Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
skip to main |
skip to sidebar
Categories
- civil rights and civil liberties (13)
- consumer protection (10)
- economic growth and jobs (15)
- education (23)
- environment (10)
- general (2)
- health care (20)
- housing (12)
- labor (16)
- preamble (5)
- safety justice and crime prevention (14)
- social security and the safety net (7)
- taxes and public services (7)
- voting procedures (6)
I firmly believe that we can find ways to increase job opportunities in Massachusetts; one of the many ways that we can do this is by creating new venues for new business development; increase and encourage small non-profits by creative capital investments. I am sure where there's a will there's ways to enhance business development in the US and abroad.
ReplyDeleteRegards
We adamantly oppose instituting legalized gambling--including slot machines and casinos--in Massachusetts, as:
ReplyDeletea) Casinos and slot machines only redistribute existing money. They do not create new revenue;
b) Casinos and slot machines must be tightly regulated and would require creation of a new administrative authority, placing even more financial burdens on the State;
c) Casinos and slot machines attract organized crime, placing greater burdens on law enforcement and further draining State resources;
d) Income from casinos and slot machines is highly variable and not recession-proot; the expenses (regulation, enforcement, collection, etc.) are constant, however, putting the State in potential financial jeopardy;
f) States that have implement legalized gambling have not found them to be of sufficient financial benefit to warrant the costs incurred;
g) Competition from surrounding states would create a "gambling price war," driving down income to the point where the State would be administrating the casinos and slot machines at a loss;
h) Loss of income, savings, employment, and health-care among a statistically certain nubmer of gambling addicts would place an enormous burden on the State.
We suggest THREE NEW ITEMS for this section:
ReplyDelete1. "We support strong state and federal regulation of financial and banking institutions."
2. "We support strong state and federal regulation and oversight of corporate governance, including criminal penalties for irresponsible fiduciary actions of corporations as entities, of corporate officers, and of corporate board members."
3. "Recognizing the validity of former Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black's statement, "I do not believe that the word 'person' in the Fourteenth Amendment includes corporations," we urge the establishment of a state commission to give careful consideration to rewriting the state laws governing corporations and their chartering."
I believe government's role is to offer public services that enhance the quality of life for its residents. When we agree that public education, public transportation or public health is a common good, then we all pay for that service willingly. But to attempt to raise the revenue for common goods by regressive taxation or through subsidizing private enterprise, we create the fallacy that somehow we can get these services for 'free'.
ReplyDeleteIf we use our public money to build resort casinos or slot machines parlors, and justify the use of public resources to create an additional source for revenue, we are engaging in a public deceit that is not only hypocritical but creates the perception that we can secure public goods through private means, by charging the poorest segment of the population to support programs that ought to be publicly funded. Private enterprise has a role to provide services and products and to create profits; government's role is to provide for the common good and regulating businesses to create a fair and just climate in which businesses can compete.
Therefore,
The Democratic Party opposes the use of public funds to subsidize gambling, resort casinos and slot machines parlors.
Native Americans who choose to build gambling enterprises on their sovereign land should be allowed to do so, even though gambling is not legalized or subsidized in the rest of the state.
A group of frustrated progressive Democrats met in Jamaica Plain on March 11th to discuss what we believe.
ReplyDeleteAs Progressive Democrats, we believe in/that:
Safe jobs that pay a living wage
Pension benefits based on what you do and what you did not who you know
Performance based pay
Supporting our local economy
Moving toward a peacetime economy
We believe that manufacturing is a vital sector for our economy. Manufacturing provides jobs that can pay well, with good benefits, without requiring a college degree. Manufacturing also provides products which can be exported, thus improving our trade balance.
ReplyDeleteEconomic Growth
ReplyDeleteWe support improved and expanded public transportation in urban, suburban, exurban and rural regions as a way to expand economic growth and increase job opportunities. THE WESTERN PART OF MASSACHUSETTS PREVIOUSLY HAD EXCELLENT FREIGHT AND PASENGER RAIL SERVICE. THE LOSS OF FREIGHT TERMINALS HAS HAD A DETRIMENTAL EFFECT ON ECONOMIC GROWTH. THE COMPLETE LOSS OF PASSENGER SERVICE HAS EFFECTIVELY CUT OFF THE BEKSHIRES FROM THE METROPOLITAN AREA. RESTORATION OF PASSENGER RAIL SERVICE WOULD GREATLY INCREASE THE NUMBER OF VISITORS AND BENEFIT THE TOURISM INDUSTRY WHICH IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE GROWTH IN THE ECONOMY OF THE BERKSHIRES.
ADDITIONALLY WE SUPPORT THE CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF BIKE TRAILS WHICH WOULD PROVIDE AN ALTERNATE TRAVEL MODE AND WOULD HELP REDUCT CARBON EMISSIONS.
FUNDING FOR BERKSHIRE REGIONAL TRANSPORT AUTHORITY MUST BE RECOGNIZED AS AN IMPORTANT TOOL FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH.
