pillbinge t1_jaxh9e1 wrote on March 4, 2023 at 8:46 PM

Reply to comment by SouthShoreSerenade in Lawmakers want more representation in Healey's cabinet by HRJafael

It's not a popularity contest or student council lmao. It's representative government, and we're talking about an office that represents more than just Boston.

Boston's status as a regional hub is neat for people riding the wave, but fewer are as time goes on. Because Boston is one location with a near monopoly on everything, it means other areas aren't flourishing, and that's bad for everyone.

[deleted] t1_jayjpxk wrote on March 5, 2023 at 1:38 AM

I think that it is important to remember where the votes are as there are more votes in the major cities than the suburbs, especially in a city so heavily one party as Boston. For politicians to get elected they must appeal to the largest group of voters and show a community of interest with them. In Boston the voters may want to hear about improvements in public transportation or reduced traffic or the like that means nothing to people in Pittsfield, Greenfield, Springfield or Worcester. This was an issue in our country's early development when the fear that large states would dominate smaller states. If Massachusetts returned to county type of government items for public works and the use of taxpayer funds might improve conditions for the outside of the Boston metro area but then the people of Boston would complain that their taxes are being used to fund things that do not directly benefit them. Just as people in the outside area complain about today. So politicians realize if the vast bulk of taxes benefit the areas of the highest population that is a win for them and their campaigns.

Significant_Shake_71 t1_jb0zr3t wrote on March 5, 2023 at 4:43 PM

County government might also help address the housing problems since a lot of towns are refusing to do so on their own because they have too much power.

SouthShoreSerenade t1_jaxjq7f wrote on March 4, 2023 at 9:02 PM

>It's not a popularity contest or student council lmao

What are you talking about? Did you reply to the right person? Are you ridiculous?

>It's representative government

Yes, we elect representatives to serve in legislature, yes, good job guy. We're talking about executive appointments here, keep up.

What I'm saying is that if people from western regions are asking for more representation, and want to advocate for their regions, that's great, but it can also be a curse - by advocating for their regions they'll also be inviting people from outside to start looking that way more often. It will cut both ways.

pillbinge t1_jaxni1e wrote on March 4, 2023 at 9:28 PM

And executive appointments, being undemocratic in practice, can still be made to be democratic by aligning with the interests of everyone. That's the idea. The governor isn't given carte blanche by the people to then hire anyone uncritically.

>What I'm saying is that if people from western regions are asking for more representation, and want to advocate for their regions, that's great, but it can also be a curse

I know what you're saying. I'm saying it's horrendous that people with a representative government are being told to be cautious about asking for representation.