As a conservative (and not a Republican), I agree with you. The Dems will continue to take an ever increasing share of our property and our liberty until we stop them (through the ballot box, of course).

Paul Amirault
6:20 pm on Wednesday, May 16, 2012
As a Democrat, I regretfully find this package idiotic. Although I cannot vision myself voting for a Republcan because of many other issues, I can see myself not voting.

I'm a Republican but would vote for a democrat if he/she introduced a bill that was for the good of all Marylanders and not just their party!

I'm a Republican, and will proudly vote Republican!

Well Paulie, here we go again...This is exactly what is typical of you people. I was a dem for 30 yrs and I voted for whom I felt was best for me, my family, my friends and neighbors, dem or GOP. I NEVER thought of just myself. YOU PEOPLE in the dumbocrap party now is ALL the reason why I got out of it. I was tired of going to meetings and listening to you people rant and rave like a bunch of immature little kids, thinking about yourself and your "issues". Be a man and step up to the plate and vote for those who WILL make it right for ALL Marylanders and Americans. If it is a dem, so be it. If it is a republican, then make a command decision and vote for that person. Quit carrying water for the village idiots like OWEmalley and the rest of the criminals in the democrap party in MD. They are ripping us off, using us as ATM machines and squeezing us for more. Just look at the tax increase in MoCo, along with the increase in fees and the reduction in services that was just passed. They are planning to take away our mortgage deduction (which is the last real deduction I have) and Obama even has plans (and he has said it) to go after our personal 401K plans and bring them under federal government rule... it is NEVER going to stop unless we get rid of them and doing so at the polls.

How about that. And you don't even need a social security number to apply for and receive free or reduced price lunches at public schools. How is that happening? And this info is written on bottom of form in BIG BOLD LETTERS. Hah. Let me out of here. My kids are eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches everyday. So if you were born in America and worked in America all your life, and have documented income, you get nothing. How about I go to Mexico, become a Mexican citizen, come back, and get me some free stuff?

Debra C, if your child is hungry, I don't care if you are from Mars, if you do drugs, whatever the reason. I don't mind contributing to feeding that hungry child. The child has not done anything wrong.

I don't believe in punishing the children if they are hungry. BUT I do hate the concept of rewarding their parents for having snuck into this country. Get rid of all illegal aliens and either let them take their kids with them or give up custody as unfit parents. The parents are criminals. I need a list of laws that I can disregard so that we can all be treated fairly. Apply for citizenship or get the _ _ _ _ out of the country I fought for.

Ron
Viet Nam Vet

you are right because NOT one, well the dems especially have not worked at a real job in their life nor knows what it takes to make a payroll for those working for you. Look at the guy in the white house, a community association activist that taught people how to rip off the americn taxpayers, when he was with ACORN. Now he is at the lies and deceipt of americans again, to brainwash the dems before the election. He condems Romney for being a venture capatilist, read this and see more lies http://www.theblaze.com/blog/2012/05/25/hypocrisy-alert-obamas-top-spokesman-is-a-venture-capitalist/

@macadoodle...good posting. I like seeing facts and figures, unlike those on the left who just go by here-say and what they hear on PBS, MSMBC and the like. If any of them had half a bring and would go find out the facts (or even read the facts and figures I have posted in the past), they might be able to get the point that they are getting ripped off. MD has dropped into the bottom 10 lest business friendly states, went to the top 10 of the list in taxes, top 10 in cost of living and has been voted one of the least likely states that a CEO would consider moving their business to. Dems don't like the truth and facts, it hurts. I will be starting another business within a year, I am in the plans right now and it definitly WILL NOT be incorporated in MoCo or even in Maryland, it will be in either VA or DE.

I think you're referring to this article:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703976804575114241782001262.html , but you appear to have fudged some of the numbers in your favor. The year is 2008, *not* 2007. Why is this important? Because from Jan 1 2008 to Dec 31 2008, the stock market dropped just about exactly 30%. Since most people's net worth largely consists of their house value, it's not surprising that there are significantly fewer "millionaires" over the same time period. Property values dropped anywhere from 15-30% over the same time period, depending on where you live.

People are always moving to other states. I'll note that the report doesn't say whether it's 1000 people making $100k or 10 people making $100 million. Or whether that's an increase from prior years.

Now is the time to go forward with your grass roots effort. O'Mally will run for President next go araound. Inform the masses.

Kevin,

What 4th of July celebrations? Your blinders-on suggestion makes a great point.

You just assume that a 4th of July celebration will happen because you don’t even contemplate that it takes money, public money, taxpayer money, to put it on.

If you want to have your taxes cut don’t talk about government funded programs, like the 4th of July celebrations, as if they were funded by the tooth fairy!

Piotr Gajewski, The Dundalk heritage fair is a self supported affair as is the parade.Dundalk is Independent of funds for these affairs if there are expenses they have been reimbursed whenever asked for.Please explain the goverment funding of these events . I do have statements back from 1976 when the fair was started.

