Frequent visitors to this space will note we are no fans of the Great and General Court of Massachusetts. We firmly believe that most are overpaid, venal career politicians who put their own interests far ahead of the public interest. Of late, this gang of thieves is being overshadowed by the executive branch.

One party rule breeds arrogance that becoming too much to bear. Political patronage is alive and well in the executive branch just as much as it is in the legislative branch. Let’s take a look at the Department of Veterans’ Services. Retired Navy Captain Thomas Kelley ran the department for four administrations. He not only ran the department efficiently, he ran it so well that it became a national model for the delivery of services and information to veterans of all ages and situations. Not only was Kelley essentially apolitical and dedicated to the work-a-day functions of his department, he was accessible and approachable. He also is a 30-year career Naval officer of impeccable integrity and a Medal of Honor recipient for conspicuous gallantry in the Vietnam War.

Kelly was fired by a cabinet officer. Neither the Governor nor the Lieutenant Governor had the integrity to fire him personally. Now we realize that the Secretary serves at the pleasure of the Governor, but was he replaced by an individual of similar stature? No. In addition to being fired in a most insulting manner, he was replaced by now Secretary Nee, who was by all accounts a no-show Democratic hack who took his marching orders directly from Lieutenant Governor Murray and spent most of his time glad handing, fund raising and prioritizing marshalling the veteran vote for the Patrick administration. Kelley’s chief subordinates, his team that made the department so effective, were also summarily dismissed. Politics trumps all other considerations on Beacon Hill.

Lately we’ve all seen reports of the judicial branch suffering the same malaise. It appears that if you want a court officer’s job, or if you are a court officer and want to advance you better have a highly placed politician as a relative, sponsor or recipient of your political contribution largess. We also note that Mrs. State Representative Garrett Healy (D-Hingham) will be a Plymouth District Judge although she has never litigated a case, is not a legal scholar, has no relevant experience, but has a husband who has recently donated nearly $40,000 to Democrat politicians and the Democratic Party, including money to Governor’s Councilwoman Tierney, who refused to recuse herself from voting on the confirmation. Perhaps no laws were broken, but the appearance of impropriety is astounding.

Then, of course, we have the scandals involving the Probation Department and the Parole Board. All are the benefits of one party rule in Massachusetts.

There is a saying that seems to be proved true in every day’s headlines: on Beacon Hill nothing is on the level, everything is a deal and no deal is too small. We get what we pay for.  Stay tuned for a transparent (not!) redistricting plan coming to a Statehouse near you.