Blue Mass Group

Representative Ruth Balser’s announcement that she is a candidate for Mayor of Newton has been rescheduled for Sunday, February 8, 2009, 7:30 pm at the Memorial-Spaulding Elementary School Library, 250 Brookline St.* *Park in the Teacher’s Parking Lot at the side of the school. The entrance to the school from the parking lot leads directly to the library. *Handicap Accessible

David Leonhardt, one of my favorite NYT journalists, lays it out in the cover story of this week’s Sunday magazine, “The Big Fix”:

Last year, two labor economists, Claudia Goldin and Lawrence Katz, published a book called “The Race Between Education and Technology.” It is as much a work of history – the history of education – as it is a work of economics. Goldin and Katz set out to answer the question of how much an education really matters. …

Goldin’s and Katz’s thesis is that the 20th century was the American century in large part because this country led the world in education. The last 30 years, when educational gains slowed markedly, have been years of slower growth and rising inequality.

Their argument happens to be supported by a rich body of economic literature that didn’t even make it into the book. More-educated people are healthier, live longer and, of course, make more money. Countries that educate more of their citizens tend to grow faster than similar countries that do not. The same is true of states and regions within this country. Crucially, the income gains tend to come after the education gains. What distinguishes thriving Boston from the other struggling cities of New England? Part of the answer is the relative share of children who graduate from college. The two most affluent immigrant groups in modern America – Asian-Americans and Jews – are also the most educated. In recent decades, as the educational attainment of men has stagnated, so have their wages. The median male worker is roughly as educated as he was 30 years ago and makes roughly the same in hourly pay. The median female worker is far more educated than she was 30 years ago and makes 30 percent more than she did then. …

Education – educating more people and educating them better – appears to be the best single bet that a society can make.

All of which is to say that rather than spending time and political capital on casinos, which no matter how financially successful they are will never be much more than a rounding error for the state’s overall economy, the Governor and the legislature should focus on ways to invigorate one of our greatest strengths: our educational institutions. We didn’t get to be the second richest state in the country because of our prowess at slots.

Complete excerpt after the flip. Find the whole piece here.

It looks to me that Sam Yoon will be announcing soon for Mayor.  A friend sent me to this blog site: http://www.aaa-fund.com/?p=1393

FULL DISCLOSURE: I do not own any WAMU stock. And, for obvious reasons, this is cross-posted at REDMASS.

Stimulus, my anatomy! The Democrats want to give away money, and raise taxes to pay for the giveaway. The Republicans want to reduce taxes on the corporations, and reduce payroll taxes for one year.

Both are truly STUPID ideas. That’s STUPID, with a capital ASS, which both Democrats and Republicans have on backwards.

Herewith, after much consternation and consideration, I present the Chimpschump Five-Point Economic Moneysaving Plan (hereafter CHEMP-5):

Sorry to get all parochial on everyone … If the federal money comes through, the Green Line will go all the way out to Route 16 in Medford, i.e. by the Whole Foods/Starbucks/Sav-Mor/WOW area. Good stuff — though obviously not as good as going out to West Medford and getting the connection with the commuter rail. “While we expect that this alternative will qualify for federal funding, the decision to extend to Route 16 is contingent upon federal participation,” said Aloisi. “Extending the Green Line terminus to Mystic Valley Parkway will bring rapid transit service to East Cambridge, Somerville and Medford neighborhoods that have waited a long time for rail transit.  “The Green Line Extension will advance community plans for smart growth and urban redevelopment and provide environmental justice communities with faster rides to jobs and destinations,” he continued.  “EOT is very pleased to advance this project and we will continue to work with local officials to make it very successful.” Hey, you ever hear of this Aloisi? Seems like a swell guy. Addendum: paddynoons says damn the permits, full steam ahead.

With Daschle out, who should the President nominate for HHS?  How about Dr. Howard Dean?  He’s been speaking out on healthcare reform lately.  What do you think?

I just got a robocall from, well, not 100% sure, but it was either Obama’s campaign team or Obama supporters. So, here’s how it worked. The script basically said (in more detailed, eloquent fashion), ‘President Obama supports health care for all Americans. Please press 1 if you support it now.’ I pressed one. Then it thanked me, quickly talking about how important health care is quickly, and giving me another option. ‘It is critical that the Senate support President Obama’s health care plan. If you would like to contact your current senators, please press 1 and we will automatically forward you.’ Again, these aren’t anywhere near exact quotes, just how the phone call went – and, again, I’m not 100% sure who paid for the robocall. However, I think it was pretty genius as a way to get people to directly contact their elected leaders. In fact, I can’t think of a better, more effective way. Anyone else get one of these robocalls or knows more?  

November 24 was the last regularly scheduled condemnation, but I think it is high time to condemn Tom Daschle, so no one thinks we’re behind. Here are some exclusively liberal voices on Mr. Daschle.

For condemning, there’s no sharper liberal progressive than Matt Taibbi:

When Obama picked Tom Daschle to be the HHS Secretary, I nearly shit my pants. In Washington there are whores and there are whores, and then there is Tom Daschle. Tom Daschle would suck off a corpse for a cheeseburger. True, he is probably only the second-biggest whore for the health care industry in American politics

Glenn Greenwald:

 Environment Massachusetts applauds Representative Markey for introducing a bill to protect Georges Bank, an immensely productive fishing area about 60 miles off the coast of Cape Cod, and other marine sanctuaries around the coasts from the pollution of offshore oil and gas drilling. Congress allowed the annual moratorium on expanded drilling to lapse on September 30, 2008, at which time  the Bush administration released a proposed five year drilling program that would allow drilling as close as 3 miles to Cape Cod and the entire New England shoreline. “Protecting the unique marine ecosystem of Georges Bank and other marine sanctuaries from the dangers of offshore drilling is a critically important now that Congress has let the moratorium on offshore drilling lapse,” said Winston Vaughan, of Environment Massachusetts. He added, “We must see an end to the annual battle over protecting our nation’s coastline. It’s time for Congress to reinstate the offshore drilling moratorium and make it permanent.” “Many of our fish populations are rebounding and our marine mammals and turtles are finally receiving the protections they need. We can’t go backwards and allow their special places to be threatened by drilling,” said Vaughan. ### Environment Massachusetts is a statewide, membership [...]

Kudos to the state for not listening to the NIMBYs and proposing to extend the Green Line all the way to Route 16 in Medford.   http://www.boston.com/news/loc… There are going to be billions available in mass transit stimulus if and when Congress ever passes a final bill.  But the state won’t be able to use those funds for this project because it’s not “shovel-ready.”  This project has been on the books since before the Big Dig started.  And the plan is for the line to run on/near existing commuter rail tracks, so you’re not talking about massive eminent domain, demolition, re-grading, etc.  And the plan is for a line extension, so we already have the subway cars, personnel, etc.  Are you seriously telling me we can’t get this done within 24 months?  Back in the 1930s, they could have gotten the whole done in six months.  To hell with the permits and lawsuits and endless hearings… Just. Start. Building. It.