All of us who advocate for the poor, the elderly and the disabled in Massachusetts are struggling to manage our ongoing anger towards the Romney administration for their unwillingness to help the poor and homeless “get back on their feet” in Massachusetts at the very same moment our agencies and organizations stand beside him contributing our private and personal resources to welcome the poor, elderly and disabled homeless survivors of Katrina.
The front page of the September 9 Globe illuminated the contradictions in the Romney administrations’ stance toward the poor.
Evacuees arrive on Cape above the fold and Back Bay Shantytowns dismantled below the fold.
The first story illustrates the Governor’s willingness to help the survivors of Katrina for as long as it takes for them to “get back on their feet”. The second story illustrates his willingness to knock right back down hundreds of homeless men and women who had set up encampments on state owned property.
There are a lot of contradictions in our work too, but this much is clear.
We’re glad the Governor has had the opportunity to demonstrate his humanity for those less fortunate and we support spending our taxpayer money on cash, housing and medical care to survivors from other states. That sense of decency was not apparent in the FY06 budget process when he vetoed hundreds of budget amendments providing for tiny incremental improvements in housing, cash assistance and job training programs. Thankfully our Legislature, including many Republicans, over rode those vetoes.
We hope that the Governors sense of decency can extend to those in Massachusetts who have suffered a variety of personal and family disasters and who are not fortunate enough to be able to get back on their feet without government’s help.
We hope Governor Romney will support equipping his administration with the resources necessary to create a culture of opportunity for these unfortunate, and stop worrying about them possibly enjoying a short period of dependency.
What can we do to get him to reconsider his refusal to help he thousands and thousands of poor elderly and disabled residents on the edge of disaster here in Massachusetts?
Hecate's Advice
Hecate knows that you and hundreds of advocates from a thousand different organization will continue to do the political organizing and mobilizing work it takes to keep families safe and healthy in the Massachusetts economy.
Keep your hope alive, as Jesse would say, but also start working on a concrete solution. How about encouraging the Democratic Leadership in the House and Senate to put those incremental restorations you fought so hard for back into the upcoming supplemental budget and on his desk to sign this time. Maybe his heart is softening.
And then you can offer him another Hero Opportunity. Here’s a script.................
“We have the capacity to end homelessness in Massachusetts, to make our public schools the best in America, and to provide affordable healthcare to our people. But to do it we would have to stop cutting taxes and we may have to repeal some tax cuts. I know that won’t be politically easy, but it is the right thing to do for the people of Massachusetts and I will make it happen.” If Romney took the lead, nobody could stop him. He would improve the lives of millions of ordinary people, and strengthen our state’s economy for generations.
Who is Hecate?
Hecate is a Greek Goddess who served as a guide and coach at the crossroads of Hades, where after crossing the River Styx, Greek souls found themselves facing three choices: the Elysian Fields, abode of the great and heroic; the Fields of Asphodel, for all who had led a blameless but ordinary life; or to Tartarus, a sunless land of punishment for criminals.
Hecate's best known role in Greek mythology was guiding Persephone, the goddess of spring, on her annual journeys between Hades and Earth. In the Homeric Hymn to Demeter, Hecate is portrayed as a nurturing and protective guide for Persephone on those annual journeys.
