Exactly how much political courage has Gov. Patrick shown recently, with his vetoes of pension increases for state retirees and eliminating some police details? He's certainly been getting very congratulatory press on his recent work.
Jay and I have been exchanging emails over the subject; Jay's not so impressed by the “courage” aspect, although he does seem to be encouraged by the general direction of things. And so I asked him, “If it doesn't take political courage to get rid of the details, how come no one's done it until now?” I might add that the state police are reputed to be one of the most active and feared interests on Beacon Hill, and they've taken previous governors down a peg or three.
I take Jay's point: It really shouldn't be a big deal for a governor to get rid of a program that's perceived as a taxpayer boondoggle by, well, everyone except the police. It also shouldn't be a big deal for a governor to sign a law that tries to rationalize some of the more insanely wasteful parts of our health care culture (I won't call it a “system”). It shouldn't be a big deal for a governor to decide an issue on the merits, instead of on whether it placates certain interests deemed “powerful”.
But we all live in the real world. We know how this state has been run. It is a big deal — so far mostly on a symbolic level, although the health care cost control law has fairly big money riding on it. (Jay's got more ideas as to next steps — mainly involving pension/benefit reforms; all good points.)
For argument's sake, let's take the whole question of the personal attributes of Gov. Patrick out of the discussion. Here's a governor that actually feels comfortable, feels able, to side with the interests of the state as a whole, rather than feeling that he always has to play the inside-the-building game. If you worked for Patrick on the campaign, if you demonstrated your own power outside the building, this is what you worked for. Call it courage, call it Deval knowing where his bread is buttered. But it's definitely a change.
Pass the butter. More, please.
all in all, not a terrible learning curve. My only major critique of the admin so far was his stubbornness on casinos. I feel like that will be a lingering problem, but I’m confident we’ll be able to block it if it comes back up again.
we still have to wait and see how these are implemented. Unless they become reality, the “courage” could come from knowing that someone else will overrule you. I hope not.
Is it financial power, or power as a voting bloc, or what? By law, they are unable to strike, but they are always described as though they are running the show. Are these unions (AFSCME, teachers, fire depts, state police, etc.) really all that powerful?
Union membership is at a low nationally and in the Commonwealth . Of those in unions (or any other constituent group), voting and engagement is down.
<
p>So, I don’t think it’s about proportional political power. Maybe those PAC contributions matter since few non-special interest folks seem to throw out $500 checks.
<
p>What I observe is an archaic relationship with union leadership that offers them unparallel influence including having the president of the AFL-CIO a PLEO. The party has not changed to reflect the working middle class.
The world is run by the people who show up – and unionized state/municipal workers INVARIABLY show up at the polls. Anyone out there with a town meeting knows that when a police or fire contract is up for ratification, ALL the policement are there to vote ‘aye’ – and unfortunately, most saunter out en masse when they have secured their raise, and ditch the welfare of the town.
<
p>Union membership is increasingly confined to such government workers, and when they ‘enforce’ their contract and leave the way they often do, it doesn’t do much for public appreciation of their service.
<
p>If you live in a city, you’ve never seen this – but it happens on a less dramatic level with union reps sauntering over to individual city councillors and telling THEM that they can put the kibosh on their reelection with ‘membership’.
<
p>In a culture where at-large voter participation is increasing devalued as ‘my vote won’t count’ a solid bloc of people voting on their own interests can at least be counted on to bother to vote – hence, their disportionate and somewhat conflict-of-interest laden influence will persist.
They’re organized, and they show up, and they vote. Civic engagement!
<
p>They know that something’s at stake. So does everyone else.
The majority of people I’ve met working on campaigns for Democratic candidates in recent years have been teachers, other union members – postal workers, IBEW, SEIU – and members of the glbt community. If you don’t have money to buy access, showing up and working is a fine way to make your concerns heard. Our system is designed to balance competing interests. The problem isn’t that police unions are self-interested enough to want to keep the paid details. It’s that so few people outside of that interest group write, call or otherwise engage with their representatives to make their support for ending them known.
To: Delegates to Denver
<
p>Letter recently submitted, neither written nor put forward by me, to the Boston Globe. We will see if the Globe has the courage to publish it. Clearly, the author possessed courage!
<
p>Text of Letter:
<
p> Democratic pundits can’t seem to put their finger on “What’s wrong with Kansas’. They continue to insist that voters from Ohio. Michigan and Pennsylvania are simply numb to innovation – or are hypnotized by the shopworn but safe ‘American Values’ rhetoric. So these gurus have concluded that call for ‘CHANGE’ by Senator Obama should be muted because they worry that it threatens the core beliefs of America’s heartland electorate
<
p> Regrettably, the pundits have lost sight of one of the secrets of American greatness. Throughout my professional life I have worked with engineers and inventors who grew up in the wide open spaces of the Midwest. Their enthusiasm generating answers to almost impossible problems never ceases to impress me. They smile as they describe a new solution as ‘a one or two walk around the barn ‘solution. To them, openness to new solutions is what America is all about.
<
p> Obama people, listen up. You have to remind the Kansans that change is in their bones. Two of their blue collar heroes by the names of Purvis and Wilson invented the helicopter. Ohio native sons Thomas Edison and the Wright brothers will forever be remembered as epitomes of new thinking. As for Pennsylvania, one of their own, Herbert Boyer, is considered the father of genetic engineering and the new area of biotechnology. Michigan doesn’t have to take a back seat to the new thinking approach. In the last century they gave us Henry Ford and more recently William Hewlett, cofounder of the innovative HP company and Larry Page cofounder of Google.
<
p> Now that I think of it, reminding the whole country that companies like Apple, HP, 3M, Walmart, and Mac Donalds are great examples of the flexible thinking and ability to change that really define us.
<
p> Obama people, your task is really easy, ‘Reignite the flame of change and creativity’ that naturally burns in the hearts and heads of the American people.
<
p>——————————————————————–
<
p>Invitation:
<
p>Make Your Voice Heard! An Issues Meeting before Denver!
<
p>A gathering of Democrats to impact the message that our party’s platform sends. We, in Essex County, have not only our share of congressional district delegates from the Fifth and Sixth CD’s; we also have a statewide delegate to the Democratic National Convention.
<
p>Let’s make our voices heard in Denver and across the nation! This is an unparalleled opportunity for the people of Essex County and northeastern Massachusetts!
<
p>Dress is summer casual. Wear your campaign buttons and bring your own lemonade.
<
p>Ample parking nearby.
<
p>In the event of inclement weather, this activity will take place indoors at Gallo Nero Pizzeria Ristorante, 89 Main Street in Peabody at 11 a.m. on the same date.
<
p>Time: Saturday, August 16 at 10:00 AM
<
p>Duration: 2 hours
<
p>Location: Front porch
18 Chestnut Street
Peabody, Mass.
<
p>Affiliated Group: North Shore for Obama
<
p>Directions: Next to City Hall, one block from Peabody Square.
<
p>From Route 128 take the Lowell Street exit in Peabody, follow Lowell Street towards downtown for a bout a mile, then just after City Hall take a right onto Chestnut Street.
<
p>