Ehrlich Was Right: One Man's Experience
Regarding The Sun's quote of Rep. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., who supposedly said "all or most of us resent having poor people move next door," meaning "us" to be the public. And, the follow-up letter on Jan. 11 from a Towson constituent concerning poor people being moved next door. Here's an example of "real" Democratic arrogance.
My personal experience:
An unwed mother had eight children, all born on welfare. She received monthly welfare checks (deposited to her bank account), received Section 8 rental free and was always getting emergency funds from welfare and churches on a regular basis. She trashed the house, sold groceries at the door purchased with food stamps, bought and sold drugs daily, was raided by police, and then when I moved to evict her, the Section 8 department moved her to a new location (for free again.)
I can only hope they moved this family next door to that bleeding-heart liberal-minded Towson constituent. Maybe that would change his mind.
Richard C. Fleig Sr.
Pasadena
Speed Issue
John Conger's letter of Jan. 18 may have made the erroneous impression that raising of the speed limit to 65 mph is solely to blame for the increase in highway accidents in other states.
His argument did not consider other reasons for these accidents. . . .
For example, only the left lanes would be used for the faster traffic. Passing cars on the right causes confusion and disrupts the flow of traffic.
Second, because higher speeds lower the response time for reflexes, prohibition of tailgating should be strictly enforced.
Third, vehicle maintenance must be given higher priority. Too often, cars are driven with a burned-out headlight or tail-light. Even worse are cars with bald tires.
Perhaps police could fulfill their quotas enforcing the above in lieu of hiding in the bushes staking out speeders.
The U.S. is not the only country with highways. Many countries of Europe having no speed limits on their highways strictly enforce the laws suggested above.
As a result, European drivers take advantage of the greater freedom.
Finally, those who complain that raising the speed limit would mean that some drivers would travel over 80 mph are just like the Puritans of the 1600s who could not sleep well at night because they knew that somebody somewhere else was out having a good time.
James R. Bauernschmidt
Severna Park
Taxing Economy
It is always interesting to follow a train of thought in the newspaper. For example, in the Dec. 31 edition was an article about the fact that Maryland was rated as "one of the highest-tax NTC states in the country, and state officials vehemently denied it."
Then, Jan. 1 was an article subtitled "Economy: Congress key to Md. growth," that says that Maryland has "not captured the industrial recovery that Virginia and North Carolina have."
The first article would have one believe that the economy in Maryland, concerning tax rates and things taxed, isn't so bad. The second article would have one believe that it is Washington'sfault for how bad the economy is in Maryland. With bureaucrats like that of the first article running the state, and educators like that of the second article teaching economics, it is no wonder that Maryland remains the tax hell that taxpayers know it to be.
James A. Olson
Severna Park
More on Taxes
On Jan. 4, the new Republican-led House of Representatives, adopted a rules change that required that all income tax increases be passed by three-fifths of all members present and voting rather than a simple majority.
Opponents of this change requiring a super-majority to increase income taxes (all Democrats except for Vermont Socialist Bernie Sanders), argued that requiring more than a simple majority was unconstitutional -- ignoring the fact that the U.S. Senate rules require a three-fifths majority to lower taxes. . . .
The measure passed on a 279-152 roll call vote. My thanks go to Maryland Republicans Roscoe Bartlett, Robert Ehrlich, Wayne Gilchrest and Constance Morella for the concern that they demonstrated for beleaguered taxpayers by supporting the change. As for Maryland Democrats Ben Cardin, Steny Hoyer, Kweisi Mfume and Albert Wynn, I can only be gratified that their bogus arguments failed to carry the day.
Charles R. Serio
Linthicum
North Arundel Care
I wish to follow-up on Donna Marie Duzynski's letter (Jan. 22) about good treatment at North Arundel Hospital.
My first stay was last August for seven days, fifth floor, where I was given royal treatment and care by everyone from physicians Padussis, Gudwin and Kurian, to nurses and housekeepers. . . . I failed to recognize the folks in emergency. Every treatment and tests couldn't have been better. The hospital deserves A-plus, four stars, in my first experience with sickness.
Howard F. Huebel
Pasadena