Border bill boosts business interests
It boggles the mind that an issue as simple as illegal immigration could spawn so much debate ("Immigration bill debate begins," May 22).
But if you cut through the rhetoric used to justify granting amnesty to illegal immigrants (which is what the current proposed legislation would do), you are left with one fundamental issue that is often lost in this debate: Business is beholden only to its shareholders. Business lobbyists pressure (i.e., pay) Congress to enact legislation that would help provide business with low-wage workers.
There is no need for American business to innovate and increase sales if it can accomplish the same thing by replacing a higher-wage American worker with a lower-wage foreign worker - decreasing expenses is a far better way to increase profits because it costs little to do.
Given that, let's look at the salient consequences of illegal immigration:
The displaced American worker goes on unemployment for a while and then takes a job that pays less than before. The American worker has less money to put into the economy.
The lower-paid immigrant relies more heavily on U.S. social programs, which of course are funded by taxpayer dollars, which takes money out of our economy.
The immigrant often sends money to his homeland, removing that money from our economy.
Forget for a second about the ethics of rewarding illegal immigrants for breaking our laws. Forget the claims of humanitarian groups that the rights of illegal immigrants will be violated if we force them to immigrate legally.
Forget for a second all of the other ancillary issues.
The question is really this: Will our nation remain a representative democracy that represents the people, or will it move further toward being a representative democracy that represents only business?
Frederick Doyle
Timonium
'Buy American' to keep jobs here
I remember a slogan from a few years back that urged us to "Buy American."
Unfortunately, I and many others didn't pay much attention or have an understanding of the serious consequences of not following that advice. Now we wake up and find our country flooded with all sorts of goods from China and from countries many of us never heard of ("Immigration bill debate begins," May 22).
Yes, these goods are cheap and that is tempting.
But what we haven't paid much attention to is what these cheaper imported products are doing to our American businesses and to the lives of our workers.
Naturally, big corporations and their stockholders are enjoying the financial benefits of cheap foreign labor. At the same time, our country is being flooded with unskilled illegal workers willing to work for wages American workers can't live on.
What is the American worker to do? What is the answer?
For me, I'll continue to look for and buy products "Made in the U.S.A."
E. Kaufman
Cockeysville
Culture of cheating undermines values
Ever wonder how it is that we live in a country where it appears that so many people who reach the top get there by lying, cheating and stealing their way up? One only has to look at the situation at Severna Park High School to understand how this happens ("Top Severna Park students say cheating is pervasive," May 22).
To see students such as Peter Thompson and a handful of others come forward and complain about the rampant cheating going on in their school is refreshing. Their actions should be commended.
The school, however, doesn't seem to think so. But, fortunately, after questions were raised about cheating on the Advanced Placement history exam, students were required to retake it.
I do not, however, agree with the parent who suggested that school officials, parents and students simply need to "reassess the value they're all placing on taking as many AP courses as possible and scoring high."
Rather, it is a matter of making certain that every student gets a good education and earns his or her grades on his or her own merit.
Barbara McNamara
Joppa
Mayor is investing in aiding our kids
The Sun concluded its editorial about Mayor Sheila Dixon's proposal to borrow $5 million from a new school construction account to pay for after-school programs this way: "Ideally, there would be enough money to modernize schools and provide after-school programs for all the children who want to participate" ("A promise is a promise," editorial, May 16).
I could not agree more; however, when faced with difficult budgeting decisions, the ideal is not an option - we must accept reality.
Last year, Ms. Dixon supported then-Mayor Martin O'Malley's decision to invest $25 million from the city's $60 million fiscal year 2006 budget surplus in school construction.
Our teachers and students deserve well-designed and highly functional school buildings. But, regrettably, today there are no new schools ready to break ground.
Meanwhile, our city is facing a serious and growing threat from street gangs, which are targeting younger and younger kids. The mayor believes we have an obligation to our children to expand after-school programs and support initiatives that promote healthy alternatives to gangs and the culture of drugs.
