On the Rock's Politica: Recent Episodes
Scott M. Graves/SMGraves Assoc.
Take two political junkies, one conservative and one liberal-oriented, set them loose on topical political matters. We’re focusing each week on delivering a national and local perspective on important political topics tailored to meet your needs in a way nobody else is delivering in our current marketplace.
We laughed, we cried. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.
Sometimes you just have to sit down with a few friends and carry on a funny, stream of consciousness conversation for nearly two hours. The holidays are all about reflecting, laughing and having meaningful conversations.
Producer/music entrepreneur Jeffrey Prescott and Comedienne/ business owner Stephanie Elliott are joined by M the Media Project founder Scott M. Graves for an oft-non-sensical look at economics, politics, television and movie culture and more. Listen in and enjoy!
It's exactly a week since Election Day 2022. Just the right time to initiate a three-way podcast between three candidates in withdrawal!
2021 City Council candidate Scott M. Graves (I) is joined by Lisa Mair (I) candidate for the first Worcester Senate District and Bruce Chester (R), podcast co-host and candidate for the MA House 2nd Worcester District.
We've all felt the sting of loss but don't despair, we're talking what comes next and what solutions we can bring to our communities moving forward.
Bruce has not conceded, having a difference of 712 votes and one community not reporting their number of outstanding ballots.
Lisa discusses her thoughts on running as an independent. She brought to our attention a great resource platform known as Braver Angels.
Scott explains the intricacies of policy-driven campaigning.
We hope you enjoy!
In the 1972 Film 'The Candidate' Bill McKay (played by Robert Redford) makes it to the end of the film (and campaign) the winner of the California Senate election.
The film ends with McKay focused on a television with supporters. He slowly comes to the realization of what just occurred and turns to his neighbors and pensively exclaims, 'What do we do now?'
It is known that candidates for office spend so much time on getting elected that often they have spent little or no time focused on what happens next.
We ask co-host and current candidate Bruce Chester his thoughts on transition and on legislation he would like to propose if elected.
Our discussion wandered (as it nearly always does) into a greater talk about our concerns moving forward post 2022 and in anticipation of 2024 at the federal level.
This weeks episode focuses on the additional two questions being posited to Massachusetts voters on November 8, 2022.
Question 2 focuses on a change to the state regulation of how dental insurance companies utilize premiums.
Question 3 would change the number of liquor licenses one business entity could hold at once.
This discussion made for a platform in which co-hosts Bruce Chester and Scott M. Graves could wield a larger discussion around laws favoring large vs. small business and fairness in regulation governing a corporations ability to pay executives, serve their clients, etc.
Enjoy!
This weeks episode focuses on the additional two questions being posited to Massachusetts voters on November 8, 2022.
Question 2 focuses on a change to the state regulation of how dental insurance companies utilize premiums.
Question 3 would change the number of liquor licenses one business entity could hold at once.
This discussion made for a platform in which co-hosts Bruce Chester and Scott M. Graves could wield a larger discussion around laws favoring large vs. small business and fairness in regulation governing a corporations ability to pay executives, serve their clients, etc.
Enjoy!
After interviewing Lisa Mair (I), candidate for MA Senate 1st Worcester District who joined us to speak on the merits of Question 1, known by some as the 'Fair Share’ Tax, Bruce and I settled in for a longer conversation regarding our thoughts on this proposed constitutional amendment to change the tax regime in Massachusetts.
The discussion quickly transitioned from one on the merits of specific tax strategies to the larger context of fairness in taxation.
We feel our listeners will appreciate what we had to offer. We hope this stimulates a deeper conversation in your house and local gathering places where thoughtful conversations like this are needed. Thanks for listening!
After interviewing Lisa Mair (I), candidate for MA Senate 1st Worcester District who joined us to speak on the merits of Question 1, known by some as the 'Fair Share’ Tax, Bruce and I settled in for a longer conversation regarding our thoughts on this proposed constitutional amendment to change the tax regime in Massachusetts.
The discussion quickly transitioned from one on the merits of specific tax strategies to the larger context of fairness in taxation.
We feel our listeners will appreciate what we had to offer. We hope this stimulates a deeper conversation in your house and local gathering places where thoughtful conversations like this are needed. Thanks for listening!
We’re joined by our new friend and candidate for the Massachusetts Senate Lisa Mair(I) 1st Worcester Senate District for part of the podcast to discuss MA Question 1.
What some are calling the ‘Millionaires’ Tax’ and others the ‘Fair Share Tax’ will do no less than amend the state constitution in order to change the state’s current tax regime.
In preparing for our discussion this writer found seeking vital analysis beyond the amendment language that wasn’t propagandic to be a hard task.
Read Amendment Full Language
We hope our discussion with Lisa and following her interview will help you, our listener and engaged Massachusetts voter, consider more than just the headlines in making your decision.
Whatever you do, we encourage you to make your vote count by going to the polls on November 8!
We’re joined by our new friend and candidate for the Massachusetts Senate Lisa Mair(I) 1st Worcester Senate District for part of the podcast to discuss MA Question 1.
What some are calling the ‘Millionaires’ Tax’ and others the ‘Fair Share Tax’ will do no less than amend the state constitution in order to change the state’s current tax regime.
In preparing for our discussion this writer found seeking vital analysis beyond the amendment language that wasn’t propagandic to be a hard task.
Read Amendment Full Language
We hope our discussion with Lisa and following her interview will help you, our listener and engaged Massachusetts voter, consider more than just the headlines in making your decision.
Whatever you do, we encourage you to make your vote count by going to the polls on November 8!
The Massachusetts republican party has decided to focus this election cycle on a referendum vote by the electorate over the MA House legislation passed in May of 2022 regarding the issue of drivers’ licenses to illegal immigrants with provisions in place to restrict voting.
Read the Summary and other information from Secretary of the Commonwealth’s Website
The party was successful in obtaining the signatures needed to get this on the ballot as a referendum vote for election day, November 8, 2022. It will now be up to the voters of Massachusetts to decide where we go from here when it comes to this piece of legislation.
Bruce and Scott share their views on the legislation plus define the law in summary, the yes and no response voters will be responsible for and they offer more definition to the elephant in the room: Why can’t we fix the immigration department and offer immigrants a fair and consistent path to legal citizenship?
We also touch upon the history of immigration in the United States and the social, moral and economic implications of living in a country with a broken immigration system.
We recorded this episode the day after the 2022 Massachusetts primaries.
While our co-host Bruce Chester is running unopposed from other republicans in his bid for the MA House of Representatives, many others including the winner for governor Jeff Diehl (R) were running variously contested races.
We offer listeners our thoughts regarding the results, the reaction of other politicians to the results and the local issues making Bruce's campaign fun and interesting.
We thank our listener and voter Theresa for bringing this topic to our discussion this week.
Bruce and Scott weigh in on their thoughts regarding the convening of a Convention of States to revise or rescind the US Constitution.
Both co-hosts have a deep and abiding loyalty to the rule of law and the US Constitution.
It is with no small trepidation and careful consideration that we provide you, our listener with some thoughts regarding the US Constitution, the process of constitutional amendment according to that document and then our personal reasons why we feel the way we do.
We also spend some considerable time examining the impetus of different groups across the political spectrum that are advocating for changes to our US Constitution.
We referenced multiple articles and sources of information including this September 2022 NY Times Article and this series of points from the Heritage Foundation.
That's this week from ‘On The Rocks Politica’.
Bruce and Scott, co-hosts of On The Rocks Politica take a break from the campaign scene and digest for listeners the latest in local politics including:
The Gardner City Council has two recent determinations of guilty, violating the Massachusetts Open Meeting Law. Why you should care about these decisions.
Read our August 5, 2022 Article on the MA Attorney General’s Decision
A play by play of our August 4, 2022 interview with Alan Rousseau(Gardner Clean Air) and Ivan Ussach(Millers River Watershed Council) regarding the Gardner Sludge Landfill expansion. What are the risks involved? What benefit does this project have for Gardner vs. its neighbors? What you need to know and what are the best alternatives to an expansion?
Listen to our earlier interview from Spring 2022 ‘Sludge in Your Backyard’
Read about sludge Landfill Alternatives.
Bruce recounts his thoughts from the campaign trail as he is currently running for the 2nd Worcester District, MA House of Representatives. The whole story here.
Find out More on Bruce’s Campaign
We congratulate ‘Are We Here Yet?’ podcast season four guest Monique Priestley, executive director of the Space on Main in Bradford, VT who won her primary for her own bid for the Vermont House of Representatives.
Find Monique’s ‘Are We Here Yet?’ podcast episode here
Enjoy the latest from On the Rocks Politica!
On August 4 we spoke with Alan Rousseau of Gardner Clean Air and Ivan Ussach of the Millers River Watershed Council regarding the latest progress made by the city of Gardner(MA) in its quest to expand an existing sludge landfill.
We had an opportunity with the two gentlemen to expand upon information we have touched upon in previous interviews, this being a part of an on-going series to ensure transparency in this controversial project.
Ivan explained the geologic issues at play underneath the existing landfill and Alan recounted the organizations specific issues regarding some design elements like outflows and collection ponds which may compromise the existing protected areas that abut the project.
Find our last interview with Alan & Ivan
We received a lengthy quote in the Gardner News prior to the interview by Gardner Mayor Michael Nicholson and examined why his quote was potentially inaccurate in characterizing where the project status stands in the eyes of the state of Massachusetts.
