How different are the Democrat and Republican parties?
People on the political extremes look at Democrats and Republicans and don’t see a dime’s worth of difference between them. They call it a “Uniparty” of corporate interests.
It’s also long been a meme that we have a two-party system in America — the bad party and the stupid party, and Republicans are the stupid party. Exhibit A … the 2022 election.
Across the country Democrats put almost $40 million into Republican primaries to boost fringe candidates. Their goal was that in a low turnout primary, some knucklehead could win the Republican nomination, and would be easy pickings for the Democrats in November. It worked like a charm.
Across the country, and here in Maryland, the Democratic Governors Association sent out fliers and broadcast ads on television and radio like, “Candidate X is too conservative for Maryland … endorsed by Donald Trump … ultra-MAGA … too extreme …” etc. The group didn’t even hide its intention. And Republican voters complied and nominated losers over winners in state after state.
Now, Democrats are doing it to themselves. Exhibit B, in the race for Congress in Maryland’s 3rd Congressional District, former Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn is running ads claiming that liberal state senator, Sarah Elfreth, is in league with the GOP.
Exhibit C, an ad for disgraced former Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon — convicted of stealing gift cards meant for poor children — accused Mayor Brandon Scott of being supported by “MAGA Republicans.”
Exhibit D, disgraced former Baltimore State’s Attorney Marylin Mosbey — convicted in two separate trials for perjury and mortgage fraud — is seeking a pre-sentencing pardon from President Joe Biden. She claims she was the target of a political prosecution.
And in a state and city where every office is held by Democrats, the prosecutor who tried the case, and the judge who heard the case were Democratic appointees, who is targeting her? You guessed it.
If Democratic voters fall for it, Democrats can be the Stupid Party, too. Then we’d have the “Uniparty” both fringes warned us about.
Michael Collins, Annapolis
A vote to keep Schallheim on school board
As a public school parent, I wanted to congratulate Board of Education member Dana Schallheim of District 5, for her op-ed in this week’s Capital (“Focus on making our schools great requires rethinking culture war policies”).
Schallheim has my vote in this Tuesday’s election because she focuses on the basics – great teachers, and safe schools. She always responds when I reach out and listens, even if she doesn’t agree.
Like most parents, I think we need better pay for teachers, more mental health staff and more funding for arts programs and career and technical education. Schallheim has fought for these and won. Our teachers and school staff have endorsed her.
We have all seen what happens when a fringe faction interferes with the Board of Education, creating a partisan circus and one of the other cannidates has the endorsement of Mom’s for Liberty. We do not want that here.
I want my childrens’ schools to be run by leaders with integrity, experience and common sense.
I urge other voters in District 5 to join me in supporting Schallheim on Tuesday. Even if you are an unaffiliated voter, you can vote for school board.
Dana Lourie, Millersville
A vote for Nkongolo to join school board
As a parent of three children in the Broadneck area public schools, the quality of education in Anne Arundel County — both academic and social-emotional — is of paramount importance. That’s why our family strongly supports LaToya Nkongolo as candidate for school board in District 5.
Nkongolo brings to the role experience as a social worker, small business owner and mental health professional with a proven track record of 25 years, including 17 in Anne Arundel County. She is also a trained educator and a parent of two high-achieving AACPS students.
With a nationwide youth mental health crisis on the rise, Anne Arundel County is no exception. According to the most recent Community Health Needs Assessment Report, mental health needs for children in the county are “greater and more acute” than ever. Among the most concerning statistics is that the rate of reports of self harm among AACPS students has nearly tripled over the past decade.
Increased violence is a nationwide concern with our own local schools on lockdown again just two weeks ago. Bringing the deep and practical knowledge of these crises to the school board that Nkongolo has would get directly at the issue.
Nkongolo’s calm demeanor and fair-minded approach to issues, combined with her experience running a female-owned business and deeply rooted dedication to the community, makes her the ideal candidate for ALL students, parents and educators in our county.
Our family strongly encourages your vote for Nkongolo in the AAC Board of Education primary on Tuesday.
