Mass-ive Political Upset

It looks as if the people of Massachusetts have spoken. A Wall Street Journal article cites AP data stating Brown trumped Coakley 52% to 47% of the vote for the late Senator Edward Kennedy’s seat. I first heard details from Tom Bauerle this morning on WBEN (930 AM—Buffalo). He called it a political “earthquake.” If I may interject, that’s a real kitschy choice of words given the current international crisis on the isle of Hispaniola.

Back on track here…in my previous post on this topic I mentioned Massachusetts health reform. The Commonwealth Health Insurance Connector has often been cited as a model for President Obama’s vision to overhaul the national healthcare system. I said let the Bay Staters, who already live under government-mandated healthcare, decide how it’s working. Are they happy with their coverage? Their taxes? Their co-pays and insurance bills?

Perhaps folks from the Berkshires to Boston and beyond had other pressing issues. In the above-referenced WSJ article, some citizens expressed dissatisfaction with the economy and lack of job growth. Some are just hungry for positive change; change that the current Democratic administration wasn’t bringing about. Whether healthcare was a huge deciding factor remains to be seen, but bluer-than-blue Massachusetts demonstrated a healthy democratic-society upset.

Healthcare reforms at the national level are now jeopardized. It will be interesting to see what comes of this, and what dirty tricks politicians play to discredit the Brown victory.

As I said before, Massachusetts runs deep in the fabric that has shaped this nation. She may be small in size, but Massachusetts once again is largely shaping what the United States may look like in years to come.