Blue Mass Group

Reality-based commentary on politics.

Casino protest tomorrow

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Saturday at 10:30 AM in Palmer. I will be joining the pro-casino protest.  I am only asking for support for the resort casino, please know that I do not support slot parlors or racinos.

Opposing casino forces taking to Palmer’s streets on Saturday

I know there are many people against this, but I fully believe a resort casino will bring life, jobs, and people to our state.  We need this.

I would also like to note that I do not work for the casino industry, do not have family or friends who work for the casino industry, and I do not have a financial interest in supporting a resort casino.  

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Comments

  1. Today’s protest proved one thing.

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    p>There are people who support the resort casino Palmer and people who are against the resort casino in Palmer.  LOL

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    p>It was a fun gathering, I would say the supporters far outweighed the opposers.  I felt sort of bad for the casino traffic people, they didn’t cause a single traffic jam, that I know of.  

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    p>from masslive.com

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    p>Palmer’s proposed Mohegan Sun casino attracts demonstrators and talk of problems and benefits

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    p>And the drama continues…..

    • “Many pro-casino people were from unions, such as Chicopee’s Jeffrey A. Jordan, of Local 98, Operating Engineers. “

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      p>I wonder if you just counted people who gave freely of their time to be there (rather than being paid), what the size of the demonstrations would be.

      • After all I have seen you demand documentation from many posters here. So, put up or shut up  -proof that union members were paid to be there in support of casino gaming is….?

        • Perhaps sabutai doesn’t think Mr. Jordan is smart or motivated enough to attend a protest without being paid. I hope it’s not tied to Mr. Jordan being a member of “Local 98, Operating Engineers,” rather than, say the Teachers Association. Or the Nurse’s Association. Or some group of “smart” union members.

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          p>Sometimes, we need to reconsider who’s really taking advantage of rational, problem solving thought.

          • Nice article in support of the working class. Fifty thousand cheers to the people who do the physically difficult work. Where would be without them.  

        • I got ample proof that the union members who packed into casino hearings in Middleboro (as well as the town meeting on the issue) where from far away and were in many cases paid.

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          p>Perhaps it’s a different m.o. in the Palmer case, but in Middleboro it was pretty clear how many out-of-towners were funded and equipped to lobby on behalf of their union.  That’s why I suspect things are the same in the Western part of the state.  Nice how everyone jumps on just for asking the question openly.

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          p>As for noternie’s passive-aggressive accusation of snobbery, I wish my union was as willing and organized in dispensing money to influence policy as others are.

          • On the point of people coming from far and wide to lobby, one side AND the other are often guilty of that. Obama supporters driving to New Hampshire, making calls to Iowa, etc.

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            p>On the issue of union members being paid, you allude to two different possibilities.

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            p>1.Paid–Come to a rally, say this. You’ll get a check after.

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            p>2.”Funded and equipped”–Here’s where the group to which you are a member stands on the issue. If enough are interested, we will rent a bus to get you to the rally and buy boxed lunches for the bus. We may even buy some markers and posterboard if you care to make sign.

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            p>I’ve been involved with campaigns where #2 is done very regularly. It seems to be the common approach, frankly, and it doesn’t seem much different than herding college kids into a campaign. Pizza, a free ride and the chance to make a lot of noise that might even benefit your interests are strong motivators.

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            p>I’ve never seen nor heard of #1 happening. Maybe I’m super green. If it happens, it’s wrong. What was the price paid for attending a meeting, by the way? Does anyone else know of it being so wide spread as to raise a question anytime a union member is involved in a casino issue?

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            p>Sorry you thought I was passive-aggressive, Sab. I try to be more the later than the former. Especially on these issues. My mom and dad were blue collars that didn’t get nearly the respect they should have for making the “smart” folks look good.

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            p>On a serious note, that book referenced in the link might be an interesting read for you and your colleagues. And that’s not an accusation of any kind. Just seemed like an interesting perspective on things.

            • Again, my experience with union employees lobbying on casinos is in Middleboro.  Out-of-towners told me that they had been bused in and paid to be present at hearings and at the town meeting.  They were able to join the townspeople and vote with them.  These are things that I witnessed, and that union people told me.

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              p>As in: “yah, my union paid me to come here today.”  I interpret that as fee-for-service-rendered, not part of union membership; you make take your own conclusion.

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              p>PS: In my perfect education world, we’d have a goal of tripling access to vocational education within ten years.  It’s a better choice for many students than academic education, and most of them will come out of making more money than I ever will.

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