Bill filed to allow appointment for Senator Kennedy's seat

Blue Mass Group has a post on a bill to allow Governor Patrick to appoint an interim US Senator prior to the special election to fill Senator Kennedy's seat.
I think that this bill ...

...will move quickly through the legislature and be passed. What do you think?
The Commonwealth will hold a special election to fill Senator Kennedy's seat within 160 days. There has been some speculation as to who will run. I have heard Attorney General Coakley, former Congressmen Joe Kennedy and Meehan, Congressmen Markey, Capuano, and Lynch. Do you have a favoriate among those or is there someone else who you would like to see run?
Click here to read on!

I'm a grandfather

Carson Joseph Trimble, born at 9:05PM, Aug 30, 2009 to Andrew and Gretchen Trimble in Minnesota.
9 lbs, 2 oz.

Mom and baby are well and Dad is ecstatic.

A big boy and what a head of hair.

If world leaders had to hold a baby for 15 minutes every day, there would be no wars, I think.

Kenyan birth certificate to follow.
Sorry, I couldn't help myself with the quip.
Click here to read on!

WWIII Blues-Dylan on Friday

Half of the people can be part right all of the time,
Some of the people can be all right part of the time.
But all the people can't be all right all the time
I think Abraham Lincoln said that.
"I'll let you be in my dreams if I can be in yours,"
I said that.

Click here to read on!

Health Care Reform or Bust!

A point that seems to be missing in the debate over health care reform is that the current system is bankrupting our citizens, our companies and our government. Our country spends much more per person on health care than any other country. We spend twice as much per person as France, 35% more than the Swiss. Is our care twice as good? Health statistics say no. The cost of health care is growing at a much faster rate than wages, most corporate profits, and tax receipts. The result is that we have to spend more and more of our personal earnings, company earnings, and tax dollars (see chart on page 13 of linked Congressional Budget Office document) to provide health care for the country. And we have millions who are uninsured to boot.
A Harvard study found that medical expenses were the leading cause of personal bankruptcy filings. The study also found that most bankruptcy filers had health insurance! But that is only half the story. As health care costs skyrocket, companies are pushing more of the cost of health insurance onto employees, either by increasing employee contributions or increasing co-pays and deductibles. If some sort of reform is NOT passed, you will pay more and more of your income for health care.
Companies, large and small, are being forced to reduce or eliminate health benefits or absorb costs which make them less competitive. Most industrial nations do not have for profit health care insurance. Their governments control the cost of care and ...

...that provides foreign companies an advantage over ours. If health care reform is NOT accomplished, we will be less competitive in world markets.
If the nation does not come up with a reform plan that reins in the explosive growth of health care costs, Medicare taxes will have to increase or benefits will have to be cut.
Please notice what I said just now. If reform is NOT done, Medicare will be cut, US companies will be less competitive in world markets, and you will pay more of your income for health care. The reality of our unsustainable health care system is that it must be reformed, not only for our physical health needs, but also for the economic health of the country. Other countries provide high quality, universal health care to their citizens (scroll down to middle of the page for Canadian example) at fraction of the cost of our system. This country must find the necessary reforms to do likewise. It is either health care reform or bust.
Click here to read on!

Health Care for everyone rally Sept 7 11AM

According to Charley on the MTA at Blue Mass Group, advocates for health care reform will hold a rally on the Boston Common on September 7th at 11AM. This is one of 1000 events planned over the next 10 days to show support for health care reform.
This site lists events within 220 miles of Boston. If health care reform is important to you, ...

... see if you can get out to one of these events to show your support.
Click here to read on!

Bridge Construction on Mon 8/31/09 from 7a-330p

Dartmouth Police reminds you that the Apponagansett Bridge will be closed at Gulf Rd. on Monday, August 31, 2009 from 7:00AM-3:30PM due to Bridge Construction.

Local detours will be posted but please seek alternative routes during this time.

