Once again the strange just gets stranger. For my monthly sojurn into the weird and the bizarre, we look at the goings on in the town of Brookfield, Connecticut.
Remember; it’s the small town in western Connecticut that advertised for a First Selectman some time ago.
The Town of Brookfield has gone from a town with candidates running unopposed to one having multiple candidates running with a caucus or primary fight appearing likely.
The loser of the last election, Jerome Murphy, isn’t even in consideration.
Although the choice of the nominating committee, he was deemed “un-electable” apparently by none other than the Brookfield Republican Town Committee. As when he lost in 2006, he has apparently taken to blaming everyone for his unsuccessful bid for a nomination with a "punish the voters" message. What a whiner. He is indeed fortunate that he is not running.
There seems to be sufficient “dirt” on his jacket. Connections with local developers, the water company and the $600,000 dollar sewer assessment fund for the high school renovation fiasco just the tip of the iceberg for this salty albatross.
The real story this month seems to be an apparent “cover up” by the local paper, The Danbury News-Times!
The Brookfield Town Treasurer has been moonlighting for the News Times according to his ethics filings; he is also the State representative for the 107th district. The 107th includes Brookfield and Bethel.
The Brookfield Town Treasurer has been unavailable to discuss the Brookfield Town Pension Plan. For months on end. Even though the town has been paying him $1,000 a month to be treasurer. Incommunicado.
Unavailable since December 2008. People have been dead longer folks.
In the fall of 2008 he assured everyone in a Brookfield Journal interview that the pension fund was secure in "government securities" (See Brookfield Journal, Oct 17th edition) and not subject to losses. Fat chance.
Information is now “leaking’ that the fund is actually down from $24 million to about $19 million, but since nothing has been shared with Freedom of Information requests that are months and months old that is only unofficial. Why unofficial?
OOPS!
While that is certainly no disaster given the current economic down turn, having reported to neither the Board of Finance nor the Board of Selectmen since late 2008, (over six months) certainly is. And his annual treasurers report, printed for the annual town meeting, alleges that the town has a 5 year financial plan. Questions at the public Board of Finance meeting and to the First Selectman all came back with a resounding "No Such Thing".
But again, this is rumor only since the alleged coverup began.
Keep in mind that the only a single person, with a tax lien on their property, is managing and signing checks for the tens of millions of dollars of funds entrusted to his financial management acumen.
To further raise some eye brows, the Brookfield Town Treasurer reportedly sent an e mail (a copy of which is being FOI'ed) to the company managing the pension plan, instructing them NOT to release any information to anyone but himself.
Only the Brookfield Town controller (currently a vacant position), the subject of an earlier columns and the Brookfield Town Treasurer currently have “control” over the employees payroll deductions made to the pension fund as well as the towns contribution.
Since the town controller has resigned suddenly and mysteriously, yet again for a second and apparently final time, that leaves only the Brookfield Town Treasurer managing the fund...signing checks....moving and managing the investment portfolio, no over sight and no access to information by either the Board of Selectmen or the Board of Finance and, probably even the Danbury News-Times.
Now does this come under the heading a cover up by the Danbury News Times? Is the Hearst parent office aware of these things?
Apparently the newspapers management team has been sitting on information that the Brookfield Town Treasurer, a part time Danbury News-Times employee (according to his ethics filing with the state) and State Representative owes Uncle Sam, - the IRS – over $75,000 dollars in back taxes.
There is a U.S. Government Federal lien on his house at 88 Obtuse Hill Road and he has not paid his personal property tax (on automobiles) since 2007 according to the tax collector's office as of June 22, 2007 (I have no idea how he registered his car this year with back taxes owed).
Why has this information been suppressed by the Danbury News-Times? Does the publisher know what the reporter assigned to Brookfield is doing (or not)? One could surmise that the state representative has ‘job security’ of some sort that the Danbury News-Times does not want to get out these events.
Or it could be something totally different. Who knows? The BrookfieldTown Treasurer is incommunicado, holded up in the Legistlative Office Building in Hartford deep in ongoing state budget deliberations. Do we have a state budget yet?
Yet, who could have even dreamed up such a bizarre and twisted tale of money mismanagement and just plain mystery?
Will the Brookfield Town Treasurer ever attend a meeting, explain the pension investments, or will he just disappear? Who knows?
He says he's preparing a presentation. But the Board of Selectmen and the Board of Finance don't want a presentation. They are not looking to be SOLD something. They want to ask the Brookfield Town Treasurer questions. And they want HIM to give THEM the answers.
Not some suited up talking head for a sales rep from a pension management company.
After all, it is the Brookfield Town Treasurer that was elected, not the salesman, right?
You could not make up tales as utterly incredulous as what is going on in Brookfield.
It is truly "something in the water"!
Monday, June 29, 2009
Sunday, May 31, 2009
The Kingdom of Brookfield
Interesting how the Republican and Democratic Town Committees in Brookfield refuse to focus on issues, but instead prefer to focus on individuals? No wonder the issues in town come secondary to party dogma and allegiance.
Sound like the old Russia you use to know? Perhaps the Germany of a bygone error? A Red China model? Or perhaps the North Korea of today's modern era?
You know, the one where party affiliation was the only way you or your family could do something?
It's been rumored that the vacancy committee meetings of the Brookfield Republican Town Committee rival those of the McCarthy era...all that was missing was the glaring, searing lights.
Politics in Brookfield have turned ugly as the powers that be claw to hang on to their power to dictate. The party bosses Marty Flynn for the Republicans and Joni Park for the Democrats are appear to be out seeking control of:
· What the facts are to be
· Who may state the facts
· When anyone is allowed to speak
Further they appear to have been seeking to:
· Discredit anyone who doesn't belong to the Brookfield Political Machine
· Ignore any criticism of their actions with the dismissal of their hand
· Encourage a hostile work environment at town hall
· Prepare Brookfield for a special tax assessment to pay for their past sins since the town doesn't have any rainy day fund after their years of spending it down
· Dispense political favors at the expense of good government
· Seek out as scapegoats anyone who disagrees with their joint ideology
What exactly are they so fearful of? They sound like a modern day King George don't they?
