It Always Starts Here

Last night was date night. We planned on appetizers and a drink before a “concert” with one of my rock stars.

The particular rock star in this case was Senator Ed Markey, and this is how the evening started:

Do we know how to do date night, or what?

The concert, or open house really, was hosted by Representative Jay Kaufman who asked questions on behalf of the audience. 

The first question related to the bombing in Afghanistan. Markey said he had been calling around all day to try to find out the details, but he was pretty sure that Congress, rather than being consulted, had simply been notified of the action.

The second question was mine! I’m getting good at this. My question, read by Kaufman, asked about the role of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee where Markey is a member. Let me tell you, Markey can answer a question. He takes his time and provides the full context behind his answer. Here he got across his point that there should be a strategy with respect to Syria, not simply tactics. We should also enforce strict sanctions on the source of the chemicals – Russia –  rather than push for a “regime change” requiring military action. He finished off by saying the job of the Foreign Relations Committee is to demand a debate over these actions and not allow the executive branch unfettered authority. 

He also launched into an interesting and knowledgable description of net neutrality and why it is important. He went back to the 70’s in providing his explanation. Without some of these laws and policies, we’d still be stuck with our rented landline phones. They have opened the door to competition and innovation. 

The following semi-quotes (we did our best) on a wide range of topics were appreciated by the audience:

• Russia and Trump campaign: The American people have a right to know.
• Renewable energy: We have 100,000 people working clean energy in Massachusetts. There are 65,000 working coal in the entire country. Trump is very proud of his stance on coal energy – the energy technology of the future.
• Budget: Budget cuts and policies by the Trump administration go right at the heart of the Massachusetts business plan and innovation. They get rid of programs we need.
• Democrats saying “no”: The Democrats and the judges are providing remedial education on the Constitution to Trump. It is our job to say “no” until he gets it.
• Education: The cynical view that DeVos has regarding our public schools is unacceptable. I will fight her every day. 
• Immigration: We need these people.

The last question of the night asked what we can do here in Massachusetts in our sea of blue. He responded:

It always starts here. The Revolutionary War (Battle of Lexington and Concord – April 19, 1775). The abolitionist movement. (Garrison lived in Boston.) The suffragettes. (Statton and Cady lived in MA.) Health care. Gay marriage.

That’s who we are. That’s who we have always been. That’s who we will always be.

And here is how date night ended: