Letters to the Editor

Bottom feeders in our legislature

The new habitual offender bill that just passed in the house (The Bay State Banner, Nov. 24, 2011) is yet another example of knee-jerk reaction by our bottom feeding politicians.

The vote in the house was along racial lines which indicates that the few black and latino representatives who cast no votes realize that this draconian law will disproportionately impact communities of color.

The white representatives know it too, but they see huge political currency in incarcerating people who don’t look like them. Three strikes laws and mandatory life sentences have not done a thing to reduce crime or recidivism in other states. They just serve to score political points for greedy, ambitious legislators and satisfy our warped society’s lust for revenge. Members of the Massachusetts’ House will inevitably inherit the human carnage this shameful bill will surely produce.

Voy Cooks
Via e-mail

Civic engagement

Glad to see the community coming out, voting and helping to maintain a more inclusive Boston City Council. But I am sad to see that Suzanne Lee in District 2 lost the election by a small, so small number of votes.

That to me, sadly, is a two steps forward and one step back. But there is always tomorrow — or maybe a recount.

H. Mclean
Via e-mail

“Politics of conviction”

Gov. Deval Patrick writes in the Dec. 1 issue of the Bay State Banner about “leading and governing from our values” and “making choices based on our values.”

In my work advising organizations on strengthening their cultures, I get deeply involved in “values” as a vital component of culture. I find it is necessary to spell out those values, in ways people can feel, then find concrete ways to root them in the organization.

We might all benefit if we learned from Gov. Patrick about the specific values he is following, then we can see if they fit the community, and figure out how to make them happen.

Don Carlson
Via e-mail