If you know me, you know that I love complaining about Massachusetts politics.

Virginia Buckingham, the executive director of Massport (which runs Boston Logan Internation Airport, among other things), announced her resignation from this position. She couldn't take the heat following the September 11 event.

In a crass waste of taxpayer money, the Massport executive board voted to give Ms. Buckingham a generous severance package and consulting arrangement valued somewhere around $200k.

Come on now, a severance package for somebody who's voluntarily resigning????

I'd love to get a year's-plus salary for every job I resigned from. The fact of the matter is, it just doesn't happen. Severance packages are awarded in part to prevent lawsuits stemming from terminations (they are accompanied by legal agreements, such as hold harmless agreements), and in part as guilt money for terminating somebody who was otherwise a loyal and productive employee.

But Virginia Buckingham wasn't terminated. She quit the game. She didn't pass go, and based on private-sector norms she is clearly undeserving of the cash. Period. End of story.

So why is she still getting it? Only Governor Jane Swift knows, and she's not explaining anything. Welcome to Massachusetts.