Belmont Dem. Town Committee met on 3/25 and on the economic development category wanted to urge a plank on 'smart growth' development. That is, development of housing and mixed-use (commercial & residential) construction as a part of an overall plan to encourage mass transit and discourage urban sprawl. This is also applicable to the Housing category of the platform.
ReplyDeleteThe BDTC also wanted to urge particular emphasis on the platform plank relating to expansion of research and tech based industries in MA.
We declare that SUSTAINABILITY, NOT SUPERFICIAL ECONOMIC GROWTH/DEVELOPMENT, is of true value to our society. Once passed the natural capacity of resource supply and waste sinks, further "growth" only diminishes quality of life, not enhances it. Economic "laws" that tell us stimulating consumption promotes growth are not natural laws like laws of physics, but rather observed correlations based on a period of capitalistic free market that did not place a value on the sustainability of the environment and life supporting elements like clean air, water, soil, and robust ecosystems that are crucial for our own existence. That period was fleetingly short in human history, while its environmental damage is devastatingly apparent. We must measure all our future policies with how well they promote sustainability, particularly with regard to the climate emergency.
ReplyDeleteWe declare that SUSTAINABILITY, NOT SUPERFICIAL ECONOMIC GROWTH/DEVELOPMENT, is of true value to our society. Once passed the natural capacity of resource supply and waste sinks, further "growth" only diminishes quality of life, not enhances it. Economic "laws" that tell us stimulating consumption promotes growth are not natural laws like laws of physics, but rather observed correlations based on a period of capitalistic free market that did not place a value on the sustainability of the environment and life supporting elements like clean air, water, soil, and robust ecosystems that are crucial for our own existence. That period was fleetingly short in human history, while its environmental damage is devastatingly apparent. We must measure all our future policies with how well they promote sustainability, particularly with regard to the climate emergency. Internationally, we must push for worldwide population stabilization through education, contraception and one/two child policy (depending on growth trend in each country, including the US). Domestically, we must replace fossil fuel based economic growth and stimulation of consumption, with sustainable, green, re-localized economy based on conservation, efficiency, clean renewable energy, sustainable, integrated, organic agriculture, small local businesses and cooperatives, and community financing, all of which bring good, secure, local jobs, redirect hundreds of billions of $$$ sent overseas each year for purchasing fossil fuels and instead investing in and keep money circulating in local communities made strong and resilient to global financial storms, improve health through healthier, fresher food and a cleaner environment, and keep us secure by removing the need for our military aggression in securing fossil fuel, and saves hundreds of billions of $$$ of military spending in the name of our "national interests" worldwide. Every $ invested in renewable energy sector creates 3x as many jobs as in oil and coal industries. (Please also see my comments in Environment - general)
ReplyDeleteChristopher Horton said:
ReplyDeleteWe support a massive Green New Deal at the Federal and state levels to put our people back to work and rebuild our economy, in a way that reclaims American technological and scientific leadership around solving the world's climate crisis.
Christopher Horton said:
ReplyDeleteWhereas the massive Federal military budget, support for hundreds of foreign bases and installations and support for military intervention in other nations robs our government of resources needed for the renewal of our economy and meeting the social needs of our people, the Massachusetts Democratic Party calls on our elected representatives to enact legislation to cut military spending (exclusive of commitments to our veterans) by 25% by the year 2010 and redirect that money to domestic needs and programs.
Christopher Horton said...
ReplyDeleteWhereas the commitment of multi-trillions of dollars to "bailing out" the banks and other financial institutions by making up their losses or by buying or guaranteeing their bad debts and "toxic assets" has not ended and cannot end the credit crisis; and whereas these "bailouts" are placing a huge and ongoing debt-servicing burden on the Federal government that must ultimately bring its credit and the soundness of our currency into question; we call on our representatives to oppose all further bailouts, and to instead support Federal takeover and operation of failing financial institutions in the public interest, including if necessary nationalization of the Federal Reserve Banks.
Christopher Horton said...
ReplyDeleteWhereas the functions of issuing currency and controlling the money supply are too important to be left in the hands of private corporations concerned with maximizing their own profits, we call on our representatives in Congress to pass legislation transferring those functions to the Treasury Department.
Poverty—I only found the word “poverty” once in both our state and the national Democratic platforms. There are 35 million people who currently lvie at or below the poverty level. This recession will push an additional 10-12 million into poverty, raising the total # to 47-49 million people. This is an extraordinary number. The only current references are to a minimum wage. But what about people who don’t have a job? The other plank relates to affordable housing and homelessness. The Center for American Progress has a 50-10 initiative, reducing poverty across the country by 50% in ten years. From 1964-73, poverty was reduced by 40%. So it’s not an unrealistic goal, particularly given what we have learned about poverty over the last 40 years. Another organization that plays a critical role is Catholic Charities, USA. I would love to see a plank in the state party platform where the Commonwealth would adopt a plank similar to the 50-10 initiative, where the Commonwealth and the Party will seek to reduce poverty by 50% over ten years.