Hells Bells, we in the repubic of MoCo are getting ripped off even more. We give a lot to the republic of MD and get much less back and now the county council in MoCo had the raise our property taxes, fees and cut our services even though we are paying more for those services...only stupid democrats are falling for this ponsi scheme. I am beginning to think that in order to be a democrat these days, they suck out 98% or your grey matter and just leave 2% for bodily fuctions and make it through your days and keep carrying their water jugs. RECALL OWEMALLEY NOW

@Piotr...your comments and posts on these boards are rediculous. You say you are an American, then start acting like one, not like your party mascot, which is a JACKASS. You people with law degrees think you are sooooo high and mighty. All you are is a bunch of ambulance chasers. Hell, most dems with law degrees have NEVER practiced law not ever had a REAL job or had toi make a payroll. They get into politics and think they know it all when they don't know crapola. What OWEMALLY and the legislature has done to the people of Maryland is criminal. If OWEmalley never STOLE the money from the transportation fund (which is against the MD constitution) and quit thinking we are ATM machines and spending OUR money like it was his own, this state would NOT be in the mess we are in. I say what needs to be done is to RECALL OWEMALLEY

The Dems in Maryland are WORSE than Chicago styple politics. In MD they stick it to you and let you know they have done so. It is too bad the dumbocraps in MD cannoit see the light, they only see what they believe.

Big brother is monitoring your e-mails ever since 9/11. I understand your anger but be careful.

Polly, that's exactly what the dems want you to do. You've got to vote them OUT!

Just changes one set of problems for another. Try an abandoned col mine in West Virginia and wait for the revenuers to show up. Find a grass roots politician and get behind them.

Unfortunately the freeloaders will vote to support their source of income so they can continue to freeload. It has gotten to where the freeloaders have more political clout than the actual taxpayers.

Janet - the people that vote for OWEmalley don't pay the taxes so they don't care. It is too late we are outnumbered - I would leave the State if you want relief

This is the most provoking question in this entire Blog. Consistantly the national public openion poles have shown that the American public rates the combined elected political body with only a 12% approval rating. Why do we keep voting these politicians back in office? My guess is that, at voting time, we see a name on the ballot that we recognise and just vote for them. Human nature would tell you that somehow this is better than voting for an unknown. Under normal conditions this might make sInce but when you know that the system, as a whole, no longer represents you or your beliefs, the unknown is the better choice.

Cann't be smoking much - He is against medical marijuana. Watch him change his mind when he runs for the Prsidency nexr go around.

Hillary would crush him, she does not have to run on a governor's record.

Hell will freeze before I ever voted for O'Malley for president.

Right on Joan!

Joan - I don't think you get it - the people on this thread most likely did not vote for OWEMalley. But we are the minority - those that don't work and reap the benefits voted for him and don't care about taxes because they dont have to pay the,

Good advice Joan!

@Joan and everyone else. The dems, especially in MoCo have signed up illegals to vote in MD, it is a known fact. Another reason why our taxes are so high, Billions of dollars going to free housing, medical, education, dental and now wnating to have us pick up a large portion of the bill for college for illegals. It will never end until the dumbocraps in MD get the REAL picture and quit falling for the ponzi schemes by the dems and vote the issues, not their party. I can't believe how stupid dems are falling for all of this. RECALL OWEMALLEY

Until serious campaign reform is forced by the citizens we will continue to be screwed equally by both parties....records are trumped by corporate campaign finance and we will remain at their mercy. The ENTIRE core of our Country is heavily corrupt.

Jtnbtl, let's start by not creating new government programs. Also, please admit you are an elective office holder. Fess up!

Ken - I'll echo your sentiments. As someone who will be retroactively taxed as a result of yesterday's actions, I'm letting out a big yawn. People like me can afford to pay a bit more to help the state shore up its finances. Our county (Montgomery) government provides great services and Maryland is frequently cited as the best state in the nation for public schools. If that means higher taxes for people like me, I'm more than happy to pay.

I'd rather stay here and change our State.

Careful Ken, lest you raise the ire of the anti-government masses that sit around on here all day with nothing better to do than post their Doomsday vitriol.

when will it be enough? It would be nice to pay the debt off and then contol spending and then would they lower our taxes? doubtful. Control the check book , just like everyone else.

Ken, plot a graph. You may live for 30 years after retirement. ( My parents did!). What shape will your finances be in in 10, 20, and 30 years down the road?

Please don't promote divisiveness between teachers and the community. It makes things worse. As a teacher for 10 years, who has been frozen on Step 7 of the pay scale for 5 years, and who has received, and then had taken away 1.5% COLA, where are those "consistent raises "? County employees also have had it rough...but this is not a competiton. As far as my "hourly wage..." factor in the unpaid time I spend running 2 clubs, chaperoning and supporting my students at activities such as performance events and exhibits, sporting events, judging homecoming parades, prom and homecoming, graduation on Saturdays (before the switch to Friday), judging student film festivals etc, oh and then there is that little thing called planning and that other one called grading. Yes, we get a lot of vacation time, however, the reality is that myself and many many others have always worked a second/third job during those "vacations" so we can afford to live here. You really want to know my hourly "wage"? I don't think I want to know it, because it might be the final straw that pushes me over the edge. I am still paying off my graduate school loan from 10 years ago, and continually upgrade my training and skills.

By shifting half the pension costs to the counties, the State is negating any "benefit" that additional taxes will provide. The cost of that will eventually be filtered down to the teachers. I love what I do and I am good at it. But there is a breaking point.

Maureen, my wife has been an educator in the Maryland school system for over 30 years. I recognize the efforts required. I recognize the love you have for your job.

