Page 15 - Ct Viewpoints News Today

Education is the cornerstone of democracy The events of January 6 represent an inflection point for our democracy and, in truth, for our concept of civil society. Much has already been written about the political and cultural tides that swept our nation toward these events —and a real understanding of their significance will not be possible for some time, in part because the reactions and responses to these events are still unfolding as I write. John J. Petillo Even in the early days of the a...

Connecticut needs a strong two-party system, this Democrat says J.R. Romano’s recent resignation as the state’s Republican Party chair has brought into focus the need for a viable opposition party in Connecticut. It is not healthy politics when everything is totally controlled by one party:  the legislature, the governorship, and most of the major municipalities in our state. The Democrats have more than working control of the legislature and, obviously, have the governor’s office. So, w...

Miguel Cardona, who are you? Miguel Cardona introduces himself to the country after being nominated to be the next U.S. Secretary of Education: I, being bilingual and bicultural am as American as apple pie and rice and beans. For me, education was the great equalizer, but for too many students, your zip code and your skin color remained the best predictor of the opportunities you’ll have in your lifetime. President Joe Biden has nominated Miguel Cardona, the current Connecticut Commissioner o...

The plan to consolidate the 12 community colleges in Connecticut into one college with 12 campuses is called “Students First,” which is ironic because it does not fund students first.  It funds a new administration in a new, statewide bureaucracy. The Board of Regents (BOR) and the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) system office presented the “Students First” plan in April 2017 with an aim to reduce administration and save $46 million annually. Three and a half years l...

Hamden taxpayers are left in the dark Its time we shed some light on Hamdens finances. “A budget is a moral document.” This phrase is often heard during budget season from both sides of the aisle advocating for their personal values. The municipal operating budget is the cost of running a town which includes paying for employees, schools, and other services. Asking residents to pay property taxes requires a public trust. Lauren Garrett While disagreeing on what to spend is as American as ap...

A just stimulus package is a start toward true racial inclusion For centuries Blacks have been denied full participation in the American Dream. But for the sake of our collective progress, as we recover from the crippling economic effects of COVID-19, our country has a mandate to acknowledge its history of systematic institutionalized exclusionary practices and not repeat them. Carlton Highsmith As I draft these words, elected officials in the House and Senate are considering what kind of stimu...

Separating myth and reality in aid in dying The aid-in-dying issue has come before the legislature before and has been controversial each time. The virus is surging and the death rate is increasing as the already overburdened health system is in crisis. Yet, there is talk of the legislature again considering a bill to permit doctors to provide lethal prescriptions to terminally ill adults requesting them. This is despite the fact that such bills have stalled in committee five times in the past ...

The change in leadership must not lead to complacency Even in a blue state, we still have policies and ideologies that are racist, unequal and harmful to the climate The election is over, but our problems are not. Jenna VanDonselaar I was raised Christian, raised to vote Republican, and raised to view the world as a gift from God. As I have gotten older, these three pieces seem to intersect and change. I still call myself a Christian, still view the world as a gift from God, but only in my firs...

Trump’s reaction to defeat further confirms urgency for school focus on social emotional skills  Imagine what would happen if a preschooler didn’t “use their words” when they got upset about sharing, instead stomping around yelling while adults simply observed in silence. Think about what the school climate would feel like if a student punched another during recess while others watched without seeking help.   Sandra Chafouleas Now consider the actions – and inactions – by Trump J...

Is Trump leading a cult? My experience as a former cult member and researcher in the field of Social Sciences earned me the ability to identify narcissism and cultish tendencies. Furthermore, as a former  New York City resident who kept abreast of interviews with the city’s apparent “movers and shakers,” I often questioned Trump’s qualifications as a leader, let alone as national presidential leader. Elena Sada Cults have commonly been led by narcissists; harmful cults have been led by...