Why do elections matter?

Two recent Massachusetts Supreme Court Rulings should raise huge concerns about what type of government we are living under. In the first one the SJC ruled In favor of keeping the current child support guidelines in place (www.fathersandfamilies.org) even after being presented with overwhelming evidence the guidelines are unfair and unreasonable. Instead of declaring the guidelines unconstitutional, the court said individuals could appeal individual decisions regarding the law. The court chose to ignore it's responsibility to safeguard against unfair laws in favor of creating more billable hours for lawyers. For those who are not aware, the new guidelines are based on the total income of the two parents with the parents each being responsible for a percentage of the total.
As a result if both parents make roughly the same amount, then the custodial parent ends up enjoying a lifestyle that is 50% higher than the non-custodial parent. Another result is the non-custodial child support goes up if the custodial parent increases their income because the total household income is now increased. Where is the check and balance in this situation?
All of that aside, the guidelines were created by a committee of judges and representatives from several special interest groups. As a Constitutional Conservative I find that aspect of the story to be the most disturbing.
In the second decision the SJC has ruled fees for magistrate hearings for tickets are ok. (Lowell Sun)Since 2009 Massachusetts has been charging drivers $25 to contest any tickets to a magistrate. If you then appeal to a judge the fee is $50! This is outrageous especially when coupled with the 7 years of surcharges and loss of good driver credits. Apparently the fees are intended to off set the cost of the hearings? What? Isn't that the purpose of having a court system? Isn't the court system funded by our taxes? Are not the Magistrates already there? What are the extra costs? In its ruling the SJC said everyone has a right to appeal so the fees are ok. That is typical Liberalism. I have read both the Massachusetts and US Constitutions and I just cannot find any language that requires a citizen to pay a fee to get a day in court. Of course now that the fee is in place, it's sure to do what all fees do, it's going to increase over time!
If you are a voter and you think elections don't matter in this state, just look at these rulings to remind you otherwise!

Jet Blue?

Today we hear Jet Blue wants to expand and increase its flights out of Boston by over 50%. Out of the blue, (I know, I know.) the airline also mentioned a desire to possibly include both T. F. Green and Worcester airports in their plans. Either the CEO of Jet Blue is sniffing too many jet fumes or the airlines are starting to recognize what I have believed for a long time. Worcester Airport is not dead as a viable airport alternative, rather it is a very healthy ripe fruit ready to be picked and made into something better. Stay tuned.

Ten Years Ago

In some ways it is hard to believe ten years have gone by since that awful day. Today, as I watched the MSNBC annual replay of the attacks, I felt the same emotions. Anger, sadness, trepidation, just to mention a few, return even with the knowledge of the history that has occurred since. As predicted by Tom Brokaw that morning, our country has changed dramatically and those attacks led to two ongoing wars. Yet ten years have gone by at the same speed and cadence as the previous ten years. After all a minute is still a minute and a second is still a second. In that time our enemies have been routed and find themselves unable to carry out any similar attacks on our country. There has to be some credit given to those whose duty it is to protect us and it is credit well deserved. Although I personally disagree with the tenor of many of the observances today, I recognize their importance. After all it is better to have some type of remembrance than to forget about what happened on that day. Still, I can't help but wish for ceremonies that would highlight our resolve to hunt down and eliminate our enemies and remind them of why we are such a great people and why this is the greatest place on Earth. God Bless Ammerica!