Conservatives? (Boston, Washington: fit in, pros and cons, income)

[LCT]

"We tend to be fiscally conservative with our own money; do not like debt, do not like to live beyond our means, and dislike massive consumer showiness."

A question to the poster who made the above statement. "..fiscally conservative with our own money...." Are you a home owner? My town doesn't have any problem at all spending way more money than they have and then have the nerve to whine about potential budget cuts. My homeowner's taxes have nearly doubled in the last 6 years because my town cannot seem to grasp the concept that they shouldn't outspend the revenues coming in. The state house spends like drunken sailors. Our new governor was talking tax increases before he was sworn into office last January right about the same time he was throwing himself a very expensive and lavish inauguration party and completely redecorating his office.

As someone on a fixed income, I'm seriously looking at a move out-of-state because I'm getting priced right out of MA, right out of my own home. I don't know how anyone can say with a straight face that MA is fiscally conservative when we are, I believe, the 2nd or 3rd most expensive place to live in the country. The state/cities/towns answers to nearly every single problem is to throw more money at it instead of making hard choices and/or doing some belt tightening and actually getting an honest accounting of exactly where all the money goes. By way of example, you need only take a quick look at our infamous Big Dig to find massive fiscal irresponsibility. Then there's always the MWRA and the Mass Pike, which citizens have paid for about 9 times over already and tolls are one the rise again. Shall I continue?

When you say "conservative with our own money" you must be referring to people keeping their wallets closed because you surely are not talking about our government. There was a survey in the newspaper last year that listed greater Boston in the bottom 20% of the country when it came to charitable donations. The states with some of the lowest per capita income ranked highest.

[LeavingMA]

Originally Posted by LCT

"We tend to be fiscally conservative with our own money; do not like debt, do not like to live beyond our means, and dislike massive consumer showiness."

A question to the poster who made the above statement. "..fiscally conservative with our own money...." Are you a home owner? My town doesn't have any problem at all spending way more money than they have and then have the nerve to whine about potential budget cuts. My homeowner's taxes have nearly doubled in the last 6 years because my town cannot seem to grasp the concept that they shouldn't outspend the revenues coming in. The state house spends like drunken sailors. Our new governor was talking tax increases before he was sworn into office last January right about the same time he was throwing himself a very expensive and lavish inauguration party and completely redecorating his office.

As someone on a fixed income, I'm seriously looking at a move out-of-state because I'm getting priced right out of MA, right out of my own home. I don't know how anyone can say with a straight face that MA is fiscally conservative when we are, I believe, the 2nd or 3rd most expensive place to live in the country. The state/cities/towns answers to nearly every single problem is to throw more money at it instead of making hard choices and/or doing some belt tightening and actually getting an honest accounting of exactly where all the money goes. By way of example, you need only take a quick look at our infamous Big Dig to find massive fiscal irresponsibility. Then there's always the MWRA and the Mass Pike, which citizens have paid for about 9 times over already and tolls are one the rise again. Shall I continue?

When you say "conservative with our own money" you must be referring to people keeping their wallets closed because you surely are not talking about our government. There was a survey in the newspaper last year that listed greater Boston in the bottom 20% of the country when it came to charitable donations. The states with some of the lowest per capita income ranked highest.

Don't forget the Governor of MA bought himself a nice cadillac on taxpayer's money, because he didn't want the standard crown vic.

[HeadedWest]

Originally Posted by litlux

And what people claim is conservative today, is far from it. It is a thinly disguised attempt to make the US a theocracy and demand that everyone toe the party line. To that, I say"no thanks, I have a mind of my own."

Liberal Democrats are far more intense in enforcing orthodoxy of thought than anybody else on the political spectrum today.

Oh, and the theocracy argument is a straw man.

[LCT]

Originally Posted by LeavingMA

Don't forget the Governor of MA bought himself a nice cadillac on taxpayer's money, because he didn't want the standard crown vic.

Thank you for reminding me. I also remembered I heard a little snippet on the news last week that His Honor is contemplating adding an additional $.15 to the already skyhigh MA gas tax. Just what we need! I need to locate the article on the web to find out which pocket - er- fund the extra gas tax revenue is supposedly headed. Maybe the money is for one of those ritzy yatch clubs that were on the news 10-12 days ago. The ultra-expensive exclusive clubs on city or state property for which no rent has been paid in years AND several upstanding State House higher-ups are members? Those poor, destitute clubs probably need some pricey rennovations.....

