Last call for Massachusetts
Posted: Saturday, October 18, 2008
by Gregory Lewis
PopGnosis
The title of this article has to do with me, directly, and Massachusetts only incidentally. In less than two weeks I'll be leaving Massachusetts for the Sunshine State of Florida.
In the mean time, I can still report on happenings in the Bay State, besides the obvious fall foliage and frost on the pumpkin. Oh, and if you happen to hear me humming in the background, it's because folk singer Richard Thompson will be playing nearby at the Latchis Theater in Brattleboro, Vermont this weekend.
Most of my political acumen developed from my involvement in Massachusetts politics. I have personal connections at all levels, from town selectmen and mayors to State Representatives and State Senators to U.S. Congressmen and U.S. Senators. Unlike Alaskan Senator Ted Stevens, my connections did not get me a new living room furniture set.
Because I'll be in Florida in November, I filed for, and received my absentee ballot. I'll give you a run down on that, and various and sundry other tidbits from around the state.
There are only two U.S. Senators in Massachusetts (as in all states), John F. Kerry and Edward Kennedy. Both of them are more or less unapproachable, but I managed to get some personal statements from Kerry at a Democrat Convention ("Hello to all the young people in Franklin County. We need your vote").
Kerry's up for re-election. His Democrat challenger, Edward O'Reilly called me from his cell phone and gave me his platform and reasons for running against Kerry. Unfortunately, O'Reilly lost in the September Primary. I say unfortunately because Kerry has lost his edge. He's an example of career politician gone indolent.
Kerry will probably survive his run against the relatively unknown Republican challenger Jeffrey K. Beatty, from Harwich. More interesting are the possibilities of a U.S. Senator from the Libertarian Party, Robert J. Underwood from Springfield (a city in western Massachusetts).
Incidentally, ex-Governor Mitt Romney is generally reviled in western Massachusetts as a carpetbagger. He is famously quoted as saying, "I've been to western Massachusetts; last week I was in Worcester." The joke is that Romney has never been seen west of the Connecticut River. Then he had the audacity to use Massachusetts as the butt of his jokes when he ran for President. I liken Romney to the vacuum cleaner salesman who goes on a business trip and makes fun of his children and wife to his customers.
I can name some career Massachusetts politicians who are adamantine in their commitment to their constituents. Kennedy is certainly a pillar of Liberal backbone. Alas, the Good Senator is battling brain cancer, as well as one side of the aisle. A fighter if ever there was one.
Locally, our State Representative in General Court Daniel Bosley (D-North Adams) is running uncontested. Bosley fights all the time for his constituents. He was instrumental in bringing a $25 Million Broadband Initiative to the Commonwealth.
A little horn blowing here. I organized a Broadband Committee, and successfully brought free high-speed wireless internet to my town for one year, which was connected to the Broadband Initiative. I also brought persistent publicity to bear on Verizon's abysmal relations with rural customers regarding their commitment to telephone infrastructure maintenance.
Now Verizon has committed to bringing high-speed internet to all 101 municipalities in the Commonwealth, with a target 70% penetration rate. These are some of the minor accomplishments that give me a sense of completion, and will give me peace of mind as I begin to pester Florida officials next year.
Rep. Dan Bosely used to coach our grade school baseball team. His daughter Patty was in my class, I think she liked me. The closest we came to any romantic involvement (if such a thing could be said about eighth graders) was when we sat together on The Hammer ride at Riverside Amusement Park, and she reflexively grabbed my arm as we descended at three g's. My first girlfriend lived next door to the Bosleys. Of course, all this background should not influence your vote one way or another.
"Says James, ‘In my opinion, there's nothing in this world, beats a 52 Vincent and a red headed girl.'"
Same-sex marriage is another institution Massachusetts is famous for. I put pressure on Representatives to have it legitimized, although I am not gay. Homosexuality has been around since the beginning of humankind, and like Reagan's trickle down theory, which has been around almost as long we are still waiting for its impact on society. I'm relieved the ice is breaking around the issue nationally, most recently in Connecticut. Same-sex marriage is more topical than flag burning. Whatever happened to that "problem" (wink, wink)? Frankly, I'm still trying to remember the last time I ever witnessed a live flag burning. I guess the answer is "never." How about you?
