Rank your State Government (Boston, Harvard: appointed, health insurance, buy)

[LeavingMA]

Thought this was an interesting article. Where do you think MA should rank?

Report Rates Worst, Best Governments - AOL News

[Cart24]

Is there anyway I can give every state a tie for last place?

In my opinion there is no such thing as "effective" government.

I have lived in different states and countries and have never encountered anything that even resembles an competent politician. Lobbyists run all politics and anyone who thinks otherwise is severely misguided.

[LeavingMA]

"Effective government", now there is an oxymoron.

[miu]

Deval Patrick's poor job as governor is making me very concerned about his friend Obama's ability to be our president. Patrick campaigned on a platform of change and so far, his governorship has been a bust. Yes, I know it's only been a year, but I hate the new health insurance law and his desire to build three casinos in MA. Now the tolls on the Pike are due to go up.

Anyway, I'm not voting for Obama this fall.

[LeavingMA]

Originally Posted by miu

Deval Patrick's poor job as governor is making me very concerned about his friend Obama's ability to be our president. Patrick campaigned on a platform of change and so far, his governorship has been a bust. Yes, I know it's only been a year, but I hate the new health insurance law and his desire to build three casinos in MA. Now the tolls on the Pike are due to go up.

Anyway, I'm not voting for Obama this fall.

Well, the health insurance law had more to do with Romney the the state legislature, because that was passed a few years ago.

I'm not suprised nothing has changed and Patrick hasn't done anything, he did nothing but make vague promises to every group just to get elected. He won't be any better in the coming years. Obama is the same way...all he says is we are going to pay for this and pay for that, but money doesn't grow on trees and it doesn't quite work that way.

[miu]

I think that last week, the Boston Herald nicknamed Patrick "Governor Marcel Marceau"...

[smarty]

In 2006, Deval Patrick, fending off attacks from his rival Kerry Healey, told a crowd, "Her dismissive point, and I hear it a lot from her staff, is all I have to offer is words. Just words. 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal' -- just words. Just words. 'We have nothing to fear but fear itself' -- just words. 'Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country' -- just words. 'I have a dream' -- just words."

By the way, neither Patrick or Obama promised anything but change. They promised change only... ie new president or governor if you vote for them. Patrick already fulfill his promise. He is the governor. Now Obama want to fulfill the promise of change which is to get you to vote so he can be president.

[willdufauve]

Originally Posted by miu

I think that last week, the Boston Herald nicknamed Patrick "Governor Marcel Marceau"...

The Boston Herald has always been pro-Republican, anti-Democratic, and socially reactionary. As for it's "journalism," they should give it away free at the checkout line at the grocery store. They were attacking Governor Patrick even before he won the election.

The health insurance law was a Romney Republican/big business plan and Patrick got stuck with it as law. Health insurance advocacy and policy groups were saying 2 years ago it was seriously flawed and way underfunded.

Some of the poorest uninsured face penalties if they don't buy essentially unusable insurance coverage with prohibitively high deductibles. It was a windfall for business because it encourages businesses to not insure their employees. That's nothing to do with Patrick.

I'm proud to have our first African-American Governor; it's good for the state. I'm disappointed that he's a corporatist rather than a social reformer. The bureaucracy, the Church, the Vault, and the Irish-Catholic old boy network is so entrenched I can't see there's much one person could do.

Patrick seems to be a basically a highly intelligent, decent and well meaning moral person. Romney was a stuffed shirt born with a platinum spoon in his mouth. Patrick isn't any more responsible for Obama's success than I am. Two different men, different state affiliations, offices held, professional background. Similarities are mainly skin color and both Harvard Law School graduates (ie; smarter than any of us wasting our time posting on message boards).

Of the states I've lived in, I would rank Massachusetts about a 6 or 7. Hawaii is better managed, like an 8 or 9, but I didn't enjoy living there. Texas is a 2 or 3 at best - don't get me started. New Jersey and Pennsylvania are on a par with Mass., almost. Maine is better managed considering, an 8 or 9; same for Vermont. New Hampshire a 6.

My criteria are: obvious corruption, pervasiveness of special interests and old boy networks, financial stability, integrity in law enforcement, decent education, services to elderly & disabled & social safety net, solid infrastructure, quality of life.

[desertsun41]

Originally Posted by mattncind

Is there anyway I can give every state a tie for last place?

In my opinion there is no such thing as "effective" government.

I have lived in different states and countries and have never encountered anything that even resembles an competent politician. Lobbyists run all politics and anyone who thinks otherwise is severely misguided.

Make no mistake about it. You are dead right on correct. This is no ones opinion. This is fact and is as factual as truth can be.

It's nice to know I am not the only intelligent kid on the block. I just wish others would catch up, leave the Sheep herd in their dust and wake up to develop their own mind.

[LeavingMA]

Originally Posted by desertsun41

Make no mistake about it. You are dead right on correct. This is no ones opinion. This is fact and is as factual as truth can be.

It's nice to know I am not the only intelligent kid on the block. I just wish others would catch up, leave the Sheep herd in their dust and wake up to develop their own mind.

Unfortunately as much as people complain about their state governments, they keep electing the same stiffs.