Here, Not Haiti
President Clinton's adviser was right when he sent back word from Haiti that there are three things needed to make a lasting impact there:
1. Disarm the population so that disagreements are not decided with guns.
2. Provide investment in the economy to establish lasting and productive businesses and jobs.
3. Show that democracy can work by having believable elections and getting people to believe that their vote counts.
Right ideas, wrong place.
Are we really unwilling and unable to remove the log from our own eye before trying to remove the splinter from theirs?
Baltimore and other U.S. cities desperately need all of these interventions, but here these ideas would likely be paralyzed by charges of unconstitutionality, racism or favoritism.
What does it say about our political system that these ideas can only be successful in a country not hampered by our form of democracy?
We need action from our government in our own back yards before it is too late, and these ideas would be a good start.
Douglas G. Carroll
Brooklandville
Spineless
For the first time in most Marylanders' memory we have a true contest for the governor's office.
The two candidates differ profoundly on many issues, as one would expect, and agree on a few.
As a concerned citizen, I have attempted to find out where these two stand on many of the issues that interest and affect me, in particular, and the state as a whole.
What irks me is that I have to rely on the media at all when a good old-fashion debate will tell me more about the candidates that a hundred sound bites or newspaper headlines.
Why does Parris Glendening continue to duck substantive televised debates with Ellen Sauerbrey?
Does he feel his position on the issues is weak? Is he afraid Mrs. Sauerbrey will eat him alive face to face? Is he not willing to take any chances?
It has become abundantly clear to me that Mr. Glendening does not have the courage, backbone and conviction to be an effective governor.
In short, he lacks guts.
I am tired of spineless, pandering, kowtowing politicians that are so prevalent in this state and country.
On the other hand, Mrs. Sauerbrey gives me the impression that she is willing to take on anyone or any task, and succeed.
Does anybody truly believe that Mrs. Sauerbrey lacks guts?
Kenny Tyler
Ocean City
New Era
In the Sept. 24 editorial "The Politicians' Puzzle," the final paragraph states that "it is difficult to discern what the people want."
The answer is so simple and obvious that it shows how limited politicians can be.
What the people want is honesty, efficiency, responsibility and dedication.
In the unlikely event (unlikely solely because of greed) that those four characteristics were actually true, then the appalling corruption and criminal waste in present day politics would be a thing of the past.
We could look forward to a balanced budget (in no other way can the horrendous deficit be reduced), a limit to terms of office, elimination of all lobbying/lobbyists (synonyms for bribery), which would go a long way to halt the evil of public "servants" raising their own salaries.'
All these things would usher in a bright, new, prosperous era, in which representative government would, for the first time in many decades, be a fact.
George Cunningham
Chestertown
Towson Tickets
It seems as if Baltimore County is trying to discourage citizens from spending their money in Towson.
It was a beautiful Saturday afternoon as we parked the family car next to the meter. For some reason, parking was free for two hours on the other side of the street. We were ignorant concerning parking meters being in force on a Saturday.
When we returned to the car several minutes later, the ticket had already been neatly affixed to the windshield.
I am a resident of the Towson area and would like to patronize the inner Towson business district, but this kind of deceptive law enforcement has compelled me to take my business elsewhere.
William Hennick
Baltimore
Ignoring Bikers
I was a participant in the 14th Annual Motorcycle Operation Santa Claus Toy Run to help needy children on Oct. 15 (a Saturday) at the General Motors plant on Broening Highway. The weather was perfect, and there was a larger then expected turnout.
Motorcyclists from all over Maryland and the surrounding states came to donate toys, food and money to those less fortunate for the holidays.
The following day I opened the paper with anticipation to see exactly how much had been collected by the Salvation Army.
I was outraged and angered to find not one word about this in Sunday's paper. Here was a collection of over 12,000 people for a charitable cause, and there is no mention of the day at all.
