The Boston Globe

EDITORIAL

A WEEK OF GLOBE EDITORIALS

Don’t let MBTA go off the rails

The devastating report on the condition of the MBTA by Governor Patrick's personal emissary requires immediate action. All constituencies must come together in a spirit of shared sacrifice to ensure the success of the regional transit system. (Boston Globe, 11/6/09)

Bikes: Bright idea vs. human nature

The cautionary tale of Paris, which has had more than 80 percent of its 20,000 bikes damaged or stolen in two years, shouldn't stop other cities from pushing forward with similar bike-sharing programs, as Boston hopes to do next summer. (Boston Globe, 11/6/09)

Obama’s delayed empathy

It requires a visceral ability to grasp the scope of tragedy, calculate its impact on the national psyche, and react swiftly to it. And President Obama, despite his eloquence and dignity, has yet to master it, as illustrated by his awkward response to the deadly shootings at the Fort Hood Army Base in Texas. (Boston Globe, 11/6/09)

Step in to protect children, but do it the right way

The SJC's rebuke this week in overruling a lower court judge and ordering the state Department of Children and Families to provide sworn evidence to back up its decision to take a baby from its mother riled some case managers, who worry that it could make their colleagues reluctant to take action in similar situations. They shouldn't be reluctant, merely schooled in the law and prepared to follow it. (Boston Globe, 11/6/09)

High school football: Press charges in helmet attack

The high school football player in Abington who used his helmet to head-butt a rival player whose helmet had fallen off deserves to be prosecuted. While defense lawyers claim the matter is better handled by school officials, it was a serious enough attack to merit charges. (Boston Globe, 11/5/09)

Federal bill needn’t hurt state

Massachusetts' congressional delegation should make sure that the rules in the final health care legislation don't serve to destabilize the successful insurance reforms at the state level. (Boston Globe, 11/5/09)

For Boston, a good plan for a port of opportunity

The BRA proposal for federal stimulus money to expand the Black Falcon Cruise Terminal and renovate the rail lines at the Marine Industrial Park is a strong step toward creating a working port in the Seaport District. It will bring visitors to Boston, create thousands of permanent jobs, and in promoting rail save tens of thousands of truck trips. (Boston Globe, 11/5/09)

For Menino, a change of guard

Now that the fifth term for the mayor is assured, he should look more toward academic than political advisers to provide the new blood and ideas that the fifth term needs to if the mayor is going to take advantage of this unprecedented chance to make his mark on Boston. (Boston Globe, 11/4/09)

For university presidents, a pay cut is in order

Presidents at the top research universities should be embarrassed by 2008 average salary increases of more than 15 percent. All the financial mainstays of colleges -- the federal government, donors, and tuition-paying parents -- have suffered in the current economy. College president salaries are still much less than CEOs', but they should be kept down in the coming year especially. (Boston Globe, 11/4/09)

Airline safety: I say Obama, you say O’Bama

New requirements by the Transportation Security Administration that names on plane boarding classes exactly match those on personal identifications could present major headaches. Some processing machines do not recognize the apostrophe common in many Irish names or handle all the surnames in many Spanish names. Turbulence ahead! (Boston Globe, 11/4/09)

Amid terrorism, Iraq matures

In an odd way, the response to recent bombings in Baghdad shows that the Iraqi political world is evolving in a healthy direction. Increasingly, leaders there recognize that terrorism is their problem to solve, not Washington's. (Boston Globe, 11/3/09)

Transportation: Patrick’s not-so-fresh start

Governor Patrick plays politics with an appointment to the state's new transportation agency. (Boston Globe, 11/3/09)

Menino makes history, but more challenges await

Mayor Menino should seek a legacy that extends beyond his endurance in office, and much depends on what he accomplishes now. (Boston Globe, 11/3/09)

Health: Fighting flu with... corn syrup?

Amid a swine flu scare, Kellogg's puts forth Cocoa Krispies as a boost for children's immune system. (Boston Globe, 11/3/09)

Get out and vote

A recap of the Globe's endorsements. (Boston Globe, 11/2/09)

Swine flu: Firms shouldn’t hoard drugs

White-shoe law firms shouldn't stockpile the flu drug Tamiflu, which should be allocated according to need. (Boston Globe, 11/2/09)

Amid epidemic of foreclosures, a crying need for legal aid

The housing mess has left many families in need of legal assistance, and Massachusetts should stand behind legal aid. (Boston Globe, 11/2/09)

Newton: Ruth Balser for mayor

Balser, now a state representative, has the edge over opponent Setti Warren, both in experience and in determination to throttle back rising costs for municipalities. (Boston Globe, 11/1/09)

Patrick should cut local aid, ease up on human services

The governor should adjust his planned cuts in response to the latest shortfalls in revenues. More should come out of the local aid account and less out of human services, especially since many cities and towns can now draw on the meals and lodging taxes to augment their finances. (Boston Globe, 11/1/09)

Police these pills and powders

Congress should give the FDA the power it now lacks to regulate the dietary supplements industry. Products often contain illegal steroids or steroid-like substances and other contaminants. (Boston Globe, 11/1/09)

Theater: They coulda learned their lines, but...

The theater world is beginning to find fault with actors who have to over-rely on prompts. But the tradition of prompters is ancient and honorable. Even screen actors have reached beyond memory for their lines. (Boston Globe, 11/1/09)
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