The politics . A decade ago, the plunging economy produced a combustible atmosphere of anger and anxiety. It Goes Too Far'' battle cry of opponents of 1990's Question 3. It went down by a 3-2 ratio. Today, the electorate is contented, even docile.
Most incumbents face no opponent.
Moreover, in 1990, opponents outspent the tax cut forces 3 to 1. The rollback fighters will spend more again this year, but the margin won't be nearly as great. The economy . Ten years ago, Massachusetts was pulled under by a riptide recession. Unemployment soared, the real estate industry was crushed by bankruptcies and loan defaults.