CT Blue

I haven’t had much luck getting letters published by the New London Day, so I thought I’d publish this one here. 

Readers of the Day might be interested to know that State Senator Heather Somers, who “represents” the people of the 18th District, in which I reside, recently cast one of only two negative votes against a bill that would require diaper changing tables in the restrooms in all newly constructed buildings.

It is a rare event nowadays when any bill attracts such widespread bipartisan support, but then, anyone who’s been a parent, even most Republicans, can appreciate the desirability of such a requirement, particularly in light of the negligible cost involved, as it applied only to new construction.

But not our Heather.

From what I am given to understand, Somers voted against the bill because she is against “overregulation”. Regulations are what we use when people who run businesses put profits before people. It started with regulations curtailing the free market practice of selling rotting meat to the public, which, by the way, the current Republican Administration in Washington, agreeing with the Somers philosophy, is seeking to curtail, proposing to put the rotten meat selling capitalists in charge of policing the slaughterhouse. Republicans are against regulations, except where those regulations have the effect of suppressing the vote or shoveling money toward the rich, in which case, they can’t get enough of them.

Heather has been blessed with a charmed political life. She has one outstanding talent: the ability to avoid taking a firm position on almost any issue while at the same time making it appear that she supports whatever side the listener happens to favor. She also is a favorite of the New London Day, which would never think to report on a vote such as the one above, and can always be counted on to look the other way when Somers casts a vote for which it would heap scorn on a Democratic. But, as the Day pointed out in a recent editorial, this makes perfect sense, because while we must count on Democrats to do the responsible thing, Republicans have the right to play politics with important issues, and, while it would be nice if they would do the right thing, it would be unfair to expect them to do so. 

Still, Heather has a lot of work ahead of her if she wants to hit the big time. Though Heather has proven herself to be in the top 1% on the callousness scale here in Connecticut, nationwide, she’s a piker. Preventing parents from having a place to change diapers really pales beside, for instance, claiming that critical care nurses spend their days playing cards. Still, you have to give Heather credit for trying, and, given enough time, she may up her game and qualify for national recognition.