Nicholson: I think there’s just some misinformation that’s out there, not understanding the full project. …Like the fact that we’re even at this point means that everything’s had to be vetted as thoroughly as possible by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, the EPA. This is something that, we have to be remembering our fiduciary responsibility that we have for our rate payers. This is not a taxpayer project because not everyone is on our sewer system, but it has to be something that we take care of in the way that’s most effective, most environmentally friendly, and financially responsible for us. In that, we’ve looked at other proposals. We’ve looked at anaerobic digestion, we’ve looked at trucking the cost away, but it would result in a massive increase in our sewer rates, and we just can’t pass that on to the rate payers. Especially with those on a fixed income, and stuff like that, a massive tripling of the sewer rates is not a financially responsible decision for us to be able to make like that. So we’re doing what we can, but we also will continue to look for ways that we can move forward in the future, to come up with a longer term solution, then just the 17 years that this expansion would give us.
Read M the Media Project article on Sludge Landfill alternatives.
Ivan also explained how the city has not performed a feasibility study of any alternatives, having only studied the plan currently being proposed by the city.
Watch Now: My Life with a Sludge Landfill
Listen Now to learn this and more including just how much this project has already cost rate payers and what it may cost for the next 17 years plus.
Co-host Bruce Chester represented his neighbors during the latest Conservation Commission hearing July 25 in Gardner, MA in which a continuance was granted yet again for the expansion of a sludge landfill.
We discussed the potential impacts to drinking water, conservation land, protected waterways and people if this project moves forward and why he as a candidate for MA House thinks we need to do a better job understanding all perspectives.
We also touched upon the environmental concerns that are similar regarding our natural asset known as Dunn's Pond and what short-term thinking consequences could affect the property in a generation's time.
Scott then brought up the recent updates in Gardner to the residential and commercial blight ordinance.
By adding context to the conversation, we begin to come back to the night's unintentional theme: How each of these situations really boil down to short-term thinking vs. long-term stewardship of our communities.
In a July 4, 2022 open letter in The Atlantic, Senator Mitt Romney (UT) asked us, 'What clears the scales from the eyes of a nation?'
We are in denial on a multiple of existential issues according to the Senator not least of which he notes climate change. corruption at all levels of political leadership and fiscal management of the nation
He notes crisis has awoken the sleeping giant in the past but warns, '... a crisis may come too late for a course correction that can prevent tragedy. The only cure for wishful thinking is leadership.'
We analyze the open letter in this week’s program and utilize it to enter into a discussion that centers on solutions, in detail, that you can effect at home and in your community tomorrow in order to course correct and show leadership in your own way.
The stakes are high. Remember the words attributed to MP Edmund Burke.
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."
DEI or Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is a top topic in boardrooms, businesses, schools and organizations of all types in the United States today. The effort has been politicized, mis-characterized and emphasized and why not?
Doesn’t the great American experiment require a seat at the table for truly ALL of our willing citizens?
On the heels of another DEI training, co-host Scott Graves asks the question, ‘what’s fundamentally behind the emphasis on DEI in our current society’ and what effects is DEI having on our political landscape even as it takes effect in our communities.
We ask that our listeners open up their hearts and minds, to truly listen to their neighbors. This is perhaps the greatest gift we can give each other; the start of change.
Our latest episode looks at the consequences following the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in West Virginia vs. Environmental Protection Agency.
The precedent set by this ruling will most certainly have long-term ramifications on the regulation of corporate enterprise. It also represents a significant sea-change in jurisprudence going back, ironically enough, to the founding period (the irony being a priority of the majority justices claim to espouse a Constitutional interpretation known as 'originalism'). This change in jurisprudence is anything but.
For the first time we solicited feedback and questions from fans ahead of time and shared them and their answers on tonight's episode.
What consequences to business regulation will likely be affected by this decision?
Why would the court next decide the Moore vs. Harper case from North Carolina?
Do the entire session's decisions represent the upholding of long-standing legal precedent and representational government?
Listen now and help us decide.
This podcast is about working through the strain of disparate political perspectives by two neighbors.
My co-host Bruce Chester and I had to dig deep this week, fast on the heels of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Dobbs vs. Jackson’s Womens Health Organization rescinding the federal protection of a women’s right to access to abortion.
Our conversation focused on something the two of us wholly believe in: the emphasis on individual rights of every American as it pertains to their ability to seek the best and most productive life possible in our country. Our agreement really ends there, as how that fundamental belief filters through our thoughts on womens’ rights and abortion takes two very different roads.
How does someone who espouses a priority on individual rights square that with taking rights away from a third of the population? Does the embryo deserve rights itself? Who gets to choose?
We explored the greater concern of federal protections vs. states rights. What is the origin of the states’ rights issue and how has it been used over the history of our country to defend slavery, corporate hegemony and restrictions on civil rights. What are the consequences of a renewed emphasis on states’ rights (which seems the long game of the court) on what we’ve come to accept in the 20th century in a post New Deal country as federal protections for all?
We touched upon next week’s episode topic in which we’ll examine the effects of the decision coming sometime this week in West Virginia vs. Environmental Protection Agency, which may take the precedent of the Dobbs case and apply it to any federal agencies ability to protect citizens such as the EPA, SEC, FDA, etc. Has rescinding corporate restrictions on how they operate, sell to citizens, manage our food supply and process their wastes been the long game all along of Republicans and their supporters?
Let’s continue the dialogue as the stakes are too high not to face each other. Do we want to live in a post New Deal world whose legal landscape mimics that of the U.S. circa 1920?
The recall election for San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin was an example of the downfall of an individual truly desirous of enacting broad change for their community but blinded by ideology.
In her June 8, 2022 Atlantic article, “ How San Francisco Became a Failed City’, Nellie Bowles offers us a picture of how citizens in that California city, split between liberal democrats and ideologically narrow progressives, are enacting their own change through recalling Boudin and several school board members over the difference between what looks good on paper and what actually occurs on the street.
When does remaining loyal to a narrow ideology have disastrous consequences? When it blinds us to the realities of solutions-driven policy-making.
Speaking of being blind, we also discussed the results of the first two televised sessions of the January 6 committee whose content has focused entirely on recorded interviews under oath by Trump administration officials including former Attorney General William Barr, Vice President Mike Pence and Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley. All under oath and sprinkle in a grouping of the members of the Proud Boys and other Nationalist or White Supremacy organizations whose members are now disillusioned since their fearless leader is nowhere to be found to defend them.
This is the price of extremism. Failed Policy. Failing economy. Tribalism. Racism. Elitism. Corruption. Insurrection.
Wash, Rinse, Repeat.
And so Bruce and Scott ask, ‘Can Moderation in Politics return?’ ‘Can Moderation be a place for solutions-based conversation between folks of different stripes’.
Can Moderation be Sexy again? You decide after listening in.
This week, the On the Rocks crew talks local economics after reports of City Hall clashing with a business.
As part of M the Media Project’s special feature this week, ‘Gun Violence in America’ co-hosts Bruce Chester and Scott M. Graves discuss what they think is behind the violence in the United States, the mass shootings and other gun violence that is gripping our nation.
You’ll find a wide spectrum of perspectives in this week’s episode. Be sure to check out the articles, poetry and videos from contributors for this special feature of June 2, 2022.
Mick Carlon's article 'The Murder of Children'
Joshua Michael Stewart's poem 'Squeeze'
Scott M. Graves Essay 'Isolation'
What does it mean to value life in the modern-day U.S.? Isn't there a disconnect when an individual says we must make abortion illegal for the 'Sanctity of Life' while insisting that gun control, social programs and other community-driven initiatives that would support life are 'Un-American' or not within the intent of our Constitution?
Filtered through the current news of an impending decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and the racially motivated mass shooting on May 14, 2022, Bruce and Scott seek to find the meaning and the perspective offered by the time in which we're living.
This week, the gang (Scott M. Graves, Bruce Chester, and Cameron McLeod) start a conversation that has been split into three smaller segments. We begin with re-development beginning in the Chair City of Gardner, MA.
Maybe the three of us should have invited a woman or two to our episode this week for On The Rocks Politica.
Regardless, we forged ahead with a deeply impassioned conversation regarding the impending decision of the US Supreme Court to rescind Roe v. Wade and the implications of such a monumental reversal of federal protection.
Our conversation lead to a broader discussion of abortion, its history in the United States, the changing perspective on abortion by different groups of citizens and our personal perspectives on abortion, women's rights and our role as men in supporting women's issues.
So many of our challenges faced when building our communities are made complex by their multi-disciplinary nature. This does not excuse the need for a rigorous approach to solutions that benefit the widest spectrum of people.
Today's podcast deals with just such a challenge. What's local is suddenly made very relevant to those of you throughout the globe, as we're talking about one community’s on-going struggle over what to do with its human waste.
This podcast is an audio companion to M the Media Project's first in a series of articles dealing with one city's sludge landfill expansion.
Click here to read the article
Host Scott M. Graves interviews Ivan Ussach, Executive Director of the Millers River Watershed Council and Alan Rousseau, a life-long citizen of the city of Gardner (MA) and founding member of the grassroots organization Gardner Clean Air.
Click to learn more about landfill alternatives for your community.
