Friday, May 22, 2009
'Barbs'
Can you recall when a governor, any governor, Republican or Democrat, resorted to insulting language to describe legislators? All hell would break loose on Beacon Hill if a governor muttered simple truths about lawmakers -- that they're often petty, selfish, parochial, patronage-loving, power-hungry, double-dipping corrupt little hacks, etc. But nope. Governors, by and large, diplomatically hold their tongues and let lawmakers lob personal barbs at them. I hope the governor doesn't stoop to their level. He's drawing a contrast between the Corner Office and the circus arenas down the hall. I also hope the public is finally waking up to the fact that the Legislature is the problem -- and always has been the problem. The Legislature has long had its own personality and traditions, veiled in the flimsy guise of 'prerogatives,' and voters have to hold individual lawmakers responsible for a rotting institution that routinely uses collective action to hide individual guilt. Howie thinks voters, by and large, are brain dead. Scot is urging one last-ditch attempt to pressure lawmakers on the reforms front. But I think Deval should just let them do what they say they want to do -- and then take roll-call names for 2010.
Can you recall when a governor, any governor, Republican or Democrat, resorted to insulting language to describe legislators? All hell would break loose on Beacon Hill if a governor muttered simple truths about lawmakers -- that they're often petty, selfish, parochial, patronage-loving, power-hungry, double-dipping corrupt little hacks, etc. But nope. Governors, by and large, diplomatically hold their tongues and let lawmakers lob personal barbs at them. I hope the governor doesn't stoop to their level. He's drawing a contrast between the Corner Office and the circus arenas down the hall. I also hope the public is finally waking up to the fact that the Legislature is the problem -- and always has been the problem. The Legislature has long had its own personality and traditions, veiled in the flimsy guise of 'prerogatives,' and voters have to hold individual lawmakers responsible for a rotting institution that routinely uses collective action to hide individual guilt. Howie thinks voters, by and large, are brain dead. Scot is urging one last-ditch attempt to pressure lawmakers on the reforms front. But I think Deval should just let them do what they say they want to do -- and then take roll-call names for 2010.
