The farmers seem to benefit quite substantially from technology based in data centers powered by these same lines. Satellites help them guide planting and harvesting to absolutely maximize yields and fuel usage. As do the labs using AI to produce optimal pest and drought resistant seed that also optimize yields. Farmers use technology to gain maximum efficiency in many other aspects of their business.
I understand they do not like this seemingly harmless intrusion on their land. But they must also be mindful of the greater good. AI might help save their child from severe illness as just one example. And yes, technology investors deserve a reasonable return. My guess is the farmer’s own IRAs benefit the farmer in the same way.
As far as I can tell from adjacent roadways in the heart of Carroll County farmland near my home, high voltage power lines do virtually nothing to impede farm production. There are a number of power lines already in place and it appears farmers very successfully farm around them. Healthy crops surround the base and even appear directly under them.
The farmers seem to benefit quite substantially from technology based in data centers powered by these same lines. Satellites help them guide planting and harvesting to absolutely maximize yields and fuel usage. As do the labs using AI to produce optimal pest and drought resistant seed that also optimize yields. Farmers use technology to gain maximum efficiency in many other aspects of their business.
I understand they do not like this seemingly harmless intrusion on their land. But they must also be mindful of the greater good. AI might help save their child from severe illness as just one example. And yes, technology investors deserve a reasonable return. My guess is the farmer’s own IRAs benefit the farmer in the same way.
“To everyone voting blue this election, I wish you the prosperity of Venezuela, the salaries of Cuba, the freedom of North Korea, the human rights of China, the women’s rights of Iran, the democracy of Russia, and the security of Mexico.”
I fear Tuesday is a giant leap in that direction. I can only hope Americans will wake up once they realize what they have released upon this great nation. Socialism is truly a clear and present danger to the long term prosperity of all Americans. Just ask the hundreds of thousands of protesters in France, Italy and across Europe how well socialism is working for them.
The editors at National Geographic listing of Baltimore as a “great place to visit in 2027” choose to highlight attractions and ignore the facts about how dangerous a visit to the city can be. Where is their consciousness warning about the still high homicide levels, the non-fatal shootings that have persisted at historical rates and the rising juvenile crime in the city. A bullet doesn’t care that a 15 year old pulled the trigger, you are just as dead.
The last time I traveled to the city my vehicle was attacked by juveniles less than a block from the inner harbor because I refused to pay for a window wash on my freshly cleaned car. I politely declined and they began kicking my vehicle. Never again…and no one I know will go to Baltimore for anything entertainment related and I live less than an hour from the city.
National Geographic readers, do your research before falling for the overly enthusiastic naming of Baltimore as a “best place in the world to visit”.
(An unpublished letter to the Baltimore Sun Editor submitted 10/17/2026)
I often find it fascinating and entirely disappointing that Marylanders, and specifically Baltimore voters, appear to completely ignore the Governor and Mayor’s hypocrisy.
The Spotlight on Maryland article (Marylanders Question Moore’s Campaign Record) in today’s Baltimore Sun offers a glimpse of hope. Finally, Baltimore-based astute social media influencers are speaking out about the numerous inconsistencies in political leadership messaging. A particularly egregious example is the headline messaging about the murder rate reductions ( still nearly three per week in 2025 – nothing to be proud of) while non-fatal shootings continue at historical rates and, most alarming, reported juvenile crime rises 55.1% from 2023-25.
Equally disappointing is the campaign rhetoric shell game regarding the fiscal health of both the state and city. While the state chooses to tax/fee its way out of its inability to control spending, the city is choosing to borrow its way out. All kicking the political can down the road so someone else must eventually face the dreadful reality.
The social influencers highlighted in the article are to be hailed as rising truth tellers hopefully finding increasing interest from the electorate in demands for many politically difficult but necessary actions that truly serve the people and their long term interests.
(An unpublished letter-to-the-editor submission on 09/14/2026 to the Baltimore Sun)
The Maryland madness continues unabated. The Democrat-led ruling class in this state either think we are stupid, inattentive or both.
Recent public statements by powerful Democrats like Delegate Anne Kaiser and Senator Karen Lewis Young are intended to have us believe both tax increases and budget cuts are “on the table” to close the massive shortfall for 2027. The message we must focus most of our attention on is the intent to enable local government to levy new taxes. Last year, to close the gap on a billion dollar plus deficit, local governments had their subsidies cut by the state and left to scramble to balance their own budgets.
So now, to deflect blame for new General Assembly enacted tax increases (Heaven forbid true structural budget cuts are enacted) legislation will be passed to enable local government to suffer the ire of taxpayers as Annapolis forces their hand to raise taxes. Clever? No, a blatant disregard for citizens and taxpayers who they know will do nothing to stop this madness and chicanery.
All this while billions more are poured into a failing school system while our highways crumble and billions are spent on mass transit that few use and even fewer actually pay to use.
(An unpublished letter-to-the-editor submission on 09/11/2026 to the Baltimore Sun)
God help you if you chose to do anything counter to the “King of Baltimore’s” wishes. First Isabelle Cummings, actually trying to do her voter-chartered job in pursuing fraud, waste and abuse, ran afoul of the mayor’s agenda clearly touching super sensitive information regarding the mayor’s pet programs like MONSE. He has engaged the entire might of the city and state government legal teams to thwart her ability to conduct her sworn duty. Where there is smoke there is fire.
Now, Councilman Mark Conway is in the crosshairs of the Mayor’s wrath. Using Council President Zeke Cohen as his foil to lash out at Conway for pursuing a voter reaffirmation of the powers of the Inspector General’s office (to pursue corruption wherever in city government it may be found). Conway was unceremoniously removed as Public Safety Committee chairman under the guise of his being less collaborative than other council members. Mark Conway appears to be an intelligent, collaborative and caring representative of his district just attempting to ensure the right thing is done.
The Mayor clearly sees his own powers as unlimited. I believe continuing actions such as these will come back to haunt him. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. And don’t forget the Mayor’s own infamous quote, “if it’s not illegal, then it’s appropriate”.
I am uncertain how many of The Sun’s readers have a strong sense of what those with a conservative political view, largely Republican, hold dearest in terms of our values. Whether Republican, Democrat, Independent or “other”, our political views as citizens and voters can vary widely. This is in part the genius of the American political system often described as a constitutional federal republic with strong democratic traditions, built on a deliberate balance of power, competition, and tension. Given this framing, how can we share with Democrats, Independents and others the conservative principals most Republicans could logically agree on.
Jay Richards, PhD of the Heritage Foundation, “identifies 15 principles, arranged logically from the deepest foundations upward: moral realism and the natural law, God as the source of moral order, and human equality and dignity; then inalienable rights, government by consent, and the reality of human fallenness; and finally ordered liberty, the rule of law, limited government, religious liberty, the pre-political family, virtue, free enterprise, national defense, and patriotic citizenship.”
Some of these notions are a bit esoteric, like moral realism and natural law (ask AI and you’ll easily grasp the authors point), but I believe most of the principals mentioned are easily understood and align perfectly with the intentions of our founding fathers. Included in these principles are the need to address human frailty, dignity and equality. Harsh things are often said about conservative-leaning citizens. We believe you can have a heart, and a head. Doing good must be balanced with good fiscal governance. Other notions like peace through strength and the Constitution as the supreme law of the land have served this nation well. Defending these notions and principles has a treasured human cost, freedom is not free.
The American system has produced the greatest standard of living in the human experience for hundreds of millions of people for hundreds of years. Based upon a democratic capitalistic free-enterprise system envisioned by the genius of our founding fathers.
