Barbarisi too hard on Massachusetts

Concerning Daniel Barbarisi's latest diatribe ("State of mind," 4/13), I must comment on his "critique" of the state of Massachusetts. First, let me admit that, of course, there are problems, and that Boston is definitely not a utopia. But a few things do need to be pointed out. For all the problems that the Big Dig has caused, the state would like to thank the entire nation for helping out. After all, 75 percent of the funding has been federal taxpayer dollars approved by Congress. Funny, how he also chastises the liberals in Massachusetts for voting for Dukakis, yet New York did also in 1988. Finally, calling the Massachusetts jury system "Communist" is ironic coming from someone who praises the dictatorial, police-state of New York City.