Interesting how they have to convince you they're right? Intolerant of all those who might disagree?
Don't you think that asking questions is a healthy democratic tradition? Shouldn't you be able to answer them YOURSELF rather than have one of their lackey's come talk to you to show you the "right thinking" way? Shades of 1984? That was 25 years ago and yet, we live it today with Brookfield's Party Bosses ordering their minions to hunt down those who dare to speak out against the power parties of Brookfield or worse, the sin of having an opinion that is different than theirs? Are they the new "Hessians"?
Brookfield has truly morphed into the Orwellian political model that was feared; where there are only the one true party that speaks the only "approved" facts and all those who do not agree are disbelievers and heathens to be cast out and into the pit of fire. To be dispensed with.
The "Spanish Inquisition" of the current Brookfield Republican Town Committee vacancy committee interviews apparently clearly reflects it, lead by the Grand Inquisitor Lawrence "The Hammer" Miller.
Only "right thinking" Republicans need apply (the Republican Town Committee's website says there are no vacancies, and therefore does NOT encourage anyone who hasn't taken the oath of fidelity to "the machine") to ... and will be cross endorsed by ... the Democratic Town machine thru the apparent 'mutual aid pact'.
Sad for all those independent thinking Republicans and Democrats.
Sadder still for unaffiliated voters.
Worse for the all voters who , left with little choice come election day except to stay home, cast a ballot for "NONE OF THE ABOVE" when faced with the choices given by the party hacks.
And exactly why the low voter turnouts. It's what they want...basically, no input. These are the folks as the commerical says put the "NO" in IN-NO-VATION.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Can an exciting fall election be shaping up?
It appears that once again, an alternative to standard Republican/Democratic politics of Brookfield has begun to emerge as the election season starts to unfold and gets underway in earnest. A week ago Saturday at the Ridgewood Country Club in Danbury Paul Liubicich and Marty Foncello were seen at what appeared to be a pre-election workshop day stragey session in the dining room.
Were they lining up supporters and contributors during the lunch? What did they discuss most of the day? Can the quiet rumors be true that the Brookfield United folks, who have been advertising and interviewing candidates for their ticket have chosen to place their election efforts and resources with Paul and Marty?
Will Paul Luibicich and Marty Foncello be announcing their candidacy and alternate ticket this spring or summer after the party caucus'? Will they wait until after the Republican and Democratic parties have completed announcing their entire tickets and are done vetting the candidates applying through their vacancy committees? What was on all the easels and marker boards that dotted the room?
Will they be running in a republican primary or will they go the petitioning route taken by current Republican Selectman Bob Silvaggi who won the election two years ago over former First Selectman Jerome Murphy. After a quiet door-to-door campaign to garner support after the Democratic Party failed to offer a choice opposing the two term incumbent, outspent over 10 to 1, Bob Silvaggi pulled out a narrow victory of 10 votes
A significant event appears to be unfolding as they quietly strategize.
It is known they are currently questioning all the facts behind the resignation and resignation reinstatement by the two lower selectmen, Joni Park and Jerome Murphy, of the town controller who just finished up his 90 day probation period. Is this their entry point into the November elections or are they simply preparing for a long election season early? Have they talked with full time campaign people at this junction to be ready to hit the ground running? Why is the state republican committee looking to get involved in Brookfield's elections?
Time will tell, but it is beginning to appear pretty certain that Paul Liubicich and Marty Foncello are pulling together the resources and deep pockets to somehow challenge the Republican Town Committee who is rumored to be backing a Bill Tinsley/Jerome Murphy ticket. No one knows who is going to manage the Republican campaign, but word has it that Matt Grimes, the Republican who managed the losing campaign of Jerome Murphy last election (and his own losing election to Democrat Gregorty on the Planning Comission) will not be the one running it this time. It is hinted that the State Republican Committee will actually manage it so as not to have a repeat of the failed campaign of two years ago.
On another note, is a quiet loyal democrat about to announce her run for First Selectman as well and request the support of the democratic party causing them to drop their endorsement of the unaffiliated Willie Davidson? This could prove a bizarre twist in the Democratic party as they has already indicated they are supporting the multi-millionaire insurance magnate and former Republican-turned-unaffiliated, Willie Davidson.
Stay tuned as Brookfield's folks attempt to sort it all out. It should be interesting at the very least and we'll keep you posted a lot more than either of the current two newspapers who appear to be falling behind the curve on what is transpiring in Brookfield.
Were they lining up supporters and contributors during the lunch? What did they discuss most of the day? Can the quiet rumors be true that the Brookfield United folks, who have been advertising and interviewing candidates for their ticket have chosen to place their election efforts and resources with Paul and Marty?
Will Paul Luibicich and Marty Foncello be announcing their candidacy and alternate ticket this spring or summer after the party caucus'? Will they wait until after the Republican and Democratic parties have completed announcing their entire tickets and are done vetting the candidates applying through their vacancy committees? What was on all the easels and marker boards that dotted the room?
Will they be running in a republican primary or will they go the petitioning route taken by current Republican Selectman Bob Silvaggi who won the election two years ago over former First Selectman Jerome Murphy. After a quiet door-to-door campaign to garner support after the Democratic Party failed to offer a choice opposing the two term incumbent, outspent over 10 to 1, Bob Silvaggi pulled out a narrow victory of 10 votes
A significant event appears to be unfolding as they quietly strategize.
It is known they are currently questioning all the facts behind the resignation and resignation reinstatement by the two lower selectmen, Joni Park and Jerome Murphy, of the town controller who just finished up his 90 day probation period. Is this their entry point into the November elections or are they simply preparing for a long election season early? Have they talked with full time campaign people at this junction to be ready to hit the ground running? Why is the state republican committee looking to get involved in Brookfield's elections?
Time will tell, but it is beginning to appear pretty certain that Paul Liubicich and Marty Foncello are pulling together the resources and deep pockets to somehow challenge the Republican Town Committee who is rumored to be backing a Bill Tinsley/Jerome Murphy ticket. No one knows who is going to manage the Republican campaign, but word has it that Matt Grimes, the Republican who managed the losing campaign of Jerome Murphy last election (and his own losing election to Democrat Gregorty on the Planning Comission) will not be the one running it this time. It is hinted that the State Republican Committee will actually manage it so as not to have a repeat of the failed campaign of two years ago.