Click to read or view host Scott M. Graves Essay, 'My Life with a Sludge Landfill'
On Monday, May 2, 2022 Politico broke the story that a draft decision written by Chief Justice Samuel Alito (George W. Bush appointment to the court) intends to rescind the 1973 decision Roe vs. Wade which gave all women in the United the States the right to seek an abortion.
We discuss some of our concerns with such a decision including:
It is in and of itself, an unprecedented event that a decision is disclosed months prior to being published.
Conservative appointees by the Bush and Trump administrations promised in their hearings that they would work within a framework that Roe v Wade is the law as a fundamental basis. Clearly, they were lying to the congressional committees overseeing their appointment. Can we have any truth in a country where Supreme Court appointees can lie to get their way? What happened to conservative disdain for ‘activist judges?
We’re worried for the consequences this decision has as a start. We know that culturally conservative groups have been aligned by design with large business interests to form the contemporary Republican party. Where does this go from here? Are we headed for a world where culture wars are won by the right as first step of appeasement, then rollbacks continue as they have or accelerate from the last 40 years to create the ultimate corporate welfare state?
Co-host Scott M. Graves reminds us of the parallels to 1857’s Dred Scott decision Let’s offer an overview.
The Dred Scott decision, formally Dred Scott v. John F.A. Sandford ruled that a slave who had resided in a free state and territory (where slavery was prohibited) was not thereby entitled to his freedom; that African Americans were not and could never be citizens of the United States; and that the Missouri Compromise of 1820, which had declared free all territories west of Missouri and north of latitude 36°30′, was unconstitutional. The decision added fuel to the sectional controversy and pushed the country closer to civil war.
In plain English, the decision’s core argument was that a black person in the US could not be considered a fully human being and one with all rights of US citizenship because in the US, white people were not willing to see them as such.
This decision accelerated what was already by 1857 spiraling out of control following earlier compromises including the Compromise of 1850, the events of Bloody Kansas following the Kansas/Nebraska Act and the Fugitive Slave Law, among others all leading to the election of 1860 and the secession of South Carolina in 1861.
The Alito draft and the decision contained therein is similar in that it really appears to have the capacity to create a tipping point where citizens must earnestly fight to reverse the rollbacks of limiting specific groups of citizens of their rights.
We start with news breaking today that our local Heywood Hospital is in talks with UMASS Memorial Health System to merge, a story broke by Worcester Business Journal and we offer our media minute on the premiere of our series on Gardner’s Sludge Landfill Expansion.
We’re celebrating our 69th episode with a look at local politics. First, a rundown of campaign information for co-host and candidate for MA House of Representatives Bruce Chester. Find Bruce Chester’s Campaign Website Second, Bruce reads through a campaign letter received recently from former Mayor of Gardner and Westminster Town Administrator Mark Hawke, who it appears is running for a position in the MA state GOP. Find out how he became the ‘Quit King’ in 2019, after being elected by an electorate who had knowledge he had already taken another job in a neighboring community….. what does THAT say about ourselves. We didn’t let an episode go by without some talk of international politics, this go around reviewing the results and possible implications following the election of Emmanuel Macron to another term as President of the French Republic.
In Part II of our episode of On The Rocks Politica co-host Scott M. Graves came prepared with a battery of initiatives he is supportive of that have recently been presented by the Biden administration this week to get co-host and candidate for State rep. Bruce Chester's take.
In Part II we focus on exploring the corruption of Jared Kushner and former members of the Trump administration.
In Part I we began with the late Eric Boelhert(Rest In Peace to this fine journalist of our time) recently wrote that a paltry 28% of Americans know the country has been gaining jobs in the last year, 7 million jobs in fact, while an astounding 37% think the country has lost jobs.
Are mainstream media outlets the 'leftist' bastion our conservative friends would have us believe? We explore what's behind these statistics.
The administration is making a major push to better serve our rural citizens with a number of economic and environmental initiatives focused on rural development
We also discussed the latest candidate to take the helm of the ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives) while making the announcement that the administration has presented legislation to tackle the issue of 'ghost guns' making their way into the marketplace sans serial numbers or other identifying characteristics.
We hope you enjoy the show. And if you do, please consider subscribing to M the Media Project.
In today's On The Rocks Politica co-host Scott M. Graves came prepared with a battery of initiatives he is supportive of that have recently been presented by the Biden administration this week to get co-host and candidate for State rep. Bruce Chester's take.
The late Eric Boelhert(Rest In Peace to this fine journalist of our time) recently wrote that a paltry 28% of Americans know the country has been gaining jobs in the last year, 7 million jobs in fact, while an astounding 37% think the country has lost jobs.
Are mainstream media outlets the 'leftist' bastion our conservative friends would have us believe? We explore what's behind these statistics.
The administration is making a major push to better serve our rural citizens with a number of economic and environmental initiatives focused on rural development
We also discussed the latest candidate to take the helm of the ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives) while making the announcement that the administration has presented legislation to tackle the issue of 'ghost guns' making their way into the marketplace sans serial numbers or other identifying characteristics.
In next weeks Part II we'll explore the corruption of Jared Kushner and former members of the Trump administration.
We hope you enjoy the show. And if you do, please consider subscribing to M the Media Project.
In today's On The Rocks Politica we explored the various ways in our current events cycle that simplifying arguments or grouping people with seemingly like-minded interests leads to less than effective outcomes. The proverbial 'painting with a broad brush'.
Are Russia's motives in their fight in Ukraine working towards the best interests of the Russian people?
Does that late European War spell ill for a fight between China and Taiwan?
Is the Biden administration positioning the US to do well by our European allies in NATO?
And of course, everybody is waiting for it: was Will Smith just in dispensing justice to Chris Rock or was there a better way?
Please remind us why we're talking about that, please?
We hope you enjoy the show. And if you do, please consider subscribing to M the Media Project.
With Cam and Bruce away this week co-host Scott Graves asked comedienne Stephanie Elliott to the show. Did we talk of sober political philosophy or current events? Hells Yeahh!!!!!
- President Joe Biden’s recent discussion on authoritarianism vs. Democracy? Check.
- Asking the question ‘Why do American Presidents Love them a good War? Check.
- What is happening in the daily struggle for Ukraine’s Autonomy? Check
- The history behind New Hampshire’s vote last week to secede from the Union? Check
- Stowe, VT’s bid to do the same in the 1980’s and secede to New Hampshire? Check.
We’re not saving the world but we did get in a few punches for sure.
Check out Stephanie’s North Shore Business Hound & Country Pet Care. Celebrating their ten year anniversary.
And be on the lookout for Cereal for Serial Killers, our latest collaboration with Stephanie coming soon to M the Media Project.
This week's episode of On the Rocks Politica features a discussion on the ongoing Ukrainian-Russian War.
From there, hosts Scott M. Graves and Bruce Chester, with input by Producer Cameron McLeod, discuss the Heather Cox Richardson interview with President Joe Biden.
We welcome back to the On The Rocks Politica Podcast Government Affairs Correspondent Scott J. Graves for whats turns out to be a bit of a congratulatory interview.
Scott maintains our local government reporting for the series Gardner Government Watch as well as providing editorial commentary through our Gravitas series.
After a scathing report on the mishandling of the election of Gardner Monty Tech School Committee members involving Gardner City Councillor James Boone, we continued to provide background on the matter.
The circumstances involve whether a person is considered an active elected official at the moment of being duly elected by a body of pre-determined humans (in this case city council members electing a school committee member) or if said individual additionally must be adminsitrered an oath of office.
Mr. Boone was duly elected in 2020 but due to Covid 19 his swearing in was forgotten. After filing a motion demanding an accounting of legal fees related to a case against the city (see report of council meeting 02.22.22), City Council President Elizabeth Kazinskas, backed by a legal commentary provided by Councillor Jim Walsh, decided that serving actively for two years was not enough to consider Mr. Boone officially a represnetative of Gardner on the committee.
The attempt to punish councillor Boone did not go un-noticed by M the Media Project. After several days of analysis on the matter, Mr. Boone was quietly re-instated and delivered the oath of office at the City Clerk offices on Tuesday, March 1.
Providing local reporting on matters at city hall. Exposing mismanagement in favor of doing right by the voters and taxpayers of this vibrant but struggling community.
Thanks to you, our loyal listeners and readers, Gardner government might just be turning a new leaf.
Cam brought to our attention this week the events unfolding as of 02.22.22 in the nation of Ukraine. Russian threats of the past 12 months were realized if in fits and starts on Tuesday as Vladimyr Putin, President of the Russian Federation recognized the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) and the Luhansk People’s Republic (LPR) as independent states within the country of Ukraine. Russian-backed rebels have been fighting the Ukraine government in those regions since 2014, when Russia invaded Ukraine. The self-styled leaders of those regions asked Russia for recognition, and Putin granted it. This places NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) members in a position prepared for war with Russia, yet another proxy engagement between western and eastern interests. Yet, is this just an extension of the cold war? We think not and analyze the players, recent policy maneuvers and a bit of history to help understand what’s at stake for Ukraine, Russia and the United States and her allies. We touched upon local news regarding dispelling the rumors regarding the Gardner Police Dept and yes, it’s true, Gardner Mayor Mike Nicholson has officially unenrolled from the Republican party as an unenrolled party member. And if that wasn’t enough…….. Bruce Chester, co-host announces his run for the Massachusetts House of Representatives. Read Gravitas Series Editorial Read Gardner Government Watch Read Politics, Done Local Series Read Essays From An Artist
Bruce and Scott offer a review of the local news landscape……slim picking as of late since the team is receiving very little information from official government sources regarding the recent release of Gardner Police Chief Bracks.
