September 20, 2007 by patrick.

Sticks and stones
may break our bones,
but words alone
will never help us.

Having read the Lowell Sun’s article “War of Words,” I am struck by the aptness of the title. The real debate on health care should not be about words, but substantive ideas that can create positive change in the lives of our people.

Jim Ogonowski states in the article that he opposes renewing S-CHIP (State Children’s Health Insurance Program) because of what he claims to be “another form of amnesty” for illegal immigrants. This is, of course, another form of demagoguery, of appealing to the worst in us with false arguments. Any student of law learns quite quickly that a crime requires two elements: actus reus, the “guilty act” itself and mens rea, the “guilty mind,” or knowing intent to commit a crime. It cannot be said that immigrant children or children of immigrants meet these criteria, and to call them criminal or illegal is as ridiculous as the non-policy which Jim offers to solve the problem of health care in this country. After all, on the question of quality health care and how we ensure that all Americans have access to it, Jim still has no answer.

Niki Tsongas, on the other hand, defines the choice “for voters who want to see change and progress in Washington” not in terms of the health care plan she proposes, but in terms of her Republican counterpart. Also short on details, she has said that she would support a Massachusetts style system of mandated coverage nationally. As a candidate who touts her membership on the board of a health care plan—one which will benefit from the state’s new law—and as a recipient of significant contributions from the health care industry, Niki naturally believes that the industry should play a role in determining, on the basis of profits, who receives care in this country. This is precisely what is wrong with the system and why there is not a system of universal health insurance. Moreover, it is disingenuous to claim the Massachusetts plan is “universal” when at least 60,000 people in the state will remain uncovered because they do not qualify for government subsidies and find that the costs of mandated plans are prohibitive.

I am the only candidate in this race who has proposed a truly universal system of health care which would cover not only the current uninsured, but also raise the level and quality of care for the millions of underinsured. In this improvement and expansion of Medicare for all, the government would simply become the insurer—the “single-payer”—replacing the fragmented system of for-profit insurance companies, but preserving the current delivery system of private health care. In other words, patients would be free to choose their own doctors and hospitals. Gone would be denial of payment because of “pre-existing conditions” or less extensive coverage, and the hassle and complexity of a patient’s bills, which would be paid by the government rather than insurance companies. Using the bargaining leverage of the government, easing health risks among the entire population, and focusing on the long-term wellness of patients, the system would keep costs down more effectively and simply than any other. From the profit-making insurance industry which may raise premiums, co-pays and deductibles as they have each year and deny or limit coverage to patients without appeal, power will shift back to individual citizens themselves who may now hold our insurer—the government—accountable to our will as a people.

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September 15, 2007 by patrick.

The Merrimack Valley Food Bank, Inc. will begin a week-long Neighborhood Food Drive today September 15th.

The organization has announced: “At this time, the Food Bank, as well as most of our member agencies, struggle to keep enough non-perishable food on their shelves to feed the neediest populations in Greater Lowell, the Merrimack Valley, North Shore and Southern New Hampshire. The Pantry Raid helps us replenish items here at the Food Bank until the generous holiday donations arrive.”

“You may volunteer in the following ways:

Between Saturday, September 15th and Thursday, September 20th (may be done in the evening and on the weekend) Distribute empty bags, with flyers attached, to homes in the Highlands and Belvidere sections of Lowell (maps will be provided)

Saturday, September 22nd, between 9:00am–1:00pm. Pick up full bags from the homes that you distributed the empty bags to and deliver them to our food bank truck (located in strategic locations in the neighborhoods)”

“If you are unable to participate in this event, then consider conducting a food drive at your place of work, worship or at an upcoming celebration with family and friends. During the holiday seasons we appreciate receiving donations (beginning in September) of frozen turkeys, canned or frozen hams and all the fixings for a nice Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner. Call us and we’ll email you a Holiday Flyer with suggested items to post at work or where you worship. ”

You may call (978) 454-7272 or visit the Merrimack Valley Food Bank’s website at www.mvfb.org.

Also, to contribute to this organization, please click on the Charity - FirstGiving link above. Thank you for any support.

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September 12, 2007 by patrick.

Patrick Murphy, candidate for Mass. Fifth District

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September 6, 2007 by patrick.

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September 3, 2007 by patrick.

I want to thank all the people who attended the free concert and speech last Sunday. Between the traditional Irish group (my sister Grainne, brother Daniel, John Redmond, Evan Stowell, and Flynn Cohen) and the rock band Sun King (friends Fred Carleton, Andy Seminara, Keith Valcourt and Vincent Pedulla) the audience was treated to the best deal of the summer at Boarding House Park. It was nice to see Marie Sweeney of the Greater Lowell Democrats, who later wrote of the event, and City Council candidates Kristin Ross-Sitcawich and David Koch who were able to take a break from their own campaigns for what turned out to be a nice afternoon.

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August 30, 2007 by patrick.

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August 30, 2007 by patrick.

If anyone is experiencing problems with viewing the FirstGiving “widgets” to those charities for which I am fundraising, please use the links below to donate or view these pages directly. Meanwhile, the future of the campaign’s director of technology remains in the balance.