On another note, is a quiet loyal democrat about to announce her run for First Selectman as well and request the support of the democratic party causing them to drop their endorsement of the unaffiliated Willie Davidson? This could prove a bizarre twist in the Democratic party as they has already indicated they are supporting the multi-millionaire insurance magnate and former Republican-turned-unaffiliated, Willie Davidson.
Stay tuned as Brookfield's folks attempt to sort it all out. It should be interesting at the very least and we'll keep you posted a lot more than either of the current two newspapers who appear to be falling behind the curve on what is transpiring in Brookfield.
Record Keeping At Brookfield Town Hall
Everyone in town should be shocked and appalled that tax payer dollars are being spent to track the time it takes to compile Freedom of Information requests.
Any properly arranged filing, record keeping system should lend itself to the location of a given file or document in moments.
If the documents are being screened before being made available then an illegal activity is occurring and the Freedom of Information Commission notified.
If a synopsis or summary of the information is being prepared, that too is illegal.
If the files are in poor condition, that is not the fault of the requestor, it is an indication of incompetence by the current and perhaps previous people and the failure to maintain the towns records effectively. This should be reported to the State Librarian who has responsibility to see it's done properly. They should launch an investigation into Brookfield's failure over the last twenty years to maintain good records and failure to request documentation destruction authorizations from the State Librarian.
It would suggest that if this "tracking' activity continues - the town ledger, accounts payable -- the Town check book - should be requested and examined.
All expenditures should be properly listed with the required "back up" information That is basic accounting procedures and to date, the financial procedures and policies requested from town hall for 6 years has yet to be produced or shown.
No records need to be pulled nor should any effort of the employees be necessary. It is hard to believe that the annual audit would not have uncovered any serious filing/record keeping transgressions. If such is the case, letters to the town's auditors should be written alerting them to the fact for their annual audit with a copy to the secretary of the Brookfield Board of Selectmen and the Board of Finance.
The Boards and auditors can be mailed to:
Brookfield Board of Finance
100 Pocono Road
Brookfield, CT 06804
Attention: William N. Tinsley, Secretary
Brookfield Board of Selectmen
100 Pocono Road
Brookfield, CT 06804
Attention: Ginny Giovennello, Secretary
CCR
124 Hebron Avenue
Glastonbury, CT 06033
Attention Robert L. Howard
rhoward@ccrllp.com
Phone: (860) 781-6700
Fax: (860) 633-0480
Any properly arranged filing, record keeping system should lend itself to the location of a given file or document in moments.
If the documents are being screened before being made available then an illegal activity is occurring and the Freedom of Information Commission notified.
If a synopsis or summary of the information is being prepared, that too is illegal.
If the files are in poor condition, that is not the fault of the requestor, it is an indication of incompetence by the current and perhaps previous people and the failure to maintain the towns records effectively. This should be reported to the State Librarian who has responsibility to see it's done properly. They should launch an investigation into Brookfield's failure over the last twenty years to maintain good records and failure to request documentation destruction authorizations from the State Librarian.
It would suggest that if this "tracking' activity continues - the town ledger, accounts payable -- the Town check book - should be requested and examined.
All expenditures should be properly listed with the required "back up" information That is basic accounting procedures and to date, the financial procedures and policies requested from town hall for 6 years has yet to be produced or shown.
No records need to be pulled nor should any effort of the employees be necessary. It is hard to believe that the annual audit would not have uncovered any serious filing/record keeping transgressions. If such is the case, letters to the town's auditors should be written alerting them to the fact for their annual audit with a copy to the secretary of the Brookfield Board of Selectmen and the Board of Finance.
The Boards and auditors can be mailed to:
Brookfield Board of Finance
100 Pocono Road
Brookfield, CT 06804
Attention: William N. Tinsley, Secretary
Brookfield Board of Selectmen
100 Pocono Road
Brookfield, CT 06804
Attention: Ginny Giovennello, Secretary
CCR
124 Hebron Avenue
Glastonbury, CT 06033
Attention Robert L. Howard
rhoward@ccrllp.com
Phone: (860) 781-6700
Fax: (860) 633-0480
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Why make it harder for people to monitor local government?
While everyone has been concentrating on the budget issues in Connecticut, apparently Brookfield's State Representatives have been working hard at eliminating anything that enables good and timely communications with the Town of Brookfield's citizens regarding public business.
Case in point is the bill, included below, introduced by State Senator Andrew "Mousie" Roraback.
What will Brookfield's Republican Town Committee do next, propose revoking the Freedom of Information Act because the towns spend so much taxpayer money trying to not share the very public data they're entrusted with?
See the bill he (Roraback) introduced in this session below and ask State Representative David Scribner if he supports this:
General Assembly
Proposed Bill No. 333
January Session, 2009
LCO No. 1661
Referred to Committee on Government Administration and Elections
Introduced by:
SEN. RORABACK, 30th Dist.
AN ACT REPEALING THE REQUIREMENT THAT TOWNS POST MINUTES AND AGENDAS ON THEIR WEB SITES.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:
That section 1-225 of the general statutes be amended to repeal the requirement that towns post meeting minutes and agendas on their web sites.
Statement of Purpose:
To relieve towns of the burden of posting meeting minutes and agendas on their web sites.
Does that make sense to you? How hard is it to post to a web site? It takes an average technically competent person less than thirty (30) seconds. It doesn't take a full time position. Any town clerk can do it. What does this tell you?
Do former Republican candidate William "Wiley Coyote" Davidson or current announced Republican Willam "Slick Willy" Tinsley support this bill? Why?
What are they hiding about this bill? Why haven't they said anything? Looking for "Mousie's" support in the upcoming election?
Case in point is the bill, included below, introduced by State Senator Andrew "Mousie" Roraback.
