Disloyal DePazzo
Baltimore County Councilman Louis DePazzo sought and received the aid of the Battle Grove Democratic Club in his many campaigns for elective office.
In the last election, the club distributed 50,000 ballot cards supporting Mr. DePazzo.
Yet though Mr. DePazzo expects the Democratic Party label and the aid of Democratic clubs to help him win, he also claims the right to say and do anything he wants for Republicans he likes and against Democrats he dislikes.
Reciprocal loyalty goes with membership in a Democratic club and use of the Democratic Party label to win votes.
A Democratic club has a right to demand reciprocal loyalty on the part of politicians who seek its support, especially when it is the massive aid the Battle Grove Club gives.
The club also has a right to hold its members to its by-laws, which call for expulsion of any member who works against the interests of the Democratic Party and the club.
After ample notice of the charges and a fair hearing, the club's board of directors voted to discipline Mr. DePazzo and presented its recommendation to the membership.
A motion from the floor substituted expulsion for a penalty of two years suspension, with reinstatement conditioned upon his behavior in the 1996 elections.
After open discussion, during which both Mr. DePazzo and his wife spoke, more than the two-thirds majority required to overrule the board voted in favor of the substitute penalty. This is democracy at work, too.
If a Democrat works against his own party's candidates to the degree Mr. DePazzo did, the only honest alternative is to register as a Republican so voters won't be misled by a dishonest label.
Loyalty and honesty -- is that too much to expect from Lou DePazzo or any other politician?
Ronald P. Bowers
Lutherville
The writer is a member of the Battle Grove Democratic Club.
Blame Congress
Congress is beating people over the head for participating in a system of its own devising -- subsidies for the poor and for unwed teen-age mothers.
Will Congress reduce out-of-wedlock births by kicking young mothers off welfare? Not likely.
Will legislation curb the "raging hormones" of boys who are largely unaffected by welfare cuts?
If subsidies are the problem, what about subsidies for tobacco growers, whose products are harmful to everyone?
What about tax loopholes and subsides of business and industries that would survive, perhaps less profitably, without them but that certainly would not be as destitute as welfare recipients -- particularly children -- if benefits were cut off?
Is the system abused? Probably. People will take what the system gives them.
Has any well-to-do person ever turned down a tax break? Has business, industry or government ever declined a regulation or law that allowed them a competitive advantage -- even at citizen or consumer expense?
Reform the system? You bet! Cut out the abuse? Good luck!
In the meantime, Congress ought to reduce the rhetoric of welfare bashing and get on with the job.
It should pass meaningful legislation regarding campaign financing so that those other than the rich can afford to run for office.
It should curb lobbyists and influence-peddlars so its vote isn't for sale to the highest bidder.
And it should show a bit more understanding for people not in privileged circumstances who are just living with a system their government devised.
Russ Seese
Aberdeen
Spousal abuse
The news about domestic violence is getting increasingly worse. Not a day goes by without a tragic incident, where a member of a family is killed by a spouse and the victims -- the
children -- are left alone without a mother and father.
What can be done? Maybe there is an answer that could prevent at least some of the tragedies we keep reading about.
After someone in a family calls 911 for help, and there is clear evidence of spousal (or partner) abuse, the first time this occurs the officer should issue a summons (like a traffic violation summons).
The summons should be issued to both spouses, regardless of who appears to be the aggressor, and the judge should require both parties to attend counseling, without any determination of who was at fault or who was guilty.
Determination of guilt could come later if one of the spouses wants to press charges.
If one or the other -- or both -- of the spouses refuses to go to the counseling, a stiff fine for each missed session should be given.
We need to change the law so that it is something like my suggestion. Calling 911 is no good unless someone presses charges, and most often the victim is too intimidated to do that.
The first stages of spousal abuse need attention in order to keep them from escalating. Driving under the influence laws have features that are designed to deter further abuse. So should spousal abuse.
#Dalinda Cibils-Badenhoop
Owings Mills
Israel is no threat to peace
I read with great interest Georgie Anne Geyer's article "A Threat to Peace" (Other Voices, Feb. 6). The increase in membership in and sympathy for radical groups like Hamas and Islamic Jihad is indeed a threat to peace.
I would, however, like to add a bit of history to some of the statements made in the article.
In 1948 the United Nations presented the partition plan that divided Palestine into regions to accommodate both the Jewish population and the Arabs who were then living under British rule.
The Jews accepted the plan. The Arabs rejected the plan and declared war.
When a people declare war they must be willing to accept the consequences.
Many Arabs remained to live in the Jewish state after the war and until today continue to be represented in Israel's Knesset.
After the 1948 war, attempts were made by the Arab states and organizations such as the Palestine Liberation Organization and Hamas to continue the conflict.
The largest, most concerted effort was in 1967. Six Arab armies were massed on the borders of Israel ready to destroy the state and kill all who lived there.
The Israelis were able to defend themselves. They were not out to conquer land. They were defending their dot on the map and their right to live where they chose.
Today they are being asked to make concessions. But to whom? Even Yasser Arafat, the "man of peace," has been unable to remove the goal of conquering Israel and wiping out its population from the PLO charter.
The Arab countries are some of the richest in the world.
Let them take the resources they possess and use them to uplift their people instead of wasting them on hatred and terrorism.
Shana Goldfinger
Baltimore
SIDS cause still needs study
"Sleeping Easier" is an article which appeared in The Evening Sun Feb. 7.
It is not yet confirmed that sleep position is totally responsible for the decline in Sudden Infant Death Syndrome cases in Maryland.
We have observed an overall decline in SIDS deaths in Maryland. have observed an over all decline in sudden deaths, and the 1994 data needed to analyze this change is not yet available.
In addition, the distribution of SIDS infants found on their back, side or stomach has been the same for the past three years.
We do not yet have the data to say that the decline in SIDS deaths is due solely to back sleeping. Some infants still die of BTC SIDS even when sleeping on their backs.
It is important to realize that back sleeping reduces the risk of dying of SIDS, but it does not prevent SIDS.
It is also unfortunate that the article did not identify available services. Any article about SIDS may reactivate the feelings of grief and loss experienced at the time of the death. For that reason, it is essential to include available services.
The Maryland SIDS Information and Counseling Program provides services at no charge to families whose infant has died suddenly and unexpectedly.
For more information about SIDS and support services call 1-800-808-SIDS or (410) 706-5062. These services are available to all Maryland families.
Jodi Shaefer, R.N.
Baltimore
The writer is director of the Maryland SIDS Information and Counseling Program.