Has politics become child’s play?

I magine a parent who would tell their children only what they wanted to hear, unconcerned with consequences.

Stay up as late as you want on a school night. If that nutritious dinner doesn’t appeal to you, skip it and have some ice cream and cookies. You don’t have to do that homework; you will still get good grades.

Of course, what do children know? If mom and dad say it’s OK, why not go with the flow.

Rather reminds me of a politician saying he can solve the complex problems surrounding immigration by simply building a massive wall. How are we going to pay for it? Don’t worry, we will make the other country pick up the tab.

Or promising a federal health policy, under which, “Everybody’s going to be taken care of much better than they’re taken care of now” and “We’re going to have insurance for everybody.” And it will cost less. That would be candidate Donald Trump.

How about a candidate who promises to make it all better by getting rid of that nasty old state income tax.

But, you ask, won’t that bankrupt a state already facing big projected deficits? Not at all, we will just find some waste, cut 5 percent, and get rid of that tax — and a few others — without inflicting any pain.

That would be Bob Stefanowski, Republican candidate for governor.

I guess the only question is; will voters act like children? Again.

Oz gets his shot

Petitioning gubernatorial candidate Oz Griebel will get his first chance to debate both Stefanowski and Democrat Ned Lamont at 7 p.m. next Wednesday at the University of Connecticut. WFSB Channel 3 will telecast the debate.

This is a huge opening for Griebel. He needs to grab some headlines with a message that presents him as a credible and preferable alternative to the major party candidates.

Griebel and Lamont participated in the first post-primary debate, which was live streamed, no TV. Stefanowski skipped that one. Griebel blew it, rambling on for several minutes at the start about his background, all of which news reports ignored.

The Griebel/Monte Frank ticket is also reportedly ready to launch its first commercial. It will depict Stefanowski and Lamont as tied like puppets to the parties and special interests, with the independent candidates being the no-strings alternative.

If the combination of a debate appearance and ad buy does not get Griebel’s numbers up in the polls, his candidacy will be effectively over.

Competition

There is only one uncontested race for state House and Senate seats in the area. Our politics may be more partisan than ever, but so many people being willing to step up and run is a positive.

The lone uncontested seat is likely to be New London’s 39th District, held by Democrat Rep. Chris Soto. There is a Republican on the ballot, K. Robert Lewis, but he considers himself a placeholder, awaiting a genuine GOP candidate to step forward. That option disappears about a month before the election.

With the state Senate split 18-18, one race in particular will get close attention. The 33rd Senate District seat is open, vacated by Sen. Art Linares to make an unsuccessful run for the Republican nomination for treasurer. The district consists of Chester, Clinton, Colchester, Deep River, East Haddam, East Hampton, Essex, Haddam, Lyme, Old Saybrook, Portland, and Westbrook and features two strong candidates.

Democrat Ned Needleman, first selectman of Essex, faces Rep. Melissa H. Ziobron, a Republican representing the 34th House District. Expect a close race. Paul Choiniere is the editorial page editor.