Published Letters from Baltimore County Members
September 2008
Gerrymandering adds to partisan divide
Date: September 27, 2008
Publication: The Baltimore Sun
Author: J.D. Urbach, Essex
Either C. Fraser Smith failed to learn the lessons of Maryland's 2002 redistricting battle or he and historian John T. Willis are engaging in a bit of revisionist history of their own ("First District no longer a Shore thing for GOP," Commentary, Sept. 21).
Mr. Smith does not give enough credit to Mr. Willis by simply stating he "helped draw the new district lines."
As secretary of state to Gov. Parris N. Glendening and chairman of the Governor's Redistricting Advisory Committee, it was Mr. Willis who was the architect of the worst form of partisan gerrymandering in redrawing Maryland's electoral districts.
The Democrats were unhappy that Maryland's congressional delegation was made up of an equal number of members from the two parties and were determined to do something about it through their control of redistricting. The districts that resulted from that process were so politically mangled that the Maryland Court of Appeals took the extraordinary step of redrawing the state legislative map in an attempt to remedy some of the butchering.
The U.S. District Court, however, was unwilling to do the same with our congressional map, drawn to lump as many Republicans, independents and moderate Democrats as possible into only two of Maryland's eight congressional districts - the 1st and the 6th.
In the subsequent election, the Democratic plan paid off, as Democrats successfully took control away from Republicans in Maryland's 2nd and 8th districts.
The Baltimore Sun's headline was correct that the 1st District is now less of a "Shore thing." But, thanks to Democratic gerrymandering, it is more of a sure thing for a Republican than ever before.
The fact that in this year's primaries, two moderate congressional incumbents, one from each party, were unseated by more ideological challengers, or that Congress has become more polarized, comes as no surprise to anyone who has taken a serious look at the ridiculous election districts that are the legacy of Democrats John T. Willis and Parris N. Glendening.
The writer is a member of the Baltimore County Republican Central Committee.
The Arrogance of the Nanny State
Date: September, 2008
Publication: Subitted to Catonsville/Arbutus Times, The Jeffersonian, and The Baltimore Examiner
Author: Harry Korrell, Arbutus
While we witness the implosion of some major financial institutions we are again hearing a shrill hue and cry against reforming the Social Security System by permitting workers to invest part of their earnings rather than commit their entire contribution to the government fund. Regardless of the fact that the stock market consistently over the long term increases in value, and that the pongi (pyramid) structure of the government’s fund is doomed to insolvency, the message of this hue and cry is sinister and antithetical to the spirit that created and set this nation apart from the corrupt and oppressive governments of most of the rest of the world. That spirit of independence and self-reliance is the hallmark of what it means to be an American and is ever under relentless attack by purveyors of class warfare and socialism.
Political considerations aside, the aspect of the hue and cry that I most despise is the consummate arrogance of those who proclaim that any government is entitled to tell me what to do with my own earnings. Beyond the implied erroneous assumption that any government is capable of making better decisions than I am as to what to do with the money I was able to earn, it is even more galling to be told that those who support such an assumption have the RIGHT to usurp my prerogative to make those decisions and to further tax the result.
What the current financial crisis ought to teach us is that government is not the answer to our individual economic security. It ought to demonstrate convincingly that government will not and can not fulfill the mandate it has conferred upon itself to be our nanny. In spite of (if not because of) enormously bloated staffs and bureaucracies any given legislator can be said to have too many matters to competently consider. It seems to me logical therefore to reduce the number. The insufferable condescension of those legislators who regard their constituents as too ignorant and incompetent to manage their own affairs is proof of their unfitness to be part of a government of the people, by the people, for the people. Just look at the mountain of superfluous government required periodic reports that come from each and every stock or mutual fund. That disgraceful waste of paper and postage is the utterly meaningless and deceptive result of "government oversight."
What happened to "Don’t Tread on me..."?
Eliminate "Earmarking"
Date: September, 2008
Publication: Subitted to Catonsville Times, The Jeffersonian, Baltimore Examiner
Author: Harry Korrell, Catonsville
We hear of widespread disapproval, discontent, frustration, and genuine anger at the state and federal governments to which most of us are forced to pay an ever increasing percentage of our hard earned resources in taxes and fees and the exorbitant price of energy.
In view of the intrusive, oppressive, self-serving and demonstrably ineffective behavior of our state and federal governments , it is unclear to me why anyone would support the election to the presidency a man who is the obvious product of and likely to be the puppet of the notoriously corrupt Chicago political machine.
I find compelling the certainty that Candidate McCain, a man of proven integrity, will eliminate the disgusting and corrupting practice of "earmarking" in the Congress.
I detest the notion that we must give over ever more of our dwindling resources to self aggrandizing politicians who seek election in order to "be somebody" rather than to do something.
The catalyst for the reaction, "power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely." is, after all, money. Reduce the amount of money to which politicians have access and the absolute value of their potential skulduggery is reduced.
Since we cannot hope to solve all problems with one election, let’s at least start with eliminating the known and seriously destructive practice of "earmarking."
Palin And Pork-Barrel Spending
Date: September, 2008
Publication: Subitted
Author: Regina Sztajer, Timonium
The Democratic Party is working overtime in trying to smear Sarah Palin, John McCain's vice presidential pick. The liberal press to hounding the citizen's of the great state of Alaska for any dirt they can dig up on Palin. It is a media frenzy along with at least 30 lawyers from the Obama campaign along for the ride to use their lawyer witchery as well.
The real fact of the matter is that Palin is not a spender!!! She is a leader who has a record for reform. In Alaska she used her veto pen cutting their budget by 10% for 2008, saving residents $268,000 million. While once supporting the project she killed the infamous Bridge to Nowhere. While Barack Obama, the Democratic presidential candidate has a record for numerous wasteful earmark spending in 2007. For example: $12,000 million for bicycle paths, $500,000 million for a baseball stadium and $392,000 million for a visitor's center in Louisiana. I guess Obama feels the federal government needs to reward Louisiana for its mistakes during Hurricane Katrina.
Palin is one of the strongest anti-earmarks governors in America. Our esteemed Governor Martin O'Malley in Maryland could learn lots from Palin about fiscal responsibility!!! Her record is inspiring and Obama is lashing out at her to hide his own record. Palin will help John McCain to shut down the congresses favoritism monopoly that has cost Americans billions.