For full details, go to http://local.nixle.com/alert/219259/
Contact Information:
DARTMOUTH POLICE DEPT.
508-910-1735

You can sign up to get these updates fromm Nixle at this website, http://local.nixle.com/dartmouth-police-department/
Click here to read on!

T.R. Reid actually reports on health care abroad

T.R. Reid has an article on the Washington Post in which he actually went around the world and looked at the systems employed by other countries for health care insurance and delivery of care. Not surprisingly, he found out that the rest of the world enjoys high quality, universal coverage at a fraction of the cost of the US system. He also explodes several myths ...

... about the care given in other countries.
Such as,
1> Other countries use a socialized model (Some do, some don't)
2> Overseas, care is rationed through limited choices or long lines (It's not)
3> Foreign health-care systems are inefficient, bloated bureaucracies (Nope, more efficient)
4> Cost controls stifle innovation (Not true)
5> Health insurance has to be cruel (In fact, coverage is guaranteed abroad)

How come Rush Limbaugh never mentions this stuff?
Click here to read on!

Alternative Energy Committee meets tonight on wind turbines

The Alternative Energy Committee will meet tonight at 7PM in room 301 of the Town Hall.
The Alternative Energy Committee will discuss and vote on options for the height of the proposed wind turbines, either 80 or 100 meters at the hub.
The plans and studies needed to prepare a Special Permit for submission to the Technical Resource Group (TRG) are moving apace and should be ready soon. The wind turbine bylaw requires the permit to be submitted ...
... to the TRG for approval before being presented to the Select Board for their approval. The bylaw makes the Select Board the Special Permit Granting Authority for wind turbines.
I have posted about the proposed wind turbines to be erected on town lands in the Paskamansett valley here, here and here.
You can find more comprehensive information about the turbines at the town website here
And here is the rest.
Click here to read on!

Special Town Meeting adopts local option taxes

A brief Town Meeting approved the three articles on the warrant last night. I posted on the warrant here.
The Town Counsel had prepared the contract for the new Executive Administrator and the Select Board signed it last night. The contract will now go to Mr. Cressman for his signature.

Senator Edward Kennedy passed away today. He was 77 and one of the longest serving US Senators in history.
Click here to read on!

Special Town Meeting tonight 7PM

A Special Town Meeting will be convened tonight at 7PM at the new Dartmouth High auditorium to consider acquisition of a small parcel of land at the end of Rogers Street and the adoption of a local .75% tax on restaurant meals and a local 2% increase on the room tax.

See you there!
Click here to read on!

Select Board reaches agreement with new Executive Administrator

Last night, the Select Board met in Executive Session with Mr, David Cressman and I believe we have hammered out an agreement that is acceptable to both sides.
Please join us on the Select Board in welcoming Mr. Cressman and his family to our community.
I was not going to post on the subject until the ink was on the contract but since it was on the front page of the Standard Times this morning, I will post about it.
Let me caution that the contract is not actually signed. It may be by the end of today or tomorrow.
The compensation for Mr. Cressman will be $125,000 for the first year and raises will be subject to annual review ...

... of his performance by the Select Board. Mr. Cressman is paid $132,000 at his current position in Tewksbury.
The contract term is three years. Mr. Cressman may open
Mr. Cressman will receive 4 weeks vacation. Two credited immediately and the remaining two weeks earned over the next 12 months on a monthly prorated basis.
He will be given a town vehicle for business use.
He and the Select Board have agreed to a list of goals and objectives that will be the basis for his evaluation for future increases.
Mr. Cressman will start work in Dartmouth on October 5th.
Click here to read on!

Three Sargeants promoted to Lieutenant

The Select Board voted to appoint Sargeants Rutch, Faria and Zielinski to open slots in the police department command structure at the lieutenant level. This makes way for promotions from the patrol ranks to fill the three sargeant positions vacated by the promotions.
My congratulations to Sargeants Rutch, Faria and Zielinski.

