Arthur Schaper: Todd Giroux: Liberty Democrat for RI Governor
Friday, May 09, 2014
A conservative friend of mine informed me about a dark-horse, brass-ring candidate for Rhode Island Governor. Quixotic yet ardent, a hardened unlikely “Liberty Democrat” candidate, Todd Giroux is preparing a fantastic if believable campaign.
Born in Woonsocket, raised in North Smithfield (GOP minority leader Newberry’s territory), Giroux is standing up to Wall Street’s control of the Rhode Island Statehouse. Blasting the precedent-setting pension reforms, Giroux indicted Treasurer Gina Raimondo, herself running on the Democratic Party, because she is getting campaign cash from corporations, including the former Enron executive John Arnold.
When it comes to blaming Wall Street to save Main Street, that argument clunks along like a beat-up car on a potholed street in Providence. (Thanks again, Cicilline!)
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTWall Street bad. Main Street good. But how many voters, union members, public sector employees have voted in the same status quo of spend now, tax more, and balance later. Then again "bad voters, must vote better” won’t bring in the votes, will it?
At least Giroux brings a populist beat to the Providence statehouse.
What’s Giroux’s jag a beef with the pension reforms, anyway?
Those reforms are going to prevent $4 billion of consumer spending here in Rhode Island and eliminate nearly five billion from pensioners who have earned that money. That affects education the children of our state, tax revenue, investment . Those people chose to work as firemen police, putting their lives and future in danger.
I started differing with Giroux right there. Public employees (police and fire) do put their lives on the line, but strictly speaking they do not earn a pension, as much as they agree to a retirement plan paid out mostly by the city. Furthermore, these lavish agreements between statehouse and union hall have turned into n easy street of middle-class public workers into another 1% entitle class based on an uneasy redistribution of wealth from the silenced taxpayers.
Should City councils pledge hundreds of millions of future residents’ money?
I asked Giroux’s thoughts about the Central Falls bankruptcy.
We do need consolidation to many municipal services in Rhode Island.
That would cut a lot of jobs, put a lot of Rhode Islanders out of work, would it not?
Differentiating himself from the other candidates, Giroux calls himself a Liberty Democrat
I understand the constitution and property rights. There are many politicians negotiating away our freedoms, liberties, and playing politics with our economic conditions. I am working here to defend property rights.
About helping the state economy, the candidate also shared: I support commerce loans.
Loans are crucial to entrepreneurship and expansion, but who will put up the money? Rhode Island?
On a positive note, Giroux is a staunch Second Amendment supporter. He spoke at a pro-2A rally in January this year.
About Obamacare and Health Source RI: It’s a model of affordable health care, I want continuity in the program so that all Rhode Islander s have access.
Apparently, Giroux missed the bipartisan memo: Rhode Island Dems and GOP want to scrap the state exchange and let the Feds run it: perfect example of bipartisanship. Giroux suggested bailing on the 38 Studios bailout to pay for the health exchange. After two years, though, what then?
Having no data polling his odds so far, Giroux also acknowledges that his conservative friend has not officially endorsed him, yet. A few candidates for prior local races have, including Tony Pallicio, the former IT Director for the Attorney General. (The same AG who had no knowledge about disgraced former Speaker Gordon Fox and his many investigation.)
Targeting independents for his campaign, (50% of Rhode Islanders), Giroux believes that his commitment to the Constitution will help him connect with voters.
Let’s talk about how the constitution has helped the majority of Americans, they have delivered us from slavery, equal rights for women, civil rights Act, marriage equality.
Once again, I tried to remind this gubernatorial candidate that the US Constitution does not speak strictly to marriage equality. Even last year’s Supreme Court decision struck down a few states’ marriage laws on procedural grounds, and a majority of states still do not recognize gay marriage, either.
There was no talking to him.
Pivoting back to revitalizing the Rhode Island economy, Giroux referred again to the plan for a commerce fund and an infrastructure fund.
Where would the money come from?
I am calling for Rhode Island’s Fair Share of the 2008 Economic Stabilization Act. That was the law passed to bailout the banks. There were a number of investments and incentives provided in that act. That allows for the reallocation of funds to communities.
On one hand, he supports property rights. On the other hand, he wants a big share of other Americans’ wealth, conscripted through taxation. What gives? At least he supports lower state, income, and property taxes.
But back to the big question: how is Rhode Island going to pay for all of these grand ideas?
Despite his lack of details and fuzzy understanding of key issues, Giroux’ passion pushed through, but will his enthusiasm engage Rhode Islanders to give this Liberty Democrat a chance?
We’ll see.
Arthur Christopher Schaper is a teacher-turned-writer on topics both timeless and timely; political, cultural, and eternal. A life-long Southern California resident, Arthur currently lives in Torrance. Follow him on Twitter@ArthurCSchaper, reach him at [email protected], and read more atSchaper's Corner and As He Is, So Are We Ministries.
Related Slideshow: PAC Spending in the 2014 Rhode Island Governor’s Race
With Election Day now just months away, GoLocal took a look at PAC spending in the Rhode Island gubernatorial campaigns.
Who is giving to who -- and how much? And what's worth more, the money or the grassroots support?
Below is look at recorded PAC giving by the candidates in their campaign finance reports for the 2013 calendar year, by quarter. Candidate Todd Giroux has an affadavit for an annual filing exemption.
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