government

It's an interesting exercise to go into the mainstream and ask people to name a Supreme Court Justice, inquire about the components of our Constitution, and name the three branches of government.  The (incorrect) answers would be amusing if not for the fact that the government is us, the people of the USA.  We elect the people who set our laws and the budgets by which we must live.  What's the saying...we get the government we deserve.  That's why the iCivics program to educate young children about how our government works is fantastic! [Los Angeles Times]

This slim knowledge of civics — and the potential risk it poses to American democracy — captured the attention of retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.  "It's very disturbing," said O'Connor, 81, the first woman to serve on the nation's highest court. "I want to educate several generations of young people so we won't have the lack of public knowledge we have today."

Civics education involves explaining the structure of U.S. government, including the meaning and influence of the Constitution and its evolution over time. Advocates also emphasize the importance of getting students to engage in the democratic process, said Kathleen Hall Jamieson, director of the Philadelphia-based Annenberg Public Policy Center.

One problem may be a consequence of the federal No Child Left Behind Act, which emphasized reading and math instruction with required testing.

Have you wondered what some of the items in the state budget your tax dollars pay for?  Look down at the sidewalks and the roads...look up at the traffic lights and traffic signs...read this article and you'll learn more about the outstanding maintenance bill for our public transportation system that has been neglected but can no longer be ignored for public safety reasons.

The closings [of the Red Line] are needed to allow T crews to make $80 million in repairs designed to keep trains from derailing.  [Full Article: The Boston Globe]

If there is no discernible voter fraud in the United States, why then are many states pushing for restrictive measures and passing legislation, including Massachusetts, that make it more difficult for people to vote?  Is this a rhetorical question asked because you can figure out the answer?

Seven states this year have passed laws requiring strict photo ID to vote, and similar measures were introduced in 27 other states. More than 21 million citizens — 11 percent of the population — do not have government ID cards. Many of them are poor, or elderly, or black and Hispanic and could have a hard time navigating the bureaucracy to get a card... Other states are beginning to require documentary proof of citizenship to vote, or are finding other ways to make it harder to register...In all cases, they are abusing the trust placed in them by twisting democracy’s machinery to partisan ends.  [Full Editorial: The New York Times]

When does lobbying reform go too far overboard and to the detriment of all?  The Obama Administration may have reached that point.  Lobbying, just like other noble professions, is performed by intelligent, thoughtful, and dedicated people who believe in their issue and who follow moral codes of conduct.  Just like with other professions, not everyone matches this level of performance.  That shouldn't be the reason to paint all lobbyist with the same negative brush, putting constraints on careers.

The report also details several examples of seemingly qualified senior nonprofit employees missing out on appointments because of their lobbyist status. ...David Cohen, a CLPI board member and former president of Common Cause, said the issue is that “people who are quite qualified and bring a different perspective on things are really being kept out of government by critical levels."  [Full Article: Politico]

We're almost to the finish line with the final redistricting plan.  Several scenarios are being discussed to reduce the House seats from 10 to 9. One that has bubbled to the surface has two eastern MA districts merging - those represented by Stephen Lynch, South Boston, and William Keating, Quincy.  Under this plan, Congressman Barney Frank's current district boundaries would also change.  Stay tuned....there's more yet to come...

“It is a hard decision,’’ said state Senator Stanley C. Rosenberg, the committee’s cochair. “It produces many sleepless night between now and the finish line. You could be making a decision that could end someone’s career as well as harming the Commonwealth’s clout in Washington. What you decided in fact could affect national policy."  [Full Article:  The Boston Globe]

Maintaining clean water - one of the essential things we do through government.  A great example of what we value in government and how we do things better together than we can do by ourselves.

US Representative William R. Keating plans to rally with environmental advocates and residents at Veterans Memorial Park in Hyannis today to maintain funding and regulations for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund and the Clean Water State Revolving Fund. [Full Article: The Boston Globe]

In this Op-Ed, Ed Moscovitch shows us that the myths we continue to be told are false- that taxes work against stimulating the economy and increasing jobs - don't bear out when we look at the realities in Europe (UK and Greece) and in the US for the last several decades.  So why do we keep repeating the same, foolish fiscal policies?

How is this possible? Higher taxes make possible higher spending. While taxes per se may (or may not) discourage growth, government money well spent (on college education, on scientific research, on basic infrastructure) likely increases growth potential. That’s why President Eisenhower built the interstate highways and President Reagan supported big increases in basic research.  [Full Article: Boston Globe]

 ...bringing more politicians of color to the General Court is not simple, as constituencies do not follow expected behaviors.

"Creating opportunity does not mean that someone will take advantage of the opportunity and even if they take advantage of the opportunity, it doesn't mean they'll get elected," [State Sen. Stanley] Rosenberg said.

Creating the districts could also mean that the 200-member General Court becomes less monolithic. Currently the Bay State has six Latino legislators on Beacon Hill, according to the National Conference of State Legislators. In 2009, there were five Latino legislators and nine African-American legislators. The two populations make up 16 percent of the state. [Full Article: Eagle-Tribune]  [Fi;l;  

The Massachusetts House unanimously passed a bill yesterday intended to eliminate patronage in the state Probation Department, but rejected Governor Deval Patrick’s demand that he be given control of the troubled agency. [Full Report: Boston Globe]