“Greater Boston” aired an unprofessional interview Thursday with two of the three candidates for State Auditor, and failed in its responsibility to inform its audience so we can cast a knowledgeable vote for State Auditor. Green-Rainbow Party Candidate Nat Fortune would have brought more light than heat to this pretense of conducting a candidates’ debate.
As shocked as I am at Emily Rooney’s negligence, I am equally disappointed that neither of the other two candidates — who have participated in several three-way forums — had the integrity to refuse to appear unless all three valid candidates were included. They both claim they want to bring transparency to the office, but where was their transparency tonight?
Continue reading “Greater Boston” and two Auditor candidates fail their responsibilityI love to watch video of the goings on across the state. Very interesting to hear these perspectives, and to see so many willing to get involved; so many willing to vote their values and do the work to change the course of this state, and by example, our country.
I am so irritated by the continued downplay in the media of Jill’s candidacy. I can’t believe that Charles Gibson asked Jill about the “spoiler” effect. What a loser. From my perspective, the only spoilers in this race are Deval Patrick, Charlie Baker, and Tim Cahill. If they would just get out of the way, we could make this state work for the people who live here, not just the corporations who usurp our tax dollars and bank the bucks. We could have affordable healthcare for all and green energy creating jobs and clean air. We could get our lives back.
I think Jill has picked up plenty of support over the last months. It’s high time for the people to stop and think while they are in that voting booth. I want them to see Jill Stein’s name, finally say they’ve had enough and vote with courage instead of fear.
Continue reading “I Like Her Politics”The Massachusetts District Attorneys Association (MDAA) sent a letter to candidates on Oct 7 asking for support for legislation that would require budget parity between public prosecution and public defense offices. They expressed concern at disparities that have grown in the last eight years. The letter claims that 8 years ago District Attorneys offices received $78 million and the Committee for Public Counsel Services received $51. For FY 2010 the District Attorney office appropriations were $92 million, while the CPCS appropriation was $168 million.
One item that struck me in particular was the amount of private outsourcing that was reported, which I shared with the Berkshire District Attorney when I met with him on October 18. He told me that presently 90% of the caseload that is handled by CPCS is given to private contractors, who are called ‘bar advocates.’ It made me think of Halliburton!
The MDAA requested that I e-mail my thoughts on their proposal to them, which I did today. The text of the e-mail follows.
Continue reading District Attorneys Propose Parityby Jason Pramas (Open Media Boston Staff), Oct-22-10 OMB Editorial
Whatever the outcome of Boston City Councilor Chuck Turner’s trial in federal court over the next several days, I can say as sure as poor DJ Henry was executed in upstate New York by the Mount Pleasant 5-0 a few days ago for DWB (Driving While Black) that Turner was targeted for political elimination for being – first and foremost – an outspoken progressive black politician by former US Attorney (and Republican) Michael Sullivan. These kinds of events are the “exceptions” that prove the rule that we are not living in a “post-racial” society yet. Far from it.
The government’s case against Turner is light on facts and heavy on weirdness. They had to pay their “star witness” Ron Wilburn $30,000 to attempt to entrap Turner – and also former State Senator Diane Wilkerson, who looks to really have done the deeds she’s accused of doing … having pleaded guilty to eight counts of attempted extortion in June. Both Turner and Wilkerson stood accused of malfeasance that still remains totally small potatoes next to the major league corruption that higher level (and significantly paler) politicians commit in here in the Commonwealth on a regular basis.
Continue reading Chuck Turner’s Trial Shows That America is Anything But “Post-Racial”This video features Robert Reich discussing his new book “Aftershock: The Next Economy and America’s Future”, likening what we’re facing today with the Great Depression and holding out hope that we can reform our political economy before a more reactionary politics takes over.
In a new article called The Perfect Storm, he lays out the historic threat we are currently facing and warns that we are losing our democracy and slipping into plutocracy, or rule by the wealthy.
Continue reading Robert Reich’s Perfect Storm: Reactionary Politics or REFORM
It’s a perfect storm. And I’m not talking about the impending dangers facing Democrats. I’m talking about the dangers facing our democracy.First, income in America is now more concentrated in fewer hands than it’s been in 80 years. Almost a quarter of total income generated in the United States is going to the top 1 percent of Americans.
The top one-tenth of one percent of Americans now earn as much as the bottom 120 million of us.
At the last moment, a two-way debate to which I was invited last month turned into a solo televised interview, when my opponent cited a misunderstanding between himself and the debate sponsors regarding the date. The sponsors are attempting to re-schedule a real debate, which I have said I will attend. The forum proceeded last night as a televised 30 minute interview. The following section is the prepared text of my opening statement.
You can view the full interview via a link from my web site. You can also find it directly on PCTV where you can perform a search for ‘4th Berk. District’ and it should come up.
The moderator asked me questions about education, single payer health care, public transportation, and others. I made sure to talk about tax fairness. The SHOW ID is 13991.
From: United to Stop Slots in Ma.
USSMASS is outraged that the Governor has accepted over $17,000 in campaign contributions from predatory gambling interests, as reported by the Boston Herald, October 18, 2010.
We expect the Governor to return those donations and stick to his earlier commitment to conduct an independent cost-benefit analysis of proposals to expand gambling.
USSMASS demands the other candidates for Governor disclose and return all contributions from Gambling Industry lobbyists, CEO’s and special interest contributers who will benefit from bringing slot machines to Ma.
It is common knowledge the Gambling Industry has spent over 5 million dollars in 2009/10 on advertisements, political contributions, labor unions and lobbyists to tout the one sided benefits of expanding gambling.
With all of the talk about the outsourcing of jobs overseas, Bush tax cuts for the wealthy, ridiculous health care costs and the many other issues that plague our economy, our ultimate problem can really be summed up to the disastrous income inequality situation we face in this country. We always hear that it’s too many taxes, or too much regulation, or some other nefarious enemy that makes the problem someone else’s fault. Here lies the truth about what is going on in our country that is literally destroying it day by day. The job outsourcing, tax cuts for the wealthy, and health insurance costs, etc are simply the methods for which the income gap can sustain itself and grow. Yet still, the media and our government rarely question the use of these tools by the powerful entities in our country. Some briefly condemn, then never do anything about it; others blatantly support such tactics as the American way and the patriotic thing to do. It is never ever mentioned that in order for the most influential businesses and top earning individuals to succeed in these epic proportions, there has to be those who must lose in order to subsidize the wealth of the mighty top 2 %. The money has to come from somewhere. In today’s America, it is the working middle class that reluctantly supports and is forced to contribute to the epic wealth of biggest corporations and the top 2%.
Continue reading Is the income gap issue finally being realized?Here is the text of Jill Stein’s op-ed in The Boston Globe today. As usual, she cuts straight to the point and tells it like it is. Let’s head on over there and show our support for her courage in leading the charge for better communities and a better life for all of us.
Continue reading Jill Stein’s op-ed in The Boston Globe October 17, 2010