Ted Littleford
(Opinion) Come listen to a story about a man named Ned.
Ned just won a second term as Connecticut’s governor, with political capital to spare.
Ned presides over a state where the ultra-wealthy on average pay just 7.1 percent of income in state and local taxes, according to a report by his own revenue department, while lower to middle-income filers like teachers and cops and bus drivers on average pay more than three times as much, around 26 percent.
Some Democrats like New Haven State Sen. Martin Looney said this week they want to do something about that and other forms of income inequality, including instituting a modest (0.5 percent) marginal income tax increase on millionaires.
Fresh off undermining his own party-passed law creating intergenerational wealth gap-narrowing “baby bonds,” Gov. Ned promptly clamped down on any talk about even inching toward a modicum of tax fairness this year (or ever). He made it clear to fellow Democrats like Looney that there will be no real discussion of, let alone the possibility of passing, ideas like that.
No discussion in Hartford doesn’t necessarily mean no “singing” about the subject here in New Haven.
Click on the above video to watch discussion about that and other newly unveiled policy priorities for this legislative session such as gun control and a rent cap; as well as an updated version of the bluegrass classic Ballad of Jed Clampett that explores the story of the man named Ned.
The above video is of the original Flatt & Scruggs version of the ballad, for those post-Baby Boomer readers who might not know the reference or the TV show for which it served as theme song.
The Ballad of Ned Clamp-It
Come and listen to a story ‘bout a man named Ned
Poor gover-neer barely kept the coffers fed
Then one day a pandemic came to town
And D.C. dollars came a‑pouring down
Filled the rainy day fund …
Paid down the pension debt ... Yee haw!
Well the first you know they love Ned everywhere
Lefties said, “Jed, tax the millionaires!”
Kinfolk said, “Oh, Neddie don’t you dare!
Throw the dogs some bones, make the people think you care …”
Give ‘em cheap gas … middle-class tax cuts …
No baby bonds … Just income inequality …
(Readers are invited to contributed more verses in the comments section below.)
Best thing I read (heard) today! Great Paul.