This will be a long post; witnessed a microcosm of what I hope I'll see in

[merbex]

November(fingers crossed)

I attended the third and final night of my town's annual Town Meeting - interesting sidebar - we were informed that our town is the largest of it's size in MA that still has Open Town Meeting which means all registered voters can attend - not just elected town meeting members

Anyway,the article under intense scrutiny tonight had to do with Zoning and which board
had the ultimate authority with the "most teeth" as one of the board members put it.

Should it be the elected Planning Board? or the appointed by the all powerful Board of Selectman - Zoning Board of Appeals?

Voters overwhelmingly decided to give "the most teeth" to the elected board

The Board of Selectman failed to persuade the vast majority in the room that the appointed board knows best. When Selectmen get up at Town Meeting usually you could bet your house that they are going to get what they want. Tonight it wasn't even close.

One woman attending her first Town Meeting actually got up and said " I want to know that by voting for these people as I did on Sat(our election) I am claiming a little power back for myself- I don't want it diluted through another board."

Here's hoping that across the US many people feel the same way in Nov; that they vote to take back power for themselves and away from an overreaching administration and a complacent Congress.

Oh, and have I mentioned that I live in a very pink part of MA? not blue, pink

[OneBlueSky]

1. having lived in MA, I've often thought it might be a good idea . . .

for citizens in towns and cities across the country to get together and try to change their political structures to the New England style town meeting format . . . I'm sure it would pass on most ballots -- IF you could get it on the ballot, and IF the votes are counted honestly . . .

[radfringe]

2. without divulging the name of the town

Eastern or Western MA?

I lived in Western MA for over 40 years (moved to Pennsylvania about 9 years ago)and there is a different attitude among towns west of 495 regarding politics

the towns I lived in were small, for the most part people did not attend unless there was a big issue - then look out - all the "hot buttons" would be hit at the same time

I've seen more than one town council recalled or voted out before they could grab their hats and resign

[merbex]

3. Eastern MA, waterfront

Somewhere between Quincy and the Cape;-)

I think those are enough clues