I hope the Select Board will take up the promotions to sargeant soon.
Click here to read on!

UMass Dartmouth receives top ranking

According to this article in the Fall River Herald News, US News and World Report has ranked our own campus of UMass as tops in the region. The news article says,

The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth is the top public university in New England of those that offer mostly undergraduate and master’s-level degrees, according to the U.S. News & World Report

Having this fine university in our community is a much unappreciated asset. Congratulations to the administration, faculty and staff of the campus.
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Friday Dylan is back

Gates of Eden


And on their promises of paradise
You will not hear a laugh
All except inside the Gates of Eden
Click here to read on!

A good explanation of the public option

Charley on the MTA over at Blue Mass Group has an excellent exposition of what the public option is and what it means to health care reform. Go and read it here
At the Booman Tribune, Booman posts this,

While doctors, nurses, specialists, and hospitals need to make a profit and earn good incomes, it isn't clear to me why private insurance companies need to be involved in the provision of health care. All they do is increase the cost of obtaining treatment without adding anything of value to the patient. It is transparently in the national interest to provide health care to as many citizens as possible at the lowest possible cost.

Booman goes on to say,

Protecting the private health care insurers makes no sense for anyone but the private health care insurers, their stockholders, and their employees.

Do you agree?
Click here to read on!

Senator Kennedy asks for change in replacement policy

This article from TPM media details Senator Kennedy's request that the Commonwealth change the method of replacing a Senator who leaves office mid term. He would like to have the governor appoint a successor. That was the method before the General Court changed it in 2004 when the possibility of Senator Kerry being elected President would have allowed ...

... Governor Romney to appoint a new Senator. The current law requires a special election with 160 days.
Here is JimC at Blue Mass Group with his take.
What do you think should be done?
Click here to read on!

Meals tax option in the news

The Fall River Herald News has an article today about the stance that local towns are taking on the local option to increase the meals and room taxes. Some local towns are passing on the opportunity to increase local revenue to offset sate aid cuts.
Dartmouth will have a Special Town Meeting on August 25th to decide whether to adopt the local option of .75% on restaurant meals and 2% on rooms. The state has levied a 1.25% increase in meals tax raising the total tax to 6.25%.
Leaders in other towns have considered this increase ...

... a burden on local businesses but this tax is a pass through for businesses. The restaurant will not pay additional tax but the consumer does.
Many of the local towns don't have many restaurants and the added tax doesn't generate much revenue for them. For instance, Freetown would see an additional $55,000 by adopting the local tax, whereas Dartmouth would realize $495,000.
The state has cut Chapter 70 education aid by 2%, which is about $200,000 for Dartmouth, and will not pay all of their portion of Quinn Bill police salary incentive which leaves Dartmouth an additional $163,000 to pay the difference. Other categories of state aid were also reduced. I think this gives the town a way to maintain the revenue to keep our services. What are your thoughts?
Let your town meeting members know as well. A list of town meeting members can be found here. It's not up to date but it's the best I could find.
Click here to read on!

Mr. Frank at the COA

Our Congressman, Mr. Barney Frank, spoke last night at a meeting of the Democratic Town Committee. The Council on Aging hall was the venue and it was packed with people. The crowd overwhelmed the air conditioning on a hot night. The heat was not contained to the room temperature as some participants were visibly angry with the Congressman. Unfortunately, some who attended were raucous and disrespectful of common courtesy throughout the evening, hooting and shouting while the Congressman was trying to speak. Apparently Lyndon Larouche supporters turned out in force and peppered the representative with inane questions about the legality of the Federal Reserve system. One young woman even accused the Congressman of supporting a Nazi agenda! Mr. Frank, who is Jewish, took some understandable umbrage at the characterization. Throughout the evening, some of those in the room interrupted Mr. Frank's answers but the Congressman maintained a relatively calm demeanor. Some of the items that he answered questions about included:

-His thoughts on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and their regulation (He sheparded legislation through which increased oversight after 2007 when Democrats controlled the House)
-That illegal immigrants will not be covered by the proposed health care reform bill (He quoted the section which disallows those not legally in the country from participating)
-That the bill provides for payment to health care providers for voluntary end of life counseling not "death panels".
-That the public option was an important component of the reform to control costs and would not be subsidized by taxpayers but would have to compete on its own with the revenue from premiums (Mr. Frank noted that it was inconsistent to maintain that the government can't efficiently run a health care program and to also claim that people would flock to the public option.)