Those who are too young to remember or are uneducated in the roots of socialism must be taught that the abbreviation NAZI represents the Nation Socialist German Workers Party. The German nation in the 1920s and 1930s was suffering under the harsh reparations they earned at end of WWI. Very tough economic times led the German people to increasingly support the hopes that socialism would lead them to prosperity. Once the socialists gained absolute political power the nation fell into a state ruled by fascists characterized by an authoritarian, ultranationalist regime that violently opposed dissent and that blamed all of its troubles on Jews. That unrestrained antisemitism resulted in the holocaust and the death of six million Jewish people.
Those in this country who believe that history cannot repeat itself here are disillusioned by the same beliefs that democratic socialism will not lead to a similar result. Many nations with a quasi-socialist system, like France as an example, find frequent riots in the streets as those fooled by the socialist promises find themselves angered by a system that has failed common workers with inadequate pay, pensions and a national health care system that is characterized by low-quality care including very long waits for services. All while high income earners can afford a shadow private health care system that provides higher order care. Those at the top of a socialistic system do not suffer.
Our system is imperfect. But our standard of living remains far superior to those offered by socialistic systems elsewhere. We must reject the charlatans touting socialism as the better system. Once they achieve absolute power, the same story told in Germany would be our likely future.
Curt Rasmussen
Taneytown MD
Republican Representation in Maryland
There has been much talk on the editorial page citing statistics from various sources. The worst-case scenario for Republicans, if you choose to believe the touted divisions, is about a quarter of the state electorate is registered as Republican.
I suspect if you removed the Baltimore City/Annapolis/Anne Arundel Democrat-dominated complex from the calculations, the presence of more conservative voters would be measurably more. Even with a one in four minority, shouldn’t more conservative leaning voters have one of eight representatives to Congress? “Leadership” in the Democrat controlled state government say no. It seems those truly threatening democracy are the ones crying wolf.
Curt Rasmussen
Taneytown MD
Fixing Social Security
All this talk about what must be done and who must pay for it is hyperbole at best and potentially an egregious miscarriage of justice at worst.
We, among millions of seniors, dutifully paid “our dues” in the form of a SSA/Medicare payroll taxes for 45-50 years! When we retired, we knew how much we should expect in income support regardless of our retirement age income and based our retirement plans on this iron-clad commitment from our government. We should not now be asked to forgo a portion of that income to right the ship.
Any politician in a position of power to make decisions about the way forward will be committing political suicide if they come after those already retired. Seniors vote!
The system was poorly designed from the outset. If commercially available, low risk investments options had been utilized we wouldn’t even be having this conversation as the available funds would be plentiful.
Given the current state of affairs, those younger than 55 should have their payroll taxes gradually increased to where they should have been in order to keep the system solvent. This along, with accelerating the eligibility age increase to receive benefits, should have the desired effect. Those new funds should be invested wisely as the current scheme is clearly failing.
This submission to the Baltimore Sun was intended as a possible multipart editorial commentary.
A Maryland Economic Competitiveness Snapshot
Introduction
There have been many who have recently and publicly addressed Maryland’s anemic economic performance. The public commentary has come primarily in soundbite form. Politicians and even pundits are more frequently resorting to short statements that support their positions; preferring to leave less flattering details to others. Soundbites work best for them because media outlets prefer them. The soundbites have a headline punchy impact. Those who attempt to dig deeper for the details are bombarded by ads and privacy decisions that deter the truth seekers. Yet some of these sources are credible economic activity watchers like the Chamber of Commerce, Rich States, Poor States: ALEC-Laffer State Economic Competitiveness Index and The Daily Record. All reporting Maryland’s economic competitiveness as weak.
Economic performance affects everything citizens care about including jobs, career opportunity, pay levels, and product pricing/inflation. Another meaningful part of their personal economic picture is taxation and the government’s ability to tax at a reasonable level while affording to fund desirable programs with fiscal discipline. Many of these programs, when adequately funded, directly affect the quality of life for its citizens. Public safety, infrastructure (roads, bridges, water, energy), education, and a hand up for those in need, are among the most important programs.