What will Brookfield's Republican Town Committee do next, propose revoking the Freedom of Information Act because the towns spend so much taxpayer money trying to not share the very public data they're entrusted with?
See the bill he (Roraback) introduced in this session below and ask State Representative David Scribner if he supports this:
General Assembly
Proposed Bill No. 333
January Session, 2009
LCO No. 1661
Referred to Committee on Government Administration and Elections
Introduced by:
SEN. RORABACK, 30th Dist.
AN ACT REPEALING THE REQUIREMENT THAT TOWNS POST MINUTES AND AGENDAS ON THEIR WEB SITES.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:
That section 1-225 of the general statutes be amended to repeal the requirement that towns post meeting minutes and agendas on their web sites.
Statement of Purpose:
To relieve towns of the burden of posting meeting minutes and agendas on their web sites.
Does that make sense to you? How hard is it to post to a web site? It takes an average technically competent person less than thirty (30) seconds. It doesn't take a full time position. Any town clerk can do it. What does this tell you?
Do former Republican candidate William "Wiley Coyote" Davidson or current announced Republican Willam "Slick Willy" Tinsley support this bill? Why?
What are they hiding about this bill? Why haven't they said anything? Looking for "Mousie's" support in the upcoming election?
The Darkening Storm Clouds and the Clap of Thunder
Rumors abound throughout the town that the Republicans on the Town Committee (RTC) in Brookfield, Connecticut are "eating their own" and it is ugly. Are they being asked to swear an oath of allegiance to the RTC?
Several reports have been circulating of intense questioning, not unlike those being questioned nationally, during the process of fielding it's set of candidates for this Novembers elections.
While a questionnaire is the normal process to evaluate a candidates core values, was this a verbal assault in which one "victim' equated to nonphysical "water boarding' after suffering it?
Why the intense "vetting"?
Based on the reported questions asked by the Inquisitors, they focused around the potential candidates positions on all things business and commercial.
The RTC apparently appears to have overtaken by incorporators hell bent on attempting to drive a strong pro business - pro development platform into the coming election at all costs and wants the towns board and commissions to be naive and looking the other way when their donors begin filing applications.
Led by a small group of intellectually and integrity challenged individuals, the RTC has been apparently forfeited its traditional core values have been trashed in favor of an ultra insular cadre of self promoting self orientated special interests.
Instead of demanding loyalty to basic principles of honesty and adherence to the law, the new breed is demanding loyalty to the almighty dollar and revenue at any price. If doesn't put a buck in someone's pockets, then it can't be good. Is that true?
Not a thought to the responsibility to the oath they will take, the rule of law or the basic common "fairness" and best interests of the community for any action, no?
Is it any wonder that the community is having problems with them when the 'best' leadership available is characters of this ilk?
Their tactics have given rise to a growing number of citizens who are writing under a pseudonym or in unsigned blogs to avoid the personal verbal attacks, intimidation and recrimination dished out for speaking publicly. Brave souls indeed are those who stand up and speak at public forums in which person after person is told to "move out of town if you don't like it".
In fairness, attacks from both sides do occur. The difference is the intensity and personal nature of the Republican attacks on its very own members. Certainly they are not following Ronald Regan's view not to speak poorly of another Republican.
Is this a symptom of their frustration in losing the national election, their inability to address even basic issues or is it unique to Brookfield’s politics and the often observed incompetence of the local RTC?
The amount of dollars involved and the nature of the questions make it reasonable to assume that the ‘cannibalism’ outbreak is contained locally.
Individuals stand to earn millions in commissions, construction and business services if expansion is not restrained in any way.
In this economy – any work is sought; often with violent vigor, something that is very readily available in the Brookfield Republican Town Committee.
Will this feeding frenzy marginalize the RTC and hand the Democrats what would be their first town victory in many years?
The possibility grows with every “bite” of the hand that serves them.
Will the leadership figure it out and change their approach?
Very doubtful, Stupid is and stupid does and “learning” does not seem to be something that the current group of miscreants does very well. After all, they do the same thing over and over again and expect a different outcome. That's the very definition of insanity, right?
Several reports have been circulating of intense questioning, not unlike those being questioned nationally, during the process of fielding it's set of candidates for this Novembers elections.
While a questionnaire is the normal process to evaluate a candidates core values, was this a verbal assault in which one "victim' equated to nonphysical "water boarding' after suffering it?
Why the intense "vetting"?
Based on the reported questions asked by the Inquisitors, they focused around the potential candidates positions on all things business and commercial.
The RTC apparently appears to have overtaken by incorporators hell bent on attempting to drive a strong pro business - pro development platform into the coming election at all costs and wants the towns board and commissions to be naive and looking the other way when their donors begin filing applications.
Led by a small group of intellectually and integrity challenged individuals, the RTC has been apparently forfeited its traditional core values have been trashed in favor of an ultra insular cadre of self promoting self orientated special interests.
Instead of demanding loyalty to basic principles of honesty and adherence to the law, the new breed is demanding loyalty to the almighty dollar and revenue at any price. If doesn't put a buck in someone's pockets, then it can't be good. Is that true?
Not a thought to the responsibility to the oath they will take, the rule of law or the basic common "fairness" and best interests of the community for any action, no?
Is it any wonder that the community is having problems with them when the 'best' leadership available is characters of this ilk?
Their tactics have given rise to a growing number of citizens who are writing under a pseudonym or in unsigned blogs to avoid the personal verbal attacks, intimidation and recrimination dished out for speaking publicly. Brave souls indeed are those who stand up and speak at public forums in which person after person is told to "move out of town if you don't like it".
In fairness, attacks from both sides do occur. The difference is the intensity and personal nature of the Republican attacks on its very own members. Certainly they are not following Ronald Regan's view not to speak poorly of another Republican.
Is this a symptom of their frustration in losing the national election, their inability to address even basic issues or is it unique to Brookfield’s politics and the often observed incompetence of the local RTC?
The amount of dollars involved and the nature of the questions make it reasonable to assume that the ‘cannibalism’ outbreak is contained locally.
Individuals stand to earn millions in commissions, construction and business services if expansion is not restrained in any way.