More after the jump

-That he is covered by a government single payer system that he likes (Mr. Frank is 69 years old and is covered by Medicare)
-That the additional coverage of the nearly 50 million people under the new plan would not lead to rationing of care to those now covered (He noted that those without health insurance are treated now but in the most inefficient and costly place, emergency rooms. He felt that more nurses and doctors should be trained and that the bill has provisions to encourage that)
-That the program would be paid for from additional taxes and savings within the system (He cited loopholes which allow corporations to claim profits offshore, a reduction in the amount of deduction allowed for those making more than $325,000, savings through more efficient delivery of services, concessions from insurance and pharmaceutical companies)
-That he favors a single payer system but there are not the votes to pass that

On other issues, Mr. Frank stated his opposition to our continued presence in Iraq.
He is working on legislation to establish a financial services consumer protection agency that would take over some functions now left to the Federal Reserve.
The forum was televised by DCTV channel 18. They may rerun it at some point but I could not find it on their listings.
Click here to read on!

Are we getting our money's worth?

From the Daily Howler comes this data.

A few more data: Trust us: Globetrekker will cover these data before the press corps does! Today, we add spending figures for Italy and France (click here). Each system is highly regarded:

Total spending on health care, per person, 2007:
United States: $7290
France: $3601
United Kingdom: $2992
Italy: $2686

Those data are simply astounding. The “press” doesn’t seem to have heard.

Are we getting twice as good care as France, 60% better than UK, 63% better than Italy? By most measures of health care efficacy, we lag these nations.

I think the money is there to cover everybody if less gets shifted to insurance company profits. How is that not correct? Let me know in comments.
Click here to read on!

Weird science!

I don't know what to make of this finding by UMass Dartmouth researchers.
Here's the story from the Fall River Herald News

Weird. Who'd a thunk it?
Click here to read on!

Mr. Cressman accepts conditional offer

The candidate selected for Executive Administrator, Mr. David Cressman, has accepted a conditional offer of employment from the town. The Town and Mr. Cressman still must work out the details of an employment contract. That work is underway. Mr. Cressman will have a full background check and physical in addition to working out the contract language before the decision is final.
Let me caution that although this is a step on the road to his hiring, until the contract is finalized ...

... and Mr. Cressman has been fully vetted, the process is not complete.
That said, I don't anticipate there will be any snags in the process and look forward to welcoming Mr. Cressman as Executive Administrator.
Click here to read on!

Lincoln Park project update

Representatives of Midway Realty LLC came before the Select Board last night to review their progress on the Lincoln Park 40R project. Curt Brown's report in the Standard Times on their presentation can be found here. Mr. Williams spoke for Midway and repeatedly maintained that the town had held up the project. I have not been involved from the beginning but I can tell you that the developers have had an approved plan from the permitting authority for well over a year and have not proceeded with the project.
I am somewhat skeptical about the claims that the town has delayed this project since the 40R statute provides specific and relatively short deadlines for action by the permitting authority after submission of the project plans (chapter 40R section 11).
The developers have been on the agenda for several hearings at the Conservation Commission but have asked for a continuation each time. The plan for residential development to which Mr. Williams alluded last night has never been submitted to the Lincoln Park Smart Growth Overlay District(LPSGOD) permitting authority to my knowledge. The town adopted a special bylaw known as the Lincoln Park Smart Growth Overlay District(link in MS Word format) for this project. The bylaw sets up a three member board that is the permitting authority for the district. The permit for the portion of the project that has been approved ...

