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Take down the POW/MIA flags

April 27, 2015 By rick-holmes

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...]

Filed Under: User

A call for open primaries

December 9, 2013 By rick-holmes

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...]

Filed Under: User

Obama’s year of success

January 17, 2010 By rick-holmes

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...]

Filed Under: User

Taking legalization seriously

October 11, 2009 By rick-holmes

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...]

Filed Under: User Tagged With: legalization, marijuana, massachuetts

Victory for the tollpayers

July 6, 2009 By rick-holmes

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...]

Filed Under: User Tagged With: budget-patrick, holmes, pike, tolls

Beyond ethics reform

June 7, 2009 By rick-holmes

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...]

Filed Under: User Tagged With: beacon-hill, committees, dimasi, legislature, reform, speaker

Fix the politics

March 17, 2009 By rick-holmes

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...]

Filed Under: User Tagged With: election-reform, mass.-politics, massachusetts

Call for the questions

October 25, 2008 By rick-holmes

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...]

Filed Under: User

A visit with John Rogers

May 13, 2008 By rick-holmes

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...]

Filed Under: User Tagged With: rogers-speaker-house-metrowest-dimasi

The new auto insurance thicket

April 6, 2008 By rick-holmes

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...]

Filed Under: User Tagged With: mass.-insurance-holmes

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