Letter to the editor submitted by Frank Salomone, Greenwich, April 30, 2018
Dear Editor,
It is a sad state of affairs in our country when you can’t voice opposition to a vote by elected politicians without being personally attacked. While Ms. Gladstone and the Fiscal Freedom group focused on Ms. Floren’s vote and the reasons to be against the National Popular Vote (NPV), other people have chosen to personally attack Ms. Gladstone. This is what is happening on college campuses now and the constant criticism when conservative positions are voiced. Personal attacks in the style of Michelle Wolf’s disgraceful performance at the White House Correspondents dinner and hyperbolic words are used rather than to just state facts, and follow up with logical questions.
Here are the facts. In the last three months alone:
Ms. Floren was the ONLY legislator in favor of taxing her own constituents 25 cents for a paper bag (and yes, the “fee” was a proposed tax as much as lipstick on a pig is still a pig.)
Ms. Floren was the sole deciding vote – and ONLY Republican – to push Justice McDonald to the senate vote.
Ms. Floren came out in an op ed praising children for protesting the second amendment and was silent about those protesting FOR keeping the second amendment.
Ms. Floren voted FOR the national popular vote (NPV).
Ms. Floren has been noticeably silent about the implementation of tolls in our state.
Ms. Floren, I disagree with all of the positions you have taken above, but will focus specifically on NPV.
The only reason most liberals are in favor of NPV is because Donald Trump won. Had the tables been reversed and Hillary won the electoral college and Trump won the popular vote, this would not be an issue. The fact that Ms. Floren voted for NPV (and every left wing liberal has come to her defense), marginalizing the votes of her own constituents, represents to me a disturbing lack of consideration for at least two reasons.
First, this country is not “America”, it is the United States of America. A collection of states bound together. As an extreme case, if over time the vast majority of the country lived in two states, and it went to an NPV system, what would be the point for the other states to stay in the Union? Why, Ms. Floren, are you aligning to marginalize your own constituents but also other smaller states that form our Union? It’s only going to cause more states to rightfully question their allegiance to our country.
Second, if every vote should count in an NPV system, why didn’t you propose that Connecticut split its Electoral Votes along the percent won by the popular vote? In the last election, approximately half would have each gone to President Trump and Mrs. Clinton. I’m sure states like New York and California would love to “Do The Right Thing” and split their votes to make sure their Republican constituents voices are heard.
If you are really for NPV then you should apply it along all lines including the Senate like it is done in the House. Instead of each state having two Senators, we should have it by population and have 30 Senators in New York and 1 in Connecticut. That would be only “fair”, right? Unless you want your country ruled by California and New York voters (and I am sure I do not), I would suggest more people write your State Senator today since, along with Ms. Floren’s vote, it has been sent to the Senate floor (in Greenwich ours is Scott Frantz) and tell them vote No to NPV.
I would also suggest people stop attacking people personally for having different views. Fight issues, not people.
Sincerely,
Frank Salomone
See also:
Letter: NPV Compact does no violence to the Electoral College (Joanna Swomley)
Letter: Gladstone Attack on Floren Unfounded and Unkind (Alexandra Bergstein)
Letter: Fiscal Freedom for CT Wrong to Attack Livvy Floren for Her Support of National Popular Vote (Sarah Darer Littman)
Fiscal Freedom for CT: Vote NO to NPV! (Laura Gladstone)
Livvy Floren: Voting Should Be Popular…With Everyone