In this economy – any work is sought; often with violent vigor, something that is very readily available in the Brookfield Republican Town Committee.
Will this feeding frenzy marginalize the RTC and hand the Democrats what would be their first town victory in many years?
The possibility grows with every “bite” of the hand that serves them.
Will the leadership figure it out and change their approach?
Very doubtful, Stupid is and stupid does and “learning” does not seem to be something that the current group of miscreants does very well. After all, they do the same thing over and over again and expect a different outcome. That's the very definition of insanity, right?
Friday, May 15, 2009
Why Thomas Paine?
Thomas Paine's Common Sense
"Addressed to the Inhabitants of America... A New Edition, with Several Additions in the Body of the Work. To Which is added an Appendix; together with an Address to the People called Quakers. Philadelphia: W. and T. Bradford, 1791."
Abstract
Published anonymously by Thomas Paine in January of 1776, Common Sense was an instant best-seller, both in the colonies and in Europe. It went through several editions in Philadelphia, and was republished in all parts of United America. Because of it, Paine became internationally famous.
"A Covenanted People" called Common Sense "by far the most influential tract of the American Revolution....it remains one of the most brilliant pamphlets ever written in the English language."
Paine's political pamphlet brought the rising revolutionary sentiment into sharp focus by placing blame for the suffering of the colonies directly on the reigning British monarch, George III.
First and foremost, Common Sense advocated an immediate declaration of independence, postulating a special moral obligation of America to the rest of the world. Not long after publication, the spirit of Paine's argument found resonance in the American Declaration of Independence.
Written at the outset of the Revolution, Common Sense became the leaven for the ferment of the times. It stirred the colonists to strengthen their resolve, resulting in the first successful anticolonial action in modern history.
Little did Paine realize that his writings would set fire to a movement that had seldom if ever been worked out in the Old World: sovereignty of the people and written constitutions, together with effective checks and balances in government.
Paine has been described as a professional radical and a revolutionary propagandist without peer. Born in England, he was dismissed as an excise officer while lobbying for higher wages. Impressed by Paine, Benjamin Franklin sponsored Paine's emigration to America in 1774.
In Philadelphia Paine became a journalist and essayist, contributing articles on all subjects to The Pennsylvania Magazine. After the publication of Common Sense, Paine continued to inspire and encourage the patriots during the Revolutionary War with a series of pamphlets entitled The American Crisis. Eventually, Paine went on to write The Rights of Man and The Age of Reason.
But, it all started with Common Sense, the writing that sparked an American Revolution.
"Addressed to the Inhabitants of America... A New Edition, with Several Additions in the Body of the Work. To Which is added an Appendix; together with an Address to the People called Quakers. Philadelphia: W. and T. Bradford, 1791."
Abstract
Published anonymously by Thomas Paine in January of 1776, Common Sense was an instant best-seller, both in the colonies and in Europe. It went through several editions in Philadelphia, and was republished in all parts of United America. Because of it, Paine became internationally famous.
"A Covenanted People" called Common Sense "by far the most influential tract of the American Revolution....it remains one of the most brilliant pamphlets ever written in the English language."
Paine's political pamphlet brought the rising revolutionary sentiment into sharp focus by placing blame for the suffering of the colonies directly on the reigning British monarch, George III.
First and foremost, Common Sense advocated an immediate declaration of independence, postulating a special moral obligation of America to the rest of the world. Not long after publication, the spirit of Paine's argument found resonance in the American Declaration of Independence.
Written at the outset of the Revolution, Common Sense became the leaven for the ferment of the times. It stirred the colonists to strengthen their resolve, resulting in the first successful anticolonial action in modern history.
Little did Paine realize that his writings would set fire to a movement that had seldom if ever been worked out in the Old World: sovereignty of the people and written constitutions, together with effective checks and balances in government.
Paine has been described as a professional radical and a revolutionary propagandist without peer. Born in England, he was dismissed as an excise officer while lobbying for higher wages. Impressed by Paine, Benjamin Franklin sponsored Paine's emigration to America in 1774.
In Philadelphia Paine became a journalist and essayist, contributing articles on all subjects to The Pennsylvania Magazine. After the publication of Common Sense, Paine continued to inspire and encourage the patriots during the Revolutionary War with a series of pamphlets entitled The American Crisis. Eventually, Paine went on to write The Rights of Man and The Age of Reason.
But, it all started with Common Sense, the writing that sparked an American Revolution.
Overview of current conditions...
It has been said that all politics is local. If that is true then it is being acted out dramatically in one small Connecticut town, home to Governor Jodi Rell for almost three decades.
Brookfield Connecticut, population 17,000, is one of the few towns in the state in which a majority of voters supported John McCain in the recent presidential election. It has a Republican First Selectman and a largely Republican constituency with conservative and family values. It, however, mirrors the problems of the Republican Party nationally.
Solidly in control only six short years ago, the Brookfield Republican party has been steadily losing ground, not to a Democratic revitalization but to a growing trend of disenfranchised unaffiliated voters (the largest voting block in the town and largely baby boomers) selecting honest candidates regardless of party affiliation, although the current First Selectman is a Republican not unaffiliated voter a fact that is often overlooked by the Republican Party that didn't campaign for him.
As with the Republicans nationally, the local leadership is self-absorbed, elitist, lacking vision, out of touch with the mainstream, disorganized and caught up in a “What’s in it for me” mentality. In fact, the Brookfield Republican town committee has virtually run the town broke spending the town's rainy day fund on everything and anything over the last six (6) years despite the worsening financial situation. To add insult to injury, the former First Selectman and an announced current First Selectman candidate for this November actually let a $42,000,000 mistake slide by while they sat on the Brookfield Board of Finance without saying a word, depleting the town's savings to alarming levels while no accountability was introduced by the oversight board.
The top town job was firmly in the grip of the Republican Town Committee (RTC) six years ago – so much so that the Republican candidate ran unopposed in the 2005 election, telling some of his former supporters when they called him that he didn't need their support and if they needed to they could check the ballot and see he was the only one running. Is that the definition of hubris?