... set out a timeline for completion. I posted about that timeline here in July 2008.
My concern is that the town will be forced to return a payment of $350,000 that was provided under the 40R law, section 9. Section 14 of the 40R statute requires repayment if progress is not realized.
There was mention of Chapter 40S at last nights meeting as well. This chapter provides a payment to municipalities for the difference in added school costs above the added revenue from the smart growth development. The troubling wording in this chapter are the first three words of Section 2, "Subject to appropriation"
I am not a proponent of suburban sprawl type development and think that the original proposal has merit. The infrastructure in roads, water and sewer exists on the site if the originally submitted improvements are made on Route 6 and surrounding roads. The density of the proposed project provides a good number of affordable units without taking up large areas of the town and creates a village atmosphere. Frankly, the current condition of the property is somewhat of an eyesore in my opinion. Since I have not seen any other proposal from the developer beyond the original, I cannot comment on what may eventually be done there. I hope that the town can get a development at Lincoln Park that benefits both the town and the developer, is an attractive addition to the landscape of the town, and adds to the tax rolls.
Click here to read on!

Regionalization is good but keep your eyes open

This is a cautionary tale for regional purchase of goods and services. As the Fall River Times Herald reports, Freetown was able to get a better price for road salt than the regional price obtained by SRPEDD. So while it is a good thing to try to aggregate demand and try to get a better price, it is also wise to keep your eyes open for a better deal. I think that is the lesson to be learned from this case. I also agree with Freetown Selectman, who said,

"We’ve barely scratched the surface. No doubt that there will be a number of kinks to work out, the biggest being the human factor. Our current purchasing and town services have been over a century in the making from when towns stopped working together and sharing services, it will take ...

... a concerted effort by all to not only identify opportunities for improvement but more importantly, implement change. If we don’t do this, our citizens will see further deterioration of services as funds are instead channeled to areas where we could have saved money by working together as a regional partner.”

Opponents of regional efforts will point to results such as this as a reason to abandon the effort to find regional solutions. I think that is short sighted and not indicative of the possible savings that are there. What are your thoughts?
Click here to read on!

Les Paul passes away

Musician and inventor Les Paul passed away Thursday. Paul was a master musician but his mark on music will probably be the innovations he fathered in recording and playing music, Paul will be remembered as the inventor of the electric guitar. He was one of the first to add pickups to a guitar. Paul was also an innovator in multitrack recording. I think it is safe to say that Les Paul invented the way that most music is recorded today. His innovations literally changed the world of music.
You Tube embed after the jump


Click here to read on!

Special Town Meeting warrant for August 25th

The warrant has been set for the Special Town Meeting to be held on August 25th at 7PM at the Dartmouth High school auditorium. The warrant contains three articles (link here).
The first article is to appropriate $9,500 from the Waterways Management Enterprise to purchase about 1/4 acre ...

... near the Rogers Street property owned by the town.
Articles 2 and 3 are to accept the local option taxes on meals (.75%) and hotel rooms (2%). I have previously written about these taxes here.
The Finance Committee voted 6-0 to recommend the appropriation for the property and the room tax. The Finance Committee voted 5-1 to recommend the meals tax.
Click here to read on!

Health Care meeting with Mr. Frank changes venue

From Dartmouth Democratic Town Committee chair, Ray Medeiros, Jr.

The venue for Congressman Frank's meeting has been changed due to a larger than expected interest(which is great). We have moved the location to the Dartmouth Council on Aging. the time and date are the same: Aug 18th at 6:30pm. Thank you all and sorry for any inconvenience.

