I’m 24, have a master’s degree and a full-time job in my field. I’m one of the lucky ones. I am living at home because Massachusetts is unaffordable. I do not know how many more members of my graduating class are also living at home because it’s embarrassing to let others know that your life hasn’t unfolded as intended. Rising prices are pushing young people out of the state, and the Beacon Hill political machine–in part led by Sen. Brownsberger–fails to meet the moment.
Democrats control the governorship and have supermajorities in the State House and Senate, where Brownsberger is the second-highest-ranking member, yet they fail to produce any transformative policy. Two of the largest legislative changes of my lifetime came from a vote of the people (The Fair Share Amendment) or a Republican (Romneycare), not our elected Democratic legislators. Under the leadership of party bosses, the system is tweaked; costs go up, inequities deepen, windfarms are never made, MBTA stations are refurbished instead of constructed. The machine’s response to ICE murdering Americans is the PROTECT Act, which prohibits new agreements between Massachusetts Law Enforcement and ICE while leaving existing agreements in place.
Massachusetts ranks last in the nation in government transparency, and we’re the only state where the legislature, judiciary, and governor’s office are exempt from public records laws.
On election day 2024, 72% of Massachusetts residents voted Yes on Question 1 that the State Auditor should be able to audit the Legislature. That’s life under a political machine. The overwhelming voice of the people is ignored.
Voting for Daniel Lander is a vote for accountability. A vote that tells Massachusetts leadership that people want action and change for the future. Massachusetts should be leading and innovating, not just maintaining a broken status quo.
Graham Backman, Oak Avenue
