As the father of a child struggling to overcome a serious substance abuse problem, I’ve been forced to confront deeply held personal and societal beliefs about the relationship between addiction and personal responsibility. A quote from philosopher Brendan de Kenessey’s excellent article, captures how I long thought about the issue. But I’ve come to understand that this deeply held belief is mistaken. Addiction is not a choice. And because it is not a choice, it is also a mistake to think of addiction as a moral failure.
Dan Klau
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Connecticut’s own ‘Second Amendment’
When people debate the legality of gun control legislation, the focus is usually on the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution. What many people may not realize, however, is that state constitutions often contain a similar (but not identical) provision. Thus, article first, § 15 of the Connecticut Constitution provides: “Every citizen has a right to bear arms in defense of himself and the state.”
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Is CT-N’s ‘legislative-coverage-only’ policy legal?
After a week of reruns, CT-N is back on the air [as of yesterday] after the Office of Legislative Management hired some former employees of the Connecticut Public Affairs Network (CPAN), the non-profit that operated CT-N since 1999. Legislative leadership says that CT-N, which is operating under a radically reduced budget, will focus its cameras on the General Assembly, largely to the exclusion of the executive and judicial branches. Leadership says that this narrow focus is consistent with CT-N’s original mission. But as Christine Stuart reports on CT News Junkie, leadership’s understanding of CT-N’s original mission is just plain wrong. Coverage of all three branches of state government was always part of CT-N’s mission.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Nominate G-squared (Garland and Gorsuch) to the Supreme Court
Relations between Democrats and Republicans in Washington, D.C. have deteriorated to the point that I see little chance of the following suggestion becoming reality. But because hope springs eternal, I offer it anyway. It is hardly novel.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
State Sen. Beth Bye has no conflict of interest — or appearance of one
In his “Government Watch” column in The Hartford Courant last week, Jon Lender writes about a proposal by state House and Senate Republicans to “enact legislation stating that no member of the state Appropriations Committee can work for an entity that receives grant money or budget line items from the state.” Although it does not mention her by name, the proposal is plainly aimed at Sen. Beth Bye, the West Hartford Democratic who co-chairs Appropriations.
Posted inNews
Op-Ed: CT lawmakers should restore openness of arrest records
The legislature should pass and governor should sign a bill that restores the obligation of police to disclose certain information about arrests. The bill restores a standard that has existed under state law for the past 20 years until it was stricken by the State Supreme Court.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
CT lawmakers should restore openness of arrest records
The legislature should pass and governor should sign a bill that restores the obligation of police to disclose certain information about arrests. The bill restores a standard that has existed under state law for the past 20 years until it was stricken by the State Supreme Court.