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National Popular Vote – A Voting Reform to Support

“Politics should be local, and with the passage of this reform presidential politics in Massachusetts will be local.”

The Massachusetts House plans a debate this week on a voting reform which I support, known as “National Popular Vote” (NPV).  The incumbent in the 4th Berkshire District co-sponsored this legislation in the last legislative session (H660 in January 2009), it eventually passed in the House but stalled in the Senate. I urge the incumbent to join me in support of it again during this session, and to join me in educating voters on why this reform is worth supporting.

Continue reading Voting Reform – A Candidate’s Statement

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1.  Consistently demonstrate practical, affordable energy efficiency and renewable energy ideas, devices, and systems at the over 4000 weekly farmers’ markets that take place across the USA from Memorial Day to Halloween or Thanksgiving.  

The people who attend farmers’ markets are a core constituency for green technology and practical applications that save money, energy, and resources.  They are likely to be early adopters who can spread those possibilities into the community.  I’ve done energy demos at my local farmers’ market and know that a renewable energy company sometimes participates in the year-long weekly market near Providence, RI.  I wouldn’t be surprised if there were more examples out there.  

Do energy education weekly at as many of those 4000 weekly markets as possible and over one growing season energy use and attitudes would change significantly.  See Mr Franklin’s Folks for one vision of how this might work.

Continue reading How to Change US Energy in One Growing Season
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When I blogged about the Suffolk Poll results, I was focused on the negative numbers. Yes, the 8% was astounding (representing a greater than 50% surge from one poll to the next). But the un-likability of the 3 suits blessed by the corporate media was what caught my attention. That's Jill's opening for sure.  

But the more I thought about it, the more I focused on Jill's likability as borne out in the numbers. To this point, my optimism for Stein's chances has been based on her demonstrated ability to speak up for everyday people in a clearheaded, passionate, and visionary manner. Her debate appearances in 2002 — well, the 2 they allowed her into — were powerfully persuasive. She'd make a point, you'd think "why didn't I ever think of that?!", and then you'd go and tell your friends. She was speaking truth to power, but not in some theoretical vacuum. There was real power in each word she used, the power to transform. But that's all subjective.  

Now in May 2010, a full 5 months+ before election day, I'm looking at this latest poll result.. and realizing what it really means…  BEFORE we even get to see her make a case for herself as the best candidate for We, The People.  

Continue reading Jill Stein polling at majority-type levels
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The latest Suffolk University poll on the MA gubernatorial contest shows GRP candidate Jill Stein at 8%, a five point surge despite the media largely shutting her out. The winner of one or both (depending on how you look at it) of the 2002 gubernatorial debates the establishment press allowed her into, this is a very significant indication that Jill is positioned to break the governor’s race wide open.

Tim Cahill’s plummeting numbers show that the Republican Governors Association ad campaign has destroyed his support. Their pick, Charlie Baker, will have a very hard time getting out from under his ownership of two of the most rage-inducing plights facing ordinary Massachusetts voters — skyrocketing healthcare costs at the hands of greedy private insurance companies and the short-sighted debt restructuring of Big Dig finances. Meanwhile Governor Patrick’s unfavorable ratings are higher than his favorable ratings (46% to 45%), by 52% to 36%, MA voters think the state is heading in the wrong direction, and by 55% to 33%, they don’t think he deserves reelection and would like to give someone else a chance.

All bets are off, folks. The voters are screaming for a revolt, and they don’t like the choices they’ve been given. Stein’s 7% favorable, 7% unfavorable, and 60% never-heard-of numbers show that as she gains more exposure, her poll numbers will surge even higher.

She’s the right candidate with the right message at the right moment.

Read on for the Stein campaign’s press release!

Continue reading Jill Stein surges in latest suffolk poll, senses breakthrough
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“I am a public political figure seeking employment from fellow taxpayers, so this is a matter of public political transparency.”



The Berkshire Eagle published a front-page story today on the issue of tax transparency, noting that Green-Rainbow Party candidates in local legislative races – Mark Miller and I in the 3rd and 4th Berkshire Districts respectively – are the only ones following Jill Stein’s lead in releasing their tax returns for public review.  My campaign had issued a statement the day before announcing the release of my tax returns, including the joint state tax return that I file with my husband.

The Berkshire Eagle story today – May 26, 2010:

the link is no longer active but the image below is a scan from the front page that day



My campaign statement from May 24, 2010.

newspaper scan

Continue reading Tax Transparency – A Candidate’s Statement and Response

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Property taxes are presently relied upon to fund more than for what they were designed to fund.  Usually, property taxes are more of a tax burden to lower and middle income residents, contributing thus to the overall unfairness in the tax system.  Although the larger issue of tax fairness needs to be addressed by the legislature by finding broader more progressive tax solutions, I wonder if there is an opportunity for towns and cities to make local property taxes more progressive.

Continue reading Progressive Property Taxes – A Candidate’s Discussion

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WRKO, “Boston’s talk station”, has decided to hold an unofficial gubernatorial debate with an incomplete set of candidates. They’ve apparently decided to not invite Jill Stein, Green-Rainbow candidate for governor. Considering the fact that she’s recently gotten 8% in a Suffolk University poll, and that I’ve seen comments on Boston.com articles asking if there’s a fourth choice because people are unsatisfied with the three their being presented with,  I’m convinced people would be interested in hearing from her. We have to let them know that this is ridiculous, that Jill WILL be on the ballot, and the she deserves a spot at the table to answer questions on the problems affecting Massachusetts.

Here’s how to let Jason Wolfe, the VP of Programming, know that this is unacceptable:

– Call (617) 779-3400

– When prompted, press 2

– When asked for an extension, dial 3541

Write letters to the editor of every newspaper you can think of too! Here are some contact addresses.

Continue reading Tell WRKO we want Jill in their “unofficial gubernatorial debate”!
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Michael Horan

Never mind my own transparent interest in this year’s state elections–it’s gonna represent a major fix for political junkies everywhere. When the Republican GOP primaries in Utah and Kentucky fascinate, you know it’s gonna be a good one. By November, people may have forgot all about Scott Brown’s win. Great fun if you love this kind of thing. And watching everybody get it wrong makes it that much tastier.

Check out Matt Taibbi in Wednesday’s NYT.

Continue reading Power Up for Grabs

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Well it’s 21 days into May, and Green Mass Group has been delinquent in getting out a push for our second featured cause for our We, The Media campaign/series. But it’s better late than never, and it’s even better that May’s push is well-timed to support an absolutely critical independent media institution during their membership drive.

Free Speech TV is one of those rare institutions that provides a strong sense of hope that progressives and thoughtful people of all stripes might some day find a way to get their stories out into every corner of the country and beyond:

Continue reading We, The Media II: Free Speech TV!
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The Pittsfield Municipal Airport is situated within the 4th Berkshire District, where I am a candidate for the November 2, 2010 election for State Representative.  The Pittfield City Council is preparing to vote on whether or not to approve an initial $6 million package for the airport improvement and expansion project, $1 million of which will be paid by city taxpayers. Ultimately city taxpayers are projected to pay $3 million of the total costs.  An additional $13.4 million total in public funds are part of the investment, with the FAA contributing another $6 million.

The environmental impact of this project would be serious, while the economic development argument has been flimsy, in my opinion.

Continue reading Pittsfield Airport Expansion – Candidate’s Statement