Boston Globe -- Editorials

A good school plan, again

2009-11-29T23:17:33Z

Boston school officials have a flair for crafting long-range plans. Current Superintendent Carol Johnson is no exception.

Theater: How do you solve a problem like money?

2009-11-29T23:16:35Z

The composers who wrote the “great American songbook’’ musicals of the mid-20th century have been turning in their graves at the thought that the North Shore Music Theatre - dedicated to presenting Broadway shows to a suburban audience - closed its doors because of poor sales for “Disney’s High School Musical 2.’’

In GOP primary, Scott Brown

2009-11-29T23:14:52Z

While ads for the four Democratic candidates for US Senate have dominated the airwaves in recent weeks, it’s a good sign for two-party politics in Massachusetts that Republicans, too, have a contested primary Dec. 8. In this two-candidate race, the clear choice is Scott Brown.

For Democrats - Alan Khazei for Senate

2009-11-29T03:13:53Z

In supporting Alan Khazei, the Globe believes that this state's future depends on new ideas. The 48-year-old offers a strong vision for success in the Senate, channeling the energy of activist groups and private-sector policy incubators while dedicating himself to the laborious task of building legislative coalitions.

New paths to India and China

2009-11-28T03:22:24Z

President Obama was wise to grant the Indian prime minister the distinction of being guest of honor at the new administration's first state dinner. Though conversations between the two men were private, Obama's message to Prime Minister Singh should have clear: India has nothing to fear from improved relations between the United States and India's Asian rival, China.

At Jordan’s, not Jordan Marsh

2009-11-28T03:21:12Z

The enchanted village continues to fascinate children, even in the video era. The huge crowds journeying to Jordan's furniture in Avon prove the wisdom of owner Eliot Tatelman's decision to purchase the endangered display from the city of Boston.

Wood-fired power plants are no environmental cure-all

2009-11-28T03:19:57Z

Four Massachusetts power plants are considering adapting to burn wood and wood byproducts. But recent studies suggest that there's not enough leftover wood to fuel the plants, which might lead to deforestation. The state should proceed very cautiously in exploring whether to approve the conversion of these plants.

No prayers in health bill

2009-11-27T01:44:59Z

While tens of millions of Americans are lacking access to even basic medical treatments, Congress should not use limited public resources for Christian Science prayer healing and other forms of spiritual care.

Retailers: Black Friday is beautiful

2009-11-27T01:43:18Z

Black Friday is upon us. For some, it will mark the beginning of the holiday shopping season. Others will be pulling the bedcovers tightly over their heads.

How to make a better burger? Test trimmings for E. coli

2009-11-27T01:42:49Z

For a penny a pound, producers of ground beef could greatly reduce the danger of E. coli contamination, especially the lethal strain of the bacteria that recently took the life of a New Hampshire victim.

Franklin Park Zoo: Learning from zebras

2009-11-26T01:37:26Z

The financially beleaguered Zoo New England, operator of zoos in Stoneham and Franklin Park, is celebrating the birth of a rare zebra. Like the zoo itself, the Grevy's Zebra species faces competition for resources, leading to its dwindling numbers. Zoo New England can learn from this, and embark on long-discarded plans to consolidate the two zoos and improve their long-term chances of survival.

Quick pay, near-sighted execs

2009-11-26T01:36:00Z

A new study shows that the executives whose policies helped drive down Bear Stearns and Lehman Brothers had largely cashed in all their stock options to reap short-term gains. This should give companies and regulators even greater impetus to promote longer-term forms of compensation, and prevent executives from endangering the company's health to promote yearly profits.

Obama’s ambitious food plans deserve widespread support

2009-11-26T01:30:28Z

The Obama Administration has a range of programs aimed at expanding access to school lunches and breakfasts, and encouraging schools to buy local produce. Those programs deserve support, but communities can do even more -- such as sponsoring farmer's markets and pressuring retails to give fruits as prominent placement at the front counter as candy.

Rhode Island bishop errs in targeting Patrick Kennedy

2009-11-25T02:48:46Z

Bishop Thoms J. Tobin is within his rights to ask Representative Patrick Kennedy to refrain from seeking Holy Communion. Yet the standard to which the bishop is holding Kennedy for his views on abortion is unfair both to the Rhode Island congressman and Catholics in American public life more generally.

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2009-11-25T02:48:46Z

Europe’s bland new leaders

2009-11-25T02:03:00Z

Last week, when Europe’s presidents and prime ministers finally had the chance to select an EU president and a foreign minister, they picked a couple of low-profile figures whose greatest attraction seems to be that they do not threaten to supplant the popularly elected leaders of Europe’s individual nation-states.

Concussions: Colleges should follow the pros

2009-11-25T02:01:58Z

If the House Judiciary Committee can humble the National Football League into taking concussions more seriously, then it should reconvene to admonish the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

Television: Two standards, or too racy?

2009-11-24T03:00:05Z

The openly gay entertainer Adam Lambert is complaining that ABC edited his American Music Awards performance to scale back some of the raunchy simulated sex and bondage with his backup singers. He says female entertainers are allowed to be more explicit. That may be true, as Madonna and Britney can attest, but they and Lambert could use the same lesson: There's beauty in restraint.

Northeastern: A team’s inevitable fate

2009-11-24T02:57:02Z

The football team died a natural death -- too little success, too little interest, too little attendance. But it's worth remembering that just two years ago, Patriots co-owner Jonathan Kraft proposed building a professional soccer stadium in Roxbury that could have served as a home for Northeastern football. The proposal ran afoul of neighborhood opposition and resistance from Mayor Menino.

Biotech bills give drugmakers too many years of exclusivity

2009-11-24T02:04:32Z

The Biotech industry is vital to Massachusetts and deserves robust protection of its intellectual property. But the long-awaited bills emerging from the House and Senate give too many years of exclusivity to the original makers of biotech drugs -- 12 instead of five for regular drugs -- and serve to drive up healthcare costs. A compromise is in order.