MERRIMACK VALLEY FOOD BANK

COMMUNITY TEAMWORK, INC.

VETERANS NORTHEAST OUTREACH CENTER

MERRIMACK RIVER WATERSHED COUNCIL

MERRIMACK VALLEY YMCA

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August 29, 2007 by patrick.

Thanks to the work of Tom Bellegarde, Commissioner of Lowell’s Parks and Recreation Department, and the groundskeeper Richie, we have secured Alumni Field as the site of tonight’s Congressional Whiffle Ball tournament.  Participating will be the campaigns of Jamie Eldridge, Niki Tsongas, Eileen Donoghue and myself.   The goal of this event has evolved from a random, offhand remark by Dan to a genuine effort to generate interest in the congressional race as the summer winds down, driving better turnout for the primaries.

First pitch under the lights is scheduled for 8PM.  Hope you can stop by.  Bring lawn chairs if you like.

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August 16, 2007 by patrick.

In response to a term limits question from Billerica’s Mike Dempsey, only the most senior candidate (now in his 16th term at the State House) pledged to observe self-imposed term limits, presupposing of course that no other forces will do the imposing.

In Monday’s Democratic debate, candidate Barry Finegold answered that it’s important to realize that the next congressman will be “the low person on the totem pole.” His suggestion seemed to be met with unanimous, good-humored consent. At least two other candidates have used this very phrase “totem pole”, and even more echoed their perceived standing as 435^th out of 435. Finegold, in further response to the question of term limits, said, “I think the way things work in Washington, the more seniority you have, the more you can get done for your district.”

I think it is instructive that native Americans never intended totem poles to be hierarchical representations of people. Being at the bottom or top of the pole did not necessarily imply any distinction in status. So it was intended for Congress. Congressmen are elected to represent roughly the same number of people. If I did not believe that the people of my district should have an equal voice, if I believed that those citizens represented by a powerful chairman or more senior representative should have greater weight in the affairs of this country, I would be a very ineffective Congressman indeed. Instead, I will be one of 435 equal members, and in order to hurdle the legislative obstacles, the most active and vocal.

The point of term limits is less about electoral politics as the candidates suggested, and more about reforming the institution of Congress itself. With constant turnover, the very seniority Finegold cited would no longer be an issue. Frequent power shifts within the legislative body would force a fairer system in which to work. And rather than the sole concern of Congressmen being to keep their seat and benefits for as long as possible, they might actually try and get done, in the little time they have, as much as possible.

The Republican candidates last night were also asked about term limits. Both climbed out on the illogical limb of a qualified term limits pledge, complete with detailed formula. However, in a night filled with tortured reasoning, they said they will not keep their pledges unilaterally. Ignoring what that might mean for a moment, is it not worse to know what course you should take, and not take it—to wait and wait until a quorum has formed? Is this not a lack of leadership?

We need leaders who have some vision of where we ought to be going, and the ideas that would allow us to get there. You have my words. Here is my pledge: I will observe a four-term limit, honest injun.

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August 16, 2007 by patrick.

Monday’s Democratic debate proved that if there is one issue on which all parties may agree, it is that $170,000 is the right salary for a United States Congressman.  The current Congress, which has failed to end the war, raise environmental standards, put a dent in our national debt, reform health care and education or even campaigns, has managed to pick but just the right number when it comes to their compensation.  After a taxing three-day work week, they seem to say, hey, I’m worth it.

The question that makes most candidates uncomfortable is about campaign accounts—the amounts of money, and from whom it is raised.  Answers require a certain moral and linguistic flexibility that only members of the legal profession possess.  One well self-financed candidate who lives in the district claimed the most donations from people within the district.  Another received nearly a million dollars from family and friends and those who bagged groceries with him as a kid.  One knew nothing of what groups her campaign would not take money from—that being an absurd notion—only the organizations from which it did raise money, and anyway individuals can almost donate as much as lobbyists.  Another has essentially refused to take money from organizations that would not give it.  The last candidate, usually blunt and unequivocal in his remarks, was unsure of whether he had taken money from utility companies, and may have gone home that night to an unlit house and a cold stove.

He’d steal a red-hot stove, my grandfather George B. Murphy used to say of various public officials.  Himself an honest politician, he made headlines at the Lowell Sun when he exposed someone who had attempted to bribe him for a vote.  That sort of bribery has now been legalized.  Our Supreme Court in Buckley v. Valeo ruled that money was a form of political speech and the lobbyists haven’t stopped talking since: through political action committees (PACs), groups of donors, or through the more traditional bag of unmarked political speech hidden in the freezer.

Some candidates conceded this was a problem. One suggested a system of public financing, but this fails to control the ridiculous costs of campaigns. Another suggested equal TV time might give candidates outside the establishment a fairer platform.  These are nice sentiments, but by continuing to participate in such a flawed system, candidates who raise so much money, who believe they are entitled to so much more than the average worker, only ensure that the unholy trinity of wealthy corporations, media conglomerates and the political class continues to operate, as they have, in their own interests.

The only way to effect campaign reform is to reform how we run them now.  If we wait until we step onto the House floor, it is too late.

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