Scott Brown and the Tragedy of the Massachusetts Electorate

The Massachusetts electorate showed the country a terrifying side of itself the day they elected Scott Brown to the United States Senate. I know why they did it. And I am not just talking about Republicans and Independents here; many democrats were in fact just as uninspired regarding Martha Coakley and her pathetically heartless campaign. But this is not what has me concerned. In fact, contrary to what many might think, I believe that Brown has the potential to be an effective United States senator. That said, the election of Brown show that even the most progressive state in the country can act as selfishly as the Automotive Giants, who almost exclusively vote not for what is best for the country but for what is best for their companies.

Hold on, wait one moment. In all my years in academia I have been taught that the elected officials from States are supposed to vote in a manner which supports the general view of their electorate. The simple truth here is that the Massachusetts citizenry were not voting for a senator; they were voting against the healthcare proposal currently in front of the House, which will have to make its way through the Senate in order to reach the President’s desk and Obama’s ornate signature.

Massachusetts does not want this legislation passed because it would override their current universal healthcare system, which is far more progressive. What voters failed to comprehend is that a vote for Brown was a vote against the millions of Americans without health insurance in this Nation. And make no mistake, Brown made it inescapably clear that he is against the healthcare legislation. He is also pro-life, for the death penalty, and for tax breaks for the wealthy. In other words, he personifies all that the Republican Party has to offer America. And it is something Massachusetts citizens were all too willing to overlook in order to preserve their own healthcare system. It makes me feel sick to the stomach to see how easily people were willing to discard their beliefs and values for a single issue.

But in all fairness I should say that Scott Brown did run a superb campaign. He is no slouch, having earned law degrees and successfully navigating the private and public sectors for years. He is charismatic and a fresh face for a stale political party.

I have been receiving emails which are already advocating Brown as a “rock star” who will lead the Republican Party against President Obama in the next election. Part of me wants to argue that Brown has truly accomplished nothing to help the average citizen. Then again he hasn’t been given much of a chance on the national level. Time will tell whether or not Brown will be a successful senator. But for now, Brown has everything to prove, yet strangely very little to lose since he was elected on a single issue.

Scott Brown might well be a rock star but I am afraid he is closer to Whitesnake then the Beatles (for those who are unfamiliar, Whitesnake is 1980s band known as one of the many one-hit wonders of the time). Some claim that Brown will help Massachusetts bounce back from this recession, create new jobs and industry, and preserve all that the late Senator Kennedy fought so hard to achieve. And in the long run, Brown might prove a wise choice for Senate  and certainly better than Martha Coakley, who never convinced me that she was worthy of a United States senate seat. However, Brown is no presidential candidate. He is no champion for anyone but himself. And he might well cause over 30 million people to continue to go without health insurance. If you listen very closely, you can hear the insurance companies cheering just below the celebration of the Massachusetts people who are currently blinded by their ignorance and short-sightedness.

The travesty here is not that a republican took Ted Kennedy’s seat. It isn’t even all about healthcare, though it is a topic close to my heart. This is about one state’s eagerness to preserve the status quo at the expense of Americans that are truly in need.

My thoughts on the signing of 3B Adrian Beltre…

This is an interesting move by the Boston Red Sox. I would have expected Lowell to be treated better. After all he is a productive player, even at 37, plus he is a fan favorite—something the Boston newspapers have been quick to discuss. Surely his defense is at best average and maybe even is a little bellow the expected standard, but his leadership qualities more than make up for a slow glove.

I can see Theo Epstein’s logic here, however. He wants to build a younger, more defensively-focused team. In essence he is trying to rebuild and contend at the same time, though I wish he would give Casey Kotchman a chance to play and allow Jed Lowrie to progress. Of course anyone who has been following the Sox knows of Epstein’s struggle with ownership’s desire to win at the expense of the future and Epstein’s long-term strategy. Still, the addition of Mike Cameron and Beltre are only temporary (2-3 year contracts) and should result in at least one World Series birth. Meanwhile, the acquisition of John Lackey is the perfect balance between John Henry and Theo Epstein’s strategies and that should be applauded on every level.

So the Sox want to get younger, hit better, and play better defensive baseball. Who can argue with that? If the Sox do decide to get rid of Mike Lowell, I will be disappointed because any player deserves the respect of not having his replacement being signed while he is still part of the team. To that end, I want to suggest a radical idea: Trade Big Papi and use Lowell at DH. Ortiz’s post-steroid numbers will only decline and he has one year left on his contract, just like Lowell. Meanwhile, all indicators are that Lowell’s bat speed and solid approach at the plate are going to remain steady, at least for one last season.

In the end it comes down to losing a popular player in Boston. I simply am suggesting that Theo and Co. make the right move and relieve themselves of some very heavy (and I also mean that literally) baggage by moving Ortiz and maximizing their offensive potential. I still believe the Red Sox will contend and possibly win the World Series this year and it would’ve been great to see that happen with Lowell on the roster. All indications though are that he will be traded…but hopefully to a team the Red Sox won’t have to contend with.

The next week in Red Sox Nation should be an interesting one to say the least…