The OTRP co-hosts offer insight as information requests made in our new tip and question line, which you can access by linking to all GGW and Gravitas articles.
Bruce shared with us the latest from his upcoming campaign. It’s decision time in the MA State Republican party and that means our very own Bruce Chester must decide to run for state House of Representatives (thereby recycling his old signs and door hangers) or run for State Senate (and really place pressure on Scott as his volunteer to cross out and re-title 7000+ signs and door hangers). Such is life.
Our new series ‘Extraordinary Names in Politics’ offered the lighter side of local politics. How can we forget the auspicious campaigns of such greats as Kinky Freidman, Harry Baals and Dick Swett to name a few.
Read Gravitas Series Editorial
Read Gardner Government Watch
Read Politics, Done Local Series
Read Essays From An Artist
This week the On The Rocks Politica cast of characters had a visitor. Government Affairs Correspondent Scott J. Graves contributed his findings in the latest Open Meeting Law Violation to hit the city of Gardner.
M the Media Project and Gardner Government Watch uncovered a memorandum this weekend detailing the decision of the city council regarding the prior outstanding open meeting law violations submitted to the Massachusetts Attorney Generals Office. (Yes, this is an on-going and recognized problem at city hall)
The problem?
This document was intended for public consumption AFTER the city council meeting of February 7, 2022. It was distributed to the council members days PRIOR via the city solicitor and council president to the actual meeting…..where it would be discussed for a final vote.
Either our City Council President is violating state law or....... she has a real life flux capacitor! GREAT SCOTT!
Or should we say our great Scott.
This podcast is a companion to the this article on Gardner Government Watch.
We'll continue to report on this issue.
Scott also clued us in to other submissions We’re working on at M the Media Project including news on the continuing issues surrounding our municipal sludge landfill
Find Scott M. Graves essay 'My Life with a Sludge Landfill'
Find information regarding Sludge Landfill Alternatives
Scott also recently spoke with a Lowell-based developer who is currently working hard to ease our residential rental market pressures.
On January 11, 2022 United States President Joe Biden offered a speech in Atlanta, Georgia which has received much attention in the weeks since.
In addition to referring to the recent movement within conservative states to restrict voting rights as ‘Jim Crow 2.0’ the most controversial quote from his speech made additional and very direct reference to our recent Civil Rights and Voting Rights history. He asked US elected officials, How do want to be remembered?
‘At consequential moments in history, they present a choice: Do you want be on the side of Dr, King or George Wallace? Do you want to be on the side of John Lewis or Bull Connor? Do you want to be on the side of Abraham Lincoln or Jefferson Davis?’
Read the complete speech by President Joe Biden
The reaction from conservative leadership was immediate. The next day, Senator Mitch McConnell said during his reaction, ‘I did not recognize the man at the podium yesterday. ... The president's rant, rant, yesterday was incoherent, incorrect and beneath his office," So stated McConnell from the Senate floor.
See Senator McConnell’s reaction on the Senate Floor
We’re asking what we think are several key questions this hour. Those who’ve seen video of both President Biden’s speech and Senator McConnell’s reaction understand that the President’s remarks weren’t literally a ‘rant’. Is McConnell counting on Americans not to access the literal speech? What’s the history in this country of reactionary rhetoric to manipulate voters? Turns out there is a rich history of such misleading, going back to the decades before the Civil War.
We ask whether it’s appropriate for the President to reference civil rights history in his speech? Scott says yes and it is an excellent use of historical reference at a time when many Americans are attempting to turn bak the clock on minorities and working class people. Bruce feels that voting rights are not under threat in this country and that to say so is to mislead our neighbors to unnecessary conclusions.
We discussed with each other where our perspectives have been cultivated and where we think this country is headed into the 2022 mid-terms.
We also celebrate two new article series with M the Media Project, the movie premiere of our good friend Dennis Wirth and we discuss Bruce’s possible run for the State Senate.
All in this hour of On The Rocks Politica.
Remember the scene from the movie 'Fast Times at Ridgemont High' with Nick Damone? He explains to his friend rat, 'Wherever you are, that's the place to be' or some such statement and proceeds to show him, no matter what the circumstances you just act like right now, right here is the 'best'. I mean, everything is cool, it's all going to be great. Right?
Well, what happens to society when we keep saying to ourselves it's all going to work out in the end. Key facets of our daily lives appear to be shrinking, instability reigns and we keep shrugging our shoulders and moving on. After all, this is the U.S., right? WE'RE EXCEPTIONAL'. We delude ourselves into thinking the worse will not happen. 'IT CAN NEVER HAPPEN HERE'.
In today's episode we explore examples of toxic positivity. What does toxic positivity look like? What are the consequences to our society when we keep adjusting to a new normal that looks an awful lot like a nation built on weak economic policy and even weaker social cohesion. When is it ok to call out the worst of our behaviors to each other.
And can't we address real social issues, call out real political enemies of our democracy while still remaining mature and hopeful?
Seems reasonable to us. Just remember, EVERYTHING IS AWESOME!
In our season III opener we're looking at January 6, 2021 from a year later.
Scott and Bruce have questions and speculate on the causes of January 6 and what lasting repercussions are already beginning to emerge.
Each of us remain steadfast to our political foundations, Bruce a conservative in the traditional sense and Scott a liberal progressive and we believe in making room for each other to express thoughts that result from such foundations. We examine how a people can go from meaningful civil discourse and the expression of their citizenship to blind violence.
We also examine how a people can come to the conclusion that violence is the next step in the first place. What resources or important social factors might be missing or exist in the environments that many of our neighbors inhabit day to day.
We, like you, are searching for answers one year later on this, our latest On the Rocks Politica.
My hope for all of you in this season of great struggle for voting rights, for equality, for the climate and our survival itself; I hope for you to find meaning in your struggle. We are not living through times where I could say, I hope you find peace. Peace will be for another generation. We’re called on to do what’s right. What’s best for all. And to find the meaning. The meaning that feeds why we must strive for a country that draws out the best in us all. Together.
Love Learning. Love Life. And best wishes for your 2022.
Hey, It's the holidays and we here at M the Media Project are uber busy creating new content for 2022 even whilst making it a special Christmas for all of our family and friends.
So it's only fitting this week's episode is shared with our sister podcast, too.
Not only was this the most spirited On The Rocks Politica ever, but we featured our guest Commedienne Stephanie Elliot who announced the start of our latest podcast hosted by her, Cereal for Serial Killers!
On this week’s episode entitled, ‘Bang-Bang’ Scott and Bruce get down to the topic of what happens when people’s political narrative forces them to loose their humanity one bit at a time.
Starting off with the example of how pop culture is treating the tragedy of Alec Baldwin’s on-set mishap with a firearm and seeking examples from the current events unfolding in Crimea, the two look at how political thought should be conceived in the greater context of other important human phenomenon.
‘Politics ceases to be useful to us when we politicize events to the point of loosing our humanity.’ -Scott M. Graves
This week we take a close look at Opportunity Zones.
Four years after their launch into the economic development ecosystem, the capital gains tax program signed into law by former President Donald Trump has generated $18.9 billion in investment. This is a far cry from the initial estimates made in 2017.
Co-hosts Scott M. Graves and Bruce Chester ask questions like where did investment money land? Did the most economically challenged neighborhoods get the investment they needed? Is the Opportunity Zone program as designed and implemented acting like a bottom-up approach, effecting the people who live and work in economically challenged neighborhoods?
See the reports we cite in this episode
From PBS News Hour
From the Tax Foundation
David Wessel, author of Only the Rich Can Play: How Washington Works in the New Gilded Age” (2021)
We start our episode with a report from our newest regional reporter, former OTRP co-host Scott J. Graves. Scott will be reporting from all Gardner, MA government meetings including ZBA, Conservation, Economic Development and Planning and City Council.
Scott has been a City Councilor for 16 years, having lost his first election this past November. He is a graduate of Suffolk Law School, where he edited the school law review, his first experience as a journalist.
Scott's latest series for M the Media Project is entitled 'SG, esq.-At Large'.
We discussed the visit on November 29, 2021 by Lt. Governor Karen Polito to announce a total of $4.1MM in state investment in two developments in the city of Gardner.
Find out who wins and who looses in this latest chapter of Gardner's anemic push out of post-industrialization.
Scott and Bruce grew up rolling their eyes at the 'older folks' around them complaining about this, that or the other thing.
'We're not going to do that when we're their age.'
So here we are, co-hosts of the 'On The Rocks Politica Podcast with an episode entitled '...and Another Thing!'
What is up with people wanting our music and our there talents for free? Why does the media manipulate people's emotions? Why do some members of the Republican party want a one religion state?
You get the picture. A couple of middle-aged dudes on a quest tossed truth while complaining.
Welcome to episode 51. Not unlike the Area.
In our episode 'On Apples & Infrastructure’, co-host Bruce Chester brings to the OTRP table the story of our local hero, John Chapman, better known to all as Johnny Appleseed.
A quintessential American story from the antebellum period.
The boys then picked apart the bi-partisan infrastructure bill, passed into law on Monday, November 15 and signed same day by President Joe Biden.
Scott & Bruce discussed what they like, what they don't like and how we might benefit or not depending on how the bill is utilized in the decade ahead.
