Green Mass Group

Jason Pramas on the Suburban Strategy Dilemma

michael horan January 28, 2010 0

There’s a very valuable piece by Jason Pramas at OpenMedia Boston advising that “If Progressives Don’t Want More Scott Browns, Then They Have to Organize the Suburbs”.

Jason points out that

“The strength of the right in the Commonwealth is submerged in the 50 percent of voters here that are registered as `unenrolled.’ And there’s an interesting thing about these Massachusetts right-wingers – a lot of them are in the suburbs.”

He nearly delineates the reasons why progressives are sometimes loathe to make much of suburbanites’ issues and problems, but concludes that “that the answer to the problem of rising conservatism in the suburbs is not to ignore it. It is to engage it.”

There’s also a plug for the GRP towards the end.

It’s worthwhile reading, as is all his material.

Everyone’s Academic: Goodbye, Howard

michael horan January 28, 2010 3

Boston Globe, front page, 1/30

I first met him a few months after moving to Massachusetts; Howard was supposed to talk about what was then his latest book, Three Strikes, but seeing as how the event at the BPL took place in mid September 2001, the conversation quickly moved to,uh, more timely subjects. Having finally got around A People’s History, I wanted to see the man; I was not disappointed.

Nor was I disappointed on the several occasions he joined us on Boston Common as we fulminated against the Iraq War; when he spoke at First Parish, along with Patti Smith, on behalf of Ralph Nader; or when I last saw him, Spring ’08, at Old South Church, where he did a benefit for Spare Change newspaper.

autographing a pic for Cate

at Old South Church, Spring 2008)

Because that what was Howard did–whatever was needed at the time. Whether it meant signing on in World War II to fight fascists, teaching (and organizing) at a black college in the fifties, putting his job on the line (again) to protest against the Viet Nam war in the sixties, he was there. Physically. He knew the importance of getting out of the libraries and away from the computer screens, of putting theory on the backburner and putting your reputation, your livelihood, and your physical well-being on the line.

Farewell Howard Zinn

Patrick Burke January 28, 2010 0

A great American has passed. A man who sought to tell America’s real history has now become a part of it.

http://www.boston.com/news/loc…

While he had been retired for many years before I arrived, he was still a presence at Boston University. My first year he gave a speech at the Morse Auditorium about the war, the Democrats, and the need for a movement. During the question period I asked him what we could do in our schools, communities, workplaces, and places of worship to democratize our society. He responded by talking about the anti-nuclear movement and its decentralized and vital character, how it was victorious without being commanded from above.

I hope that people read his work and contemplate his life, and are inspired to renew the struggles for justice.

Look Who’s Runnin’ fer Congress

michael horan January 26, 2010 0

Web site and press release here.

Show some backbone!

jandrews January 26, 2010 3

After the election of Scott Brown, the Democratic Party immediately began backing away from their health care bill. Even this watered-down and ineffective bill is too much for them to stand up for. The Democratic Party online fundraising organization, moveon.org, has taken note. They are organizing a rally at Senator’s Kerry’s office in Boston. In an alert titled “Tell Dems to fight!” they say

“Instead of backing down after last week’s election, Democrats in Washington need to deliver on the promises that got them elected, starting with the passage of real health care reform. But they won’t do it on their own-it’s up to all of us to demand bold leadership. So we’re holding an emergency rally – part of a nationwide day of action – urging Democrats in Washington to show some backbone and fight for working families!”

I wish them luck. They will need it. All their rallies up to now haven’t succeeded in getting the Dems to “fight for working families”. If they had any backbone, they would have pushed for single-payer health care. But they even abandoned any meaningful public option.

And I’m also thinking “I’m glad I belong to a party that doesn’t need these kind of rallies to get its leaders to stop backsliding.

Mike Capuano Primary Victory Anthem

David G. Morin January 26, 2010 0

Off to the polls the people go,

all to vote for Mike Capuano,

and with Wednesday’s rising sun,

the papers tell them who has won.

Beside his smokey, golden hookah,

sits our friend, Steve Pagliuca.

He says, “All this money I have here

could not buy a seat so dear.”