Bosley, and many other State Reps voted in favor of loosening restrictions on same-sex marriage. Romney did not. Romney sent me a perfunctory reply to my letter critical of his judgment on the issue. Reading between the lines it said, "I never read your letter, so screw you."
My other Representative friend, Denis Guyer is also up for re-election. He's outside of my District, unfortunately, because I would like to see this cuddly koala bear of a lawmaker re-elected.
Guyer once brought Governor Patrick to a dinner in Lanesborough, which I attended. The chicken wings were good. I never turn down free food. I am one of the few people who can say I've had dinner with the Governor, and breakfast-but not necessarily in that order.
I once attended a campaign visit by Patrick, where he spoke before about 60 of us in a small school cafeteria. Half way through the question and answer session one of his aides mouthed from the back, "Your fly is down."
The Governor-to-be handled it graciously and with humor and a boyish blush. I discretely did not report the embarrassment to my newspaper. A correspondent takes many secrets to his grave, but this won't be one of them.
Although it's not on the ballot Guyer is pushing for a four-day workweek for state officials, on the assumption that four 10-hour days will save energy and costs. Denis and Dan are closely aligned on many issues, as is our good state Senator Benjamin Downing, and from outside the District Senator Stanley Rosenburg.
Sen. Rosenburg once returned my call about a question I had on local farm aid while I was in the checkout line at a discount grocery store.
"Uh, hi Senator, say, can I call you back in a few minutes?" The checkout girl was waiting for my signature on the debit card receipt. Stan answered when I called him from my car. No sweat.
Congressman John Olver, of the 1st Congressional District has competition this year, that from Republican Nathan Bech. I ran into Bech handing out introduction flyers at a fair in July. I spoke with him briefly about his platform and the issues that were important to him.
Bech said that being in the military and speaking several languages, he knew international affairs and could help to bring the Iraq War to a satisfactory conclusion (I think no such thing is possible, no matter what happens). He is a pleasant, intelligent young man who served in Afghanistan. If elected I think he would make a good Congressman, though his position on topical social issues is generally what can be expected of his party.
I dropped in on Olver, interviewing him at his 1111 Longmont office in Washington. He gesticulated and spoke against a "supine Congress," pulling out a copy of the Constitution he kept in a pocket. Yet when it came down to the matter of a supine Congress, I'm afraid Mr. Olver was one of the best. You may not know this, but Massachusetts towns and cities overwhelmingly voted for impeachment by non-binding referendum in 2006. You can see the result of that; which is to say there was no result. Talking to Congressman Olver always made me uncomfortable, and I got the impression of superiority and contempt for me. He is very tall and dessicated in appearance, like Silver the butler in Bela Lugosi's most horrifying film, White Zombie. From what I gather most people feel that way when talking to him.
Question 2 on the ballot is the decriminalization of marijuana, which I support. I wrote to Olver, addressing my support. He is against decriminalization, on the basis that drugs ruin lives and families. I agree with him on this, and I'm one of those people that doesn't smoke or use marijuana, but would still like to see a change of course in the so-called "War on Drugs."
Where I disagree with Olver is that penalizing citizens for marijuana just compounds their problems. Most of them end up in a downward spiral, not made better by their marijuana use, but usually made worse for the social stigma, the exorbitant legal fees they can't afford, the jobs they will now be excluded from. The whole system essentially deprives a person caught with a bag of weed from enjoying the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That laws against marijuana vary across states and across nations only proves to me that there is no essential morality connected with marijuana, that it is a perceived and artificial morality contrived by industry well into the 20th Century.