What early experience influenced the political philosophy of co-hosts Bruce Chester and Scott M. Graves?
Did these two do anything more in college than smoke weed and read Beat poetry?
Interestingly enough, both men attended state institutions and both matriculated in performing arts programs. Each came out with some beliefs strengthened and many more reverberating through the many years post-graduation, coalescing into the ideas they now share with you, the listeners of On the Rocks POlitica each and every week.
Listen now to find out more about their college daze. Plus we congratulate the winners of our local election last week and Scott decompresses from his victorious loss having come in 10th place for city council.
Well folks we all made it to Election Eve.
We decided to call it 'Election-itis 2021' and we bring to you tales from the campaign trial, special 'interviews' from Gardner City Council President Lizzie Kazinskas and the Mega-Mayor himself Mike Nicholson. Of course, there's so much more.
You'll find serious analysis of local and regional politics sandwiched in between our best effort at local political satire.
We even managed an interview with local social media and civic phenom Paul Demeo and squeezed in the results of the election before signing off for the evening.
And what of the election results? Not since the presentation of Al Capone's Vaults has anti-climactic endings been so phenomenal. Our own co-host Scott M. Graves received 776 votes...... and came in last place!
Hanging chads? Not with this crack team of political hacks. We hope you enjoy.
In tonight's episode 'The Citizenry' we roasted a threatening letter delivered anonymously to co-host Scott M. Graves during his on-going bid for city councilor at-large in the city of Gardner, MA.
http://www.smg4gardner.com Learn more regarding Scott M. Graves
Seriously y’all, if you’re going to send threatening anonymous letters to a candidate you definitely get your point across when you type it up in 16 point ‘Angry Ol’ White Guy on Facebook, All-Caps’ font and pepper the tome in misspellings.
We had some great fun at the expense of, ‘The Citizen-ry’ and thank this selfless defender of democracy for pointing out our co-host, as a former jazz musician has a history of short-lived ‘jobes’ in various industries. Who knew.
Sandwiched in between the tales from a local election we interviewed local candidate for school committee Tim Markey. Tim is a life-long resident of our city and a long-time educator vying for his first crack at elected office.
https://www.timmarkey.com. View Tim's campaign website
We all spoke on the importance of door to door canvassing to our democracy, what it means to be a servant of your neighbors and what our education system is getting right and what could be improved.
We hope you enjoy the laughs and we hope you find take-aways to take to your community’s local elections. Democracy lives or dies in your backyard.
Where have all the labor bosses gone?
For at least 30 years many Americans have viewed the 'death' of labor unions as progress. Seen as a vestige of a time gone past, many felt there is no need any longer to organize in order to protect the rights of wage earners in the United States.
But if you're the age of our producer Cameron McLeod, you might think otherwise. The promise of 'your college education will make you more employable and offer more in wages' has come and gone for many as has the days of 40 hour work weeks and benefits.
Is the Gig economy all its cracked up to be?
In this episode we explore a number of questions such as....
How did the Labor movement evolve?
How do millennials perceive labor and the job market today?
How does a more unstable labor market effect other parts of our economy?
What would more widespread employee ownership in our economy do to effect labor?
Why did the labor movement and unions in particular oppose employee ownership?
All that and more this episode On the Rocks Politica.
Why does Bruce and Scott want to bring back the cola wars? Because those wars were far more entertaining than the culture wars.
Americans are tearing themselves apart over Colin Keapernick, abortion, the Flag.... while strife causes negative social side-effects and our financial class rakes in record profits from our dismay; the collectives’ focus on divisive phenomenon instead of the task at hand.
Bruce and Scott show how the culture wars, running parallel to the 'nation' of local politics is effecting even their own little city's municipal election as experienced by Scott why is running for city council.
In other news, did we mention the Gardner city council now requires a police presence at all meetings? In a vain attempt to thwart citizens desire for transparency and an increased opportunity for public discourse, City council president Lizzy Kazinskas has issued a mandate for police presence at every council meeting.
Faschism at its best that these co-hosts can agree on from their respective political spectrum perches.
Up now from On the Rocks Politica…
Why is the debt ceiling so important, what is it and why is the Republican party making a purely political move in opposing it?
Sen. Mitch McConnell and Senate Republicans voted on Monday, September 27 to filibuster a bill proposed in congress to raise the debt ceiling.
In this episode Scott and Cam offer a definition of the debt ceiling and why it's important to maintain the governments ability to pay debts it voted in incur in the past.
As done many times on the On the Rocks Politica Podcast, our analysis is infused with a healthy dose of history, culture and good old fashioned humor.
For this week of the On the Rocks Politica, co-host Scott M. Graves presents an Essay from his Politics, Done Local series. The consequences of a community's political leadership on community development.
This week, the "On the Rocks Polictica" crew (which comprise of Hosts Bruce Chester and Scott M. Graves, as well as Producer Cameron McLeod) focused local news to give a fascinating update on the Gardner (MA) lawsuit filed on behalf of the citizens by City Councilman Scott Joseph Graves.
This suit was filed following an unconstitutional gag order filed against the city council by city Solicitor on behalf of Gardner's current Mayor. The podcast explains why this is unconstitutional, this lawsuit may have bearing on future generations of citizens and also, just what IS wrong with Gardner's drinking water?
Why should you resist the partisanship of federal and state politics at the municipal level?
Both co-hosts of On the Rocks are or have been political candidates for local or state office. We are both committed to our political philosophies. But we're even more firmly committed to our citizenship and to the democratic processes embedded in the United States way of governance.
In this episode we talk about why you need to check your partisanship at the door when it comes to prioritizing how to vote in your local elections.
ASK YOURSELF
Where did the idea of divide and conquer originate in US politics? Should I focus on candidates specific responses to my questions? Are project ideas, policy positions and general capabilities more important than party affiliation? Should I be scared of candidates who appear to be more versed than I on certain issues or political beliefs? Right now in Episode 41 of On the Rocks Politica!
This week we focused our attention on the morass that is unfolding in the country of Afghanistan.
Nearly two weeks into the withdrawal of US troops and the evacuation of US, Afghani and other global citizens, we analyze the withdrawal by the Biden administration.
Our discussion gave us the opportunity to introduce listeners to some of the key players including US negotiators, the Taliban and ISIS-K.
Who is ISIS-K and what are they doing in Afghanistan?
We explore the history of imperial exploits in Afghanistan and how the Unites States, after 20 years of our ‘Forever War’ finds itself part of a long list of Western powers to fail in Afghanistan.
Hear what Andrew Bacevich has to say about the Withdrawal.
What went wrong? Who’s to blame? How does this latest in US military exploits likely to play out over time both within and from outside the US?
Let us know what you think after listening.
Sources that were used:
https://www.cnn.com/world/live-news/afghanistan-news-taliban-refugees-08-24-21/index.html
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2021/aug/24/us-politics-live-joe-biden-afghanistan-g7-democrats-republicans-latest-news
https://www.foxnews.com/category/world/conflicts/afghanistan
https://apnews.com/article/taliban-takeover-afghanistan-what-to-know-1a74c9cd866866f196c478aba21b60b6
https://www.npr.org/2021/08/22/1030154266/history-professors-consider-how-the-afghanistan-war-will-be-remembered
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/23/world/middleeast/afghanistan-taliban-deal-united-states.html
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/08/23/daily-202-biden-predicts-history-will-validate-his-afghanistan-withdrawal/
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/asia-jan-june11-timeline-afghanistan
https://www.wsj.com/articles/us-longest-war-afghanistan-11583010024
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2001/oct/27/afghanistan.terrorism6
We have a very special episode this week as we celebrate the theatrical work of our own co-host Bruce Chester.
Bruce has perfomed ‘Hold High the Flag, Sgt. Carney’, a one man show depicting Carney in his later years since 2013. The show was written by Bruce’s mentor.
Connect with the show
Producer Cam McLeod and On the Rocks co-host Scott M. Graves sat down with Bruce following his performance at the Tewksbury (MA) library to discuss the show’s origins, Bruce’s theatrical career and the relevance of Carney’s experience to our own time, plus put the events of the 54th Massachusetts Regiment, an all-african-american regiment, into context.
Find out more regarding Sgt. William Carney.
Find out more about the 54th Massachusetts Regiment.
In the second part of a recent recording session here at On the Rocks Politica, co-host Bruce Chester focused our attention on the challenge many conservatives are bringing to our attention of a lack of awareness for and education on Marxism.
Many people supportive of ‘Marxism’ or other left-leaning ‘ism’s’ may not be fully educated on the intricacies of Marx or of other 19th century dead philosophers and political trailblazers.
Some conservative Americans concerned with an onslaught of leftist revolution amongst us have little to no grounding in political science.
Interesting article from NYTimes 1989 on Marxism on American Campuses.
Nor is their ‘Red Scare’ founded in reality (really our most recent fears are an extension of a long history of our political elite stoking the flames to suit their economic needs). OR IS IT??????
We try to offer some historic perspective, some definition to political thought from the likes of Karl Marx, John Stuart Mill, Robert Owen and many others.
We ask whether we should be concerned whether our youth are being indoctrinated and in what political cesspool that swim might be taking place in?
Oh, and co-host Scott M. Graves admits he’s a Democratic Socialist (this should have been obvious by the rose in his campaign logo).
All this and more on this week’s On the Rocks Politica.