Alan Khazei is wonky and wise,

so his loss comes as no surprise.

Her candidacy was historic and bold,

but Martha Coakley was just too cold,

and on her face she wore a frown,

all the way back to Boston-town.

So, who’s that up on Capitol Hill?

Why, it’s the man from Somerville

taking an Oath or Affirmation,

O, to protect this mighty nation,

to uphold and defend the Constitution,

framed by heroes of the Revolution.

By Article One, Section Three,

United States Senator, I pronounce thee.

Tags Poetry

Thoughts on reading Paul Krugman Monday

seemstome January 26, 2010 5

Monday’s (1-25-10) column by New York Times op-ed regular and Nobel economics laureate Paul Krugman reminded me of something: He, like many a mainstream commentator, seems to disregard the importance of the idea that finite resources are finite. The economy is down, unemployment is way up and not showing signs of improving, and the stock market has declined yet again, and Krugman cites the danger of “a second Great Depression,” yet he writes of that potential event as if it would last only a decade or two.

Krugman: “We have avoided a second Great Depression, but we are facing mass unemployment – unemployment that will blight the lives of millions of Americans – for years to come.”

Robert Reich is Mad-as-Hell

michael horan January 26, 2010 0

Former Labor Sec and MA gubernatorial candidate Robert Reich adds his name to those of Cornell West (video) & NYT pundits Bob Herbert and Paul Krugman among this week’s enrollees in the Legions of the Disaffected, Disappointed, and Disenfranchised.

And what with this crap, they’re only gonna get madder.

Reich’s ultimate paragraph serves as both a caveat and, I think, a genuine sign of hope for the Green Party in MA and across the republic:

If the Mad-as-hell Party helps get money out of politics it will do a world of good. I might even join up. But if it just fulminates against the establishment, forget it. Wrecking balls are easy to wield. Rescuing our democracy is hard work.

It’s a growing movement, and they’re looking for the folks with the constructive solutions.

This is a good start:

VOTE for Jill Stein! Online Poll at News Site

Patrick Burke January 24, 2010 0

VOTE for Jill Stein

The Fox affiliate in Springfield, Mass has taken notice of Jill’s entrance into the gubernatorial race. Scroll down about half way to the middle of the page for it.

Here’s to the beginning of likely a wave of online polls where you can practice voting your values.

Kerry, Brown Announce Agreement on Pelt-Trading Iniative, Coal-Drilling-Nuclear Subsidies

michael horan January 23, 2010 2

How the story in today’s Globe should have read:

Kerry, Brown Announce Agreement on Pelt-Trading Iniative, Coal-Drilling-Nuclear Subsidies

(WASHINGTON Jan 23, 2010-Michael Horan)–Senator John Kerry announced yesterday that in the wake of Scott Brown’s election as junior Senator from Massachusetts, he’d be withdrawing his support from the Kerry-Boxer climate bill and, instead, promote a raft of new legislation “which will constitute a comprehensive, long-term plan capable of supplying America with its energy needs well into June.”

Kerry called for “The re-vitalization of the centuries-old trade in animal pelts–that’s an industry which shows real growth potential. Oh, yeah, and subsidizing of coal mining, drilling for offshore oil, and building the most expensive nuclear power generators the world has ever seen–because we stand second to no one when it comes to cost-overruns. No more shall we allow self-centered concerns with the survival of the planet to get in the way of the will of the American people. Mining, drilling, and generating radioactive waste–that’s what makes this country great.”

Surrounded by the CEO’s of various companies including Exxon, ShellOil, and BPL and flanked by Newt Gingrich, Sarah Palin, and James Inhofe, Kerry went on to declare that “no more shall the American people be held hostage by the chains of the past or the arrogant claims of `science.’ The election of Mr. Brown has made it clear that the weak legislation we were jerking around with needs to be watered down further so as to ensure that the fine corporate citizens with whom I stand here today can top the record-breaking profits they showed last year. Americans have spoken: science is hard. Money is easy.” At that, he was interrupted by the assorted dignitaries, who uncorked champagne and broke into applause and cries of “hear, hear!”