However, the US has a capitalistic society based solely on supply and demand when it comes to wages. That is why a baseball player can make $25 million per year to entertain us, but those who educate our children are seen as feeding from the public trough. As long as people like you are willing to work for the wages offered, nothing will change.

Maureen...those extracurricular things you do are laudible but all voluntary and assume private sector moms and dads don't also volunteer. We're talking about simple salary vs. hours worked. Even given a reduction in increases to salary, you got nearly 2K in bonus money last year and after 20 years are eligible for a 71K annual salary including full benefits and for 9 months of work. Not beating up on teachers, but at the same time the tap is out; you need to lower your expectations. Private sector taxpayers expect public employee salaries to more closely coincide with their situations or they'll resent the endless caterwalling about "fairness".

Unfortunately, the County really does not have control over teacher salaries and pensions. The BOE continues to negotiate raises for teachers while regular county employees have had furloughs the last two years for a 5% salary reduction. The teachers' pension are set by state law, aka the Maryland General Assembly. The system is boken and not going to work because the Board of Education is permitted to give employees raises, most of which are funded by the County, and the County has little to no oversight over how the Board of Education spends the money the County provides to it.

There is a breaking point and paying School Employees MORE than their counterparts in the State is it for me. Why do you deserve more than others doing the same amount of work. The chicken has come home to roost and the eggs are cracked. The only bad part I see is that this is a preluce to another round of school busing programs as rich counties will ultimatly have better educational systems than poor. Too bad. Get up and move. My tax dollars - my county - my residents. Take a look at the average salary for Administrative School Personnel. Do you realize that almost all military personnel in the lower ranks qualify for food stamps? Put your life on the line and then apply for welfare. Work for Congeress and you get a pension for life FOR ONLY 4 YEARS OF WORK. GOD BLESS AMERICA!

Matt, I keep hearing 50% of people pay no federal income taxes. Everyone should pay a little. I so agree with you.

Mr. Bromwell:

You're a rare bird indeed....congrats..

Delegate Bromwell, Where would you you cut spending in order to balance the budget? I live in District 31, and all of my representatives say they "fought" for me by voting no to the tax increases. To me, a true fight is offering up viable solutions to the problems at hand and not just grandstanding and saying I voted no to tax increases.

So what are the solutions? You cannot just simply state that we need to lower taxes and cut spending. I am just looking for someone to provide REAL solutions to the problems. Where can spending be cut to have the least impact on the fragile economy? Because if you cut government spending in the wrong areas, it can have an adverse affect on the local economies. Because believe it or not, government spending in this area is a HUGE part of our econoimic engine. The federal government is the largest employer in our region, if they simply cut spending and layoff tens of thousand of employees, then our economy will suffer greatly. So it is a real fine line to walk and I just want to know what our elected officials who are slamming our current governement have in mind in for fixng the problem, that's all I am asking. Believe me, I do not want to pay any more taxes than I have to, but on the other hand, I do not want our economy to tank any further just to say we lowered taxes.

The worst are yet to come. The papers talk about Maryland having a 36% increase in home sales. True stat BUT this is almost entirely short-sales, re-fis and other tricks of the trade. Give it 10-12 years and we will be almost completly a rental nation again with only a few owning homes. Then the cycle starts over again.Thank you President Truman and Roosevelt for Welfare. That is where the problems began. BRING in more ilelgal aliens and give them the right to vote so that we can continue to pay their way. GOD BLESS AMERICA!

Paul: Completely agree.

The problem with our country in my view is that the weathly entitled are the ones who have caused a drastic increase in the impoverished entitled population (through influencing the government).

Have to agree with Piotr here.

Don't forget, North Carolina just constitutuionally ruled - by election - that from a state legality aspect only marriages that are hetero sexual are allowed.

There's a good reason I'll never move any further South then Maryland. I lived in Richmond VA for about 12 years growing up. I'd have to be offered twice the money I make now to even consider moving back there.

Socially speaking, Maryland is way ahead of the curve. Unless you are a religious conservative that still enjoys repressing others who don't believe in your set of beliefs.

You are speaking about one bill out of 2800 that were introduced, 1500 that were passed and 500 that involved taxation; most of which sought to limit, reduce or study for phaseout of taxes. The judgeship you referred to was one of 34 vacancies in the Virginia judicial system. You mean to tell me that there was only one qualified person to fill any of the 34? And why was he put forward at this point in time? These vacancies have existed since before Tim Kaine became Governor. Seems to me that when he was Governor and he had a majority in the Senate, this appointment should have been a shoo-in. It smacks of politics. However your comments speak to a lack of information; something that happens when you get all your information from one source, probably the WaPo. My original point stands; in spite of your defense of MD's liberal-on-the-social-side boasting, and VA's supposed conservative wackiness, VA is beating MD at recruiting businesses to relocate. If the uber-liberal society is more attractive, then why did so many companies move from that great bastion of liberal thinking, California, to VA and not MD?

Once again we go with the lesser of all evils. My prayers are that some day I can vote FOR someone instead of against them and that someday there will be equal rights for all.

Piotr - that piece you linked to is an opinion piece…so anyone reading it should do so with that fact in mind.

As for women seeking abortions being subjected to "unneeded, intrusive procedures", don't you think abortion alone is intrusive? I bet the baby would think so if it ever had the chance.

