AMAZON PLEASE STAY AWAY (WINK, WINK)

Dozens of states, including Connecticut, are wooing Amazon to build its second headquarters in
their state. Sunday, The Courant published a series of pitches from readers aimed at getting
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos to bring his company here. My pitch is radically different, depending on the
well-known negotiating principle known as reverse psychology.

Dear Mr. Bezos,

Please stay away. We don't want you and your kind. That's why we lost nearly 8,000 college-
educated young people last year and nearly 4,000 high-earning taxpayers. A strong fiscal wind is
blowing them to distant shores.

Here's the story.

We're completely broke, with tens of billions of dollars of unfunded pension and bond obligations and
a projected two-year state deficit of more than $3 billion.

For an entire generation, the idealistic bleeding hearts who ran our state didn't see this coming. And
now, our elected politicians are refusing to do their most important job, which is to compromise for
the greater good.

As of today, we're experiencing the longest-running budget stalemate in history. Last February, Gov.
Dannel P. Malloy released a tough and realistic budget. In response, our legislators bickered and
dickered on our dime for four months. On June 7, they left for vacation with their work unfinished. On
June 30, Connecticut's government began running on guesswork in a state capital teetering on the
edge of bankruptcy. Following a full marathon of ineffectiveness, our governor had no choice but to
impose an emergency budget by executive order. The primal screams were heard statewide.

Having been prodded awake by their constituents, the legislators emerged from their deep sleep by
overreacting. Three Democratic legislators boldly voted to pass the Republican budget. Being a
middle income independent with an equal balance of conservative and liberal impulses, I celebrated
this political aisle crossing until I saw the details. Among the many cuts was a draconian $300 million
whack at UConn, the state's flagship university. Apparently, our legislature wants to send this
economic engine and workforce training place back to mediocrity.

As promised, Gov. Malloy vetoed that ill-conceived budget proposal. In response, the Republicans in
the legislature worked to override the veto, but failed. This forced them to get serious about
compromising. So, instead of enjoying New England's autumnal splendor on Columbus Day
weekend, legislators drove to Hartford for meetings. This week, legislative leaders say they are
nearing a vote on a new budget plan. Recent history suggests a continued, self-inflicted, masochistic
failure.

Please stay away.

Sincerely,

Robert M. Thorson
P.S. By now, you must have figured out that I was practicing reverse psychology. Having gotten you
interested, I now want you to know that I was pulling your leg. Connecticut would be a perfect place
to relocate your headquarters, provided that we repopulate our legislative branch with a team willing
to do its job. At that point, the Connecticut I know best will rise up once again.

Location. Location. Location. We've got it all. Central Connecticut lies at the heart of the
northeastern metropolitan corridor, being nearly equidistant from more-expensive and far-more
crowded New York and Boston. We're served by splendid Bradley International Airport. Public
ground transportation is improving each year. Real estate is relatively affordable. The diverse
workforce is among America's best educated and talented. A circle drawn around Hartford reaches
seaside villages and beautiful beaches within an hour. In other directions, that same circle encloses
rolling terrain rising to the east, north and west. Hundreds of historic towns pepper this bucolic
landscape. This is ruburbia - a contraction of rural and suburban - at its best.

Inland from the immediate shore, and outside the floodplains of rivers, there are no serious natural
hazards to cope with. Our stable soils are elevated, gently sloping, well drained and well watered.
Our trees filter the air, buffer strong winds and promote infiltration to recharge aquifers, rather than
enhance runoff to create floods.

Like you, I've lived and worked in Seattle above the shores of urban Lake Union. I relocated to
Connecticut and found happiness. I believe you and your employees could do the same.