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Putting the ‘Mass’ in Massachusetts

By Frederick Clarkson

By reputation Massachusetts is the most Democratic state in the country, with good reason—its entire congressional delegation is Democratic, as are 171 of the state’s 200 legislators. Despite this overwhelming majority, many progressives have been disenchanted as conservative Democrats held sway. But after a decades-long retreat into the political wilderness they are now deploying innovative grassroots strategies that could reshape… return to article

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    This is a fantastic, insightful article—just what I’d like to read about in In These Times. Thanks for writing it (two suggestions—a little more depth about each of the groups would be helpful, and an article about the progressive caucus in Massachusetts and interviews with the elected officials would be really interesting). 

    United States Posted by Dan Johnson-Weinberger on Dec 15, 2003 at 2:52 PM

    There are more of the groups working for progressive change in MA. For instance, Coalition for Social Justice is a great organization that is working every day to mobilize and educate lower income in the greater boston area and elsewhere in the state about the current policies that hurt them. I worked with them for several months this year and they are coming very close to getting all the local representatives in support of a progressive tax package and working to block and reverse a lot of the tax cuts and changes that Gov. Romney has implemented. They work with Neighbor to Neighbor frequently and and really working to form a strong grassroots, democratic movement that can make practical and effective changes through and within the system in MA. I’ve never seen so many people of all backgrounds and ages working so hard, so often. People should look into them and get involved!

    United States Posted by Craig Murphey on Dec 15, 2003 at 3:51 PM

    There are many progressives..its funny but a “progressive” as I see it, is just getting back to the original party values..many of us long for JFK and RFK type leadership, the values that the Democratic party held dear while JFK was president....please send some information and some ways to start this “reform” of Democratic values for all of us to help spread.

    United States Posted by Susan on Dec 16, 2003 at 2:27 AM

    Putting the demos back in democracy is something we should all be working toward.  Unfortunately the DLC has decided that the Dems should become Republican lite.  Mr. Kucinich has my vote right now, solely because he is the only candidate who seems to have anything in common with me and most Americans.  The rest of the lot are powerful men (Ms. Mosely-Braun being an exception) from powerful families--no one mentions that Gov. Dean is the Dean in Dean-Witter--with little in common with the rest of us.

    United States Posted by Richard on Dec 17, 2003 at 8:09 PM
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