#CleanState #MA
Today launches a 3-pronged attack to clean our elections, research, and state!
We need lasting reforms for Massachusetts to advance our liberty, life, and health.
We face hurdles of pollution, inequity, injustice, and powerful, unregulated technologies - these challenges are within our power to address if we change the how Massachusetts’ government protects the status quo. So, how?
Our approach is through state ballot questions to get voters to approve better laws. .
One, we need to examine our executive agencies for reform, besides other branches, to prevent corruption and stasis.
Many of our agencies lack protections against industry influence, with regulations developed having long and negative effects. The Department of Utilities has attracted ire for allowing energy prices to rocket in 2026 - but this is a long-standing problem where utility insiders were appointed even by the previous governor, Baker. Utility insiders naturally have ‘expertise’, but this can work against the public interests.
The Department of Education, in setting MCAS standards under previous governor Baker, also set standards that are extraordinarily friendly to technology interests. At the time the agency was deeply connected with industry interests. Today, these standards remain, requiring, for example, the use of technology in early education despite growing awareness that such early exposure is harmful.
This year, the legislature passed a bill further removing local education control and placing it in the hands of the MA Dept. of Ed., despite significant opposition from educators. Was it industry influence?
This is not a one-off - this is a pattern in public health, with our environment, and with business. Sometimes regulations are too niche or too complex to understand how industry causes harmful influence. We only have one environment and one life, so we need a system that promotes the interests of the people.
Two, we need to provide for and protect independent research, which the people and government each need.
As an example, a past Massachusetts legislative bill proposed studying the impact of high-voltage electrical lines on cancer by including representatives of the American Cancer Society. However, the American Cancer Society has been criticized for significant conflicts of interests, failing to address environmental causes, as well as paying exorbitant salaries to administration.
This does not apply only to this one bill. Study committees often include ‘experts’ financially benefiting from the status quo, preventing change. We need research that is expert and independent available for the formation of honest policy and legislation.
Protecting independent research would help prevent the corrupting influence by industry over ‘research’ in Massachusetts, as well as in the world, our lives, and our health. Legislators can be overwhelmed by competing information and propaganda - independent research has the authority to provide a clear path.
Three, elections are an obvious fix. Instead of gifting select candidates for office with up to $530,270, we need to create an even playing field where all candidates have an opportunity to bring issues and solutions to light. For example, instead of handing off c. 500K to a candidate, we could increase efficacy and integrity by creating systems which provide all candidates an equal platform, the use of which requires setting aside corporate donations.
Our object is to effect change through ballot questions, which are voted on by the people to create state legislation. The above is just a short overview of our systemic issues for which we propose ballot questions. We are not including all current details or a refined, final plan - we are using substack to discuss reasons why we need these changes, to build support, and to provide some details with opportunities for suggestions and feedback. Because refinement will take time and require funds plus grassroots support, we ask for your support to build a movement that can successfully petition for signatures and place questions on the ballot, while lobbying government for support. For more about Last Tree Laws, please see our website and the substack ‘About Us’ page.
This first post is written by the founder, Kirstin Beatty. I hope to pass on the baton through a coming job posting.