Blue Mass Group

Reality-based commentary on politics.

Where are the ghosts of Massachusetts Past when Scrooge McMassachusetts needs them?

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The size and difficulty of the fights I have had in trying to get residential care for children who were psychotic, who really really needed that level of care have dramatically increased each year [except for some hopeful signs of change towards the end of 2007 with the change of DSS Commissioners].  In part, the Rosie D. v.  Romney suit may be to thank as well.  http://fcsn.org/conference/wor…

If you look at it, the number of residential addiction treatment beds was over 1000 in 2002 – and barely 500 in 2004.

The only beds increasing in number are the prison beds, where the “care” is more like 1850 then what was available in 1995 in state facilities.  Further, that decrease in state jobs decreased the overall number the number of stable state jobs, which formed one of the entires into the middle class for minorities and struggling families.  Our tax and job cuts actually cost this state jobs and income that has NOT been recreated.  http://www.cbpp.org/1-12-05sfp…

In the rush to privatization and smaller government that characterized the last decade, Massachusetts cut more state jobs [so I am told – I can look for a good cite] then nearly any other state.

We are one of the three wealthiest states – but rushing back into the dark ages where if someone is ill, not a member of the elite, and limited in any fashion we give them Darwinian treatment and apparently hope they will not propagate.  If possible, too, we remove their children, terminate their parental rights, and then celebrate our acts in so doing in National Adoption Day.

I continue to believe that I will be judged one day not on what I own, or have achieved, but on how I treat “the least of these” and what level of kindness, compassion, and self-discipline I have exhibited.

“Cost” as a mantra excludes kindness, compassion, and the understanding that some folk just plain need residential care and more help to have lives that are safe, let alone dignified.

As a matter of disclosure, I do accept some appointments to do guardian ad litem work at the “state rate” which does not include payment for travel time – and which is paid for by the Scroogian “Commonwealth of Massachusetts” even worse, and more slowly, then for court-assigned representation of the indigent.

The absence of care and concern in governance and in the hearts, souls, of those who would further this process by even eliminating the income tax appalls me.   The impact would be devastating on those with the least hope and sustenance already. http://www.massbudget.org/arti…

Merry Christmas Massachusetts.

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Comments

    • “We are indeed rushing back to a darker, more Darwinian time.  Then, to make ourselves feel better, we call it progress.”

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      p>That’s exactly right, Dave.  It’s not only happening here in the Bay State, but here in the United States as a whole.  

  2. But interesting observations nonetheless.

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    p>Sean Gonsalves had an interesting post on AlterNet last week, in which he says the following:

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    p>

    A popular misconception is that Darwin coined the phrase “survival of the fittest.” Actually, Darwin’s thing was “natural selection,” which turns out to involve lots of cooperation.

    The origin of “survival of the fittest” can be traced to British philosopher Herbert Spencer, who had an illustrious career justifying racism and imperialism with his pseudo-science 50 years after Darwin published The Origin of the Species.

    Spencer bastardized Darwin’s theory and attempted to apply his misunderstanding of evolution to politics and economics. Thus began a political tradition in this country that has reached its apogee today, in which public policy is seen as a vehicle to prevent the weak from being “parasites” on the “fit.”

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    p>The rest of the article is quite good — pertaining to the case of the marine biologist who was fired from his job at the Woods Hole Laboratory when he refused to particpate in work because it conflicted with his Creationist beliefs.

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    p>As for the social engineering of an elite or an aristocracy, it’s worth checking out Philip Agre’s 2004 work.

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    p>Of course Mr. Lynne would take me for task if I didn’t also mention Rob Altemeyer’s Authoritarians, while we’re (sorta) on the subject.

    • …indeed eugenics is an abominable misuse of science.  Darwinian evolution is a description of what is or was.  Spencerian “xocial Darwinism” is a prescription for what ought to be.  There is a rather substantial difference, which, apparently, more than a few people prefer to ignore.

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