Politics
and Government
The
evolution of parties has had little real impact on the actual
government of the state. Once a candidate captures the governor's
chair or gains a majority in the General Assembly, Connecticut's
politicians tend to support the status quo. With few exceptions,
there are no attempts at sudden change or sweeping reform; rather,
there persists the same love of tradition and respect for economy
which characterized earlier political groups.
The
rural interests are the least progressive elements in the state.
Their character shows clearly in their approaches toward government,
social changes, and economic development. Basically, small town
Connecticut believes that the best government is the least government.
Citizens demand good order and propriety from their leaders. But
they most of all demand economy.
The
state's urban areas, moreover, have and are developing in ways
quite different from the rural villages. In addition to offering
a more cosmopolitan and sophisticated life, the cities face more
complex problems, as they are challenged by industrialization,
population growth, and arriving immigrants. Yet as the urban areas
grew, their people, outlook, and problems have and continue to
receive a decreasing proportion of attention in the General Assembly.
The
following sections provide a brief description of the state's
current socio-economic characteristics and profile the current
structure of state and local governments, both of which are directly
influenced by our constitutional form of governance and by the
politics adopted by the political parties.
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