Submitted on 06-03-2026

Should Be Illegal

As described in the front page article in today’s Baltimore Sun, a long term elected member of the Maryland Legislature earns a top 1% salary as an executive with a “non-profit” that has received tens of millions of taxpayer dollars.  This same organization has had very questionable audit performance as salaries skyrocketed.  This legislator claims he is not directly involved in decisions that affect the funding provided to his employer.  I believe we all know how this works as he possesses very significant influence among his colleagues and with leadership throughout state and local government.

Does no one else find this completely unethical, disgusting and smacks of corruption?

Curt Rasmussen

Taneytown MD

Submitted on 06-01-2026

Just a Voter’s Voice

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.

Curt Rasmussen 

Taneytown MD

Submitted 05-21-2026

 Not Much Headroom

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

Submitted 04-28-2026

An Image We Seek

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 Marylanders 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