See you there! I hope that we can have a fruitful and truthful discussion about what the specifics of health care reform entail and can avoid spectacles that have occurred at other meetings. For reference, take a look at this video of Congresswoman Tsongas trying to get a word in edgewise.
Video after the jump


Shame on those who shout, interrupt and generally make it impossible for anyone to have a meaningful discussion or even an orderly meeting. Many in the crowd showed complete disrespect for others and the Congresswoman. Democracy is messy, I understand that. Being rude does not further anyone's position.
Click here to read on!

You can't make this stuff up!

Here is a report in Steve Benen's Atlantic Monthly blog that anti-health care reform protester, Kenneth Gladney, wants donations to pay for his medical bills claiming to have been injured at a town hall rally. It seems Mr. Gladney is laid off from work and has no health insurance.
No word on whether Mr. Gladney understands ...

... anything at all about the reform he went to protest. He could find out what health care reform is and is not at this White House website, Health Insurance Reform Reality Check You can as well.
Click here to read on!

Select Board interviews Executive Administrator candidates

The Select Board interviewed three candidates for Executive Administrator Thursday. The three were Mr. Paul Beecher of Chicago, Mr. Neal Beets of Federal Way, WA. and Mr. David Cressman of Tewksbury. All three candidates answered questions from Select Board members for a little over an hour.

I would like to acknowledge the fine work done by the Executive Administrator search committee (Chair Mr. Mark Eisenberg, Mr. Bernie Roth, Mr. Ed Goulart, Ms. ML Nunes, and Mr. David Ferreira) who spent many hours reviewing and evaluating the original field of 73 applicants to get the number down to these three. I am confident that any of these three gentlemen can do a good job as Executive Administrator.

The candidate that I prefer is Mr. Cressman. I liked his use of technology in government such as a reverse 911 and an award winning town website in Tewksbury. Mr. Cressman stated that he embraces new technology in order to make government more responsive and efficient. Mr. Cressman also has the advantage of working in Massachusetts so he is familiar with the unique features of municipal government in the Commonwealth. Mr. Cressman noted that Tewksbury has weathered the current economic downturn pretty well under his guidance. Tewksbury has also undertaken an impressive list of capital projects during his tenure. Mr. Cressman seems to be more an introvert than an extrovert and cited that as his greatest weakness.

My second choice would be Mr. Beecher. I am impressed ...

... with his solid background in finances and his experience. Mr. Beecher has also been a town manager in New England, so he has some experience with a town meeting style of government. Mr. Beecher struck me as very forthright and confident as well.

My thurd choice would be Mr. Beets. I liked the method that he described for maintaining staff engagement with weekly staff meetings. I think he is capable of enhancing the capabilities of the staff through coaching and encouragement. Mr. Beets had some good ideas about economic development and partnering with UMass Dartmouth. I think he has the least experience of the three in fiscal management. The distance that he has to move is also a factor.

The Select Board will meet on Monday and discuss which of these three gentleman will be the first to get an offer of employment. The Board, through Municipal Resources Inc., will make an offer to one of the three and there will be a negotiation between the town and candidate to see if we can reach an agreement. If we cannot reach agreement or if the candidate withdraws due to accepting anothr position, the Select Board will select another candidate and make an offer to them.
Click here to read on!

Please take a look at this list

Charley on the MTA has a post on Blue Mass Group listing 8 proposed consumer protections endorsed by the President as part of health care reform.
Are there any on the list that you think should be removed?

Maybe this one? No Dropping of Coverage for Seriously Ill

Or this? No Exorbitant Out-of-Pocket Expenses, Deductibles or Co-Pays

Take a look at the list and see if ...

... there is a problem with one of the items and then tell us why it should not be enacted.

Click here to read on!

Select Board calls a Special Town Meeting

The Select Board voted last night to convene a Special Town Meeting to consider the adoption of local option taxes on meals and rooms. The Special Town Meeting will be held on August 25th at 7PM at the Dartmouth High School auditorium. Please note that the Town Meeting will be at the new high school not the middle school.
Curt Brown's article in the Standard Times can be found at this link.
I have previously posted my thoughts here. I don't think that this tax is the best solution to the problems facing the state and its municipalities. Essentially the legislature passed the responsibility ...