The First Selectman in Brookfield serves a two-year term. That, however, came to a shocking, sudden end in 2007 when an completely unknown petitioning candidate, who never was involved in politics before (he was a teacher) came forward less than 90 days before the election (in which the incumbent First Selectman was running unopposed) and defeated the two term Republican (who was supported by the home town governor, currently the most popular governor in the United States, the state Republican committee and the town of Brookfield Republican committee).
Brookfield had a surprise for the hubris that was displayed and the Republican candidate lost despite requesting a recount.
The losing Republican candidate blamed everything and everyone – including his campaign manager, but in the end it was clear that the Republicans had fielded a poor candidate in both ability and integrity. The selection process for candidates had succumbed to politics and the town's Republican Vacancy Committee resorted to "water boarding" candidates and refusing to allow incumbents to run. How fitting. Many late night meetings to ferret out all the wrong people. There was only room for "right thinking people" and there was to be no discussion and dialog. The Tammany Hall mentality was clearly prevelant.
The newly elected First Selectman, upon laying witness to the problems, phone calls for favors and special interests lobbying attempted to institute Ethics reform as well as change the Towns legal representation but was rebuffed by both the Democratic leadership and the defeated Republicans (both who are neighbors in the exclusive Candlewood Lake Club) who had stacked the various committees and commissions with appointees who were appointed by the defeated former first selectman and his henchman, the lowest vote getter in town representing the Democratic Town Committee.
Brookfielders began to see the actions of the Republican appointees were more in their own special interests than in the interest of the taxpayers quickly along with the "elitist" attitude of the appointees and their complete distain for any public input or discussion.
The head of the RTC – a plumber (no relation whatsoever to Joe the Plumber) had opportunities. He was Chairman of the town's Republican Town Committee, Water Pollution Control Authority and Board of Assessment Appeals all at the same time because of his trouble in finding people willing to serve the town (after seeing what was going on over the years can you blame honest people?).
Real estate professionals were also seeking special favors to enhance their revenues and developers were running amuck building on anything that didn't have concrete or asphalt on it.
.
Voters began to realize the depth of the deception by the Republican appointees and the Democratic stooges, as the thirty-two ($32) million dollar high school expansion roared towards a conclusion. After five years of procrastination, postponements, delays and cost over runs (including the complete spending of the contingency accounts on the project before the start of the projects second year) and an additional $750,000 beyond that, the project still is not completed as of this writing. This was a project that was voted on in 2003 folks (approved six(6) years ago). They even had to "borrow" an additional $600,000 from the Water Pollution Control Authority, without any approval by the Board of Finance or Board of Selectman or most importantly YOU! Why, because they got the town attorney to say it was OK and didn't need your approval. And the project still languishes., Much was cut from the project like the cafeteria expansion and renovation etc (major work) and workmanship was shoddy at best. A synthetic field was done THREE (3) times – ending up costing the tax payers about $500,000 dollars additional on the project (and for which the town will get no reimbursement from the state) and to this day there are sink holes that have begun appearing the end zone endangering athletic kids and causing everyone to wonder how the Municipal Building Committee and Board of Education could overlook something so obvious. A MILLION DOLLAR field, the most expensive in the nation.
The project is still not finished (the Board of Education is spending money out of it operating budget that was budgeted for teacher salaries this year transferring the money after their budget was approved - as usual.) and the person largely responsible for the problems was forced to step down after being found guilty of violating the Freedom of Information law. His replacement, a Democrat, seems to be wallowing in the aftermath of what many have been saying is a very costly and poorly managed project, one that he himself had bid on. Unfortunately, he appears to be as incompetent as his predecessor although smart enough not to break the law and can't bring the project to the audit stage by the State Department of Education nor complete the punch list despite saying that was all that was left over eight (8) months ago.
As with the national party, questionable finance activities have been spotlighted. First in a sewer ‘deal’ involving the RTC chairman, who was also the Chairman of the Sewer Authority and involved years of penalties for not paying sewer taxes for one of the officers on the Republican Town Committee. Can you believe they have people who haven't paid their sewer taxes running the Republican Town Committee?
The defeated former First Selectmen was also implicated in another issue. A three-year certified audit (beyond the normal town audit that was done for the last three years) is under way to determine the depth of the problem. During this audit so far, six (6) bank accounts with no signature authority cards containing hundreds of thousands of dollars has been discovered. Concerns now lie over the completeness of the town audit and what else is hiding at the Water Pollution Control authority at town hall.
Then there was the renovation of the Towns Senior Center. Delayed for years, the Town attorney made an “error” in wording the funding documents and the town is in the process of transferring State grant money to cover the “error”. This significantly delayed the project for the town's seniors and the town lost a grant that would have been spent had the town worked on the project. Not only that, countless meetings had to be re-held and a tremendous amount of time wasted (hundred of people hours) over again due to the town attorney's error. All at your expense.
This pales in comparison to the blatant cronyism exhibited when a large wholesale warehouse announced expansion plans in the center of town. Despite a traffic increase that would paralyze Route 133 and Federal Road, a key crossroads in the town. Realtors supported the construction (they would support anything that might sell anything these days) – one realtor/ commission member was voting for the project even as he was collecting a $500,000 sales commission on the transaction and openly pushing the project on both the Planning Commission, where he was vice chair, and the Economic Development Commission, which he was Chairman. The town's Board of Ethics found that he did indeed commit everything he was charged with. His defense? He didn't know. Know what? You mean No Moral Compass? That's like telling the policeman who pulled you over you didn't see the speed limit sign, right?
The Company dropped the project when State highway and environmental departments plus the Army Corps of Engineers got involved but never pursued the Kohl's property (a leftover of the former First Selectman's legacy and nicknamed Beirut at land use meetings). Why? Perhaps because there was no commission for anyone? We'll never know will we?
The Chairman of the Economic Development Commission was charged with several ethics violations, and found guilty, but no action has been taken to date as the two selectmen, the former first selectman and his crony Democrat selectman have the issue tied up by their town attorney friend claiming the Ethics Committee has no authority which they activated an ad hoc committee once again to re-write the rules that they want .
The matter is still pending. The individual still sits on the commission. No doubt he would qualify for a national post.
