Heya folks,
This is my first diary, so you will pardon me if it's a bit disjointed and the like.
However, while in the midst of near apopleptic depression over the election, I became more convinced and enamored that it is time for a "New Federalism". Problem is, what issue to use to start the new Revolution. Massachusetts has blazed the trail on Homosexual Marriage, and some argument could be made that it may have caused a backlash (I'm not one of those). But there is an issue which could be used to jumpstart this movement...and believe it or not, we can thank none other than the Governator for blessing us with this....stem-cell research funding at the state level.
Here is my letter to my State Senator, Pam Resor, urging for Massachusetts to begin state funding for stem-cell research.
"Dear Senator Resor,
First off, congratulations on your re-election to the State Senate. At a time when Progressive Politics are constantly attack, it's nice to know there will be a voice of reason and a defender for the basic ideals of our State and Nation.
As you very well know, "values" and emotional wedge issues were used on a national scale. The politics of of the Bay State were used to launch a nationwide campaign of regressive policies on everything from homosexual equality to reproductive rights of women. Even our esteemed governor felt it was perfect timing to launch his campaign for national office based on such issues. However, one issue, while it could be lumped into the "values" frame, that has remained fairly under the radar in the wake of the election is the issue of stem-cell research.
With the current White House Administration currently opposed to funding such research on a national level, it is times for states leading medical research such as Massachusetts to undertake such an effort. As California has shown, there is outlet for states to pursue policies that benefit all of its citizen's, even if the federal government disagrees.
It's is time for Massachusetts to re-take the lead as the center for medical and bio-chemistry research, and show the rest of the nation that regressive politics are not the way of the future.
Regards,
Joe Angers
Ayer, MA
P.S. I also find it to be delicious irony that the "heathen" state of Massachusetts, the only state with Gay Marriage, also has the lowest divorce rates in the Nation."
I believe this is a winning issue. Note that Democrats have made very real gains in the state legislative level, and a push for this issue can be the first repudiation to Bush's policy of putting faith over science.
I urge each and one of you to write your local Reps and convince them that it's time the States started acting in the interests of the citizens when it has become clear the Federal Government will not.