We just couldn't decide on one topic this week, here at On the Rocks Politica.
So the team selected three tasty tidbits to opine on, two of which make up the episode you are about to dine on.
In local news...
The city of Gardner(MA) has only recently de-industrialized. We're experiencing this phenomenon in real time, in real ways. For two decades we've languished under two municipal administrations who have created, at best, anemic economic development. No plan is in place. No efforts have been made to engage in bottom-up projects or initiatives to generate commercial tax revenues through business growth.
We have moved a Cumbies (local-speak for a chain of Convenience stores known as Cumberland Farms) from one street to another.
Care about local economic development? Read our latest article on Stroads.
On Monday, August 2, 2021 the city council by a two vote margin re-appointed our Director of Community Development and Planning, Trevor Beauregard to his position for another three years. Another three years of anemic growth. Of stone-walling many residents who desire to create opportunity. Another three years of tearing down buildings without a solid plan for what comes next.
Read Scott's campaign article 'Why?' regarding the re-appointment of Trevor Beauregard.
We analyze what is happening in this scenario, why it is happening and ask the seminal question, 'What is OUR PLAN?'.
In national news...
In the second half of our show Producer Cam McLeod walks us through an examination of the recent spate of suicides by Capital Police officers. Even as we prepared this show, the total of officers rose to 4.
This doesn't sit right with any of us here at the show. Neither does throwing the events of January 6, 2021 under the rug for political reasons while individuals who swore an oath to protect and serve come to terms with what they experienced that day.
Why don't we call the events of January 6, 2021 what they really are.... a threat to our democracy.
Does the US need a divorce?
We decided to play a thought experiement for the 36th iteration of On the Rocks Politica.
Using the July 16 article by graduate student and blogger Andrew Tanner entitled, 'Fourth America is Almost Over-America Wants a Divorce', we consider the pros and cons of a divided US spliting into any nubmer of new governmental bodies.
Would it be a two way split or numerous factions? What positive outcomes could there be for a re-constituted regional confederation or multiple republics?
Read about the state of our democracy from Bright Line.
The US has always had a fluid way of experiencing unity. From the Articles of Confederation, to the first 50 years of the US Constitution; from the Hartford Convention, to Abolition, the Civil War to the turmoil of the Great Depression.
We took a look at some of the more likely scenarios such as the formalizing of a Trans-Pacific Confederation between British Columbia, WA, OR and Northern Califronia known for some time as Cascadia. Don't laugh, there are serious economic and social reasons that this has been consdiered in the recent past.
Our point with all this? By talking through what a 'divorced' United States could be, we realized the ways in which we might be stronger together....and better people for it.
Now, if we could stop divorcing oursleves from the very real responsibility we each have to each other for being the best engaged citizens we know we can all be.
Welcome back to 'On The Rocks Politica' Podcast! After a week off, Scott, Bruce and Cam are excited to get back into the lovely world that is local and national politics.
This week, after a careful study of the 144 Page 'One North Central: A Roadmap for Regional Prosperity', the gang takes an analytical look at the Reports substance. This episode will be of interest to locals of North Central Massachusetts and anyone who is tackling significant economic and social issues in their de-industrialized communities both urban and rural. Enjoy!
In our first De-bunk episode co-hosts Bruce Chester and Scott M. Graves selected one topical phenomenon to 'de-bunk', that is to say refute or bring to light that which is not true.
Bruce explains the truth behind the myth that a separation of church and state is enshrined in the US Constitution.
Scott adds some historical context to the idea of the separation of church and state; why many founders believed in it and how this gets expressed in our society in the centuries since our country was formed.
Scott draws attention to a recent marketing campaign by the Renew MA Coalition which has included social media posts targeting specific legislators for what they refer to as the 'School Pornography Curriculum Mandate'.
Read the House Bill Here
Both the House and Senate bills DO NOT condone pornography. Scott and co. use their time to refute the 'winner take all' approach used all too commonly through digital media channels to titillate and stimulate public interest in certain political issues, knowing the average person will not do their due diligence as to the relevance or thuthfulness of the information being distributed.
The team points out that there are plenty of reasons to debate the merits of our local State Representatives, but telling lies about their legislative stances shouldn't be one of them.
Find our latest edition to M the Media Project, re-published articles brought to us by the Solutions Journalism Network.
In our first July 4th special the On the Rocks crew took a break from the Sturm und Drang of the day to day and recounted various tasty stories that lend meaning to their personal ideas of July 4th.
Bruce recounts moments on July 4th serving overseas in Iraq in the United States Army. Somehow we then got on the subject of illegal fireworks in Massachusetts. Ahhhh, the memories of Fourth of July in the seventies and eighties, blowing off an appendage with an M80 or setting the neighbors home on fire with misplaced pinwheels.....
Cam offers us a report of fireworks legal New Hampshire, the 'Live Free or Die' state.
We end with a look at John Dickinson from our resident amateur historian Scott.
John Dickinson, author of 'Letters from a Pennsylvania Farmer' and ardent Pennsylvania partiot during the 1760's and 1770's was in the end, a moderate who believed in freedom of commerce and social rights for the United Colonies, just under a different Constitution, that of Parliament in London.
Dickinson's impassioned debates with John Adams during the days leading up to the signing of the Declaration of Independence included his speech where he warns delegates that they embark in a new venture to, 'brave the storm in a skiff made of paper'.
Read more on John Dickinson's Speech
Point being, a look at our history through the eyes of some of the 'other' founding fathers really adds substance to our notion of how 'We' became 'Us'.
In a Wall Street Journal Op Ed on Monday, June 21 two lobbyists close to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and former House Speaker John Boehner gave us a patronizing look at how our political elite consider the vagaries of 'more democracy' or direct governance through voting.
Read full Op Ed Here
Mike Solon, a former assistant to McConnell, and Bill Greene, a former outreach director for former House Speaker John Boehner; both of which are now lobbyists argued that thefiibuster as we know it in our modern sense protects “political nobodies” from having to pay attention to politics. If legislation could pass by a simple majority, Americans would have to get involved. The two men suggest the country is best lead by a minority of senators.
“Eliminating the Senate filibuster would end the freedom of America’s political innocents,” they write. “The lives that political nobodies spend playing, praying, fishing, tailgating, reading, hunting, gardening, studying and caring for their children would be spent rallying, canvassing, picketing, lobbying, protesting, texting, posting, parading and, above all, shouting.”
We should also mention the op ed made reference to the filibuster in its current form as having been a construct of the founders who ratified our Constitution of 1787. This is highly inaccurate. The current filibuster was devised in 2008 and the earlier mechanism, the one we know for Senators reading frivilous literature to run down the clock first came into being in the first third of the 19th century.
Read up on the history of the Senate Filibuster
In this weeks episode we explore the history of the filibuster, the patronization of our electorate by the elite and we find out just what Bruce Chester, a registered republican, thinks is behind the party's seeming descent away from democracy.
Our episode starts with co-host Scott M. Graves announcement he is running for City Councillor-at-large in the Chair City, Gardner, MA (Gahhhdnah, hey!). Otherwise affectionately referred to as G Vegas.
smg4gardner campaign web presence.
vote Bruce Chester for State Rep web presence.
In the weeks On the Rocks Politica, we’re exploring the idea that white male candidates for office, in an effort to bring equity before the public, should bow out of races when their opponent is a BIPOC or female in order to support said candidate.
Co-host Scott M. Graves recently considered this concept following after reading it in a post by a peer on facebook. Her post ended with the statement, ‘Follow me for more lifestyle tips on how to not be a white jerk.’
What does it mean to bring equity to the table in a meaningful way in order to increase diversity in our municipal, state and federal leadership? Is it simply racist to consider this concept on face value? Will it bring equality to an often inherently racist, classist system?
What does co-host Bruce Chester, an african-american gentlemen who ran for state office in 2020 think about the concept?
This week we have you thinking about our system of governance and what it means to include all of us. That’s latest from On the Rocks Politica.
This week we spoke to the impending national legislation in the Senate which will begin to increase our public spending on Research and Development, particularly in the areas of artificial intelligence (AI), semicondictors and other innovation sectors. Since the decades following the 1960's the United States has de-invested in R&D, from a high of just over 2% of GDP (Gross Domestic Product) in the sixties to .65% today. NYT Articles to reference New York Times on R&D While the new legislation doesn't increase our spending to former highs, it is a step in the right direction. In the second half of our show we tackle the week-long battle going on within the Massachusetts GOP. Candidate for MA 2nd Congressional district Jeffrey Sossa-Paquette is an openly gay married man with two adopted children. State GOP officer Deborah Martel wrote in an email to the candidate she felt his adoption of two children to make her 'sickened'.
Sasso-Paquette has received an overwhelming response of support from GOP members throughout Massachusetts. As of Tuesday, June 8 calls were being made for both Mrs. Martel and for MA GOP party chair Jim Lyons to step down for his reaction to the debacle, having pointed out that the GOP should not cave to democratic 'cancel-culture' and force Martel to resign.
Articles referenced in our second half
Boston Herald: MA State GOP MA GOP canddaites responds to anti-gay comments Boston GLobe: Governor Baker, other Republicans call on member of GOP State Committee to resign after making antigay remarks
It's that time of week again! Time for another hearty glass of "On the Rocks Politica"!