At a more macro level, economic strength attracts all of the desirable interested parties who wish to participate and who can contribute to further strengthening of economic performance. This is the critical success factor where some states excel while others suffer substandard performance. Once a state enters the negative cycle of spend too much, tax too much and subsequent weak economic performance, it takes extraordinary political courage to sustain the multi-year effort to achieve a turnaround. Some states, including all of Maryland’s regional competitors, are performing well. They have thriving economies that adequately fund desirable programs while maintaining sufficient incentives such as low taxes and adequate private investment incentives needed to sustain and even increase economic benefit for every citizen.
In this paper we will attempt to analyze at a high level the main factors at play in this scenario. Especially as it relates to the state of Maryland. Many politicians in the state speak eloquently about their talking points, their soundbites, about what is being done to grow the state economy thus expanding the tax base and achieving all the benefits mentioned in this report. You will read here that those sounds bites are not supported by the facts. That Maryland has much work to do to leave the negative spiral and enjoy the success of its regional competitors.
National Level Comparisons
Starting this conversation at a national level, among only the 14 states with county level income taxes, Maryland is the highest with an average county-level income tax rate of 2.83%. That rate is 27% higher than the next closest state of Ohio at 2.22%. This deserves restatement as a demonstration of intent. Of the 14 states that allow local income tax, Maryland rate is the highest by a considerable margin.
Among all states with a state level income tax, only California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York and Vermont have a higher average individual income tax rate than Maryland at 3.1%. Yet, for all states with combined state income tax and county income tax, Maryland is the highest with a combined average individual tax rate of 5.93%. Remarkedly, it is higher than the average total individual income tax rate in California, Connecticut, Hawaii, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon and Pennsylvania. Each of these, minus Hawaii, with combined rate great than 4%.
All states with no state income tax, Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming, do not allow county/local income tax.
Maryland’s Regional Competitors
Maryland’s primary regional competitors, Pennsylvania, Virginia and North Carolina have combined substantially lower individual income tax rates than Maryland; with Virginia at 2.8%, North Carolina at 2.5% and Pennsylvania closest at 4.66% compared to Maryland’s much higher 5.93%. From a competitive positioning perspective, the tax rate difference is a massive disincentive to Maryland’s competitiveness as a desirable residential location, especially for high income earners who typically pay a much larger portion of total individual tax revenues. A number of these same high earners own businesses with employment opportunities and corporate tax revenues that will not follow them to Maryland.
Corporate tax rates among Maryland’s regional competitors tells a slightly different story. Maryland’s corporate tax rate is in the top ten in the country at 8.25%. Only Pennsylvania ranks slightly higher at 8.99%. Virginia and North Carolina’s competitive positions are much stronger at 6.0% and 2.5% respectively.
This combined tax picture (high citizen and corporate tax rates) represents a strongdisincentive to investment in the state of Maryland.
Maryland’s economy is significantly smaller than its mid-Atlantic regional competitors, Virginia, North Carolina and Pennsylvania. Maryland’s economy relies much too heavily on its seat adjacent to the federal government. As federal spending is curtailed, Maryland’s economy suffers. Maryland must either expand the commercially driven portion of its economy or accept its fate and curtail its spending as its federal partner does the same.
Let’s take a look at Maryland’s economic performance as compared to its regional competitors.
State
2023 GDP
Rank (out of 50)
Virginia
$678B
12th
Pennsylvania
$934B
6th
North Carolina
$726B
10th
Maryland
$518B
15th
Maryland, as all states, must compete for financial investment in order for its economy to grow at a useful rate. Maryland’s competitive position is weak as a comparative analysis shows it has under-performed in attracting private equity investment. As federal spending is curtailed, it is especially critical for Maryland to be highly competitive in attracting private investment to bolster private sector-driven economic growth. Recent data shows Maryland has performed poorly due to high tax rates and insufficient incentives to attract private investment funds to support wealth creation activity. Clearly, Maryland’s inability to attract private investment is driven in part by a lack of sufficient state funding for corporate incentives to achieve inertia. More importantly, high tax rates both for corporations and individuals act as further disincentives deflecting those precious investment dollars elsewhere.
