentary: Red Notes from a Blue State

Thermidore was the eleventh month in the French revolutionary calendar, derived from the Greek word “thermos,” which means hot. And it was hot indeed, particularly for the French monarchy. Heads rolled after a particularly severe bread shortage in Paris, which was caused by a monarchy inattentive to an overtaxed middle class about whom Marie Antoinette reportedly said “Let’em eat cake.” Poor Marie likely did not say it, but this did not prevent the French revolutionists from cranking out convincing propaganda or, as we are now pleased to call it “fake news.” Connecticut may be approaching Thermidore, that point at which the patience of a majority of the people finally snaps. CTMirror pretty much comes right out and says it in a readable series written by Keith Phaneuf, “ AS CUTS GET UGLY, LEGISLATORS FORFEIT POWER, TRANSPARENCY .”