All about us, we see social institutions that are floundering. Our school systems, at least in the inner cities, are failing their students. The gulf between rich and poor is growing and, contrary to popular belief, racial segregation, reinforced by income disparities, is re-emerging as a very real social problem. Amidst greater prosperity than the world has even known, we have homelessness and hopelessness on an unprecedented level. Health care and prescription drugs are increasingly expensive and out of reach of more and more of us. Political campaigns are more about sound bites than about different approaches to the very real challenges we face as a society. The headlines scream to us about scandals in both church and state, and we are assaulted by the anger and negativity of a new industry of radio, television and web-based talkmeisters who think that being nasty is entertaining. And we live with new-found fears about our physical security and in a time of enormous economic uncertainty.

No wonder we're stressed, individually and collectively.

I have the privilege of serving in the oldest, longest-continually-serving legislative body in the democratic world. Never has the exchange of ideas been more important and never have the challenges we face as a society been more pressing. Yet, in the Massachusetts House, as you know, actions and inactions are shaped and all-too-controlled by a Speaker who spells leadership d-o-m-i-n-a-t-i-o-n and who seems to have forgotten that, if our forebears thought that one-man-rule worked, they would never have invented democracy!

I have enormous respect for Tom Finneran's intellectual ability and for his political agility. I also find him disarmingly charming and a very good listener. But, on many issues and in his approach to government, this Speaker simply doesn't speak for me. Where we can find common ground, we work together well. Where we differ, we regard each other as worthy opponents. I have consistently dealt directly with him, never speaking out before I have spoken to! Our mutual respect and good working relationship have allowed me to advance legislation of importance to me or to my district, even while I've been true to my values and my duty to exercise my best judgment on behalf of the citizens who elected me. This has not been an easy balance to maintain. But it is part of the job.

October 7, 2002