John Fogarty, Annapolis
Elfreth is the kind of fighter we need in Congress
Maryland Senate President Bill Feguson was correct in his characterization of Harry Dunn’s attack ad against Sarah Elfreth as “patently misleading.” I have heard Dunn and Elfreth speak in person. Both seemed very credible, but different from each other. Dunn seemed very intense and committed to fighting for what is right, particularly to preserve democracy.
Elfreth seemed very committed to being an effective legislator, with a record of addressing issues in a manner gaining broad, and often bipartisan, support. Dunn’s ad certainly revealed his fighting ability, but was disappointing not only in its misleading characterization, but also in its negative divisiveness.
I like having a fighter for what’s right, but I want a fighter who wins by gaining the needed respect for the merits of his case. Elfreth is clearly more this kind of fighter. She will lead us to a more effective and unified government. A government that we can all be proud of for listening to our concerns, understanding our views and producing results.
Results we can all accept as being produced in a respectful, considerate manner even if we will not all agree they are the best.
Patrick McGregor, Millersville
Why represent us if you don’t live in the county?
Harry Dunn, who lives in Montgomery County, needs to stop planting his campaign signs in our public rights of way. Doesn’t he know that is against the law? He might understand why that is important if he lived here. I don’t understand why he wants to represent us in Congress if he doesn’t live with us.
David Frankel, Annapolis
Should we vote for someone who doesn’t understand government?
The older I get the more I HATE the “vote for me” commercials. We have a woman who served in our state legislature and is now running for Congress. She claims she passed 84 bills.
I was unaware any one person could accomplish such a feat. I think she means she voted for 84 bills that passed. We really don’t need a representative who doesn’t understand how the government works.
Patricia Wagner, Arnold
Restore the prescription drug plan for state retirees
The May 5 article “Slap in the Face” regarding the state dropping the prescription drug plan for retirees will hopefully bring some much-needed attention. The state effectively decided that our most vulnerable seniors and elderly could be sacrificed in order to balance the budget, effectively throwing 55,000 retirees under the bus.
The state is forcing all retirees into Medicare Part D, which doesn’t come close to matching the benefits of the state’s prescription plan. The plan is NOT a benefit or handout. It’s part of a compensation package that was promised at time of employment.
I’ve been paying premiums for more than 50 years and have paid considerably more into the plan than I’ve taken out. I’ve earned the right to have an affordable prescription drug plan.
The 2022 Inflation Reduction Act caps prescription costs at $2,000 annually, which is still considerably more than we pay now. But if a drug isn’t on the formulary, it isn’t covered at all. This includes some very expensive drugs that can cost thousands of dollars.
Many retirees, who never had to worry about it before, won’t be able to afford their life-sustaining medications. It’s not an exaggeration to say that this will certainly cause pain and suffering, financial ruin or even death.
Affordable access to prescription drugs is an important part of comprehensive healthcare, especially in our retirement years. Since the state is taking away our prescription drug plan, what’s to stop them from taking our health insurance too? Every state employee needs to consider this possibility.
Anyone looking to work for the state needs to think long and hard because the state simply can’t be trusted to keep its promises. It should be ashamed. The state needs to do the right thing and restore the prescription drug plan for retirees.
Jerry Klinken, Annapolis
HB 1515 isn’t needed to cover government shortfall
Anne Arundel County government officials often tout the importance of restoring trust in government, creating economic opportunity for all, implementing smart growth policies and promoting health and wellness.
They stress transparency and community engagement as being the core of their values. Yet I wonder … are those just nice soundbites or really behaviors we see in our government?
To put this question into context, a little about me. I am a mother and wife having been born in Baltimore City and raised in Pasadena. Now a middle-aged woman living outside of Annapolis, my life has become what I made it.
I currently own and manage an affordable housing company, own and work at an aerospace consulting firm, own and distribute from my own charitable fund through the Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County and have sat as a board chair for a local non-profit. I pay my fair share of taxes and follow the law. These are not meant to impress, but instead to set the framework for an opinion.
Since December 2023 I have contacted our county government senior leadership six times to express an opinion on proposed Maryland House Bill 1515, what I will call a “tax increase under disguise.” Let me repeat … six times. And never a response. Not even a polite “we’ll get back with you.”
