Engaged Citizen

Steve Gerling: At the Trail’s End

By Engaged Citizen | November 9, 2010 |

I can’t say I wasn’t warned; Rhode Island is a tough place for a Republican to run for office. It just came out one day at an East Providence GOP meeting. Someone asked; “Do we have anyone running for Senate 18?” The next thing I knew, everyone was looking at me. Even my wife, who…

James Haldeman: the First Declared General Assembly Candidate for 2012

By Engaged Citizen | November 8, 2010 |

While all of us, candidates and voters alike, recover from our political hangover, I am eager to announce that the Haldeman Campaign 2012 for State Representative, District 35 has already begun its planning process! I am very grateful to all my supporters, and I’m inspired to push forward by virtue of the 48% who voted…

Daniel: Freitas: Who Is the “Denier”?

By Engaged Citizen | October 29, 2010 |

In a recent Congressional district 1 debate, David Cicilline asked John Loughlin what his evidence was that pollution is not causing global warming. If he asked this so that he could truly examine the evidence for himself, that would be a noble thing. But Cicilline appears uninterested in the evidence. It seems he would rather…

Mark Zaccaria: An Extra Engine for the Joint Strike Fighter?

By Engaged Citizen | October 15, 2010 |

With U.S. troops fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq, the federal budget deficit estimated at from $1.3 to $1.5 trillion and the economy in a deep downturn, the nation needs to get real value for every dollar that we spend on national defense. Unfortunately, many members of the House and Senate, including Rep. Jim Langevin (D-RI),…

Mark Zaccaria: Lobstering Moratorium Another Example of Bad Government Policy

By Engaged Citizen | July 27, 2010 |

In a climate of increasing regulation from Washington, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission recently recommended a five year moratorium be placed on lobster fishing all along the Atlantic seaboard. While the decision was fortunately voted down, it still represents a growing trend of dangerous restrictions being placed on individuals and industries by uninformed and…

Dave Talan: “ULTRA-LIBERAL DEMOCRAT STATE LEGISLATOR RE-ELECTED UNOPPOSED; R.I. REPUBLICANS FAIL TO PUT UP CANDIDATE!!”

By Engaged Citizen | June 27, 2010 |

On Thursday morning of this week, that is the headline that some of you might be reading in your local newspaper. UNLESS somebody comes forward to run in the next few days. All candidates for State Legislature must file their Declaration Of Candidacy, at the City or Town Hall in the community where they are…

David Potts: Enforcing the Constitution Is Our Responsibility

By Engaged Citizen | June 15, 2010 |

One of the largest, if not the largest, fault lines dividing American politics today is that between progressives and liberals — and by liberals, I mean conservatives. Since the theme of this post is the need to restore some honesty to philosophical debate, I am starting by attempting to reclaim the word “liberal” from the…

Senator Marc Cote: A Call to Action – Representative Government at Risk in RI

By Engaged Citizen | June 8, 2010 |

If you or members of your family are currently unemployed, please take notice of the following. Whether or not you’ve spoken out about past government abuse, now is the time to be heard! Last week’s orchestrated procedural shenanigans by the leadership of the State Senate to stifle debate and deliberation, and temporarily kill reasonable legislation…

William Felkner: The Treacherous Waters of Deepwater Wind (Part Two of Two)

By Engaged Citizen | June 8, 2010 |

Add it all up and that rounds [down] to the paltry sum of $500 million or half a billion dollars above and beyond what we could buy renewable energy for from the market (are we talking about real money yet?). The Deepwater sales pitch contains ephemeral “system benefits” and glowing statements about how we can…

William Felkner: The Treacherous Waters of Deepwater Wind (Part One of Two)

By Engaged Citizen | June 7, 2010 |

The Deepwater Wind Project will be heard in both the House and Senate on Tuesday in a last minute attempt to pass legislation that will burden Rhode Islanders with a $500 million “Windmill Tax”. Supporters of the Project (which appears to be just the Governor and Deepwater Wind) say the price, 24¢/KWH escalating to 47¢/KWH,…