In 2022, the year most current information is available according to sources, these are the levels of Private Equity Investments in Maryland and its neighbors. Maryland’s ability to attract private investment is woefully lower than its neighbors at 127% less than Pennsylvania, nearly 90% less than North Carolina and over 50% less than Virginia.
Pennsylvania $41.0B
N. Carolina $34.0B
Virginia $28.0B
Maryland $18.0B
So, how does Maryland’s economy grow fast enough to produce in-state tax revenue levels adequate to meet projected state spending levels? Given recent and projected state budget deficits, sustaining current spending levels (likely deemed inadequate by most progressive democrats), appears to be impossible without significant tax rate increases. Tax increases, actual spending cuts, or very likely both, appear to be required as the prospects for near term significant increases in taxable economic activity seem quite dim.
Maryland’s economy has fallen behind its competitors largely due its dependence on federal spending and employment. Being adjacent to Washington D.C. has made it overly easy to draw economic strength from federal government contractors and employees. Too much reliance on what is now declining federal spending, combined with strong disincentives (high tax rates and low government economic growth incentive spending), has led to an inability to outpace current enshrined levels of state government spending.
Data shows Maryland’s economy is weak compared to its regional competitors. This trend will not be positively impacted by recent (2025) tax and fee increases further negatively impacting the migration into the state by desirable high earning individuals, their businesses and tech industry entities. In fact, knowledgeable industry watchers believe these disincentives will cause negative migration into the state materially hurting economic expansion activity.
Another option for assessing a state, and its neighbors, preparation for economic expansion is Private Equity penetration. In other words, is there a positive inflow of private equity investment into the state that will support economic growth in desirable industries or sectors?
GDP growth affects PE penetration because a faster‑growing economy dilutes penetration unless PE inflows grow even faster. Looking at Maryland’s competitive position relative to GDP Growth and PE penetration.
State
GDP Growth (2020→2023)
Trend Meaning
North Carolina
Strong
Expanding economy + rising PE intensity
Virginia
Moderate
Stable base + strong per‑capita PE
Pennsylvania
Moderate
Large economy + strong PE inflows
Maryland
Slower
Slower GDP growth reduces dilution but signals weaker economic dynamism
Maryland takeaway: Maryland’s slower GDP growth means PE penetration is not diluted—but it also signals a less aggressive economic expansion compared to NC and VA.
Among the top 20 states in this 2022 (last year this data is available) Full State Ranking of Private Equity Investment below, Pennsylvania ranks 6th at $41B, North Carolina ranks 8th at $34B, Virginia ranks 12th at $28B and Maryland ranks 18th at $18B. California, with a combined state and local individual income tax rate substantially lower than Maryland, drew nearly ten times the Private Equity investment in 2022. Pennsylvania and North Carolina attracted more than 200% and Virginia attracted $10 billion dollars more in private Equity investment than Maryland. This speak volumes about the way wealthy investors, coincidently wealth and job creators, feel about the long term potential to earn desirable returns in Maryland versus it’s regional competitors.