Amy,

Thanks for pointing out that the link is an opinion piece: indeed one can question the conclusion. The facts presented in the piece, however, are completely accurate and those are of great import and what I am pointing to.

As far as your implication that “abortion alone is intrusive:” of course you are correct. But that’s the point – a pregnant woman can CHOOSE if she wants to go through that intrusion (a legal procedure in Virginia and every other state in the union). The Virginia law, meanwhile, FORCES women to undergo a procedure that has no medical basis. In other words, the Virginia legislature has inserted itself in place of a women’s doctor.

THAT is big and intrusive government. There are also enforcement costs that Virginians will need to bear. And women will need to pay the cost of this procedure - a tax of sorts, I guess, as it cannot be skirted if a woman chooses to move forward with an abortion.

I am relieved that we do not have this kind of taxation and big government in Maryland.

This is why I'm not registered with either party anymore.
Both are chronically flawed in my view.

If they create a party that's socially liberal but without the desire to recklessly spend, I'll join that one.

Pat, your comment alone is polarizing, just in case you didn't realize it. Simply by singling out RICH people, you have already alienated a segment of the population who believe the RICH are being given a bad rap and that the real problem is the number of ENTITLEMENT people on the government's dole. When the call for people "paying their fair share" is put out there, no one ever goes after the 50% of the population that pays no taxes.

Dennis,

Well not exactly, or at least not exclusively.

Take the new law in Virginia, for example, that requires women to have unneeded ultrasounds before they can obtain an abortion. Aside from the fact that women are now being made to pay for an unneeded procedure they don’t want (do you call that a tax, I guess?), just how exactly is Virginia going to enforce compliance?

Will it be the State Police or some other agency that will be investigating and issuing citations (or arresting and prosecuting?!?) those women and/or doctors who are noncompliant. Sounds like big government to me and certainly NOT socially liberal!

Dennis, not to speak for Tim, but how often is the converse true, tax incentives are given to encourage a behavior only to become an indelible part of society? Oil, farm, etc subsidies come to mind.

Tax disincentives, cigarette, alcohol, gas, etc. will discourage behaviour, but then politicians take over and count on that money for operating expenditures, which of course is foolish.

Sadly, when you shake the bottle and pour it out, we don't elect many intelligent people, do we?

Dennis: Socially liberal doesn't neccessarily require fiscally liberal. My fiscal views are much closer to the middle. I realize and understand that taxation is required in many cases. As I noted (maybe here? if not on another tax topic) it's the reckless taxation from O'Malley that really gets me as a moderate. It's the same reason I can't get behind the Republicans of today - they refuse to accept any increase in taxation at all. That's just as counterproductive as what happens in this state.

Ultimately, although your examples are absolutely valid and generally come to fruition, I don't believe 'bureaucracies' are pre-destined to only run ineffectively.

They are run as efficiently (or not) as their management allows it. That falls on us.

The problem is the people, not the system.

Guess what...private sector employees generally work 40 years to be able to finally afford to retire with a pension they basically funded themselves. When you say you had money taken out all it means is that they finally required you actually put ANY of your own money into your retirement funds or healthcare - these are things the private sector has always done. I just checked AA County - a 20 year career qualifies a teacher for about the same rate as Harford 72K and that's based upon a 191 day year. If you prorate that to those that work a full year that salary is akin to 90K a year. What do you want?

Maureen - this blog post is actually run pretty much state wide on all of the Patch sites.

Good point Karl. AND on target. The National Guard has the right approach. You can serve your State and your Federal Government for 20 years of p/t weekend employment and get a pension. BUT - it is pro-rated to the actual number of days you served. For example a 20 year national guard retirement is calculated on roughly 75 days of emplyement per year so it equates to roughly 4-5 years of full time employment and that is what your retirment is based upon. Let's do that for teachers and call it fair and even. Why do I have to pay for your summer and spring vacations when you can choose to work or not? Why are you better than National Guardsmen (and women)?

Dennis,

It’s pretty easy to cherry pick accolades and stats. For example Maryland has the highest per capita income, highest per capita number of millionaires and the number one public school system. Rockville has been chosen by Bloomberg as one of top ten cities to start a business (I don’t think any Virginia cities made the list).

Then there is the issue of what criteria are used. If low taxation is a premium criterion then, of course, Virginia wins. But one could easily argue that it is harder for Virginia to attract qualified workers because if you legislate encumbrances on women and gays, for example, this becomes a great limiting factor in terms of people or families wanting to relocate to Virginia.

Clearly both states have their positives and negatives. For those for whom progressive social agenda and commitment to education has high importance (and I count myself among them), Maryland is likely the better choice.

yeah, just like OWEmaley stole the tax dollars in the transportation fund (which in MD is illegal) and put it in the general fund to try and make the republic of MD look better on paper. He is a scum bag, a cheat, a lier, oh yeah and village idiot. He should stick to playing music, because he has NO idea how to run a business. Just like the lier in the white house that he is trying to emulate http://www.theblaze.com/blog/2012/05/25/hypocrisy-alert-obamas-top-spokesman-is-a-venture-capitalist/

Dennis: No, we aren't that far apart in mindset! It is more difficult for government to be efficient, but then again private industry has similar issues. It's a problem in any large business venture.

Philosophically speaking, I actually would prefer to see larger local/county governments, and smaller state and federal. Although this is not without it's problems, I feel the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks.

