Comments for CommonWealth Beacon

Comment on SJC justices raise concerns about Tufts tenure tinkering by Dr. Ed

Dr. Ed — Sun, 19 Nov 2023 18:27:11 +0000

What’s not being said here is that there is no magic money tree at Tufts — tenure has ALWAYS been conditional on the institutional funds to pay salaries. In additional to moral turpitude, lack of need and financial exigency have always been grounds to outright fire a tenured professor.

What Tufts is doing here is a kinder and gentler version of simply firing professors whom they “don’t need” and “can’t afford.” Particularly as to research, where the funding for research pays for the research, they are saying that if you can’t produce the funding to pay for your research, we can’t afford to pay you to conduct it.

Academic freedom has nothing to do with this — the institution can’t afford to subsidize research anymore, although faculty are free to conduct it on their own time, using their own resources.

The larger issue is going to be teaching because tenure does not permit professors to teach the courses they want to teach. Instead, it requires them to teach the courses that the university needs taught. And if there are more professors than courses needing to be taught, it is just like it is in K-12, professors get laid off.

Comment on Panelists who impressed at health cost trends hearing by Dr. Michele David

Dr. Michele David — Sun, 19 Nov 2023 14:46:40 +0000

Health equity will be harder in MA to achieve when MGB has stopped access to primary care in their system. Studies have shown patients with primary care providers have better health outcomes and lower healthcare costs.

Comment on Panelists who impressed at health cost trends hearing by Paul Levy

Paul Levy — Sun, 19 Nov 2023 11:21:37 +0000

Almost 30 years of bullying now, sanctioned by AGs and the state legislature.

Comment on MBTA says two-thirds of assets are beyond useful life by Joseph Callanan

Joseph Callanan — Sat, 18 Nov 2023 10:05:37 +0000

25 BILLION Be Bold: it’s someone else’s money.
Now the T has no problem shutting down so consultants and contractors can make money at the expense of the ridership that will never come back. Do we have a cost of the upcoming plan for 19 days of diversions this year and 188 days next year. That’s 207 days out of 365 or 57% that T is not providing full transit-service.
Shutting down any section of the T was and should be unacceptable.
I’m disappointed in the current board for accepting this plan.
Can you imagine if Glen shut down Massport OR the T when he was GM.
BE BOLD!

Comment on Pharmacy benefit managers are engaging in thievery by Ralph Stanzione

Ralph Stanzione — Sat, 18 Nov 2023 03:57:40 +0000

Can’t believe we are still wrestling with a useless entity like a PBM after all these years. They should have been outlawed 30 years ago. Bankrupting the healthcare system and the patient.

Comment on Conflicting goals on Everett soccer stadium by George

George — Fri, 17 Nov 2023 13:04:38 +0000

Fine reporting. But there’s no goal “crease” in soccer, and they’re yellow cards, not yellow “flags.”

Comment on Conflicting goals on Everett soccer stadium by matt

matt — Fri, 17 Nov 2023 10:36:24 +0000

Sometimes I think having a benevolent dictator run our government might be more appropriate to help us change our direction. As of now, nothing will ever get done.

Comment on SJC can fuel spread of Brookline tobacco law by Jennifer Oas

Jennifer Oas — Tue, 14 Nov 2023 15:06:31 +0000

It is a bizarre situation that alcohol gets a free pass on it’s destructiveness to health and social welfare when it is also first introduced to most drinkers in their youth and age restricted for legal purchase. There is a glorification of the 21st birthday in the drinking culture of America. Cognitive dissonance is a powerful drug.

Comment on Task force weighs raising juvenile court age by Massachusetts Weighs Raising Age for Adult Crimes – crime-99.com

Massachusetts Weighs Raising Age for Adult Crimes – crime-99.com — Thu, 28 Feb 2019 16:47:25 +0000

[…] Six years after Massachusetts lawmakers raised the upper age limit for juvenile court cases to 17, a legislative task force is studying whether to join Vermont in raising the age further, to as high as 20, except in certain violent crimes, Commonwealth Magazine reports. […]

Comment on Meehan puts students, faculty last by Opinion | CommonWealth Magazine: Meehan puts students, faculty last – Justice for Lowell

Mon, 27 Aug 2018 13:56:44 +0000

[…] Read more here. […]