Blue Mass Group

Reality-based commentary on politics.

Comments

  1. I was at the same event, and Mary was tireless – of the several hundred people present, I am absolutely certain Mary spoke with every single person.

      • Deval agrees that something must be done about it, and I am working on legislation.

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        p>As one wiser than I once said, “All that is necessary for evil to triumph is that good men [and women] do nothing” – the addition is mine.

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        p>Events like these are a wonderful chance for one on one discussion of problems, solutions, and ideas that matter.

  2. …and yes, Mary was great!  I signed up as well.

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    p>Did you see the Obama banner behind the food line?  That’s mine:

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    p>I’ll be using it for bridge standouts for the rest of the fall – I’m planning to stand out at lunch time on a bridge over 495 that’s near where I work, and we’ll be doing standouts on the Fruit Street Bridge over 495 in Hopkinton for the evening rush hour.  Email me if you’d like to stop by and wave at the traffic!

  4. LOVE the photos.

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    p>It was a fun picnic, and as always, it was great to see so many of the hardest-working, most far-sighted, most hopeful politicians and activists in Massachusetts.

  5. Because we’ll force the Democratic/communist state legislature to become fiscally responsible? Oops I forget, they know what to do with our money better than we do. Like keeping perv legislators (Marzilli) in office. Like hiring their friends and relatives. Binienda, Kujawski for starters. Please!

    • Here is a great link about this:

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      p>http://www.boston.com/bostongl…

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      p>The author who wrote this article is, I gather, working on a book demonstrating that “big government” drives prosperity.

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      p>One quote from the article:

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      , “Growing Public:” “It is well-known that higher taxes and transfers reduce productivity. Well-known – but unsupported by statistics and history.”
      Lindert’s work surveyed a century of data across numerous countries and found that high taxes and social spending did not slow the growth of productivity or GDP. Statistically speaking, Lindert found no relationship between the level of social spending and economic growth. High tax nations like Norway grow rapidly and produce high standards of living. Even the income per hour of work in nations like France and Germany is equal to or even exceeds America’s.,blockquote>

      Another great quote:

      Rather than harm the economy, the evidence shows that government spending, when done well, contributes critically to economic growth. Americans rely on the government for the free primary and high schools that educate the workforce. The government subsidizes college education and has built the immense transportation infrastructure that moves goods across the country and gets people to work. Federal, state, and local government have been essential to the nation’s health, building clean-water systems and developing vaccines that have eliminated or minimized diseases like diphtheria, tuberculosis, and polio. The government can waste money, too. But the national rhetoric about the economy needs to stop focusing on how to shrink the government, and start focusing on how best to use it.

      Government is a social tool.  In and of itself, government is neither good nor bad, really.  But increasingly research is demonstrating that good government, and good government spending drives economic growth and reduces the percentage of the population that lives in poverty.

      Sure – lets eliminate waste, cronyism, and corruption here and elsewhere – but lets not mindlessly repeal the income tax and castrate needed governmental services and initiatives.

    • She was tireless…she was worried she might have asked some people more than once, but did not want to miss anyone.  As I said, she is a public school teacher and worried about the impact of something as procrustean as a repeal of the income tax.  For info on “Procrustes”, from which my big word originates, go to: http://www.mythweb.com/teacher…

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      p>Why I used this reference is that if the general fund were reduced by this amount, then rather than trying to meet the needs of students, fix roads, or fund bio tech or green energy start ups, everything would need to be cut to fit.

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      p>In the current culture of selfishness shown by Billxi, the idea that investing in the future in a collective manner doesn’t pay off has taken root.  The article by Jeff Madrik about the way Big Government leads to economic growth provides a compelling argument for the opposite of Milton Freedman’s hypothesis that when government shrinks -the economy grows.

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      p>The “kill the beast” theory about shrinking government reminds me of Procrustes, who simply lopped off his guests feet to make sure they fit HIS bed.

  7. Without sitting here and attaching a pejorative label to any of the folks represented here——-may I ask a simple question? We obviousley must have a source of revenue on a statewide basis to keep the state running.

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    p>Why must “progressives” consistently give tacit approval to the state legislature to funnel off millions and possibly billions of taxpayer dollars to their frienda and family. Why should the taxpayers be saddled with paying for sign holders for hacks to be employed in non election years. Why should the average homeowner have to struggle to come up with property taxes to pay for ineffecient unproductive, underachieving schools, paying underproductive , underachieving teachers? Why should toll payers pay a dime on Rte 90 for a den of thieves?

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    p>Taxpayers are oissed off, progressives continue to elect and re elect the same tired thieves, nothing gets done, taxes go up—-and you don’t expect to have a revolution? This is a shock to you?

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    p>I’m going to vote for the abolishment of the state income tax and support others to do the same. I just want to send a message to those nitwits on Beacon Hill that we have to start from square one again. This dog don’t hunt no more.
    Our present relationship with the state legislature is nothing different from domestic abuse. As long as we allow the legislature to keep beating us—-they will.

    • Have you ever run for public office yourself?  

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      p>Just a few questions.   Oh, and did you read the article I cut and pasted in?

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      p>That is, MCRD, what do you do besides complain?

  8. Our present relationship with the state legislature is nothing different from domestic abuse. As long as we allow the legislature to keep beating us—-they will.

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    p>What an interesting analogy:  Domestic abuse akin to opposition to ‘Question One’.

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    p>Reading that comment I couldn’t help but think of what is known as the “cycle of violence”.   For those that have forgotten their Psych 101…   it is when an individual has (or perceives) themselves to have been victimized, to shed their feelings of powerlessness by victimizing another.

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    p>I will be voting NO on Question 1, because I care about those who would be hurt if the fiscally irresponsible initiative was to pass.   Question 1 is a dangerous proposition that would reduce state revenue by 40%…  where do you think the “cuts” will be made?  Where they are always made…  LOCAL AID.    

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    p>A “yes” vote on Question 1, is a vote to devastate your school system.  It is a vote to put public safety at risk by reducing the number of first responders (fire, police, and ambulances) and equipment in your community.  It is a vote to neglect your infrastructure.  It is a vote against desperately needed elder services.  It is a vote against maintaining your parks and fields.  It is a vote to guarantee a community dividing, Proposition 2 ½ override vote in your city or town.

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    p>Now, let’s make the assumption that none of the above is of value to you.  What do you think will happen to the bond rating of this state if this reckless initiative were to pass?  How many companies want to remain, invest or expand in a state with an unpredictable tax responsibility (prop. 2 ½ override potential)?  How many small businesses would also be devastated?

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    p>Question 1…  vote  NO.

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    p>If you are upset with decisions or policy positions of your State Senator or Representative…  please recognize the irony that this post is about a “grassroots” organizing picnic.  

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    p>Your neighbors are not abusing you.  

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  9. I don’t think that Question 1 is the right way to express dissatisfaction with how the government is working; there are other avenues for that. I’m voting no on Question 1 because whether or not you think the government is doing a good job now, it’ll be impossible for them to do a good job if 40% of the budget disappears virtually overnight. As a concerned parent and citizen, I can’t imagine the state of disrepair our schools, roads, public health and safety, and innumerable other things will fall into if this measure passes.

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    p>Please, people, find another way to express any dissatisfaction you have; kneecapping our state finances in this drastic and reckless manner is not the way to do it!

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