That tangent out of the way, much of my disdain for the Republican party today has to do with their ardent refusal (on a federal level) to use tax hikes of any kind as any portion of the solution for our national debt.

It seems they believe they're allowed to start two wars completely unfunded, and continue financing Bush Tax cuts that should have never been implemented from the start.
Then, after they lose the presidency, they turn around and try and make the middle class foot the bill, demanding cuts on the middle and lower class re: services while protecting the oligarchy of wealthy and not cutting defense (in our country, might as well call it the Department of Offense). There's just so much gross hypocrisy it disgusts me.
Then there's the social issues like gay rights, women's rights, increased attempted influencing of religion in public policy that really gets my goat.

Most capital gain dollars are taxed the first time around and that is the reason for the 15%. When I invest in something, lets say a stock, that money has already been taxed. When I sell the stock, the capital gains are taxed again. That is the reason for the lower tax bracket on the wealthy because the majority of their income is from capital gains, not that they are paying less in taxes. Unless you are guys like Tim Guitner who "forgot" or "did not know" he had to pay taxes, or even guys like John Kerry who made his millions by marrying (2 times0 into money and parks his boats in another state to avoid paying taxes or even the case of John Edwards who made his millions by setting up an "S" corp to get away with paying his "fair share" in taxes. Then ther eis guys like Marion Barry...how many times did he "forget" to pay taxes...hell I could go on and if you see they are ALL dems...it is no wonder they have you peopel all fooled.

Zoobie...good post. three more yrs for me when my son graduates from high school and I will be taking my money and running from here. I also will be starting a new business within a year, started the process already and it will NOT be based in MD, that is for sure.

I'll get to responses on all of your stuff sometime tomorrow morning Dennis

perfect example as to how inefficent government is...the POST OFFICE... Here you have a psudo "free market" business within the federal government, who has SOLE SOURCE on every piece of mail coming and going in the USA and around the world, from our boarders. They still have to reach into the taxpayers pocket and rob us blind to fund it. If the Post Office was run like a business and had business people running it, it just may be profitable. But the feds have to cut jobs and lay off people, close post offices, get rid of equipment, etc, just like a real company has to. Oh, if they would get rid of the unions, they may make some money. Oh and I forgot to mention, public transportation...another sink hole for the taxpayers dollars, sole source on the busses and trains...and they STILL pick our pockets for more...guess like in MoCo, that the 70% free ridership on Ride-ON (may be more now with all the illegals getting free rides), they taxpayer has to keep funding it.

And as usual, misinformation is spread.

The US Postal Service is, per the regulations enacted by Congress, a self-supporting government entity. Numerous websites confirm this, including their own website which notes, "The Postal Service has been self-supporting since 1982: All income is generated from the sale of stamps and related services. No tax dollars (including from income or sales taxes) is used to pay for the operation of services."

Now, there was a report from the USPS Office of Inspector General which noted that the postal service does receive $100 million/year of taxpayer money. This money is directly used to offset costs of free and subsidized mailing privelages, currently limited to free mail for medically blind and official mail to overseas voters. So yes, some of our tax money is funneled into these two Congress-approved exceptions. However, if you think that money should stop, talk to Congress who are the only ones allowed to make changes to how the Postal Service is run.

Now, the ~real~ reason the Post Office is suffering is because of Congressional acts that require the USPS to pay ~in advance~ to cover future retiree benefits. This is a common business practice except the amount required by Congress is far more than any other organization practices. The US Postal Service is required to prepay ~$5 million each year and have been sitting on a ~$7 BILLION surplus in that prepaid account.

So, why haven't they drawn from an account that has been overpaid? Because Congress won't let them. To use this account for anything other than what it was declared for requires a Congressional act. Thus, that money just sits there while the US Postal Service slowly dies.

Why won't Congress approve withdrawal from the account? Who knows, but the usual concepts of "conspiracy" and "greed" seem likely. It has long been supposed that Congress uses the US Postal Service as its own personal piggy bank. Seeing as they are the only ones who can approve the use of that surplus, they simply sit on the money until ~they~ want it. Then they simply pass an act that allows them to tap it for their own needs, regardless of why it was originally put there.

There you have it: This has nothing to do with robbing the taxpayers so much as robbing themselves.

Becauser they have better unions, are allowed to cry crocodile tears to the public and do things the Federal Employees cannot do by law. Unions had their place at one time. I think they need to re-invent themselves. Until recently the UAW allowed employees to accept layoffs where they stayed at home, didn't have to apply for other jobs, didn't have to accept transfers AND go approximalty 95% of their salaries. AND WE BAILED THEM OUT WITHOUT ANY ACCOUNTABILITY. At least FORD didn't accept the bailouts.

Where does MD rank on SAT scores when compared to other states? Do anyone know where I can find this information?

Kim you are so right about this! It is quite right for cigarettes to be sold at every gas station, supermarket, drug store and taxed beyond reason, but at the same time we can't smoke in a park, near a school, government office, near a hospital, and anywhere else the hypocrites in the Legislature decide is wrong. The State wants their ciggie tax money but expects me to light up in a dark and rainy corner of the state. If they are really concerned they will limit the flow of smokes into Maryland forcing many of us to quit for good. They don't want the revenue of the smokes to leave the state, and the small business that sold them would be forced to close up as well.

