Massachusetts Lawmakers: screw the economy, let's placate a conservative minority
Researchers have demonstrated a connection between having a welcoming environment for creative people and spurring economic growth. Massachusetts, of all places, should have this in the bag. Boston/Cambridge is one of the world capitals of higher education, and the area encompassed by Route 128 is one of the densest homes of high tech innovation this side of Silicon Valley. The Boston area has great public transit, rich cultural resources, and a diverse population. Obviously there are downsides, including the high cost of living, unmarked and potholed surface streets, and other typical urban issues, but the point remains that this is an area with a rich history, primed for further economic development.

So it seems a bit odd that Massachusetts politicians would try to create a climate in the state that is inhospitable to the well-educated, open-minded people that are needed to keep the state's economy going. While the various for and against organizations are generating lots of calls to politicians, polls indicate that there's no consensus either way on the issue. So why are people like Finneran putting so much energy into the issue? Perhaps because it's easier to try and drum up votes from diehard partisans than it is to bridge differences and solve the problems that affect all of us. I'm reminded of the way that Louise Day Hicks took a de facto pro-segregation position throughout her career, not because she was racist, but because it guaranteed her a solid base of political support.
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