2022 Private‑Equity Investment — Full State Rankings (1–50 only top 20 included)
(Amounts in billions of dollars)
Rank
State
2022 PE Investment
1
California
$172.0B
2
Texas
$82.0B
3
Florida
$74.4B
4
New York
$70.4B
5
Illinois
$66.4B
6
Pennsylvania
$41.0B
7
Massachusetts
$38.0B
8
North Carolina
$34.0B
9
New Jersey
$32.0B
10
Ohio
$29.0B
11
Georgia
$28.1B
12
Virginia
$28.0B
13
Colorado
$23.0B
14
Michigan
$22.0B
15
Tennessee
$22.0B
16
Washington
$20.0B
17
Arizona
$18.7B
18
Maryland
$18.0B
19
Minnesota
$17.0B
20
Missouri
$17.0B
As each state’s economy grows, so do corporate revenues and jobs thus increasing state tax receipts without increasing tax rates that are clearly anti-growth. As tax receipts exceed reasonable spending levels, tax rates can be lowered to encourage organizations to invest more in the state and individual taxpayers will have more of their money to spend on personal needs, or investment, further increasing economic activity. Once this positive momentum is achieved, like it has in Virginia among other states, more private investment is attracted to the state enabling the continuation of this very positive cycle. Thus enabling state legislatures to have more funding available for programs that support those in need and those programs that attract future investment. Unmentioned to this point is how strong wealth creation in the state super-charges charitable giving.
So how strong is Maryland’s economy compared to its regional competitors? Below are a series of comparisons that empirically highlight the weaknesses Maryland must quickly address in order to stave off further stagnation. Stagnation highlighted by the double-barreled whammy of tepid economic growth and growing state government spending deficits.
As a reference point, here again is the 2023 state GDP comparison for Maryland and its closest competitors.
State
2023 GDP
Rank (out of 50)
Virginia
$678B
12th
Pennsylvania
$934B
6th
North Carolina
$726B
10th
Maryland
$518B
15th
Takeaways are Maryland is a mid‑sized economy compared to its neighbors. Maryland’s smaller economy, than VA, PA, and NC, affects how PE penetration looks when normalized.
Private Investment Matters
This chart shows how large PE investment relates to the size of each state’s economy.
Private‑Equity Penetration as % of GDP (2022)
State
PE as % of GDP
North Carolina
4.9%
Pennsylvania
4.0%
Virginia
3.9%
Maryland
3.5%
Overall Comparison: How Maryland Stacks Up
Maryland is consistently “middle‑strength” in PE penetration
Lower GDP than VA, PA, and NC
Lower total PE investment than all three
Middle‑tier per‑capita penetration
Middle‑tier GDP‑based penetration
Who leads?
Pennsylvania → strongest overall PE presence (big economy + high penetration)
Virginia → highest per‑capita penetration
North Carolina → highest PE penetration relative to GDP
Maryland → solid but not leading in any category
PE penetration trends MD VA PA NC
Takeaway: Across the past three years of available data, Maryland’s private‑equity penetration has grown steadily, but Virginia, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina have all grown faster, widening the competitiveness gap. Below is a structured, trend‑based comparison using the only year with full state‑level PE data (2022) plus three‑year GDP and population trends to show how penetration is shifting over time.
GDP Growth Trend (2020–2023)
GDP growth affects PE penetration because a faster‑growing economy dilutes penetration unless PE inflows grow even faster.
State
GDP Growth (2020→2023)
Trend Meaning
North Carolina
Strong
Expanding economy + rising PE intensity
Virginia
Moderate
Stable base + strong per‑capita PE
Pennsylvania
Moderate
Large economy + strong PE inflows
Maryland
Slower
Slower GDP growth reduces dilution but signals weaker economic dynamism
Maryland takeaway: Maryland’s slower GDP growth means PE penetration is not diluted—but it also signals a less aggressive economic expansion compared to NC and VA.
Conclusions:
Maryland is clearly in an undesirable, downward cycle of slower private investment, increasing tax rates and state government enshrined spending to a level that exceeds tax receipts by more than a billion dollars each year for the predictable future.
It is difficult to say whether the political courage necessary to reverse this trend is present among all political candidates running for state level offices this year. The current governor of Maryland, for a time early in his administration, possessed the political capital necessary to stand up and reverse this trend. During his first administration he did not demonstrate the political courage to do so and showed everyone his primary motivation during his first term as governor focused on the national political stage. He chose to maintain the status quo assuming that, if the worst occurred, he would be out of the governor’s office and a national political figure potentially immune to the minor stories in his native Maryland.