This week Hosts Scott M. Graves & Bruce Chester get into a lively discussion on the national topic of the (or rather, the lack thereof a) January 6th Investigation Committee.
Even though this topic takes most of the episode, Scott ends the conversation with an update on the local issue of Gardner's Conservation, and reads what a concerned citizen of the area wrote to the Mayor of the town.
Welcome to the totally different land that is On the Rocks Politica! You'll get the same great political takes that you'd receive with Scotts on the Rocks, but now it's all inclusive!
This week, hosts Scott M. Graves and Bruce Chester, alongside producer Cameron McLeod, open the show with a taste of the local flavor, topped with a smothering of environmental sense and conservation. From there, the gang opens up about Memorial Day and express what it means, and how we can pay respect to those before us and keep the ideals and beliefs they sacrificed themselves for, alive.
This week co-host Scott M. Graves offers two articles for your consideration.
In his 'The Great Experiment' Scott explores his personal thoughts on what it means to be a member of society in the Americas. Can we draw strength in our diversity; in our tapestry of thought, race, creed?
What if we found strength in our own fragility instead of giving in to our basest fears?
In 'Perpetuating Economic Success' Scott outlines exactly what Adam Smith intended when he published 'The Wealth of Nations' in 1776.
Smith wrote of an economy that worked in harmony with itself, like a 'perpetual motion machine'. Since his landmark publication of that most auspicious year, we've never really lived up to the concept. We're still paying the price for our mistakes.
Click Here to see these articles in video form.
Podcast Producer and Partner in M the media Project Cam McLeod offers insights into each essay from his perspective. Analysis at the core of what M the Media Porject is all about.
In Episode 26 co-host Scott M. Graves leads a spirited discussion on our modern concept of property and how it plays into our current debate on income inequality.
Why was equality in income important to our history? The founders intended to design a society where a maximum number of people could acquire and maintain enough land to be self-sufficient.
This was important to men like Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, George Washington and John Adams because they mainly agreed on the premise that a population capable of a nominal amount of economic self-sufficiency would provide for stability in both economics and politics. They further beleived this went hand in hand with a robust public education system.
Want to learn more? Listen to Dr. Joseph Blasi explain early founders thoughts on wealth.
Well into the 19th century legislation like the Homestead Act, built upon the foundation laid by the Ordinance of 1787 or Northwest Ordinance paved the way for yet millions more to realize wealth generation through land ownership.
But beginning in the mid-19th century leaders understood that land would run out; the west was being settled and the country was rapidly urbanizing.
So began the idea that wealth building through land ownership would give in to wealth building through equity sharing, built through the labor of workers.
Hence we walk through history to explain a modern justification for expanding employee-ownership in is many forms, a plan that we believe would lead to a more fair economy with a more stable and productive workforce.
With co-host Scott M. Graves on professional leave co-host Bruce Chester took the opportunity to discuss a number of topics important to him and many of our conservative neighbors.
In local news, Bruce and producer Cam McLeod discussed the upcooming developments in play for the North Central Rail Trail and the Mass Central Rail Trail, the original rail line running from Cambridge, MA to Northampton, MA. Much of the Mass Central has been re-developed as a rail trail amenity with major lapses which the Commonwealth is proposing to close in the years ahead, making this a significant amenity for bike and pedestrian traffic.
In national news Bruce offers us his perspective on environmental, transgender, religious and other important issues from a conservative perspective.
Various news outlets including NPR and Fox News reported on the nearly 81 pieces of legislation either passed or proposed since the start of the Biden administration in 34 states.
These laws would restrict protesting or bolster law enforcement’s ability to prevent protesting. A few even propose to exonerate or lessen the punishment for drivers who choose to hit protestors.
On the 'Combatting Public Disorder Act' passed last week in his state, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis stated, '“We are holding those who incite violence in our communities accountable, supporting our law enforcement officers who risk their lives every day to keep us safe and protecting Floridians from the chaos of mob violence. We’re also putting an end to the bullying and intimidation tactics of the radical left by criminalizing doxing and requiring restitution for damaging memorials and monuments by rioters.”
We pick this topic apart; what of our constitutional right to assembly? What are conservative legislators thinking when the protestors table turns towards conservative causes? Should we mention freedom of speech and constitutionality? Is this just a ploy to curry favor with a conservative base? What does this movement say about the health of our democracy?
Read Heather Cox Richardson's APril 26, 2021 'Letters from an American'
Add to our podcast a look at the merits of making Washington, DC the 51st state. We break this down from a political, partisan and historic perspective.
All this and more on this weeks Scotts on the Rocks Politica.
Oh no! Our namesake is missing this week on Scotts on the Rocks Politica, but have no fear! Host Bruce Chester and Producer Cameron McLeod can manage and fill the void!
The topic presented by our host this week revolves around Hollywood, and the idea of movies being the vessel for specific political messages and agendas, instead of creating a story for the sake of the story and art platform that it is. Using the current climate of the movie making giant, as well as the climate of the early and mid 20th century, they talk about how a staple of American culture such as cinema paints the broad picture of what its people are feeling.
Along side this topic, Bruce and Cam talk about the importance of being well versed in subjects before making an opinion on said subjects, as well as ponder what the effects of "being woke" has.
This is one of those weeks where Scott & Bruce just don't know where to turn the attention first.
In local news, we had planned on commenting on the results of the April 5, 2021 City of Gardner (MA) finance committee meeting. A meeting in which a potentially flagrant conflict of interest arose when the city solicitors office recommended itself for a new contract with the city and its mayor, Mike Nicholson.
Watch the meeting here
And of course we have discussed it in this weeks episode. But just in time for this recording news last night spread of former Mayor Mark Hawke's resignation as Town Manager of Westminster, MA to accede to the position of Business Manager for the Gardner Public Schools.
Watch Latest Gardner School Committee Meeting.
This from the same Mayor who quit 10 days after being re-elected in November of 2019. The same mayor who stayed on to collect a city salary for another seven weeks before formally resigning in January of 2020.
Yes, this is the same former mayor whose administration oversaw multiple complaints by Gardner Public School faculty and staff that went unaddressed during his tenure.
And yes.... the same Mayor who quit as YOUR elected Mayor siting the salary in Gardner was not in keeping with competitive salaries of other similar elected officials in the commonwealth.
We discuss what we know so far.
In national news, commentator Kevin Williamson published a piece in National Review last week justifying voter suppression by suggesting that “the republic would be better served by having fewer—but better—voters.” Representatives, he says, “are people who act in other people’s interests,” which is different from doing what voters want.
Interestingly enough, Henry Hammond, the South Carolina senator in the Antebellum Period and the same Henry Hammond known for sexual deviancy and for coining the term, 'Cotton is King' used the same argument in 1858 to justify the spread of slavery in Kansas, despite voters there voting to make Kansas a free state. This created the ‘Bloody Kansas’ episode that further propelled us into the Civil War.
We engage in an interesting discussion to unpack the idea of whether there is any credence to making it harder or easier to vote? If some of us could agree that voters should be better informed or educated, do we use exclusionary tactics for voters to make proof of their abilities or do we create robust public awareness and education a normal state for all citizens?
Who can vote in the US has always evolved. So how did that come to be and how can it inform us today?
Bruce, Scott & Cam are offering you a play by play on the Biden Administration's Infrastructure plan.
Learn more from perspective across the political spectrum and from the perspective of a strong advocate for economic development that is responsive to local needs centered on bottom-up solutions.
In the second half of our podcast we discuss the concept of individualism vs. community-centric decision-making.
The age of enlightenment ushered in a new era of consideration for the ideas and the rights of individual citizens. But in the United States have we taken this too far?
Scott M. Graves certainly thinks so; and he begins by citing New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu's decision this week not to vaccinate college students attending school in his state but residing elsewhere.
Does this make sense from a public health standpoint? When are we responsible for each other's fundamental safety? Can an imbalance in focusing on the rights of the individual vs. the community actually make our pursuit of happiness a difficult one at best?
Find out in Episode 21, Scotts on the Rocks Politica.
Happy Anniversary!
Our twentieth episode is our second Fitchburg Feature. City Councilwoman Sam Squallia joined us in a discussion largely centered on various economic and community development advances the city of Fitchburg has made recently.
Included are the progress being made on the Twin Cities Rail Trail and the recent acquisition by the City of more than $200,000.00 of state funding to examine improvements to infrastructure in the John Fitch retail district that will make the district more climate change resilient moving forward.
Sam offered us an update on progress made for the artists village in the north downtown region as well as new businesses coming to the city including a robotics-themed brewery coming to the Route 12 corridor.
All this and more in episode 20 of Scotts on the Rocks Politica.
Sam Squallia is host of Discussing Fitchburg Now.
- Please excuse the relatively low fidelity of today's episode.
See co-hosts Bruce Chester and Scott M. Graves recount the 2020 campaign for Massachusetts State House of Representatives, of which Bruce was Republican candidate for the 2nd WOrcester district.
Bruce waged a spirited campaign against incumbent (D) John Zlotnik in which Bruce and Co. knocked on more than 3000 doors, conducted an 8 week long radio show and produced and disseminated hundreds of campaign materials in video, digital and print form.
If you're thinking of running for office in your community, if you've ever considered what its like in being Bi-partisan in practice, if you're hungry for progressive and empowered political discourse, we hope you'll give our episode a critical listen.
Stay Tuned!