Right on Elizabeth. A lot of those that voted only voted to make history. History they made, what a disgrace the shape our country is in.

The fact you tried to equate the Obama administration's policies to a "communist agenda" shows you have neither a proper education in politics or a clue what you are talking about. If you refuse to research the terms you spout, or are simply incapable of understanding the concepts, then please just keep your mouth shut. It does not help anyone's side when people just throw out whatever nonsense they hear from the biased media as if they know what it is they are saying.

Brook,

Rather than criticize, why not educate? If you can, that is.

Communism, as a sociopolitical philosophy, is based on a societal system where class and wealth divides are absent. Each person is to be 100% equal, do their equal share for society, and be given their fair portion of societal resources. Communists are notably anti-capitalist, believing the government should control all the resources and dole them out to the members.

Although Obama wants government regulation of certain aspects of the economy, his regulation is based on poor Keynesian ideas rather than trying to dole everything out. He has ~not~ enacted legislation that tries to tear down the free market, ~not~ tried to encourage public ownership of all businesses, or has ~not~ even approached the plight of "wage slaves". In fact, much of what he has said has still focused on a free market... just one forced to follow certain edicts that support his vision of "fairness" (whether right or wrong).

So, as I pointed out, to declare Obama a Socialist or Communist per their true definitions is to show a lack of knowledge of what those definitions are. If one doesn't know the meaning of something, it's best not to use it when trying to debate an issue.

Then please... how about ~you~ educate ~me~. What has the Obama administration done that follows the ideology and tenets of Communism, as defined in most works? I don't want generalizations, I would specific legislation that matches the goals of a Communist movement or community.

@Brook...you have some really ignorant posts here. Read his book for starters. He was born and raised by a couple of Anti American, socialists. He is following the rules drawn up by Saul ALinsky, rules for radicals. With the obamacare (socialized medicine) and telling us, the American people that we MUST abide or pay a fine. That is a starter. Another his rule for the wealthy to share their wealth...HA! I say FU, you want to try and take my money, I would do the same as if a robber came into my home and tried to rob me. Why should I or anyone else have to give away 70% of their income for some scumbag who wants to live on the government dolls...You sound like just that type of person. They must have sucked out the 98% of your grey matter and left you 2% for bodily functions and to believe their lies and deceptions. Use google and find the truth. You must think obama is going to pay for everything for you just like the dumbass in this video...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P36x8rTb3jI

I forgot to mention the planned parenthood getting more govt. $ now too. Just sick!

And you just proved my point again.

A) Your accusations that I am influenced by ~any~ media, let alone "liberal" media, are unfounded. When there is a major sociopolitical issue I choose to research it, rather than take what is said on the television or in newspapers at face value. Can the same be said for you? How much of your information comes from outlets like CNN or FoxNews? The closest you can get to "unbiased" media is to watch US news on the BBC, as the British don't care about our two-party system.

B) The term "liberal" is not a dirty term, nor is it the opposite of conservative. Political liberals stand for a free and fair democratic system, a capitalist economy, freedom of religion, and using a Constitution to guide and limit the government. None of that has anything to do with the slanderous way the uneducated use the term.

C) Welfare, unemployment, ~universal~ health care, etc. are not Communism, and the fact you equated them just proves you neither read a word I said nor did any research of your own. Welfare and unemployment were created to help portions of the population suffering from economic woes of the time. Unfortunately, those systems are broken and people have learned to take advantage of them. Regardless, neither has anything to do with Communism, which abolishes all classes and doles everything equally; last I checked, what you got from welfare and unemployment was far from equal.

D) ~Universal~ healthcare has been championed by many presidents, including both Roosevelts, and is not ~socialized medicine~. The only reason people equate the two is because opponents knew they could influence the ignorant masses by suggesting that universal healthcare is socialism and therefore communism (even though the two are not the same). Well, congratulations... obviously one more ignorant person bought into the opponents' vitriol.

E) Providing rights for illegals is stupid, but not Communism. Communism does not in any way try to condone providing resources to those not already a part of the community. If you want to be part of a communist society, you have to join it as a full member (for good and ill), including following all of the societal and cultural laws.

F) The concept that the more money the wealthy makes the more they should contribute is not Communism nor is it new. Try looking at historical records and see what the economy was like during high and low periods of taxation on the rich. The wealthy have survived in the past, our economy has flourished during those periods, and none of this moves us closer to a "classless" society (which is Communism).

G) Planned parenthood? What does a non-profit organization and special interest group focusing on sex education and a pro-choice agenda have to do with Communism? Please... I would really like to see what tenet of Communist teachings focuses on contraceptives and abortions.

The two girls comments are great responce to Elizabeths ranting but they missed that in communism there is no unemployment.(supposedly) We all would be working for the state. I will point out however that in all communist countries there are huge income gaps that show that communist countires are possibly more capitalist then we are. They are just better able to hide behind the idea of "fair and balanced" better. I some ways you can thank the republicans for preventing us from becoming a country of super rich and everyone else.

@Elizabeth...seems ol brookie wants all that so she can get more handouts than what she is getting now. She needs to get an education.

I know this small European Tax haven (hideaway) of a country headed by a constitutional monarch (dictator) in Europe to which you could move sooner than later? Name starts with an L.