... for raising revenue to the towns. The sales tax surcharge is a regressive measure. I would have preferred that the legislature raise the income tax to pay for the programs to which they have committed. Perhaps it is better to let local communities decide. What do you think?
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Executive Administrator search nearing conclusion

The Executive Administrator Search committee will be interviewing 6 candidates on Wednesday and will present 2 or 3 of those individuals for consideration by the Select Board on Thursday. The Select Board will meet and interview the candidates on Thursday morning, The Select Board interviews will be televised by DCTV Channel 18.
more after the jump

The agenda for Thursday is discussion of appointments to police lieutenant followed by interviews of the finalists for Executive Administator
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Congratulations to Lt. Soares

The Select Board appointed Lt. Soares as police captain last night at the end of our meeting. Congratulations to Lt. Soares and thank you to the other officers who applied. The Select Board will take up the appointment of police lieutenant at our meeting this Thursday morning. Candidates for lieutenant include sargeants Zielinski, Rutch and Faria. With the appointment of Lt. Soares to captain, a second slot for lieutenant is open, I inquired whether the Select Board would make one or two appointments to lieutenant but the number was not decided last night.
The objective is to align the police department command structure ...

with one proposed by Chief Pacheco last year. I included a chart of the new structure in this post
Click here to read on!

Meals tax, revenue and spending

The Town of Dartmouth will have some choices to make over the next few weeks. The first is whether or not to call a Special Town Meeting to consider an increase in the meals tax. I am in favor of putting this to the Town Meeting. If the Town Meeting will vote to increase the meals tax by .75% by August 31st, the town will realize an estimated revenue increase of more than $440K. The Blue Mass Group has a post about the decision in Bridgewater not to pursue the local option tax and about cuts to services. Some have argued that raising this tax will put town restaurants at a competitive disadvantage. I don't think that is the case. A .75% difference is 75 cents on a $100 meal tab or .03 cents on a kids meal. First consumers would have to know that the town has adopted the tax and then decide that the few cents is worth going somewhere else. I doubt that either will be the case except for a few instances.
If the Town Meeting does decide to adopt the local option taxes (there is an option to increase room tax that could add another 33-66K) the town will then have to decide what to do with the added revenue. The police department funding will be short due to the state not fully funding the Quinn Bill payments. Several capital requests were bypassed for lack of funds, ...

... notably, replacements for worn out police cruisers. The Board of Health funding has been cut to a level where maintaining inspections is difficult and other departments have seen reduced clerical support. All these areas could benefit from the increased revenue. This tax increase would be a source of on going revenue so it could be used fro nearly any purpose. If Town Meeting were to adopt the local option, where do you think the funds should be applied? Tell us in comments
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Guns and health care

The US spends nearly half of all dollars spent for defense in the entire world. Matt Ygelsias has a useful chart showing world wide defense spending at this link. This huge and disproportionate spending reduces the ability of the US to compete internationally and takes away money from things like providing health care to our citizens.
Military spending is the corporate equivalent of welfare. It does not produce the capacity to create more wealth. If the same money were invested ...

... in medical technologies or environmentally friendly technologies, it would pay diviends in the future. Other people would want to buy those technologies. Buying a tank or F22 fighter plane does increase our ability to produce goods and services. As Ygelsias says,

Just recall that every unnecessary dollar spent on defense is a dollar that can’t be invested productively. Spending too much year after year after year leaves American living standards much lower than they otherwise could be.

I'm all for defending the country but the next highest spenders are the European Union (our closest allies) and China (our biggest trading partner). It isn't clear to me where the threat comes from that requires this huge expenditure.
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Back from vacation

Hello all. My wife and I have been out of the country on vacation for a while. That is the reason I haven't posted any entries. Had a great time. Recharged and refreshed.

Any guesses where this picure was taken?

Click here to read on!