When Experience is a NEGATIVE: State Government Service

"There is no substitute for experience". Except in state government. Connecticut's government is the ONLY reason we suffer as a state. Almost every ailment stems from bad government policy.

Our General Assembly has a system that you and I would NEVER invoke at home. The home maker never pays bills without accounting for them in her budget. The home maker never signs a large contract without knowing what's in it. The home maker employing a nanny for essential child care never allows her to randomly and without warning take one day of every nine OFF. The home maker, when she learns of malfeasance by a family member, employs some kind of punishment. The home maker does not expect her children to pay for her debts.

The Problem with Government "Experience"

Our General Assembly systemically does all these things that the home maker would never do. Whatever individual wisdom an Assemblyman brings to Hartford evaporates in the system of back-slapping, privilege, and "stay the course".

We need Senators who will ALTER the course. When your boat is running toward the rocks, you MUST change course. It takes people with OUTSIDE experience to do this.

The Value of Business Experience

Better than government experience is the experience of running a small business. The businessperson must satisfy clients, must treat employees well, must grapple with changing markets, and must negotiate with vendors.

The government office-holder has no similar responsibilities. He can do nothing to rein in bad government and still get re-elected. He just needs to be a wee bit more palatable than the opposing candidate.

What "Experience" Really Means

Please view what this lack of responsibility means: the office holder is adroit at twisting the truth (called "spin"); he is good at fashioning compromises that sell out the public; he is attentive to lobbyists, and he is willing to "scratch your back if you scratch mine". None of this "experience" serves the public.

When party orthodoxy requires good candidates to tout the line of their titular leader, as many otherwise good Republicans have felt compelled to do with Trump, that party is dis-serving its voters. When party officials elevate candidates based on government experience instead of outside experience they set us up for disappointment. It's especially true of Democrat officials, yes the ones who backed Ralph Northam in 2017, and the ones who in 2016 anointed Hillary Clinton despite all her flaws.

The AMiGo Party Solution

I started a new political party in the belief that government service is done best by people who are NOT steeped in service. Particularly in Connecticut, where the process of governing has led a state with talent, energy, wealth, and resources to decrepit financial results. The AMiGo party (that's Americans for Minimal Government) welcomes people who want to run as candidates and are held back by party hierarchy or party orthodoxy.

Win or lose next week, I and a band of "Amigos" will continue to propel General Assembly candidates willing to bring outside experience over government experience, and willing to shuck their party's orthodoxy. The Amigo Party seeks to elevate true leaders. Yes, in the future, that may even include elevating my current opponent, one Assemblyman Derek Slap.

A Call to Action

Please use this Special Election, and the 2020 local elections, to truly scrutinize your candidates. Please be guided by Issues over name recognition, talent over "status", and wisdom over government "experience".