Passed performance predicts Maryland will continue to suffer the consequences of an slow-growth, high spending, high taxes posture for the foreseeable future. All this while its regional competitors strengthen their competitiveness and enjoy the benefits of economic growth and government fiscal effectiveness.
Adding insult to injury, Maryland has a multi-year history of dramatic multi-billion dollar state government spending on so-called non-profits. Current non-profit spending levels are reportedly 20 billion dollars per year. This is a very large number by anyone’s standards and larger than the recent private equity investment in the state of $18 billion dollars. An unspoken truth is that a large portion of this spending goes to “non-profits” whose executive staff are largely populated by the current administration and general assembly member’s political cronies, friends, contributors and, unbelievably, sitting legislators themselves. As frequently stated, these “non-profit” executives are paid far in excess of what they would likely command in the private sector.
If, by some act of courage not imaginable in Maryland, 20% of this amount, just $4 billion dollars, could be redirected to programs designed to attract private investment while positively bend the state program spending curve and negating further tax increases, it could be a beginning of a reversal of this negative spiral.
Research assistance by Microsoft Copilot
Tax Foundation, “Local Income Taxes in 2023,” February 2023.
Tax Foundation, “State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets for 2023,” January 2023.
Tax Foundation, “State and Local Tax Burdens, 2024,” April 2024.
Tax Foundation, “State Corporate Income Tax Rates and Brackets for 2024,” March 2024.
U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), “GDP by State, 2023,” November 2024.
Subject: Lawlessness is a Common Problem (4/11/2026)
Any of us who read daily news reports can heap claims of inappropriate conduct on the other party’s elected officials; and be correct. In reality, all should feel shame for electing politicians who piously claim they are totally committed to public safety and transparency, then immediately trample their claims with inappropriate conduct.
If you are paying attention, it’s difficult to refute the writer’s excoriation of the current administration (“Which Party Really Supports Lawlessness” L.G. Connor Ellicott City). But so many similar stories could be told about the previous administration’s policies and failures to act in the best interest of the nation. Narcissists all.
Closer to home, Maryland voters continue to elect the same type of politician whose speeches are filled with claims of righteousness. Then point the crooked finger at others for blame when festering problems reach their doorstep or duly appointed watchdogs are denied the tools necessary to uncover misdeeds. Or worse, refuse to appointment truly independent voter/taxpayer ombudsman.
I am new to Maryland and in my seventy plus years have never witnessed a state/city with totally unaudited, hundreds of millions of taxpayer funds going to supposed nonprofits. Everyone knows much of this money is going into the pockets of elected official’s friends, family, associates and donors.
And public safety? The growing violence problem is frightening to everyone despite claims of improvement. Some of Baltimore’s problems with violence are moving to nearby suburbs. Who isn’t afraid to go to the mall?
Yet, here we are in another election year and I fear little will change. Maybe the chorus of boos directed at the governor during the recent Orioles game will be a harbinger of new voter enlightenment.
Curt Rasmussen
Taneytown MD
Subject: Just Sayin’ (4/18/2026)
Mr. Cromwell, I now understand your perspective. ( A little grace can’t hurt on the political landscape 4/17/2026). You apparently found what you were looking for in action by the Maryland legislature in 2026. The rest of us did not. We were hopeful for much more meaningful action on the part of our legislators relative to reducing the relentless, crushing increases in the cost of living in this state as the exodus from Maryland increases. 2026’s session focused elsewhere preferring just another kick the can down the road and be reelected year.
I spent several years directly engaged with efforts to affect legislative action in Virginia. I fully understand those who have direct access to legislators must approach with sugar, carrots and relevant information.
Virginia’s economy is thriving because government there recognizes that economic strength increases the tax base in a fashion that benefits all citizens with increased government program spending and lower taxes. It takes time and political courage to turn the ship. I see no signs of real progress toward that goal here. And Virginia has nearly as many federal employees as Maryland.