The town's treasurer, also the town's Republican state representative recently issued an annual treasurers report at the town meeting representing that the town had a 5 year operating plan. Board of Finance officials admitted they know of no such thing currently in existence a serious misrepresentation to the citizens of Brookfield at their annual town meeting.
More so, questions over how the towns pension plan, (administered by Sun Life), was awarded to the current vendor and why there have been no requests for proposals over the last 5 years even after hearing at a recent Board of Finance meeting that Mass Mutual really wanted to bid on it to lower the administrative costs and increase the return on its assets. So much for low bidder and the town's best interests.
Further additional representations were made about other employee retirement benefits including the creation and funding of an asset and plan to fund them in the Town Treasurer's Report issued at the town meeting. Again, Board of Finance members, when questioned, said no such thing was arranged or funded during budget deliberations. They were incredulous. Just what are the facts and what is the fiction contained in the Treasurer's Annual Report? How is Moody's bond rating service look at the importance of clear, transparent and unambiguous communication regarding the long term financial health of the town of Brookfield?
Much like the national party, Brookfield reflects the corruption and special interest mentality existing in both major national parties today.
Local politics mirrors the national scene – no doubt. Isn't it time for someone who isn't beholding to political parties or special interests to return the town to solid financial and ethical footings? To restore the old tried and true values? To come clear with it citizens during its annual town meeting? Shouldn't the town controller and the town treasurer be required to attend Board of Finance meetings each month? The town treasurer hasn't been spotted there in years based on the minutes of the meetings. Is that what we're paying him for? Nothing? A no-show? Shouldn't Board of Finance members, who have oversight responsibility be permitted to question the state of the town's cash/investments/pension/other funds each month? Who are the checks and balances to the town treasurer anyway?
Brookfield Connecticut, population 17,000, is one of the few towns in the state in which a majority of voters supported John McCain in the recent presidential election. It has a Republican First Selectman and a largely Republican constituency with conservative and family values. It, however, mirrors the problems of the Republican Party nationally.
Solidly in control only six short years ago, the Brookfield Republican party has been steadily losing ground, not to a Democratic revitalization but to a growing trend of disenfranchised unaffiliated voters (the largest voting block in the town and largely baby boomers) selecting honest candidates regardless of party affiliation, although the current First Selectman is a Republican not unaffiliated voter a fact that is often overlooked by the Republican Party that didn't campaign for him.
As with the Republicans nationally, the local leadership is self-absorbed, elitist, lacking vision, out of touch with the mainstream, disorganized and caught up in a “What’s in it for me” mentality. In fact, the Brookfield Republican town committee has virtually run the town broke spending the town's rainy day fund on everything and anything over the last six (6) years despite the worsening financial situation. To add insult to injury, the former First Selectman and an announced current First Selectman candidate for this November actually let a $42,000,000 mistake slide by while they sat on the Brookfield Board of Finance without saying a word, depleting the town's savings to alarming levels while no accountability was introduced by the oversight board.
The top town job was firmly in the grip of the Republican Town Committee (RTC) six years ago – so much so that the Republican candidate ran unopposed in the 2005 election, telling some of his former supporters when they called him that he didn't need their support and if they needed to they could check the ballot and see he was the only one running. Is that the definition of hubris?
The First Selectman in Brookfield serves a two-year term. That, however, came to a shocking, sudden end in 2007 when an completely unknown petitioning candidate, who never was involved in politics before (he was a teacher) came forward less than 90 days before the election (in which the incumbent First Selectman was running unopposed) and defeated the two term Republican (who was supported by the home town governor, currently the most popular governor in the United States, the state Republican committee and the town of Brookfield Republican committee).
Brookfield had a surprise for the hubris that was displayed and the Republican candidate lost despite requesting a recount.
The losing Republican candidate blamed everything and everyone – including his campaign manager, but in the end it was clear that the Republicans had fielded a poor candidate in both ability and integrity. The selection process for candidates had succumbed to politics and the town's Republican Vacancy Committee resorted to "water boarding" candidates and refusing to allow incumbents to run. How fitting. Many late night meetings to ferret out all the wrong people. There was only room for "right thinking people" and there was to be no discussion and dialog. The Tammany Hall mentality was clearly prevelant.
The newly elected First Selectman, upon laying witness to the problems, phone calls for favors and special interests lobbying attempted to institute Ethics reform as well as change the Towns legal representation but was rebuffed by both the Democratic leadership and the defeated Republicans (both who are neighbors in the exclusive Candlewood Lake Club) who had stacked the various committees and commissions with appointees who were appointed by the defeated former first selectman and his henchman, the lowest vote getter in town representing the Democratic Town Committee.
Brookfielders began to see the actions of the Republican appointees were more in their own special interests than in the interest of the taxpayers quickly along with the "elitist" attitude of the appointees and their complete distain for any public input or discussion.
The head of the RTC – a plumber (no relation whatsoever to Joe the Plumber) had opportunities. He was Chairman of the town's Republican Town Committee, Water Pollution Control Authority and Board of Assessment Appeals all at the same time because of his trouble in finding people willing to serve the town (after seeing what was going on over the years can you blame honest people?).
Real estate professionals were also seeking special favors to enhance their revenues and developers were running amuck building on anything that didn't have concrete or asphalt on it.
.
Voters began to realize the depth of the deception by the Republican appointees and the Democratic stooges, as the thirty-two ($32) million dollar high school expansion roared towards a conclusion. After five years of procrastination, postponements, delays and cost over runs (including the complete spending of the contingency accounts on the project before the start of the projects second year) and an additional $750,000 beyond that, the project still is not completed as of this writing. This was a project that was voted on in 2003 folks (approved six(6) years ago). They even had to "borrow" an additional $600,000 from the Water Pollution Control Authority, without any approval by the Board of Finance or Board of Selectman or most importantly YOU! Why, because they got the town attorney to say it was OK and didn't need your approval. And the project still languishes., Much was cut from the project like the cafeteria expansion and renovation etc (major work) and workmanship was shoddy at best. A synthetic field was done THREE (3) times – ending up costing the tax payers about $500,000 dollars additional on the project (and for which the town will get no reimbursement from the state) and to this day there are sink holes that have begun appearing the end zone endangering athletic kids and causing everyone to wonder how the Municipal Building Committee and Board of Education could overlook something so obvious. A MILLION DOLLAR field, the most expensive in the nation.