@Paul

Upton Sinclair, a Baltimore born Democrat, who ran for congress on the Socialist ticket in 1951 said - "The American People will take Socialism, but they won't take the label. Running on the Socialist ticket I got 60,000 votes, and running on the slogan to "End Poverty in California" I got 879,000."

Prince, just saying, go home please.

@Paul Amirault -

It's curious that you don't dispute that there are liberal/progressives in the Democrat Party who are actively pursuing a socialist conversion of the US.

Sorry Prince, to address your issue directly, BS? It is interesting to note your home country, unless you are lying, is a dictatorship and a tax haven for Americans looking to hide money, unless you are ignoring that. I could be speaking to a made up prince, eh?

@Paul Amirault -I'm here to stay so get over it and admit that the left in the Democrat Party embrace and promote socialism without ever uttering the word socialism.

No they don't. So why did you move here. Oh, that's right, you are a fraud, just another counterfeit bill.

@Paul Amirault -

Brilliant reply!

Democrats are as much socialists, as Republicans are promoting an oligarchy of wealth.
I'm all for a fully reformed tax code that doesn't spoon feed the wealthy advantages they don't need. There's a good reason the GINI in this nation matches third world countries.

exactly...they love the fact that they have the power over the thought process of those that defend them. They have their good little "workers", "comrades", etc. carrying their "water" for them.

haha sfm257...the lawyers make up the rules and tax codes so they can get around them. Cripes, perfect example John Edwards made millions chasing ambulances and set up an "S" cop and got away with paying his share of taxes. Oh yeah, then there is Timmy Gietner, the one who said "I did not know I had to pay tax on my income"...Oh yeah then there is that scumbag in the white house who taught community (association) organizers how to rip off the American Taxpayers...YEAH EVEN THE FEEBLE MINDED LEFT WING NUTJOBS WHO ARE SO BLIND THAT THEY WILL ONLY SEE WHAT THEY BELIVE, WHICH IS ALL FABRICATIONS BY THE LEFT.

Our Democrat President Barrack Obama is demonizing the private equity and venture capital. Because investors risk their money to invest in private companies, some of which are distressed, un-proven or high risk and expect to make a profit or accept a loss. Whereas this hypocrite of a President himself has used taxpayer money to make investments in risky businesses like Solyndra and other green energy companies and of course he screwed GM bondholders and gave the UAW the bondholders equity, when he could have let settled bankruptcy law and procedure have the same result without screwing the bondholders and spending taxpayer money.

The President is a government venture capitalist.

and TARP was the biggest bailout in history caused by....

And the blame game is played by who????

"President-elect Barack Obama asked President Bush today to request the release of the second $350 billion in federal bailout funds so he would have "ammunition" if the country's fragile economy weakened further."

""I have talked to the president-elect about this subject," Bush said at his farewell news conference today.

"I told him if he needed the $350 billion on my watch, I'd be willing to ask for it.. if he felt like it needed to happen on my watch," Bush said."

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Economy/story?id=6626721&page=1#.T7-hQO2X-f8

To ALL the "fellow comrades" out there. You idiots keep trying to defend the dumbocrap party, when you KNOW (or if you don't then I feel sorry for you because you are that stupid) damn right well that they are trying to turn our democracy into a socialist society...evidently you people have NO clue what so ever about what you are saying. You say the dems are "progressive", well look it up in the communist manifesto...the dumbocraps are following it, step by step. I KNOW what you people are trying to do, Van Jones (obamas buddy and sworn communist) has even come out and said it, "prepare for the American Fall". Let him try in my neighborhood, he won't make it out. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Communist_Manifesto

I've read that Eugene Simpson has some pointers but cannot confirm this myself.

did u send me on a wild gose chase ? i did that googel thing and found nuthin that seemed good . u tryin to be funny ? was not nice .

@wilson...yeah I have real good ideas. First of all, don't listen to democrats or vote for them. Secondly, don't look at what others have and wish you had the same, it will make you miserable, that is why dumbocraps don't like successful people and why they have miserable lives. Third, get an education. Fourth, get a job, work hard, and think for yourself. When your employer sees that they can make decisions for yourself, you will move up and the money will follow. It is as easy as that. Or you can be like this woman and hope the government pays your way (but don't hole your breath), but have you ever seen a wealth communist, NO... they are ALL "workers" as obama calls them. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P36x8rTb3jI

xcuse me for askin a stupid question , what is it called when repubs do it to dems in other states ? seems like they both like the same game ?

@Brook, ok, if you are not a female then what are you, one of those that needs the government to tell you what to do and you to carry their water? Working on a masters does not mean you are going to get a job under the obama administrations rule. If you were so frickin smart then why would you only listen to one or 2 sources for your info (i.e. MSNBC and PBS). I have looked at your postings and the ones I saw were one sided, not the REAL representation. Google gives the chance to find out ALL sources on a story and make a decision as to what is truth and what is fiction. There are ALWAYS 2 sides of a story. If you were so smart you would read more like I do. You people cannot look further than your nose as to find out what is truth and what id the fabrication by the left. I post actual REAL numbers for the GAO, real bi-partisan surveys, Labor Department numbers and charts, etc. Not what left wing media survery (or right wing surveys), statements from the obama administration on how well the economy is without the numbers, comments from the nitwit gov of MD as to how good things are, etc...theirs is ALL propaganda. You try to champion liberalism and defend communism, look further. Follow the money and you will see how the libs can ruin just about everything they touch. No wonder noone listens to what you have to say, all you do is go on attack mode when you are WRONG with your one sided leftist views.