Do you think the governor followed the lead of Mitt Romney and is not taking a salary? HA HA HA HA

[brightdoglover]

If I remember, in 2004, Massachusetts was 60% Kerry, 40% Bush, and Kerry is our own.
And look, we elected Mitt Romney, who apparently was choking back his genuine conservatism to get elected. That hypocritial *****.

[Baton Rouge]

Unlike other states, one can have opposing views and be accepted in Massachusetts. Just because people are thoughtful and read newspapers isn't a reason to fear them. You cannot believe the viciousness spewed forth in the very red state of Louisiana. These are hateful and hatefilled conservatives who believe that anyone who is considerate of the fate of others must be a communist and therefore deserving of their wrath. In the forty years I lived in Massachusetts, I never saw political signs defaced. Since I've been here, three Kerry signs were stolen from my yard (someone dove over my lawn to get it) and "hate" notes have been left on my car - again a Kerry bumper sticker. I can't imagine this happening in Massachusetts to a Bush supporter (there must be one or two in Wellesley). There's much too much closedmindedness in this state, which stems from the insidious racism (they hate, and I mean hate: blacks, Jews, Arabs, Muslims, Indians (whom they refer to as "dots"), Asians, and on and on. If you are white and "Christian" you'll do fine as long as you can hate right along with them. Massachusetss has produced the Cabots and Lodges, old Republicans, but thankfully hasn't yet fallen prey to the religious right wing-nuts found elsewhere. Eliot Richardson was a fine man, as was a Republican governor, Frank Sargent. So you see, not all people from Massachusetts are as liberal, but are accepted nonetheless. That's definitely not true of the red state in which I currently reside. Here there is zero tolerance for anything but the most reactionary thinking. Senator Clinton must kill babies and eat them according to the kind and gentle folks here. Paranoia reigns supreme among so-called conservatives these days. They can't abide people who care about the greater good of humanity because it infringes on their definition of who is human, I guess. I hope Massachusetts remains a progressive place where all thought is respected and people of all pursuasions can flourish. Stockholm? No, but it wouldn't be so bad if some Swedish views on tolerance invaded the darkness of this swamp.

[airedaly]

Baton Rouge: I understand what you're saying. My 90 year old Dad spends each winter in Florida, surrounded by neighbors who are hateful bigots (religious conservatives) and he arrives home each Spring spouting the most vicious comments and ideas. It doesn't take long before my children and I remind him he's back home in Massachusetts. We won't stand for that type of talk. Racial or ethnic slurs are not allowed in our home.

We are a family of Democrats; he voted Democrat his entire life until recently. Now, he "hates" Kerry, Kennedy, Blacks, teenagers (except his grandchildren), Chinese, Japanese, Muslims, etc.

My feeling is that these people don't read enough - they watch Fox News and listen to hate-filled radio talk shows. They don't think deeply about issues; they react quickly in a way they wouldn't if they took the time to really think about their actions. It is so easy to hate. Reasoned and polite political discussion seems like a thing of the past. We can thank TV for that.

With the presidental race heating up, I'm ready for Dad's return in April. We'll greet him at the door with a sign that says "No Political Talk Zone".

[wealthtrader]

Bigot and hate-filled conservatives? hate-filled fow news?Shut this topic down! Too many stereotypers are now posting and trying to start WW3.

[airedaly]

I am not trying to start WW3, but I guess it is stereotyping people when I hear my Dad return from Florida repeating his neighbors' comments about other races and religions. I do not tolerate that type of talk in my house.

I did not write "hate-filled fox news" - I said "hate-filled radio talk shows" which I think is a fair statement.

Sorry if I upset you.

[bryfry]

Originally Posted by airedaly

....hateful bigots (religious conservatives)......My feeling is that these people don't read enough - they watch Fox News and listen to hate-filled radio talk shows. They don't think deeply about issues;.....

Talk about painting with broad strokes. You used a 2 foot wide brush!!

One doesn't have to listen to NPR, read the NY Times and Boston Globe to be a deep thinker. On the contrary, I find liberals (progressives) to poo-poo any other idea not their own as inept thinking. Quite annoying.

Your attempt to pigeon-hole people of faith who happen to be "right" minded is bigotry in and of itself. Now, before you get upset, I'm not calling you out. I'm just pointing out the hypocracy of the statement you made without you even realizing it. Go to any bar in Boston and I can guarantee you that you can find bigots who don't go to church and vote democratic. Bigots permeate all walks of life, and all demographics. I love God and Man, so for people to slam Christianity (or many other faiths for that matter) in such a way is just a sad statement indeed.

I certainly do not condone your Dad's actions. I would be upset with him as well. Good luck with that.

Peace.