There are way too many arguments out there to deal with them all. But let me just make two points: 1. I read a letter to the editor of the Globe recently that said that if nurses just had fewer forms to fill out, there would be plenty of … [Read more...]
Are Charter Schools Good Schools?
A pro-charter-school paper by Thomas Kane at the Harvard Ed School has been going around and reached us here in Sudbury. I looked into it a bit and wrote what I think is a reasoned response, which I have circulated locally and on the … [Read more...]
For Carl Sciortino in the Fifth Congressional District
This could just as well be titled, "How to pick a candidate". It deals with the two candidates for the 5th Congressional District seat (Senator Markey's former seat) who are taken most seriously in my neck of the woods -- Sudbury. To be … [Read more...]
Some Final Campaign Thoughts, and a Thank You
I was an organizer in Sudbury for Elizabeth Warren. And as the returns came in on election night, it occurred to me immediately that I wanted to say thank you to everyone who had worked so hard on the campaign. But then I felt funny … [Read more...]
Menino nails it.
Buried in the middle of a short article on page 3 of section B of Tuesday's Boston Globe are some quotes from a letter sent from Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital by Boston Mayor Menino to Barack Obama and John Boehner. The article starts … [Read more...]
Taking on Mr. Nice — a suggestion for the Elizabeth Warren campaign
I've been thinking about campaign strategy. Elizabeth Warren has the Democratic base pretty much solidly behind her, and they are enthusiastic, and they will vote. The problem we are having -- and it's a real one -- lies with those we … [Read more...]
Why I’m supporting Elizabeth Warren
I've thought quite a bit about whether I should post this. I have good friends -- people whose opinions I respect -- who might disagree with some of this. All I can say is that (a) I think this is worth thinking about, and (b) in the end, … [Read more...]
Corporate taxes—getting the facts straight
[Originally posted on the MaDemsForum on Oct. 1, 2011.] In Sudbury, we've been trying to write a series of letters to the editor of the local paper focusing on public issues and particularly on Scott Brown's record. One such letter (by … [Read more...]
The “Circle of Gold”
But when it first started up, lots of people were talking about it, including the students. And so I thought, "This is a teachable moment." I took one of my eighth grade classes and we spent one class period talking about the … [Read more...]
Why Did Martha Coakley Lose?
I think there's some truth to both of these analyses. And a lot could be said about each of them, and a lot has. I'm not going to rehash any of it. Instead, I want to mention something that I haven't really seen talked … [Read more...]