Blue Mass Group

I always find it galling when I see some who, in their pursuit of maligning and belittling Barck Obama, actually come across as rooting against America. A great example of that is the practice of always trying to undermine good employment news by focusing on the numbers of people who have dropped out of the labor force. Now I remember years back how Republicans never focused on labor force participation rates when liberals brought up issues related thereto in their arguments about the effectiveness of conservative economic policies as they related to employment. Thus I find it somewhat ironic as to just how much conservatives have come around to seeing the labor force drop out rate as an issue when once upon a time they had ignored it completely or spun it so as to lessen its importance. Now a guy named Massimo Calabresi has written an article that completely blows the latest criticism of the improving employment situation right out of the water: “January Jobs Report”: Good News for the Economy, Bad News for the Pessimists: http://swampland.time.com/2012/02/03/january-jobs-report-good-news-for-the-economy-bad-news-for-the-pessimists/?xid=thepage_newsletter#ixzz1lPZA3oLg   Here are a few of the high points: “Some Obama opponents are struggling to find a cloud in the silver lining of January’s jobs numbers, which estimated that there was [...]

Now here’s a compelling question. Does the G.O.P. and the conservative elite need to doctor up Mitt Romney so as to make him seem conservative enough to be electable? It’s no secret that large numbers of conservatives don’t see Romney as a fellow traveler and that poses two great risks to the G.O.P., the prospect of a third party bid, a sure formula for defeat, or the other equally unattractive option, a conservative voters strike on election day. If conservative voters decide to “hold their noses and vote for Romney” so much the better for the Republican elite. They’re more than happy to co-opt the votes of the far right so long as they don’t have to let them into those “quiet rooms” where they actually formulate policy.   Since Romney’s Florida primary victory and since his latest gaffe, there has been a raft of criticism from the right, aimed directly at him. Representative of these attacks is Jonah Goldberg who penned “What’s Wrong With This Guy?”; to wit:”Congratulations to Mitt Romney for his big win last night. It was a win that, Romney supporters hoped, would help bury concerns about his ability to seal the deal to do what it takes.  But I’m [...]

We’ve heard the refrain time and time and time again, our deficits have to come down, we can no longer sustain this sort of spending or this scope of government. We’ll to those who seem to think that somehow replacing the Obama administration with a Republican one will somehow, as if by magic make a real difference in deficit levels, need to come to another realization as well. Its not just Barack Obama who has a problem with the nature of the deficit, so do his opponents. Consider this from veteran political reporters Michael Cooper and David Kocieniewski who wrote, “Higher Deficits Seen in Romney’s Tax Plan, and His Rivals’, Too”; http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/19/us/politics/romneys-tax-bill-and-gop-deficit-problems.html?_r=1&emc=eta1   What these two political analysts pointed out was: “When Mitt Romney suggested this week that he pays a lower tax rate than most wealthy Americans do, he refocused attention on his tax proposals — which, like those of his major Republican rivals, would largely cut taxes for the rich while driving down tax collections and widening the nation’s deficit. Mr. Romney’s tax plan — which calls for permanently extending the Bush administration’s tax cuts, reducing the corporate income tax rate and eliminating the estate tax — would cut the [...]

Like anyone who has been dumped, shunned or just left; Massachusets tech scene is asking why me, why us, why did Facebook move to the Valley. We don’t even ask about Microsoft, the other Harvard drop out who changed an industry. And while Menino is pushing the innovation center, Harvard lauches the “IPO” lab etc. How about a bold Idea- Founder shares are tax free in Mass. Yes, if you are a founder and sell shares in your company here; you pay no tax. It changes the view of Mass not being business friendly. It gives a direct incentive for the key decision maker to stay( or move ) here. It costs the state very little and would be move than off set by taxing the rest of the companies shareholders. In Facebooks case Mass would get 6% of 50-  $70 bln instead of zero. not to mention jobs and the growth they create

Should Whole Foods Market customers have to sign a release just to learn about Engine 2 plant based healthy eating?… E2 28 Day Challenge Program Release I am proud to participate in an opportunity, offered by Whole Foods Market, Inc. (“WFM”) to expand my knowledge relating to nutrition. I acknowledge that my participation the E2 28 Day Challenge (“Program”) is strictly voluntary. Because participation in the Program may present risks, I will use my good judgment and reasonable care for my own safety and the safety of others. By signing this form, I acknowledge, agree, and understand that my participation is voluntary, and I assume the risks associated with the Program and all its related activities. I, for myself, my heirs, personal representatives or assigns, knowingly and voluntarily do hereby release, acquit, waive, forever discharge, and covenant not to sue WFM, its parent, subsidiaries, affiliates, and related companies together with their respective managers, members, officers, directors, employees, agents, representatives, attorneys, invitees, customers, insurers, successors and assigns (the “releasees”), irrespective of releasees’ negligence, from and against any and all liabilities, costs and expenses (including without limitation, any reasonable fees and expenses of its attorneys and consultants) relating to or arising out [...]