Why is it when I watch political news, the conservative guy usually finds a way to make some passing and sarcastic reference to my home state of Massachusetts? Why is it that my former governor, now presidential candidate, Mitt Romney doesn't like to actually say the name of the state that elected him to office? We're always "where I served as Governor" or "back where I was in office", as if it was such a shitty post to be the governor of Massachusetts. Poor Mitt, had to slum it with those horrible liberals. Eat me.
Conservative politicians and the parasitic, political pundits like their straw men and scapegoats. They like to have an neat, little, packaged focal point of scorn for them to malign — Lou Dobbs has immigrants; Falwell had gays; and conservatives of any stripe have their beloved Massachusetts. In fact, they may appreciate my home state even more than I do, but just in case you are undecided, here's a few choice facts for any of you out there who are somehow under the impression that Massachusetts is something distinct from the America you love:
Hmmmm, where to start? Maybe with the fact that the damn Pilgrims landed the Mayflower on Plymouth rock (note: it did not land on them). And since the establishment of Massachusetts Bay Colony, I think there have been a few other mentionables. Let's see...do you like seafood? How 'bout lobster? Or Clam Chowder? You like those too? You're welcome.
Not patriotic enough yet? Well we also have a stellar line up of patriots: Benjamin Franklin, Emerson, Thoreau, Norman Rockwell (did you hear that. Norman friggen Rockwell. How much more American does it get?), Eli Whitney (try ginning cotton without Massachusetts.), W.E.B. DuBois, the J. Geils Band, Horatio Alger (this is getting unfair), and the "Block" where the "New Kids" were from is sitting nice and pretty in Massachusetts. Oh, I could keep going, but we "Massholes" were raised better than to brag. Oh wait, I forgot about some other patriots, The New England Patriots.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - tom
Dear CapeTownDissentator,
Please don't get your knickers in a twist. I'm from California, and here we admire and seek to emulate you. From Deval Patrick to Barney Frank, from same-sex marriage to Henry David Thoreau, you have much to teach us. Yes, your former governor was an embarrassment (still is), but your current governor is an inspiration (espeicially to those of us governed by the Governator).
Believe me, it could be worse. You could live in Virginia. Then what would you have to be proud of?
2 - Jerry
"Well we also have a stellar line up of patriots: Benjamin Franklin, Emerson, Thoreau, Norman Rockwell (did you hear that. Norman friggen Rockwell. How much more American does it get?)".
They are from a different era, and are thoroughly writhing in their graves.
3 - Rich
Nothing is wrong with Massachusetts?!! Obviously you have not attempted to purchase a house, pay taxes or other wise make ends meet. Name one improvement Deval Patrick has made since assuming office six months ago? His proposals sound great but come with no mention of how he intends to fund these programs.
Do you believe any of our top level elected officials actually send their kids to public schools? If they are not good enough for them then why should our children not be afforded the same opportunities?
Get real the Democrats in this state live off of the taxes we all pay. Sure this state has phenomonal universities which feed many of the industries that reside here. What you failed to mention is the majority of this states residence never graduated from those insitutions. Imagine trying to raise a family on what should be a strong salary yet not being able to afford a decent sized house beacuse real estate prices, property taxes, etc. are sky high. Figures you would get a compliment from CA. as if that state is a model to follow (again a state house dominated by Dems).
4 - Jerry
Rich -
I've often wondered why the most notable socialist cities like San Francisco and Boston are always the most expensive and prohibitive to live in for the average middle class citizens.
You would think that they would be models for socialist ideals and success, but they always turn into enclaves for rich leftists (what a contradiction) with a subsidized underclass of their servants.
I think I know the reasons but I'd like some input.
5 - Dr Dreadful
It's no good, CTD. You're up against brick-wall ideologues here.
Even if Heaven turned out to be Democrat-controlled, wouldn't make any difference. It's liberal, therefore it's Evil and Must Be Destroyed.
6 - bliffle
Mass. is OK with me. My brother settled in Wenham and I always enjoyed my visits there. The environment is beautiful, the coastline, woods and towns are wonderful and the people are excellent.
7 - Lee Richards
#1:
One thing we have to be proud of, Tom, is that you're not a Virginian.
8 - Dave Nalle
You could live in Virginia. Then what would you have to be proud of?
George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, William Henry Lee, James Madison, James Monroe, George Mason. That's not a bad start, is it?
And BTW, Franklin may have been born in Massachusets, but he did leave and live the majority of his life elsewhere.
That said, the state has a lot going for it. Barney Frank is one of the few Democrats I respect, and the countryside is nice. However, the point someone made earlier about the state having more than its share of socialists and elitists was dead on. And the level of taxation relative to services rendered is an embarassment.
dave
9 - moonraven
The bumperstickers we put on our cars after the 1972 election that said: Don't Blame Me--I'm from Massachusetts! (The only state McGovern won against Nixon was Massachusetts and there are folks out there who are still smarting from having been massively WRONG:)
10 - Jerry
Doc. My understanding of socialism is that wealth is to be redistributed for the common good of the people. Call me a brick-wall idealogue if you wish, but where is the idealism at work in the lighthouse cities of American socialism?
