For some time now, I've wondered how the hell Massachusetts legislators keep passing more and more restrictive laws and higher and higher taxes, yet still get re-elected. It seems to me that there has to be some kind of a breaking point where the folks finally get fed up and kick the bums out of office.
This morning, though, I think I finally have a grasp on what's happening down there.
All the lawmakers have to do, should they get confronted with their voting record, is say "I didn't cast that vote. Someone else voted in my name."
Apparently, it's a time-honored tradition on Beacon Hill, and no one has ever thought about fighting a law passed by fraudulent roll-call votes in the courts.
Either that, or the legislature's authority to "police" itself trumps the matter.
This is the kind of thing that angers me almost as much as election fraud. To my way of thinking, any of these "ghost votes" ought to be grounds for expulsion -- if the absent member arranged for someone to cast their vote in their absence, kick 'em out. If they say they didn't know about it, find out who did cast the vote and toss them out on their ass.
But that would be too much like democracy and accountability -- two terms that are pretty much taboo in the Bay State.
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Mass. Insanity
Comments (2)
We actually have a stink ab... (Below threshold)1. Posted by Gmac | April 17, 2008 10:22 AM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
We actually have a stink about that happening here as well. They are so brazen as to actually use members of the other party's machines to vote contrary to that members stated positions. It didn't matter if they were in the hospital or out of the country either. The votes are a matter of record so there is actual proof someone used that person's machine to cast a vote.
Whats the point of having elected representation when its used this way? Want to raise taxes? Have someone else aid you in passing controversial legislation even if they oppose it? Just hop on the absent politicians voting machine and cast away!
I think the Bard was misquoted, he meant politicians rather than lawyers even though it seems most are both.
1. Posted by Gmac | April 17, 2008 10:22 AM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on April 17, 2008 10:22
2. Posted by P. Bunyan | April 17, 2008 10:56 AM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Naw, Shakespear had it right. If you kill all the lawyers you'd get most of the worst politicians and the rest of the bad ones would never be able to raise enough to buy any more elections.
2. Posted by P. Bunyan | April 17, 2008 10:56 AM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on April 17, 2008 10:56