Current Events

Wisconsin and the rights of workers

For decades the two political parties have engaged in parallel social contracts with workers and management: Come election time, unions support Democrats and the people who unions work for support Republicans. Legislatively, the two parties advocate the agendas of their respective constituencies. Since the 1980s, the Republican-management axis has been…

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Lowell Planning & Development Forum

Move Lowell Forward, the local non-partisan political action committee, hosted a Planning and Development Forum featuring Assistant City Manager for Planning and Development Adam Baacke. Adam spent about 90 minutes reviewing and answering questions about many projects underway and planned in the city before a crowd of about 50. Here…

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Westminster Dog Show, I’m Hooked

I’ll admit. I’m not really a big animal lover. I’m OK with dogs, but that is about it. Last night as I was flicking through the channels I came across the Westminster Dog Show at Madison Square Garden. I couldn’t stop watching it. Its a fast paced show filled with…

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The Business of Valentine Cards: From Howland to Hallmark

MassMoments tells us this morning that in 1849 – the first American-made Valentine cards were created and sold in Worcester, Massachusetts by Mt. Holyoke graduate Esther Howland. Modeled on the English-style Valentine, her fancy designs, embossed, cut and colored paper along with romantic sentiments and hidden messages soon grew into a…

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In the Merrimack Valley: Regional Interests In Redistricting

These ten districts will be downsized in to nine districts as a result of the 2010 Census. (Note: Include Middlesex above with Essex.) A headline in  yesterday’s MetroWest Daily News asks: ” Is there political gamesmanship in Mass. redistricting?” Redistricting in Massachusetts – and elsewhere – is always political – it’s the nature…

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“Bend the Fed” by John Edward

John Edward, a resident of Chelmsford who earned his master’s degree at UMass Lowell and who teaches economics at Bentley University and UMass Lowell, contributes the following column There is an intriguing sub-plot to the Republican takeover of the U.S. House of Representatives. Self-proclaimed Libertarian, Representative Ron Paul of Texas,…

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