Former presidential wannabe and now Massachusetts senior senator John Kerry (Democrat, naturally; Republican legislators have little wooden boats and their spouses wear cloth coats) who voted for taxing luxury boats after voting against it for himself may now have another tax free haven to moor his luxury vessel. The Arctic. Yes, he "predicted there will be "an ice-free Arctic" in "five or 10 years." "The arctic ice is disappearing faster than was predicted," Kerry said. "And instead of waiting until 2030 or whenever it was to have an ice-free Arctic, we're going to have one in five or 10 years."
But maybe not.
However, the Web site of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says: "Using the observed 2007/2008 summer sea ice extents as a starting point, computer models predict that the Arctic could be nearly sea ice free in summertime within 30 years."
In thirty years, when these predictions are forgotten as the Arctic is still clogged with summertime ice, perhaps Kerry, the former naval officer who received several controversial and questionable military awards for heroism, could dock his boat in New Zealand. Why New Zealand? Apparently New England's famed boat builders, a region Kerry partially represents, weren't good enough for Kerry's yacht even though his $7,000,000 purchase would have created many jobs, so he went to the other side of the world to buy (or did his wife, courtesy of her first husband, buy it?) his latest toy. The residents of neighboring states are not pleased.
"Darn, that would have been a wonderful job for a Maine builder," said Jane Wellehan, president of the trade group Maine Built Boats. "If someone comes to build a $7 million boat that would employ half the population of some towns for a year or two. Boat building is such a critical component of our coastal economy."
Gregory Egan, who owns the Crosby Yacht Yard in Osterville, said Bay State boat builders must feel cut adrift by Kerry as well.
"I'm confident that anything constructed in New Zealand could be constructed here in the state," he said. "From a political perspective, it seems to me he could have thought twice about that one." (snip)
Steve Capozzola, media director for the Alliance for American Manufacturing, was surprised at Kerry's move. House Democrats are pushing legislation to boost American manufacturing jobs.
"It's ironic that he'd be buying a foreign-made boat when the House Democrats are considering a number of measures to revitalize American manufacturing," he said.
Yes, how ironic. When Boston Herald reporter Peter Gelzinis questioned Kerry about this Kerry--or a staffer--replied:
via e-mail: "Whether it's re-developing the South Weymouth Naval Air Station on the South Shore, the re-created Assembly Square Mall site in Somerville, or the General Dynamics plant in Pittsfield, Senator Kerry is using his smarts, clout and good old-fashioned hard work to make the Massachusetts economy grow and prosper."
Senator Kerry "is using his smart, clout and good old-fashioned hard work to make" his own economy grow and prosper while ignoring his constituents.
Senator Kerry, just sail away.
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