Of more ambivalence is Question 1, which seeks to reduce personal income tax, and eventually phase it out altogether. Rep Guyer wrote to me with anecdotes about the dangers of symbolically voting against the income tax as a protest to irresponsible government spending. I'm not so sure, though, what would happen should Massachusetts follow the footsteps of New Hampshire, Alaska, and one or two other states. Those places seem to be doing ok, and have found other ways to make up for their shortfalls.
Could it be that if Massachusetts abolished the personal income tax, the system would not collapse, after all?
Question 3 is the abolition of dog racing. I used to bet on the dogs in nearby Vermont when I was a teen. Did pretty well, too. Yet, I've come to terms with my essential animal lover nature and the sins of my past do not justify their continuation. Get rid of it, already.
***
Finally, while there is no marketability in rehashing anything the two prominent Presidential Candidates are up to, you might want to consider some news about a third-party candidate, that of the Reverend Chuck Baldwin of the Constitution Party. I'm unconvinced that a third party candidate will never win, but sometimes the issues of their platform, should they garner, let's say, 15% of the vote, must eventually bubble up to higher levels of decision making.
I listened to Baldwin speak to National Public Radio's Scott Simon this morning, and this is what he had to say.
On the Federal Income Tax: "The IRS should be disbanded, and the Federal Reserve should be disbanded, and I would overturn the 16th Amendment. As long as we have Barack Obama or McCain, the system will remain as it is."
Simon asked how Baldwin would make up for the $700-Billion dollar shortfall without an income tax.
"Two ways: Slash spending or raise income. I prefer to slash spending."
What does Baldwin think about the Iraq War? "Bring them home as quickly as possible, securely and safely. Bring the military and civilian work force home in a safe, secure manner."
"We should not have gone in to begin with, but that's hindsight. We need to defend our own country first, not get bogged down in a sandbox in Iraq. Our soldiers are not exercised or mobile. Get them out. The sooner the better. No Commander In Chief is willing to set that process in motion."
Finally, Baldwin on abortion: "I'm opposed to abortion. The Republican party is not serious, and that's putting it mildly. Every four years they say, 'Conservative Christians have to come out.' But the Supreme Court was dominated by Republican opponents who let Roe-v-Wade pass. Nothing's been done to overturn Roe vs. Wade or abortion-on-demand."
"When George W. Bush became President in 2001, there were one million unborn babies killed in mothers wombs. When he leaves office, there will still be one million unborn babies killed."
If you ask me, this Reverend Baldwin sounds surprisingly centrist. Although I don't agree with him on everything he said concerning the above issues, his answers were surprisingly reasonable. I question the wisdom of this two-party corner we have painted ourselves into.
"And he gave her one last kiss and died, and he gave her his Vincent to ride."
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Top-level comments on this article: (3 total)Hi G, really like the title. It's catchy and suitable. Let me say, I read this entire article. I find politics to be burdensome, annoying and most of its 'characters' wannabe actors. I learned more about Massachusetts than I have ever known and definitely more about its current political climate. You will be right at home in my home state. (I misunderstood earlier by thinking you were already there.) I hope it's an easy transition for you. Excellent reporting and engaging style. Thanks!Please log in to respond to this comment.Thank you Avis,
When you talked about Florida before, I kind of let it slide because my heart and spirit are already there, awaiting my body. I thought it would be too confusing to say, "ain't there yet."
I already feel welcome, it is my heart's desire to be in the south. Lookout Miami, 'cause here I come!Please log in to respond to this comment.You're making me homesick for South Florida, G. I will be in Parkland with my family for Thanksgiving and again in Ormond Beach with them for Christmas. We're likely to be in Miami for black Friday. If I see ya, I'll give ya a shout! *grin*Please log in to respond to this comment.
Florida, well a nice place to vist {Avis} but you really need to think again about perhaps staying. That is if you are in the upper income brackets, then this is the place where all haves should dwell. Well that is at least in the past. With this new economics, who knows.Please log in to respond to this comment.
hi gregory,this was a very well written, interesting article, and i thank you for sharing it with us,best regards,sue thomPlease log in to respond to this comment.
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