One of the many strange things about the story of the POW/MIA flag is that it grew more popular decades after the Vietnam POWs came home than they were when the flag was created by activists lobbying for their release. That’s when … [Read more...]
A call for open primaries
With public disgust with Congress at an all-time high, you’d think people would be paying attention to Tuesday’s election for the next rep from the Mass. 5th District, Ed Markey’s old seat. But election official see no excitement: … [Read more...]
Obama’s year of success
Like everyone else, I have my complaints about Barack Obam's first year: the kid-glove treatment for banks, the Afghanistan escalation, the foot-dragging on gay rights. But it seems everyone is using this week's inauguration anniversary as … [Read more...]
Taking legalization seriously
It is beginning to look like marijuana prohibition may more quickly than anyone imagined 10 or 20 years ago. The medical marijuana initiative has changed the facts on the ground in California. Pot shops are everywhere, operation on the … [Read more...]
Victory for the tollpayers
It hasn't gotten much notice, and even some insiders (like Jim Aloisi) won't acknowledge it, but a confluence of events over the last spelled an end to the Great Toll Inequity issue. I've got the detailed theory in a column here. In … [Read more...]
Beyond ethics reform
The editorial offers a few suggestions: - Put legislative redistricting in the hands of an independent commission. - Put decisions about legislators' perks - office assignments, parking spaces, etc. - in the hands of an independent … [Read more...]
Fix the politics
What can be done? CommonWealth magazine sent a reporter to Minnesota, where 100 percent of state legislative races were contested last year, to examine the legal and cultural differences. There, Alison Lobron reported, people run for office … [Read more...]
Call for the questions
I haven't been keeping close track, but from what I've seen, no Mass. newspaper has taken the same position as the MetroWest Daily News on the ballot questions: No on 1, Yes on 2, Yes on 3. I've got more details at Holmes & Co. … [Read more...]
A visit with John Rogers
I've watched the Massachusetts House of Representatives from a distance for a long time, but I don't claim to understand it. It always strikes me as one star politician surrounded by 159 extras. That must be why the House's constant … [Read more...]
The new auto insurance thicket
I like the idea of bringing competition to the Massachusetts auto insurance market. Under regulation, a handful of insurance companies with political clout worked the game to their advantage, not the consumers' advantage. Other insurers - … [Read more...]