I don't want to see "Evil" socialism destroyed, I just want to see it work.
11 - Dr Dreadful
Jerry - And just how many of those people living in their million-dollar townhouses in Pacific Heights (or whatever the equivalent neighborhood in Boston is) do you think are actually socialists, rather than good old-fashioned capitalists?
That's even assuming we accept your contention that those cities are socialist in the first place.
12 - Jerry
This is the reality Doc:
You know what the prevailing political leanings are of these cities as well as all the others like them, and it would be fruitless to engage in such an argument.
American Leftist's and/or Socialist's are quite happy with the arrangement. They profit from and enjoy all the benefits of Capitalism, while soothing their conscience spouting all the feel good laws and policies they cherish.
My question remains unanswered. Why are such places always the most expensive to live in? And why aren't their ideals benefitting the middle class?
13 - Dr Dreadful
Jerry: American politics is skewed way to the right, so I appreciate that any kind of social and/or economic liberalism can seem socialistic from a certain viewpoint.
However, please understand that liberalism DOES NOT EQUAL socialism. I would imagine the major reason why cities like Boston are so expensive is market-driven: they're beautiful cities and uber-desirable locations, and those with the wherewithal are willing to pay top dollar to live there. (Incidentally San Fran, which is so often portrayed by right-wingers as the enfant terrible of liberalism, doesn't even make the top ten.)
I'm not sure what you mean by "their ideals benefitting the middle class". You can be middle class and live in these places if you want to: I know a number of professional people who live in San Francisco and do just fine, and would move there myself in a heartbeat if the opportunity came up. There is a thriving middle class there, I assure you: the style of living is just different. You can't have a five-bedroom detached house with a three-car garage because there's no space, and you can't drive a Hummer around because you probably wouldn't make it down most of the streets and wouldn't fit in the space most San Franciscans allow for parking. That doesn't signify a seething proletariat ground underfoot by a privileged elite. It's just the way the city is.
14 - sr
Massachusetts is like Califoricate. Liberals pass on their outdated can-good's to the homeless, pat themselves on the pack and tell all their friends how kind they are. Make's you feel good all over.
15 - SCFMH
I think most of the world wishes the rest of the USA was as nice as Massachusetts. From where we sit too much of it seems like Texas. Argh!
16 - sr
SCFMH. Are you with Alice in Wonderland. Does yo moma know your smoking that stuff.
17 - SCFMH
Yes, she smokes it too
18 - Dr Dreadful
Q: If you took all the dentures in America and piled them up in Boston, what would you have?
A: A Massachusetts.
19 - sr
Very good Doc. No wonder your a funny man. How about those Boston Beans. No wonder they call it fart town.
20 - Rich
Doctor read the front page of today's Boston Globe to understand the problem the state of Massachusetts is having. Our housing costs are out of whack with the rest of the country and only the top portion of the state's residents can afford to live anywhere close to downtown.
A lot of young people are electing to move out of state simply due to the cost of living. States such as NC, AZ, etc. are aggressively courting our young profesionals and winning them over while our state government sits idly by watching the migration take place.
I love living in MA and consider it home but am horrified at the waste and corruption that takes place within our government agencies. We have 351 towns and cities each with their own infrastructre with many services being duplicated. This state is run by unions, lobbyists, etc. to the detriment of us all. I am not naive enough to think that this doesn't take place elsewhere but MA. is by the worst when it comes to managing itself.
We shall see what type of condition we are in after Gov. Patrick and his Democratic cohorts in the legislature go unchecked for a while.
21 - Billybob
I think whats's his name is a senator from Massschusetts. Remember the one who drove is car into the water and killed a young lady. Cant think of his name but he's fat with gray hair. Who is he. I cant remember.
22 - Arch Conservative
Most of those defending this shithole have probably never even been there.
What's wrong with Massachusetts........
Ted Kennedy
John Kerry
Devall Patrick
the Big Dig
whitey bulger
jackbbooted thuggish unions....
matt amarello
rediculously overpriced real estate
tax happy liberal legislature
worst auto insurance laws in the nation
Massachusetts was the ONLY state in the nation to experience a net population loss in the last census. THE ONLY ONE OUT OF 50. Now that's saying something. The people that live in this shithole are too smug, smarmy, and arrogant to realize what a laughing stock the rest of the nation views them as.
23 - Dave Nalle
However, please understand that liberalism DOES NOT EQUAL socialism.
Not only that, but socialism is inherently contrary to liberalism. But most people on the American left aren't actually liberal at all, despite people applying that term to them incorrectly.
Dave
24 - Silver Surfer
My childhood American mate lives in Springfield, MA. He's a "liberal" but not a fuckwit (the two aren't mutually exclusive, I'm told).
BTW, Nice work on the dentures joke, DD - marvellous, as Richie Benaud would say, one of your best ever, that ... straight to the fence.
25 - Dr Dreadful
Arch #22:
I'm assuming you're not a Red Sox fan then.