Blue Mass Group

Thanks to Kate for her post on how to personally take action to minimize your carbon footprint. All of these are great suggestions; apparently eating something other than meat is one of the biggest ways to decrease your personal footprint. But you know what? That alone isn’t going to do it. As I beat this drum constantly here and on our Twitter feed, we need to prioritize global warming as an issue now, and be in our elected leaders’ faces all the time about it. If we don’t do that, we’re fiddling while we burn. We are adding far too many greenhouse gases to the atmosphere, which our planet cannot take. We need to drastically and quickly reduce the carbon dioxide (CO2) level below 350 parts-per-million in our atmosphere. Research demonstrates that we’ve been at this level for about the last 200 years; over the last 30,000 years or so it’s been 275. We’re now at 392. Too high = too hot. The last time levels were this high was some 15-20 million years ago. On the right, cowed by Fox News’ steady drumbeat of climate denialism, politicians have observed there’s no electoral advantage in being concerned about climate — [...]

A lot of vigorous, alarming huffing and puffing comes from the bad guys on civil-right issues. In the half of the states that allow ballot referenda or initiative petitions, the wolves try to blow away the protections for groups of the other. We’re in that half with the vestige of the Progressive Era. As I type, good-hearted and smart-headed efforts to ensure citizen liberty struggle. Specifically,Senate 12 and House 1830 languish in the Joint Judiciary Committee instead of implementing sensible refinements. In case you missed that civics lesson, at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries, progressive sorts, true populists, had the best of intentions with these plebiscites. In reaction to corrupt legislators who passed bad laws for their bribers and cronies, citizens’ privilege to overturn those appeared. Likewise, citizens’ in many of these states can propose laws themselves. I’ve long referred to such ballot abuses as the flamethrower of populism. The wielders don’t care who or how many get burned, so long they can do the burning. Perverted safeguards Unfortunately but predictably, these options in half our states are now themselves corrupt. The bad guys in some states like California can put unfunded mandates on the ballot, can pass property-tax limits [...]

[Cross-posted from the ProgressMass blog.  Like ProgressMass on Facebook and follow on Twitter.] Welcome to the “Weekly Scott Brown-d Up.”  Last week wasn’t an especially good week for our Republican junior Senator, Scott Brown.  This week wasn’t any better for him. The big event kicking off the week was the U.S. Senate’s vote on the Buffett Rule, which, very simply, would ensure a minimum effective tax rate of 30% on millionaires and billionaires.  One can understand that the Mitt Romneys of the world could find the measure objectionable, given that Mitt Romney paid less than 14% in taxes, probably a lower rate than many of us paid.  Nevertheless, Scott Brown had a very clear choice before him.  He could either vote for tax fairness and for making sure that millionaires and billionaires pay more of their fair share; or, he could side with his Wall Street benefactors over Massachusetts middle class families. Moderate Maine Republican Senator Susan Collins joined almost every Democratic member of the U.S. Senate in a majority vote in favor of the Buffett Rule and in support of tax fairness.  However, in a U.S. Senate in which the Republican minority filibusters legislation at a historic rate, blocking [...]

Remember how Newt Gingrich so reverently and so often spoke about the need to be a good steward of the public’s money? Odd but the principle of fiscal sanity doesn’t seem to apply to Mr. Gingrich himself. Of late it’s come to the fore that Newt Gingrich is costing the American taxpayer $40 Thousand dollars a day for Secret Service protection according to Liz Marlantes of the Christian Science Monitor, who appeared on this morning’s Chris Matthews Show.   Gingrich, who’s campaign for the Republican nomination is effectively over, a fact that’s obvious to everyone save Newt himself, has now come under fire from tax activist groups as well who can’t help but point out the fiscal irresponsibility of Gingrich’s continued use of Secret Service protection: “For a guy who for all intents and purpose, and isn’t doing a lot of campaigning, needs to suspend his Secret Service detail,” said David Williams, president of the Taxpayers Protection Alliance in Alexandria, Va. “He needs to do what’s right for the taxpayer and say, ‘I’m done with Secret Service protection…Gingrich has the “Camp David” package of Secret Service, which includes but is not limited to six cars, six federal agents, four state troopers at a campaign stop, four local [...]

Today is Earth Day. Since it will be raining for most of the day, consider taking some time to reuse and recycle. Many people don’t realize that you can leave old towels, sheets  and just about any kind of fabric in the various collection boxes around town. This material is reused in products like rug pads and car upholstery stuffing.  It is an important opportunity to reduce the waste stream. As I have volunteered in Earth Day observances here in town, I have learned that many items can be reused.  For the environment and to save money, keep dry cleaning to a minimum, but when you do have something dry cleaned, you can return the coat hangers to the dry cleaner.  If you receive a floral arrangement or gift basket, most florists will happily accept baskets and vases. I’ve mentioned this to people and sometime people think that you could only return a vase to the florist who prepared the arrangement. Don’t worry – most florists will accept a basket or vase from anywhere. There are so many little things that people can do. Stop using bottled water. Eat vegetarian one day a week, or more. Walk when possible instead of driving. [...]