Blue Mass Group

Reality-based commentary on politics.

Mass about to lose leadership status

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Our Commonwealth has always been in the vanguard when it comes to improving the lot of Americans, for example:

– The Revolution started here

– First to abolish slavery, and declare blacks and whites equal, and became the hub of the abolitionist movement

– First to legalize labor unions and collective bargaining

– First to recognize gay marriage

Sadly, we will soon pass the mantle of “most progressive state” to Vermont: yesterday the Vermont House voted, 89 to 47, to advance towards a single-payer health care system.

Instead of being the first state to embrace world-class health care financing, Mass will be remembered as the foisters of RomneyObamaCare upon the nation.

In related news, hundreds of doctors are considering moving to Vermont.

Good luck, Vermont!  By choosing to attack exorbitant health care instead of funding them from the taxpayer’s pocket (RomneyObamaCare), you are not only helping your citizens directly, you will drive down the cost of doing business and thus attract more industry.  

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      • …for towns with more than 50 families.  They were also big on educated clergy, hence Harvard.  Then Horace Mann came along with his ideas in the 19th century.  My favorite part of the MA Constitution reads as follows:

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        Wisdom, and knowledge, as well as virtue, diffused generally among the body of the people, being necessary for the preservation of their rights and liberties; and as these depend on spreading the opportunities and advantages of education in the various parts of the country, and among the different orders of the people, it shall be the duty of legislatures and magistrates, in all future periods of this commonwealth, to cherish the interests of literature and the sciences, and all seminaries of them; especially the university at Cambridge, public schools and grammar schools in the towns; to encourage private societies and public institutions, rewards and immunities, for the promotion of agriculture, arts, sciences, commerce, trades, manufactures, and a natural history of the country; to countenance and inculcate the principles of humanity and general benevolence, public and private charity, industry and frugality, honesty and punctuality in their dealings; sincerity, good humor, and all social affections, and generous sentiments among the people.

  6. In 1777, Vermont adopted its first constitution which prohibited slavery. It thus has the honor of being the first sovereign state to abolish slavery.

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    p>Massachusetts effectively abolished slavery in 1780 with the passage of the Declaration of Rights.

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    p>Vermont was first.

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    p>Vermont was also the first state to pass civil unions (in 2000) and the first to the first state in the United States to legalize same-sex marriage through legislative means rather than litigation (in 2009).

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    p>Vermont settlers (Ethan Allen and his Green Mountain Boys) played a key role in the French & Indian War of the late 1750s and then switched against the British well before the official start of the Revolutionary War.  

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    p>Though Paul Revere’s ride and the battles at Concord/Lexington (April 1775) is rightfully considered the “start” of the Revolution, American forces under Benedict Arnold and Ethan Allen captured the British fort of Ticonderoga less than a month later in May 1775.  And this was the first victory for the colonists in the Revolutionary War.

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    p>Vermont was also the last state to allow a Wal-Mart (in 1996) and Montpelier is the only remaining state Capitol without a McDonalds.

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    p>The first to have single-payer would be a crowning achievement for America’s greatest state!

    • to become the most liberal state.  

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      p>To quote George Washington (who assumed command of the Continental Army in our commonwealth):

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      “As Mankind becomes more liberal, they will be more apt to allow that all those who conduct themselves as worthy members of the community are equally entitled to the protections of civil government. I hope ever to see America among the foremost nations of justice and liberality.”

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      p>P.S. Don’t let the Rightists see that quote, might lead to scary head explosions.

    • MA was the first STATE to abolish slavery in the UNION.  VT did not join the Confederation at all and didn’t join the Union until the 1790s.  MA thus abolished slavery (1783) before VT entered the Union (1791).

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