|
IN OUR OPINION... GOVENOR Deval Patrick is absolutely wrong to consider hiking the state gasoline tax to help pay for the Big Dig and straighten out the Mass Pike's fiscal mess. No doubt those are grave problems closer to Boston, but the governor is making a mistake of gigantic proportion if he means to have the rest of Massachusetts taxpayers foot those bills. Ask someone from the L. S. Starrett Co. who just got his or her hours cut if they can afford a 10-plus percent hike in the cost of gasoline. Ask anyone working at Wal-Mart or Home Depot for $10 an hour. Ask anyone whose 401K has evaporated or is unemployed if they can afford to pay the bill for a toll road they do not use. Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia said, "A toll road, (also known as a tollway, turnpike, pike, or toll highway, especially if it is constructed to freeway standards), is a road for which a driver pays a toll (that is, a fee) for use. Structures for which tolls are charged include toll bridges and toll tunnels." That's pretty simple. Use it -- pay for it. Don't use it. Don't pay. Yes, other highway projects are funded by fuel or other taxes. But in this case, in these times and in this economy, asking all the state's taxpayers to shoulder added tax burden is worse that counterintuitive. It would be a hardship. We ask State Sen. Brewer and Reps. Anne Gobi and Chris Donelan to stand hard and fast against any gasoline tax increase. In this case, we'd prefer to pay for government services we use. Call or write:
DAY - D. Tatlock To find out who your legislators are, visit the Massachusetts legislature's website at www.state.ma.us/legis . Or just look at the bottom left hand corner of the home page. Send all snail mail to: The Honorable (name of your state representative/state senator) State House, Boston, MA 02133. Your representatives all have e-mail addresses as well.
|
This space is reserved for your thoughts and
opinions on all sorts of stuff. Fill it up by sending
e-mail to the web guy.
My wife and I were
married in Petersham on Sept 22 of this year. I’ve been coming to
Petersham ever since I was a boy; my Uncle had a place on Leighton Rd, and
my Dad’s best friend was Windy Anderson, the Fire Chief. I’ve hunted
in, fished in, and loved Petersham all my life. To me it’s the
quintessential New England town. As the words of “Doc” Grisham (Burt
Lancaster’s character) from the “Field of Dreams”, “Once a place touches
you like this, the wind never blows so cold again”.
During our wedding, we
unfortunately interrupted the peace rally that was being held on the steps
of the Church. We also, for the sake of photographs, took down the
banner that was on the Church. Little did we know how much
controversy there was regarding this banner. To folks on both side
of the issue, we apologize. It wasn’t our intent to disrupt nor to
disrespect.
After the ceremony, most
of the rest of my guests had left for the reception. We were
finishing up the photos, when folks for the rally started to show
up. It was obvious how much we had upset folks, and we really didn’t
mean to. Now, I have to admit that my Dad, an Army man, may not have
agreed, but my Mom raised me right. I did the only thing I could do;
I ended up on the ladder putting the banner back up. Lucky for us,
we had the photographer there to capture all the evidence!
The thing I wanted to
say though was this: I know that tensions may be strained due to the
opinions and feelings of both sides to this issue. And I don’t want
to offend either one. But I hope we can keep a couple things in
mind.
First off, we live in a
wonderful country where even if I don’t approve of someone’s message, they
have the right to say it! That is a freedom and a right that much of
our world does not enjoy. And that’s one of the things that both
sides of the argument are fighting for.
The second thing is that
peace begins at home. I’m proud to have helped folks with putting up
that banner, even if I disagreed with them. And I’m glad my kids saw
this event; an olive branch often takes the most unlikely form.
Stealing terms from the 60’s, if Hawks and Doves here can’t get along, how
can we hope to mend fences across the world?
Issues that are facing
our country, our world, and our children right now are very
difficult. And they do tend to invoke severe reactions out of some
folks. But I hope that as time goes by, folks on different sides of
the fence can take a moment to notice that their neighbor on the other
side isn’t so bad after all.
Thanks
everyone! We’ll see you at our anniversary!
John S. Covey,
Director |
