No Is Not The New Yes

To the Editor:

(The following letter to Legislative Councilman Kevin Fitzgerald has been received for publication in The Newtown Bee.)

Dear Mr Fitzgerald,

I was shocked to learn last Friday that Newtown’s current proposed budget had been raised by the legislative council in spite of it having been voted down on two previous occasions.

It is incredulous to me that as a member of the majority of citizens who voted twice against having our taxes raised I now find it necessary to write to you to clarify what No means. When I voted No on the previous two proposed budget increases I relied on the fact that a No vote means No. It has traditionally, historically, and logically always meant No and has never meant yes. That is No, the proposed budget increases are too high and need to be lowered.

It is sad state of affairs that as I prepare to vote No for a third time, the Legislative Council’s recent Orwellianly perverted twisting of the meaning of this most common and simplest of words leaves me in the ridiculous position that: If I vote Yes you will increase my taxes and If I vote No you will increase my taxes. This referendum is a farce, it has been manipulated by the pro education faction so that an outcome favoring their view is a foregone conclusion!

I must point out that we are currently going through the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression. This town’s budget must reflect the economic realties of the taxpayers who have to fund it.

To reiterate the obvious one more time, No is not the new yes, No still means No.

Regards,

Glenn Kessler

Newtown Taxpayer

5 The Old Road, Newtown                                                  June 8, 2010