Short Fuse
Voter fraud: No smoke, no fire
Given some Republicans' fixation on voter fraud, one might think it rampant. The Justice Department fired a US attorney in New Mexico over his supposed lack of enthusiasm for such cases. In Georgia and other states, GOP lawmakers sought to require photo IDs at the polls -- a rule that places a particular onus on poor minority voters. Never mind that, after five years of going after voter fraud, the Justice Department has turned up little evidence of the practice, as The
Any tampering at the polls abridges everyone's rights. But at this point, confusing ballot designs and glitchy electronic voting machines are far more likely than fraud to affect the results of US elections. In the absence of evidence, any crackdown on supposed fraud begins to look like an excuse to keep poor, black, and Latino voters away from the polls.
Climate change: Leadership, city by city
Mayor Menino's laudable plan on climate change commits city government to reducing its emissions of greenhouse gases to 7 percent below 1990 levels by 2012 and to 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. There are at least three good reasons behind the plan.
Boston is a coastal city that will be especially vulnerable to higher sea levels. Measures that cut the city's energy bills will help keep property taxes manageable and living costs affordable. Third, leadership in energy efficiency and renewable energy will be a plus for area companies in these fields, generating jobs for city residents.
The mayor's immediate focus is the more than 400 buildings and 2,000 vehicles owned by the city. But he is also looking to create a public-private energy alliance like the one recently announced in Cambridge, which would help businesses and residents get favorable terms on loans for energy-efficiency improvements. It can't happen too soon.
Fenway manners: The slice seen 'round the world
Thousands of YouTube viewers are chuckling over the video clip from Monday's Red Sox-Angels game showing a fan being struck by an unusual weapon. The incident resolved itself quickly, but it points up the need for good manners in cozy Fenway Park.
The fan had just lost his beer after jostling for a foul ball with Angels' outfielder Garret Anderson in the left field grandstand. Then a piece of pizza came hurtling across from someone a few seats away. The pizza thrower was promptly ejected. Apparently the two had been arguing, and the assailant was getting in a high-carbohydrate rejoinder at a vulnerable moment for his adversary.
Fenway Park was designed for the smaller bodies and sparser crowds of the 1930s. Fans today need to be careful to keep their comments and their food to themselves.
