Category Archives: Massachusetts

It is time to report about something positive rather than the horrors associated with the Boston Marathon so I am happy to share this story about Massachusetts.

While my home state doesn’t have internationally recognizable towns like Beverly Hills or addresses like Fifth Avenue, Massachusetts is an affluent state.   Much of this wealth is derived from the state’s investment in industries like technology that pay wages far higher than the average income.  So while some may be surprised to read that Massachusetts achieved the top spot (again) on an index ranking states by their technology and science capabilities compiled the Milken Institute I’m not.

The Milken Institute is a California-based think tank that evaluates R&D investment, risk capital and entrepreneurial infrastructure, and the skill of a local work force to  draw up its rankings.  Their calculations measure a state’s success at converting those assets into businesses and high-paying jobs.  So while Silicon Valley in California deserves its role as top dog as America’s technology epicenter, the Massachusetts juggernaut continues to pay dividends that lift a rising tide for many in my state and I’m kind of proud of that.

Those investments didn’t happen by accident, and I hope Massachusetts continues to make those investments so we can maintain this leadership, because while we’ll never be Hollywood or Fifth Avenue, I like the fact that an opportunity for a better life and access to higher paying careers are more readily available here than just about anywhere else in the US.

Last week The Boston Herald reported medical marijuana dispensaries in Massachusetts could open by the end of the year.   Despite lobbying from those claiming marijuana is a “gateway drug”, last November 63% voters approved legalizing marijuana for medicinal purposes. The ballot initiative won in a jaw-dropping 349 out of 351 communities state-wide.

While this might be a divisive position, I would like decriminalization of marijuana and state regulation of this substance. I find far fewer issues associated with marijuana than I do with alcohol and think this would prove to be an excellent source of tax revenue.  What do you think?

Take Your Hero To Dinner

A couple of years ago I shared a story about a stranger here in Boston helping a visitor who needed some extra cash in my post Practice Random Acts of Kindness.  Earlier this month, another such heartwarming story took place here in Boston, but this time the story got noticed and has gone viral.

Long story short – Samantha Ford who is romantically linked to a soldier serving in Afghanistan has a bumper sticker on her car that reads, “Half my heart is in Afghanistan.” This past Monday when she came out of Dunkin Donuts she found this note and $40 under her windshield wiper blade.  Her touching story has been making the rounds on Facebook and has been picked up by major news networks like the Huffington Post.

Much thanks to Tales of the Sissy blogger for bringing the story to my attention!

The American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) gave Massachusetts the highest ranking in the US.  The high marks, which helped Massachusetts overtake California last year, was based largely on its continued commitment to energy efficiency under its Green Communities Act of 2008, which has spurred greater investments in energy efficiency programs by requiring utilities to save a percentage of energy every year through efficiency measures.

Is energy independence & efficiency important to you? Check out how your state ranks according to the 2011 ACEEE.

The US currently ranks 16th in the world (percentage of population with college degrees).  Washington D.C. has the highest percentage population of college graduates with 65.6% of the population.  Massachusetts is the state with the highest percentage population of college graduates with 54.3%.

I’d venture a guess that the states with the higher percentage of college graduates also attract the higher paying jobs in the country.  Obama’s goal to have the United States make college more affordable and accessible makes a lot of sense when you think about a person’s lifetime income potential and what that means for the future economic prosperity of our country. Less than one-third of the total population of the states listed below have college degrees (several points below the national average of 39.3%). While a college degree is not a pathway to prosperity, education can be a great equalizer offering more career options especially during economic downturns.

Alabama 31.1%   Alaska 32%   Arizona 32%   Arkansas   28.4%   Kentucky 32.3%   Louisiana 29.5%   Mississippi 30.7%   Nevada 28.1%   New Mexico 28.9%   Oklahoma 31.4%   Tennessee 32.1%   Texas 31.7%   West Virginia 28.9%   See where your state ranks by linking here.