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An education in everyday life
In the 1970s I taught a course at Bristol Eastern High School called consumer economics. Thanks to The Courant’ s Newspapers in Education program, I utilized the Courant to teach students how to find jobs, find an apartment, manage a checking account, grocery shop and invest in stocks. Glad to see this type of course will be a requirement for graduation. Ironically, it was not considered a college prep course and was dropped.
Elizabeth Phelan, Bristol
Trump would not stand a chance
In his op-ed, “Trump’s plan to turn DOJ into his personal vendetta machine,” Robert Reich is correct in every warning and historical precedent he cites [June 27, Opinion, Page 7]. However, on the larger point, his argument is moot. Donald Trump will never be re-elected president of the United States. Not enough Americans are either stupid or immoral enough to vote yet again for Trump. If the Republican Party were to let him bully his way to the nomination, he will be defeated by a much larger margin than the seven-million vote trouncing he suffered in 2020.
Paul M. Zotos, Manchester
Lowell Weicker was fearless, relentless
Lowell Weicker was larger than life — fearless and relentless in fighting for what he believed right, and in serving people. As an elected official, he was a model of courage in standing up and speaking out with conviction and conscience, even if others disagreed. He did immense good for Connecticut and our country. I extend my condolences to Claudia and his family. Lowell Weicker, RIP.
Paul Bacon, Hallandale Beach, Fla.
Despite all the money, something doesn’t add up
Although state government is flush with money for the next few years, there’s not enough to provide for the needs of Connecticut residents. There’s no money for a Child Tax Credit to help families afford Connecticut’s exceptionally high living costs. There’s no money to restore what used to be 75% of the funding for higher education, now at 25%, to avoid repeated tuition hikes.
Despite its extreme wealth, Connecticut’s public spending has been lean for decades. A 2021 report from ITPI (In The Public Interest) asserts that “Connecticut has continued to reduce its public investment in the services people need and the structures such as education, healthcare, transportation and housing upon which our communities depend.”
The state’s current good fortune is the result of federal pandemic infusions, a temporary work-around for the SALT deduction limits, inflationary price hikes and unusually large stock market gains. But none of these are substitutes for a fair tax system, one which would improve living standards for all residents and propel economic growth in the long term.
William Buhler, Cromwell
