More poison for sick state economy

All the hype out of state government isn't working. While Gov. Dannel P. Malloy buzzes around Connecticut as furiously as a hummingbird, touting and cajoling (and disparaging the blustering tax cutter over in New Jersey), Connecticut isn't changing much.

The machine of government grinds on, but a report last week by the Connecticut Center of Economic Analysis at the University of Connecticut says the recession here has been far worse than was thought and the state has fewer jobs than it had in 1988. Another report last week, by Connecticut Voices for Children, said the state's rich have gotten richer, its poor poorer, and its middle class smaller.

Unfortunately Connecticut Voices for Children recommends only more of the same policies that have been failing for so long.

"Guarantee high-quality universal preschool," the organization says, which also means keep subsidizing fatherlessness.

"Adequately fund local public schools and closing achievement gaps," as if Connecticut hasn't vastly increased education spending in the last 30 years without much affecting student performance.

"Support public community colleges and universities" - ditto.

"Strengthen the state's earned income tax credit" and "substantially raise the minimum wage," as if the money for such transfer payments won't be extracted from the productive, who, as the UConn study suggests, have been leaving or avoiding Connecticut.

"Increase investments in job training and growth industries," as if this can accomplish much when so many children still don't have a basic education upon leaving high school.

And, of course, "shield vital social services from punishing budget cuts."

Yes, don't exact any sacrifice from the government class, which has worked so hard raising taxes and coddling anti-social behavior to bring Connecticut down to its current condition.