Saturday, February 19, 2005
Letter to The Day of New London, Feb 18, 2005
This letter was slightly edited by the newspaper but the idea still makes its way onto the newspaper. Reaction has been good, I'm happy to say.
How about a thank you from Fishers Island? In July 2003 Congressman Rob Simmons announced that he had secured $750,000 of taxpayer money for the Fishers Island Ferry terminal. According to his web site, this was part of $ 4.75 million that Simmons boasts of securing for the ferry terminal. (Ill not comment on the merits of the project. Its a done deal and Im sure it was well research by scores of consultants, engineers and bureaucrats. How many lived in New London, let alone in downtown, is another question.) When I heard the news, I expected to see a sign-like those at other public works projects-noting the funds paid by taxpayers to build the ferry terminal. While the project has gone on for years and cost millions of tax dollars, youd never know it from visiting the terminal. At the Fishers Island Ferry District web site (http://www.fiferry.com/) I could find no mention of the funding theyve received from American taxpayers. Theres not even so much as a thank you. Visits to Fishers Island, while not banned, are certainly not encouraged. Round trip on the ferry, with a bicycle, goes for $65 or $130 a couple. Not exactly economy class, which I suspect is the point. While this island community, (one of the wealthiest on Earth) seems to welcome American tax dollars, American tax payers are another story. Ive two suggestions. For Congressman Simmons: When you siphon off more of my money for other public works projects, please ask the recipients to post a conspicuous notice thanking me and other taxpayers for the gift. Its just good manners. For the folks on Fishers Island: A thank you would have been the polite thing to do. Since that didnt happen, free, round-trip tickets, with bicycles-especially during the summer and fall weekends-would be a good way of making amends to people like me whove paid for your new terminal. Many of us would like to see, first-hand, where the heck the darn ferry goes. We promise to be off your island with the last boat. Peter Roberts New London, CT USA
How about a thank you from Fishers Island? In July 2003 Congressman Rob Simmons announced that he had secured $750,000 of taxpayer money for the Fishers Island Ferry terminal. According to his web site, this was part of $ 4.75 million that Simmons boasts of securing for the ferry terminal. (Ill not comment on the merits of the project. Its a done deal and Im sure it was well research by scores of consultants, engineers and bureaucrats. How many lived in New London, let alone in downtown, is another question.) When I heard the news, I expected to see a sign-like those at other public works projects-noting the funds paid by taxpayers to build the ferry terminal. While the project has gone on for years and cost millions of tax dollars, youd never know it from visiting the terminal. At the Fishers Island Ferry District web site (http://www.fiferry.com/) I could find no mention of the funding theyve received from American taxpayers. Theres not even so much as a thank you. Visits to Fishers Island, while not banned, are certainly not encouraged. Round trip on the ferry, with a bicycle, goes for $65 or $130 a couple. Not exactly economy class, which I suspect is the point. While this island community, (one of the wealthiest on Earth) seems to welcome American tax dollars, American tax payers are another story. Ive two suggestions. For Congressman Simmons: When you siphon off more of my money for other public works projects, please ask the recipients to post a conspicuous notice thanking me and other taxpayers for the gift. Its just good manners. For the folks on Fishers Island: A thank you would have been the polite thing to do. Since that didnt happen, free, round-trip tickets, with bicycles-especially during the summer and fall weekends-would be a good way of making amends to people like me whove paid for your new terminal. Many of us would like to see, first-hand, where the heck the darn ferry goes. We promise to be off your island with the last boat. Peter Roberts New London, CT USA
Sunday, February 13, 2005
Friedman on Bush's energy policy...this is news?
In No Mullah Left Behind By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN, published on February 13, 2005 in the Times, Friedman has "rediscovered" Bush's energy policy. He even quotes a report from the Wall Street Journal about the mounds of cash that Iran is taking in because too many Americans are driving SUVs.
With all the money, they've no need to come to terms with us on weapons or other issues. They are laughing all the way to the bank, with our cash.
This is news? Where the hell has Friedman been for the last four years? Now, after supporting the invasion of Iraq and the war without end, Friedman has discovered that maybe, just maybe, our interest in the region might have something to do with our economic interest in it.
Again, this is news?
I keep looking for a success of the Bush presidency. Just one.
He's put us in the red to the tune of hundreds of billions with nothing to show for it.
We are the laughing stock of the world.
We're at war and no one believes that we're going to be out of Iraq anytime soon and as for paying for the war, well, that's off the books. He'll let others worry about it.
And after all this, are way too much for me to go on about here, Friedman takes up space in the most valuable newspaper in the world to recount Bush's energy policy and to proclaim, (gee) that it had lead to making things worse than when he was selected president.
I suspect Friedman is trying to get his voice back. After singing the praises of the war for so long, he is now returning to an old standby, perhaps to rekindle some prior warmth from his readers.
Not from here.
With all the money, they've no need to come to terms with us on weapons or other issues. They are laughing all the way to the bank, with our cash.
This is news? Where the hell has Friedman been for the last four years? Now, after supporting the invasion of Iraq and the war without end, Friedman has discovered that maybe, just maybe, our interest in the region might have something to do with our economic interest in it.
Again, this is news?
I keep looking for a success of the Bush presidency. Just one.
He's put us in the red to the tune of hundreds of billions with nothing to show for it.
We are the laughing stock of the world.
We're at war and no one believes that we're going to be out of Iraq anytime soon and as for paying for the war, well, that's off the books. He'll let others worry about it.
And after all this, are way too much for me to go on about here, Friedman takes up space in the most valuable newspaper in the world to recount Bush's energy policy and to proclaim, (gee) that it had lead to making things worse than when he was selected president.
I suspect Friedman is trying to get his voice back. After singing the praises of the war for so long, he is now returning to an old standby, perhaps to rekindle some prior warmth from his readers.
Not from here.
Wednesday, February 09, 2005
Governor Rell does a Bush
Connecticut's Governor Rell, following Bush's lead, goes after the state's middle-class and poor in her budget message to the General Assembly. Trying to close a budget gape, she's seeking no tax increases unless one rides a train, drives a car, drinks beer, uses tobacco or lives in a nursing home. These folks will have to pay up. But a non-smoking, teetotaling, millionaire who walks to work won't pay a dime in new taxes. (If more people bought lottery tickets, the state would have nothing to worry about. Is this fun or what?)
