Letters to the Editor

The government does not belong to the governor

Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.'s comments on WBAL radio certainly had a chilling effect on me ("Ehrlich says he intended `chilling effect,'" Nov. 27).

But what is truly "chilling" is his comment: "That's my government. That's my government. I'm the chief executive."

I do believe that it is our government, not the governor's - and that governor serves us, not the other way around.

Allene Gutin

Baltimore

The chilling effect Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. spoke of in his WBAL interview is working; I find it chilling that the governor of the state of Maryland would attempt to use his office to control and suppress the voice of the press when he finds it unappealing.

If there is a valid case for libel, then perhaps he should take legal action in the courts. If there is not, then it is his duty to provide equal access to all news agencies.

And this is not his government, as Mr. Ehrlich stated in his WBAL interview. It is our government.

Angela Miller

Baltimore

On a radio program broadcast by WBAL, Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. said: "That's my government."

I thought Maryland's state government belonged to the people of Maryland.

How could I have been so naive?

James M. Kehl

Baltimore

Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.'s statement, "That's my government. That's my government. I'm the chief executive," is chillingly evocative of King Louis XIV's remark: "L'état c'est moi" ("I am the state").

Slip of the tongue or tongue in cheek? It's disturbing.

Leo Bretholz

Baltimore