Op-ed

More than 40 Massachusetts labor leaders have signed onto a letter to President Obama raising concerns that some policy makers in Washington are backing health care reforms based on the state plan adopted two years ago. The Massachusetts plan features an "individual mandate" requiring all citizens to buy private health insurance. The letter sent today and spearheaded by the Jobs with Justice coalition, states:

Gaza is the most densely populated area in the world: 4,500 people per sq. mile. Over one-half of its 1.5 million citizens are children. On the fourth day of continuous Israel bombing, the known number of dead in Gaza is 380, mostly civilians - including women, children, the elderly, ill and disabled. Over 1000 are said to be badly injured. Israeli government officials say that innocent civilians should move away from the Hamas militants so they won’t be injured. To where were the 5 young sisters crushed to death by collapsing walls of a mosque bombed by Israel supposed to escape?

I should’ve known better.

For weeks, local print and broadcast media have heaped scorn and derision on former State Sen. Dianne Wilkerson, accused of extorting $23,000 in an FBI sting — captured in grainy video stills stuffing her bra. With her fellow state senators, the media, public opinion, and the Black ministers arrayed against her, Wilkerson finally resigned her seat and retreated into seclusion.

This week State Senator Dianne Wilkerson became a poster child for Massachusetts’ political corruption. She has become the butt of jokes and cartoons. She has inspired a barrage of at the least snide comments on the Boston Herald’s e- comment line: “it`s not Dianne’s fault she needed to get her Shameka done ... girl friend had to look good for the us poor folk that can`t survive without her for the next 60 days !!” The Massachusetts Senate is shocked and prepared to expel her with no sadness. She has sinned and besmirched their name.