The project is still not finished (the Board of Education is spending money out of it operating budget that was budgeted for teacher salaries this year transferring the money after their budget was approved - as usual.) and the person largely responsible for the problems was forced to step down after being found guilty of violating the Freedom of Information law. His replacement, a Democrat, seems to be wallowing in the aftermath of what many have been saying is a very costly and poorly managed project, one that he himself had bid on. Unfortunately, he appears to be as incompetent as his predecessor although smart enough not to break the law and can't bring the project to the audit stage by the State Department of Education nor complete the punch list despite saying that was all that was left over eight (8) months ago.
As with the national party, questionable finance activities have been spotlighted. First in a sewer ‘deal’ involving the RTC chairman, who was also the Chairman of the Sewer Authority and involved years of penalties for not paying sewer taxes for one of the officers on the Republican Town Committee. Can you believe they have people who haven't paid their sewer taxes running the Republican Town Committee?
The defeated former First Selectmen was also implicated in another issue. A three-year certified audit (beyond the normal town audit that was done for the last three years) is under way to determine the depth of the problem. During this audit so far, six (6) bank accounts with no signature authority cards containing hundreds of thousands of dollars has been discovered. Concerns now lie over the completeness of the town audit and what else is hiding at the Water Pollution Control authority at town hall.
Then there was the renovation of the Towns Senior Center. Delayed for years, the Town attorney made an “error” in wording the funding documents and the town is in the process of transferring State grant money to cover the “error”. This significantly delayed the project for the town's seniors and the town lost a grant that would have been spent had the town worked on the project. Not only that, countless meetings had to be re-held and a tremendous amount of time wasted (hundred of people hours) over again due to the town attorney's error. All at your expense.
This pales in comparison to the blatant cronyism exhibited when a large wholesale warehouse announced expansion plans in the center of town. Despite a traffic increase that would paralyze Route 133 and Federal Road, a key crossroads in the town. Realtors supported the construction (they would support anything that might sell anything these days) – one realtor/ commission member was voting for the project even as he was collecting a $500,000 sales commission on the transaction and openly pushing the project on both the Planning Commission, where he was vice chair, and the Economic Development Commission, which he was Chairman. The town's Board of Ethics found that he did indeed commit everything he was charged with. His defense? He didn't know. Know what? You mean No Moral Compass? That's like telling the policeman who pulled you over you didn't see the speed limit sign, right?
The Company dropped the project when State highway and environmental departments plus the Army Corps of Engineers got involved but never pursued the Kohl's property (a leftover of the former First Selectman's legacy and nicknamed Beirut at land use meetings). Why? Perhaps because there was no commission for anyone? We'll never know will we?
The Chairman of the Economic Development Commission was charged with several ethics violations, and found guilty, but no action has been taken to date as the two selectmen, the former first selectman and his crony Democrat selectman have the issue tied up by their town attorney friend claiming the Ethics Committee has no authority which they activated an ad hoc committee once again to re-write the rules that they want .
The matter is still pending. The individual still sits on the commission. No doubt he would qualify for a national post.
The town's treasurer, also the town's Republican state representative recently issued an annual treasurers report at the town meeting representing that the town had a 5 year operating plan. Board of Finance officials admitted they know of no such thing currently in existence a serious misrepresentation to the citizens of Brookfield at their annual town meeting.
More so, questions over how the towns pension plan, (administered by Sun Life), was awarded to the current vendor and why there have been no requests for proposals over the last 5 years even after hearing at a recent Board of Finance meeting that Mass Mutual really wanted to bid on it to lower the administrative costs and increase the return on its assets. So much for low bidder and the town's best interests.
Further additional representations were made about other employee retirement benefits including the creation and funding of an asset and plan to fund them in the Town Treasurer's Report issued at the town meeting. Again, Board of Finance members, when questioned, said no such thing was arranged or funded during budget deliberations. They were incredulous. Just what are the facts and what is the fiction contained in the Treasurer's Annual Report? How is Moody's bond rating service look at the importance of clear, transparent and unambiguous communication regarding the long term financial health of the town of Brookfield?
Much like the national party, Brookfield reflects the corruption and special interest mentality existing in both major national parties today.
Local politics mirrors the national scene – no doubt. Isn't it time for someone who isn't beholding to political parties or special interests to return the town to solid financial and ethical footings? To restore the old tried and true values? To come clear with it citizens during its annual town meeting? Shouldn't the town controller and the town treasurer be required to attend Board of Finance meetings each month? The town treasurer hasn't been spotted there in years based on the minutes of the meetings. Is that what we're paying him for? Nothing? A no-show? Shouldn't Board of Finance members, who have oversight responsibility be permitted to question the state of the town's cash/investments/pension/other funds each month? Who are the checks and balances to the town treasurer anyway?
Greetings!
Welcome to Brookfield Politics. We are starting this blog as you can see. The link to the blog is going to be activated shortly and will be brookfieldpolitics.blogspot.com. We are adding online political ads to highlight important issues in the town. As the issues change so will the ads and the links for them. The blog was started to counter left wing efforts to smear and harass people in Brookfield. The blog is designed to discuss many issues. What this site does is provide more information than could be provided on a simple blog platform. Secondly, people are just were sick and tired of members of the Republican and Democratic Town Committees calling people liars and not providing facts. Now you will be able to click on a link and see scanned documents that are referenced in a post. You can also obtain information on towns boards and committees. As the site expands much more will be added. Many of the current political ads you will begin to see deal with the proposed changes to our town charter. Some we support others we do not. The ads speak for themselves and people will stand by them. If the elitist mob is mad about the expanded site and the ads all that can be said is sorry, but you brought all of this on yourselves. Run our town fairly and honestly and the blog and the site will come down tomorrow. Continue on a path that harms our town and citizens will continue the fight.
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