ReplyDeleteThe growing disparity between rich and poor in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts presents a challenge to our present and our future. Massachusetts currently has an
ReplyDelete“hourglass” economy – with a few people at the top and many at the bottom – but the
middle class is being increasingly squeezed. Over the past decade, the top 5% has made many,
many times more than the bottom 50%.
Such trends threaten the quality of life in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
because they limit opportunity for low income individuals and families from moving
into the middle class, and they prevent those in the middle class from having the
ability to provide a comfortable life for themselves or their families. An
hourglass economy is not conducive to future economic growth nor to a functioning
civil society.
Proposed: that the Massachusetts Democratic Platform include language in support of
policies that will alleviate the economic pressure on low income individuals and
those in the middle class while allowing for the accumulation of wealth in a
reasonable manner.
Comments
ReplyDelete• One of the foundational pillars of Catholic social teaching is the preferential option for the poor in matters of public policy. While the better angels of people of good will provide a predisposition toward this, if not an intuitive understanding of it, the devil as they say is in the details.
• In the current economic climate it is estimated that the number of people living at or below the artificially low poverty level will increase by about 30%, growing from approximately 37 million people to 47 million people, with a disproportionate share of those people being children.
• In the current economic recession and with an already declining middle class, the issue of poverty will be one that continues to emerge in the lives of Americans, with 30% of the population currently projected to live in poverty sometime over the next 13 years. Some will rebound. Some will not.
• The Democratic Party, the party that gave us social security and the enduring programs of a social safety net, is the party that should continue to provide leadership on this central issue to the dignity to our fellow citizens in the public square, and our brothers within our faith communities.
• Currently, the Massachusetts Democratic Party Platform includes a plank that commits the party to ending homelessness. However, the only actual mention of poverty is as it relates to the minimum wage. Other planks address other issues related to poverty. However noble these specific planks and others may be, the issue of poverty is more encompassing than the issues that they address individually.
• Between 1964 and 1973 poverty fell by 40%. We can make this kind of progress again.
• Currently there are at least two long-term initiatives underway to reduce poverty; the 50 in 10 campaign sponsored by the Center for American Progress (which reduces poverty 50% in 10 years) and similar campaign being sponsored by Catholic Charities USA.
PROPOSED: The Massachusetts Democratic Party Platform should include a plank that commits the Party to a policy of reducing poverty in the Commonwealth by 50% in 10 years through programs that address the life cycle causes of poverty and that also provide the essential needs for those who continue to live in poverty.
Massachusetts Democratic Party Platform
We support an increase in the minimum wage laws to keep workers and their families from the burdens of poverty and we believe that the minimum wage should be indexed to the rate of inflation. (Labor, p. 4)
Massachusetts Democrats are committed to ending homelessness in our Commonwealth. (Housing, p. 5)
2008 Democratic National Platform
Only reference found relating to global poverty.
• More revenue sources in state
ReplyDelete• Job creation, green jobs
Economic Growth and Jobs/Closing the Income Gap
ReplyDeleteWe support investment in and expansion of high speed rail systems throughout the commonwealth to provide broader access to better employment opportunities while also providing alternative, mass transportation.
We affirm the need for access to Broadband cable service in all parts of the state.
We urge the state to mandate more competition in cable services and to adequately enforce cooperation between phone and cable service companies.
We vigorously oppose special tax breaks for companies that outsource jobs outside of the United States.
We advocate increased support for tourism, recreational infrastructure, and development of bike and hiking trails in Franklin County as a key vehicle for economic stimulus that will also protect natural resources.
) ECONOMIC GROWTH AND JOBS
ReplyDeletePat Church (Amherst) asks the Mass Dem Party to take a stand against predatory gambling (slot machines and the lottery) as a means of trying to balance the budget on the backs of the people who can least afford it.
Leo Maley (Amherst) – 80% of casino revenue is from slot machines – use sophisticated brain technology to addict people until they play “to extinction.” Chilling.
15 ayes, 1 no for the following:
“We oppose predatory gambling as a means of trying to balance the budget on the backs of the people who can least afford it.”
Economic Development:
ReplyDeleteWe support development of a comprehensive strategy to build the role of clean technologies in the Massachusetts economy, including research, manufacturing, and services in the areas of materials reuse, green building, advanced materials, green chemistry, water conservation and reuse, energy, and more.
Motion: We support the Patrick Administration sustainable development principles.
ReplyDelete[THREAD: ECONOMIC GROWTH AND JOBS]
ReplyDeleteImprove the economy.
As Democrats, we support an economy that benefits everyone, provides opportunity and employment for all, ends poverty, and provides checks of income and wealth.
We will promote an economic agenda that encourages the production of real goods and services, keeps jobs in the United States, and provides oversight and limits on financial speculation.
We will end tax credits for companies that send jobs overseas, and end trade agreements that make us more dependent on foreign sources for food and energy. We support technologies that respects and preserve our natural environment, and support local production and sustainable agriculture and energy production.
We seek to fund education and health care to ensure that all American families can make ends meet and make full use of their ingenuity and entrepreneurship.