@Brookie...BTW, it is ok for you to go attack others, as you did after Elizebeth made some good comments earlier on this subject. Typical left wing nutjob. It is ok for you to go on attack but not others to counter your false claims. Don't like it when you get hit with the truth do you? Get used to it because your buddy will be gone from the white house and hopefully someone will RECALL OWEmalley. You are the MORON!!!! or better yet, RICHARD CRANIUM!!!!

So, according to your post, I must either be a woman or a blind subject of the government. What kind of logic are you following? What does my name, my biological sex, and my stance on the government have to do each other? Not to mention, please provide a direct quote from my posts saying I "need the government to tell [me] what to do"?

Working on a Master's has nothing to do with the Obama administration or earning a job "under" it. You questioned my education, and I provided proof that I am far from uneducated. Yet so far the only proof you have on your education is that you learn everything through Google. Then you try to insinuate that my sources are worse, by arbitrarily suggesting they are MSNBC and PBS? Yes, stories have two sides; Google is not the place to find them. You claim to post real numbers, but so far I have yet to see your sources. Would you mind providing me with direct links to peer-reviewed articles supporting your statements?

(By the way, I never watch MSNBC or any "news" station (including CNN or FoxNews). The one news source I recommended was the BBC, seeing as they are not mired in our sociopolitical divides and thus have a better chance of being unbiased. Also, the last I checked most of the programming on PBS included children's shows, educational shows about nature and history, and British comedies and dramas. So, which of those is directly influencing my socio-political stance in such an insidious manner?)

Then you go one claiming I "champion liberalism" and "defend communism". Once more, could you please give me a direct quote in my posts showing me performing either action? What I champion is understanding what those terms are; what I defend is proper education and application of that knowledge. I never championed liberalism; I stated the correct definition of a political liberal, which is far from the ignorant use of the term as an insult. I never defended communision; I clarified the error in using it as a descriptor of the Obama administration.

You claim that everything I spew is "wrong", that my views are left wing, liberal, progressive, Democrat, etc. Apparantly there is a miscommunication between myself and my "government masters", seeing as I support the 2nd Amendment, the death penalty, English as a national language, etc. Similarly, I have fought ~against~ legislation that supports illegal immigrants, freeloaders on welfare and housing assistance, etc. Yet, according to you, all of those views are just the stances of a "typical left wing nutjob".

I bow to your infinite wisdom and the Almighty Google, which is apparently the only path to a higher education and "the Truth".

I have been observing this conversation along with others in the past. Let's please try to keep these comment streams more civil and refrain from personal attacks on others. Otherwise, I'll start deleting comments and banning users, which I hate to do, but we're trying to create a community conversation here, not elicit vitriol.

I have actually apologized to the editor for those terms. It was a heated statement and I crossed the same line my opposition had done. I am sorry if those three words gave you a negative view of my character.

That being said, I did not say I solely receive my news about the US from BBC. What I said was that they were recommended and the closest you can get to "unbiased". They still have their agenda and they are still limited, but I would rather watch them over the big Three.

I hear most of my news through local stations, after which I then proceed to investigate any stories that interest me. This often involves checking data through a variety of state-run sites, scientific databases, and/or various fact-checking organizations. That is called critical thinking and what I espouse everyone should do.

I'm sorry, but your comparison to watching the SuperBowl via a Holland TV source doesn't work. Sports media does not hold the same importance to well-being or education that Political or Scientific media does. The chance of bias (although existent) is also far less than through these other sources. And finally, do you watch the World Cup through European stations or do you instead choose an American broadcast?

Thank you, I agree with you, if you have to resort to name calling, you have lost the debate. I want to encourage conversation, but not the type that will keep others from participating.

When you are presented with the facts without any "spin" whatsoever and you have to attack the person who presented the facts, you have lost. Brook, too bad you did not look at the facts and figures I posted earlier, I am NOT going back to do it again here. Also, when someone tries to "spin" leftist ideals, philosiphies and programs (i.e., your list of A through G earier in the posts, everything up to planned parenthood, who uses tax dollars for litigation against the American people in the courts), I have the right to present the facts to counter your claims. I know it is hard for you to take. BTW, Google is a good source because you can search by subject and get various views on the subject you have searched. Evidentally you have not learned how to use Google properly. The way you referred to it is that I get my news from Google...HA!!! Guess you need to take the blinders off and think outside the box, or does everything need to be spelled out for you?

B Allen, now you're just not making sense. You have repeatedly refused to answer any of my questions, simply going back to claims of how using Google will provide you with the truth.

Planned Parenthood? I asked someone to explain what Planned Parenthood has to do with Communism. We all know Planned Parenthood is a special interest group, but what does that have to do with the tenets of Communism? If you're going to try and use an issue to support your stance, then please explain the logic behind that support.

Google is ~not~ a good source. The websites it brings up are not guaranteed to be unbiased, fact-checked, or peer-reviewed. They could be reliable websites or they could be opinion-laden blogs. The only guarantee is that they made it to the top of the list either through popularity or by paying Google to be there.

I'm done with you, B Allen. You're the one making yourself look uneducated, unintelligent, and closed-minded with every post you make. Every time you post your ignorant vitriol, all it does is hurt any positions you support.

Good luck in life.