Former Massachusetts Governors Speak At Faneuil Hall
by Matt Margolis, May 25th, 2006 at 11:30pm
Hub Politics was invited to attend an event at Faneuil Hall called A View from the Corner Office: Former Governors on the American Dream in Massachusetts, which was put on by the non-partisan think tank MassINC. The event featured former governors Mike Dukakis, Paul Cellucci, and Jane Swift. Bill Weld is busy running for governor in New York, but we heard from him via video. Unfortunately, I got there late, but I did make it in time to see Christy Mihos leave at 5:10 pm.
One thing that surprised me tonight was Jane Swift. I haven’t heard much from her in a while, but I thought she was particularly well spoken this evening.
As bad a governor as Dukakis was, he was the best speaker of the bunch. He knew how to talk to the audience and not at them. He made jokes, got the crowd to laugh, and knew how to generate applause when he wanted to. He also was sure to insert partisan jabs whenever he could.
While I surely disagree with most things Dukakis believes in, something he said I have to agree with. He correctly noted that he the new healthcare bill (which was passed blindly by the legislature and signed by Romney) does nothing to address the costs of healthcare.
Cellucci and Dukakis clearly disagree on the issue of housing. Dukakis said he believes the only way to make housing affordable is with public assistance, a euphemism for taxpayer dollars. Of course, this is something that does nothing to address the costs of housing either. It merely shifts the burden to taxpayers, who would likely leave the state when they can no longer afford to live here. So, he may have been the best speaker, but his ideas are by no means the best.
Cellucci said the problem is zoning and building codes. Being in the architecture field, I have to agree. But after Cellucci said this, Dukakis decide interject into the discussion “The problem is in Iraq.” Of course, Iraq has nothing to do with housing costs in Massachusetts. He also took a jab at Romney for his recent trip to Iraq. I would advise Dukakis to go to Iraq himself before he makes such a silly comment as that.
Healthcare was another interesting discussion. Cellucci made a number of references to how things are in Canada. He said while universal healthcare “sounds nice,” the results are not so. He explained how if a patient needs an MRI in Canada, they can either wait several months under their healthcare system, or come down to the United States.
Throughout the course of the evening, Dukakis laid out of ideas he has for the state. On the surface, they all sound like good things… He talked about an extended school day, mass transit connections between Boston and Springfield, New Bedford, and a link between North Station and South Station. He rolled out plenty of things that he thinks would make this state more competitive and affordable. Of course he neglected to account for the costs of such ideas and the fact that in order to afford all these things the taxpayers would have to pay more in taxes. There is just no other way, and that would just continue to drive people out.
If there was anything I left with after this event, it is the sentiment that I’m really glad he wasn’t elected president.
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