I'm feeling a lot of clarity today, so I want to weigh in publicly on something that's going on within DFA in Connecticut and with the Dump Joe Lieberman brouhaha that's finally emerging in the media because of articles in the Greenwich Times, the NY Times, and on ZWire and in the blogs.

I'm not privvy to a lot of DFA CT stuff anymore.  I've taken myself off a lot of lists and I've limited my activity to helping out people in New Haven when I can, attending some of the MeetUps there, and supporting any positive action being taken that I agree with on a local/state/federal level.

I have been trying avidly in the last year to more and more steer myself into only doing what is positive and towards my values and staying out of negative or empty action on any level.

Both the Democrats and Republicans are in trouble in this area, in my opinion.

This has been a good thing for me personally and remarkably effective in terms of the things I've chosen to support or engage in both personally and publicly.

It's the way to go folks.

There have been a small number of Dean people here in CT involved actively in working to boot Joe Lieberman out of office.

I do agree that Joe Lieberman is a bad representative.  I will never vote for him again.

I disagree with much of what he's chosen to stand for in the last few years.

But I do not agree that the way to get him out of office is to engage in secretive, potentially libelous campaigning or smear tactics.

Early on, I told one of the people who is instrumental in this effort that I'd support his activity.  That was a mistake and I withdraw that support.

I will not support that effort with either money or with action or my name.

I am concerned that bad judgement and poor values on the part of the people involved in this effort will not only hurt DFA but that this effort and the way it is proceeding is hurting the people involved and will actually do nothing towards defeating Lieberman in his next primary here in CT.

The way to get rid of bad politicians is to find good ones and support them and work for them.  Period.

I believe that DFA in CT is being used to hide behind, in this effort, as well, and that is something that I will not abide.

I feel that my affinity, my connection, with the core values that Howard Dean expressed in his campaign for the presidency IS the real heart of DFA.

No political operatives, no power-players, no executives, can take that affinity, that knowledge, that belief system away from me.

Hope.  Not fear.

It is time for the politicos to recognize that we can't afford all this. Not even if they tax the hell out of the rich.

The payroll tax burden is restraining hiring and reducing productivity...and it cannot realistically be increased. Lifting the cap is no solution...not enough money to be generated. Not to speak of the problem of increased benefits for the extra taxes...unless we depart from the concept of social insurance and shift to a completely separate system and call it part of the general welfare program. Even then, the money has to come from somewhere.

We need to tighten requirements for all these social welfare programs...limit eligibility to those in need, and limit the benefits even those can get. It is time to forget the idea that someone else will pay for your needs. The lack of responsibility is shocking.

Jim