One has to wonder if the reason is that the paper feels a group of "bikers" are not worthy of coverage.
All too often bikers are stereotyped as the dregs of society and always on the lookout for trouble. I strongly disagree.
These are people from all walks of life and all income levels who give of their time and money to help brighten the holidays for those less fortunate.
It was obvious from the exorbitant number of police on patrol that trouble was expected. Much to their dismay, there was none, as has been the case for years.
I think your oversight in covering this event is appalling. I question the paper's motives behind reporting on local festivals attended by a few thousand people or other local news and totally ignoring an event that benefits thousands of families through the generosity of a group of bikers.
I, like the other participants of this worthwhile event, are not looking for a pat on the back. It would just be nice to see some positive stories about motorcyclists that would help dispel the attitude that they, as a group, are bad news.
Hope to see you next year.
S. R. Baranowski
Baltimore
A Revised Charter for the City
On Nov. 8, the General Election ballot in Baltimore will ask voters to vote for or against a revised charter for Baltimore City. There will be no explanatory information about this issue on the ballot.
The League of Women Voters, a non-partisan, educational organization dedicated to promoting political responsibility by encouraging informed and active participation of citizens in government, is disappointed that such an important issue will be presented to Baltimore voters who have not had an opportunity to review the many changes proposed for the city charter.
The city charter is the document that defines and delineates the duties and responsibilities of our city agencies and departments, and the qualifications and obligations of our elected officials.
It spells out the process by which the city budget is adopted, including the details of the rights of citizens for input into the process.
The last major revision of the city charter occurred in 1964. For the past two years, a Charter Revision Commission appointed by Mayor Kurt Schmoke has been reviewing the city charter researching appropriate topics and making recommendations about how the charter can be revised to reflect the most efficient structure and operation of our government.
Although the league and other local civic organizations were initially part of a task force to participate in the charter revision process, that task force was later eliminated by City Council legislation.
The Charter Revision Commission continued its work in relative secrecy, until Dec. 17, 1993, when it issued a 300-page draft of its findings and asked for public comment by Jan. 5, 1994.
After a subsequent City Council Judiciary Committee hearing on the proposed revisions in April 1994, the Charter Revision Commission issued its final report.
Following spirited debate, and some amendment, the City Council passed the charter revision ordinance, and it has been signed by Mayor Schmoke.
It will now appear as Ballot Question J on the ballot of the general election, for approval or rejection by the voters of Baltimore City.
The charter revision legislation proposed some substantial changes to our current charter, including the following items:
* Changes the terms of members of the School Board, the Planning Commission, the Civil Service Commission and the Zoning Board.
* Grants the mayor, with approval or amendment by the City Council, the ability to subdivide City Council districts, to conform with law.
* Changes the manner in which a City Council vacancy is filled
* Shortens the length of time, and limits the opportunity of, a mayoral "pocket veto."
* Changes the deadlines by which the Board of Estimates, mayor and City Council produce and enact the budget.
* Authorizes the Board of Estimates to promulgate rules or regulations that provide for limited bid preference on a neighborhood service, neighborhood public service or neighborhood public improvement contract, giving preference to residents or business owners in that neighborhood.
* Authorizes the mayor to appoint the superintendent of public instruction from a list provided by the School Board and authorizes the mayor to appoint the director of the Department of Planning from a list supplied by the Planning Commission.
Such significant changes in the way our city officials do business deserve serious consideration.
There are many people responsible for the success or failure of the charter revision process. It is the responsibility of voters to educate themselves about such important issues as charter revision; it is the responsibility of civic organizations such as the league to encourage voter education, and it is the responsibility of Mayor Schmoke to insure that his constituents have the necessary information with which to make such an important decision.
The league has prepared a non-partisan, unbiased, detailed summary of the proposed revision to the Baltimore City Charter. It is available free of charge by calling 825-5353.
Betty Newcomb
Baltimore
The writer is president of the LWV of Baltimore City.