This week on Scotts on the Rocks Politica, Hosts Scott M. Graves & Bruce Chester talk sludge landfills, local politics, conservation and land use in the small city of Gardner, MA. Then, later on in the show we talk about sludge of a different sort, what will become of Andrew Cuomo, Governor of New York?
Back from a lovely week off, Host Scott M. Graves & Producer Cameron McLeod return to Scotts on the Rocks Politica. On this joyous occasion, we are proud to welcome Bruce Chester as a new Host! Join us on this new, but familiar adventure!
Bruce is a faculty member in computer programming at Fitchburg State University, an entrepreneur, actor, musician and a former Republican candidate for MA House of Representatives.
In our effort to bring insightful, relevant reporting on local issues and connecting the dots between local, state and national politics, we continue our regional guest features by premiering our conversation with Athol's Mitch Grosky.
Our conversation focused on various Economic Development projects for Athol, including new residential opportunities created using former public school buildings and other positive assets that comprise the town's urban core.
We also spoke about important issues coming before the Selectboard in the recent future.
Public Education matters for the Athol-Royalston School district rounded out our conversation with Mitch Grosky.
Mitch is a retired school administrator and educator with a career that spanned more than 40 years in Gardner and Athol. He is currently on the school committee for the Athol-Royalston school district and is running for Selectboard in 2021. Mitch is a highly engaged citizen, having served in various voluntary capacities and is a past member of both the Athol-Orange Rotary Club and the Lions Club.
You can find Mitch on his very popular Worldview with Mitchell Grosky.
Boston-based multi-instrumentalist Jared Holaday represents one of the many hard-working artist-entrepreneurs on the national scene today. With the recent polarization of society along political lines, the politicization of the arts has matured into set of challenges for folks like Jared who depend on their interaction with the public to make a living.
A look at how this phenomenon is affecting Jared's capability to express himself artistically, maintain a professional line of work and be an engaged citizen is the topic of today's discussion. By participating in our conversation we take a look at how all artists across mediums are being effected right now by politics. How politics and artistic expression have always gone hand in hand despite the audiences misgivings and where we might go from here.
Find Jared on Facebook
Find Jared on Instagram
We start off Episode 14 recounting the discourse of our fair city’s February 1 City Council meeting in which Ward 3 City Councilor Nathan Boudreau stood up for the citizens of Ward 3, nearly 15 or more of which have experienced the ‘high’ quality of Gardner’s drinking water.
Our former Politica co-host Scott J. Graves was un-characteristically quiet during this week’s meeting. That didn’t stop him as contributing writer to M the Media Project.
The focus of our conversation centered around the weaponization of various phenomenon around us these days. A volatile mix of toxic individualism and politicization has resulted in everything from the events of January 6, 2021 to the misuse of public information laws and character assassination at the local level through social media.
The most recent Presidential election and many local elections across the country were achieved through grassroots, highly mobilized groups of engaged citizens.
The Friday Group, a truly grassroots organization, is one example of a local organization. It began as a way for citizens, reeling from the realization that a reality TV star took the presidency in 2016 to now include over 700 people from across the United States. They stay focused on tasks that can be easily accomplished in relatively short periods of time and to maximum effect.
Engage with The Friday Group
Our guest, Paul Spector has been engaged in politics since the Gene McCarthy campaign. He is a former city council member in his hometown of Northampton, MA.
We hope our listeners find this episode a framework. No matter your politics, if you value rational and fair conversation, factual political dialogue and the possibility that individual citizens can play a decisive role in voting, you will find something to learn in Episode 13 of Scotts on the Rocks Politica Podcast.
Mentioned in our episode MovementVoter Project Swing Left Lincoln Project Playing for Change
We feature Fitchburg Politics with Sam Squalia, city councilwoman and host of ‘Discussing Fitchburg Now’ and we break news on possible fraud by city officials in Gardner, MA.
Co-host Scott M. Graves sat down with Travis Benson, Field Director for ActOn Mass (https://actonmass.org), a non-profit organization working hard to bring transparency to Massachusetts State Government. They do this through advocacy for amending procedures within the MA House of Representatives that dictate how votes are cast and legislation is developed, debated and passed. Full Audio podcast of this interview: Subscribe for more exclusive material: https://www.patreon.com/smgravesassoc... Wonder how your state rep votes? Has your state representative signed onto the ActOn Mass pledge? Want to volunteer for your district team? Find out more here: https://actonmass.org/the-campaign/
Joined by producer Cameron McLeod, Host Scott M. Graves talks democratic capitalism as well as touch upon the latest US ban on the Xinjiang region of China. Even further, we talk about an unfortunate loss to the show.
Still reeling from the news of the last week as we all are, we decided not to focus on the news as it happened this week, plenty of good journalists are keeping us informed up to the moment on the aftermath of the attempted insurrection. We want to probe how a country like ours gets to be in a place like this?
Scott M. and Cam focus their attention on defining an extractive economy, what it is and how it relates to the 'financialization of our current economy.'
Read our thoughts on how the pandemic has played out in our extractive economy.
Once defined we really talk about its solution: Democratic Capitalism. What it is, how it works and even where many of its examples source from. Turns out there is a deep connection to the modern concept of Democratic Capitalism existing right in our own backyard.
And what of our thoughtful co-host? The pressures of representing the people of our fair city in the times as they are have played a role in his decision. We wish Scott J. Graves the absolute best moving forward. His insightful contribution to our podcast was invaluable, offering a much different persective from yours truly. Together, we proved how political discourse should be done. It is telling that in the world we've created today, whether at a local or national level, one's right to speak out vs. one's ability to do so are vastly different things.
New York Times Article:
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/13/business/economy/xinjiang-cotton-tomato-ban.html
SBS News Uighurs Detention clip:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xU_w5UzdZEs
We open season II Scotts on the Rocks Politica with the national news of the hour. Just the day before recording, the United States experienced an event not witnessed yet in the history of our country.
The image of white citizens roaming the capital building with Confederate flags was astonishing for those of us who understand history. And for us at the podcast it brought up a serious question: Given our country's decades of working class deprivation by our financial and political elite, do the people participating in desecrating our halls of Congress fully grasp the symbolism in their cult-like determination.
You will only find more questions to ask at the conclusion of our podcast episode. Which is exactly what Scott and I desire to instigate with you, our neighbors and fellow citizens of the United States of America.
Co-Host Scott M. Graves and producer Cam McLeod didn’t let the last minute absence of legal mind Scott J. Graves cancel out on an exciting look at this week’s Texas lawsuit. What might the consequences be of considering the 126 Congressmen and Senators who signed on to it as traitors to the Union?
As promised our in-depth look at why the MA conflict of interest law is important to you. Why you should take an interest in conflict of interest.
Massachusetts Conflict of Interest Training and Summaries:
https://www.mass.gov/complete-conflict-of-interest-law-training-and-summaries
Separation of Powers in a democratic system is key. The concept shares a parallel in organizaitonal design: checks and balances create an equitable system better governed through the rule of law. In Episode #7 we focus on the bi-cameral municipal system of our fair city, the smallest in Massachusetts and the risks currently presented to our municipal balance by the selection of a new city clerk.
What our City Charter Looks like: https://www.smgravesassociates.com/?p=1328&preview=true
Information of Proposition 2 1/2:https://www.mass.gov/service-details/proposition-2-12-and-tax-rate-process
Episode #6 is a split bill. We introduce the premise of Massachusetts conflict of interest laws, preparing for a more in-depth local look in an upcoming episode. For the econd half of our podcast we welcomed our first guest to speak about regional issues in our pandemic world for public education.
Episode #5 explores what we've become, where we are, and how we stop missing out on all the cool stuff from an economic development and planning standpoint.
Engage: next city council meeting:
https://www.gardner-ma.gov/calendar.aspx?CID=14,22,26
Mentioned in podcast: National Center for Economic Gardening:
https://www.nationalcentereg.org
Chris Gibbons' Free PDF on Economic Gardening:
https://economicgardening.org/economic-gardening-book/
Well, it's over with..... or is it? In Episode #4 'Things Ain't What They Used to Be?' we explore the results of election 2020 and offer some historical and editorial reference where we can in Scotts on the Rocks fashion.
With the 2020 Election looming on November 3, we focus Episode #3 on the State Senate election, on funding schemes you all should know, and just why the hell did the U.S. Supreme Court vote for voter suppression on Monday for?
This week we focus on the near flood of ‘rats escaping the sinking ship’ that is mainstream republicans (Sen. Sasse, NH party leader Horn, etc) finally calling Trump out on his ineptitude and the danger it poses to the country. Speaking of Rats, what's with the un-campiagn of State Rep incumbant Jon Zlotnik and the trickery of current Gardner Mayor Mike Nicholson. We also touch upon this week's State Senate debate.
In our inaugural episode Scott J. Graves and Scott M. Graves tackle the phenomenon of the unenrolled (independent) voter from a local/state then national perspective. Think it's not important? nationally a full third of voters are unenrolled in a major political party, 62.3% of voters in Massachusetts are unenrolled. We explore how we got here from the 1950's to now, why this phenomenon is or may not be that important and we brush up on the details behind our most recent special mayoral election. We also offer a book recommendation, These Truths: A History of the United States by Jill Lapore, published by Norton. Also for our viewers https://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/eleenr/enridx.htm Great article: https://commonwealthmagazine.org/politics/its-not-my-party-but-ill-vote-if-i-want-to/