Predictably, it appears the fiscal problems in Maryland become much worse in the near future. This is why those of us who see no meaningful progress or change are becoming angry and resentful. I am hopeful this year’s election will deliver that message more effectively. But hope is not a strategy.
Curt Rasmussen
Taneytown MD
Subject: The Image We Seek (4/28/2026)
An excerpt follows from “In Memoriam” as recounted in the introduction to the book “The Passing of the Armies” describes the hero of Little Round Top in the Battle of Gettysburg as well as the book’s author.
”Respect and admiration for the soldier-governor were not limited by party lines. His four years of service were an ‘era of good feelings’. His messages were admirable documents. They breathed of loyalty and state pride and his recommendations were made with care and full consideration and had only in view the welfare and advancement of the state and people. All the duties of his office and the many functions to which he was called by the people were performed with thoroughness, grace and dignity and to the enhancement of the great love and consideration in which he was held. His reputation as a statesman was worthy of that he had made as a soldier”
Joshua L. Chamberlain, professor, soldier, general, governor then finally President of Bowdoin College, was a man of many accomplishments. A man held in the highest regard for his heroism, leadership, integrity and governing, to state just a few of his exceptional qualities. An ethical man whose image I struggle to associate with Maryland’s current occupant of the executive mansion. Chamberlain’s record is fully on display transparently for all to see in every detail. Every Marylander should hope and pray that someday we would have a candidate for governor of this caliber to elect, reverse our decline and lead this state to the future its citizens deserves.
Curt Rasmussen
Taneytown MD
Subject: Not Much Headroom (5/21/2026)
Despite valiant attempts by many to bring to voters the myriad of reasons why this is finally the time to change the course of state government, I have resigned myself to the fact that Democrat machine voting will carry on again this November. Moore and his political cronies will be reelected despite clear evidence of narcissistic behavioral-driven mismanagement of voters trust and taxpayer funds.
Taxpayers must be secretly fearful of the coming slew of new taxes and fees necessary to address the billion dollar plus structural deficits facing the governor and general assembly for 2027, 2028 and beyond. The corporate tax rate is the highest in the region excepting only, by less than 1%, in tiny Delaware. Will they have the audacity to go there with accelerating corporate flight from the state? I am guessing not. So where then, because surely real financial discipline and actual spending cuts are not likely, will the increase in required funding come from? Income tax, sales & use tax, and fees are the primary revenue sources substantial enough to offset the structural deficit and balance the budget. All resting most heavily on citizen/taxpayers. With property tax (primarily for local government) they don’t even have to raise rates while riding the secretive valuation assessment increase train to more spending.
As many others have written here, wake up Marylanders, this election in November is your chance for real leadership-driven change!
Curt Rasmussen
Taneytown MD
Subject: Just a Voter’s Voice (6/1/2026)
I read both the Honorable Steve Hershey’s letter today as well as the one he referenced. Eighteenth months ago my wife and I moved to Maryland from Virginia to be closer to grandchildren. I have some knowledge about state and local government as I worked several years with Virginia, Maryland and D.C. state and local government entities during my career.
The contrasts between Maryland and Virginia are stark. Maryland gives greater credence to the often heard credo absolute power corrupts absolutely. Years of total control by one party has brought the state to the breaking point with disgracefully high taxes, fees and regulation. We can say the same of Baltimore City but the lack of governmental oversight of $20 billion in grants to “non-profits” EACH YEAR is opening the flood gates to mismanagement, fraud and abuse enriching politicians cronies.
My wife and I are proud to be Republicans and wish to help the party exert some positive influence in Maryland with our votes, letters to Sun editorial staff and financial support of worthy candidates. The party is not perfect, nor are some of its leaders, but, as Senator Hershey so aptly described it, the principles the party stands for represent our personal values.
A two party system is most successful for the people when true reins of power change hands on occasion and each party must compete fairly for voter trust. The one party system in Maryland has allowed that party over many years to hone the system to ensure their continued political success granting themselves absolute power.