The stakes for all Marylanders are serious with House Bill 1515. If you have not followed the legislation, it essentially proposes to reduce the current state sales tax from 6% to 5%, but in parallel to expand the sales tax to 10 categories of services not currently taxed.
Those services could include legal and accounting services; everyday home maintenance ranging from cleaning to pest extermination to landscaping; personal care such as haircuts, massages and tattoos; fitness and personal training services; admission to recreational venues including sports, theaters, amusement parks and museums; and personal services spanning veterinary care to dry cleaning to even funeral services.
Proponents argue that the bill must be implemented in order to cover a government budget shortfall and predict the state would enjoy more than $2 billion in increased tax revenues.
I strongly believe the government should look at other ways to cover revenue shortfalls. In looking at the bill this is going to put a substantial burden on businesses not currently taxed, whose increased costs would in turn most likely be passed on to consumers.
In addition, the government itself would need to get larger to manage and enforce the changes. Lastly, even with a reduction to 5% of the overall sales tax, I believe that is simply temporary and an optics play to get this bill passed.
I would rather see the government cover the budget shortfall by reducing its overall size (headcount), streamlining, stressing efficiency, and even reducing non-value-added services. The government should look internally first.
If the Golden Rule is the principle of treating others as one would want to be treated, then will constituents support elected officials the same as they support them? Still waiting for a call back to voice this opinion which I also know is shared by many other Marylanders.
Nicole Hassannia, Edgewater
Why no mention of effort to stop Davidsonville cell tower?
I was surprised to see the Davidsonville Area Civic Association (DACA) and County Executive Steuart Pittman participate in the Washington Post’s May 2 article describing Davidsonville as a rural community that has fought development.
Pittman is quoted as saying “It still has a rural flavor and plenty of working farms … I think that’s why people love Davidsonville.” The Maryland Historical Trust calls the Davidsonville Historic District “one of the best preserved 18th and early 19th century villages.”
The article failed to mention that despite local grass roots effort to stop it, Anne Arundel County approved a 140-foot cell tower in the heart of Davidsonville, just north of the historic crossroads. It will tower over 30-50 foot high trees, which the county zoning board had mysteriously deemed as adequate screening. It is in direct conflict with Pittman’s touted “Plan 2040” to protect rural lands and community character.
While these Washington Post article participants with glowing remarks about Davidsonville were aware of the proposed tower and asked for support, they failed to get involved. At a high financial cost, local homeowners (i.e., county property taxpayers) are facing our third court appeal to stop a non-Maryland, non-county and for-profit company from building this monstrosity that serves no need but to profit Network Towers, LLC and cell service providers.
Throughout this expensive and time-consuming process, we have learned you have no say as a property taxpayer in Anne Arundel County and profit continues to be more important than protection and conservation.
Lynne Pettey, Davidsonville
Drive-thrus are more important than ever
I concur with Virginia Montecino’s Sunday letter mentioning the importance of drive-thrus for those with mobility challenges. Many have to park, get a walker or rollator out to go into a bank. I also think about a mom with two cranky kids in car seats having to get out to cash a check or pick up a prescription. Why enact this?
Barbara Cantor, Parole
‘Credit Card Competition Act’ needs to be passed by Congress
Maryland’s small businesses are grappling with mounting credit card “swipe fees,” a financial burden that is jeopardizing growth on Main Street. And to add insult to injury, another concern is emerging around U.S. payments systems: China.
Visa and Mastercard are collaborating with China to rewrite the security standards that govern business and consumer financial data.
Fortunately, bipartisan federal legislation is being debated in Congress that would kill two birds with one stone. Called the “Credit Card Competition Act,” the bill would both lower the “swipe fees” small businesses like mine are forced to pay banks and credit card companies as well as block companies controlled by the Chinese Communist Party from accessing consumer payments.
I urge Maryland’s elected leaders in Washington to support the legislation. The future of small businesses like mine and the security of our consumers depend on it.
Julianne Sullivan, Annapolis
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