With this year's surplus projected to be less than $10 million, the $5 million we propose to borrow from the school construction account will help us to meet an immediate need and provide opportunities for thousands of schoolchildren.
The Dixon administration is committed to fully funding the $25 million school construction promise.
And in the coming months, working closely with the City Council and the city schools, Ms. Dixon will announce new initiatives to expand school construction and integrate it into existing and future neighborhood planning and revitalization efforts.
Andrew B. Frank
Baltimore
The writer is deputy mayor for neighborhood and economic development.
School didn't take threat seriously
I am the parent of a freshman at C. Milton Wright High School, and I'm disgusted by the inferences in the article "School threat spurs extra security" (May 19).
The article implies that at least 50 percent of C. Milton Wright's students (and their parents) overreacted to the Harford County public school advisory regarding a threat of possible violence against students by not attending school on May 18.
On the evening of May 17, the Harford County public schools broadcast to 5,000 people via its Alert Now telephone message system that the high school "has received a written communication indicating that a student has threatened harm to other students at the school."
Oddly, the message then went on to say that the "school would be open at its normal time tomorrow morning."
If the school system had information about a threat that could compromise the safety of my child and was worthy of broadcasting to every parent, student and staff member, why not close the school?
School closings are announced every winter when safety is threatened by inclement weather. How is that safety threat different from a threat of violence against students?
Apparently the school system did not take its own message as seriously as the parents of the 900 students who stayed home did.
And why was The Sun's article so one-sided?
Why were the quotes and comments only from students and parents of students who attended school that day?
Where were the contrasting viewpoints from the 50 percent of students (or their parents) who did not attend school that day?
Why did the reporters fail to mention that many students went to school that day only to call their parents and get picked up after homeroom because they were so freaked out by the ghost town atmosphere?
I can only presume that The Sun's reporters, like the school system, failed to see the significance of this event, and decided to gloss over it rather than fully investigate.
Jim Kurtz
Bel Air
Planning process helps Highlandtown
It was heartening to read of the plans advanced by the Patterson Park Community Development Corp. for the Library Square section of the neighborhood ("Patterson Park sets multiuse project," May 15).
Executive director Ed Rutkowski and the staff of the Patterson Park CDC have helped transform an entire portion of the city into a livable, walkable and mixed-use area. This project will advance that revitalization even further.
People are often unaware of the planning that buttresses projects such as this one.
But I was pleased to be a member of the professional charrette team retained by the CDC and led by noted Baltimore planner and charrette expert Stuart Sirota.
We worked closely over several days at the grass-roots level with neighborhood residents to plan, refine and refine again the Library Square initiative.
Thanks to the charrette, the project now has a greater chance of success and sustainability. Moreover, the project reflects the wishes of the neighborhood.
Charrettes are conducted frequently in Baltimore.
I would urge residents to participate and make their voices heard.
Chuck D'Aprix
Washington
The writer is a freelance urban planner and consultant.
Use city arena site for criminal courts
A study shows that Baltimore needs a new arena because the 40-year-old facility has outlived its useful life. Columnist Dan Rodricks agrees with the suggestion that it be placed near superhighways for easy access ("Put arena by interstate and bring on the games," May 17). I am fine with this idea.
But after the arena is torn down, I would urge that a new Baltimore Circuit Courthouse be erected on its site, one devoted exclusively to criminal cases.
The current courthouses, built in 1900 and 1932, are architecturally beautiful, but they are dangerous and woefully inadequate.
Administrative Judge Marcella A. Holland of the Baltimore Circuit Court has rightly observed that there is danger in the way the current facilities fail to separate the criminals from the public.
In addition to the lack of safety for courthouse employees, lawyers and judges, every day, hundreds of members of the public are compelled to serve as jurors in a facility Judge Holland perceives as potentially dangerous - and she is absolutely correct.
Mayor Sheila Dixon agrees that we need a new courthouse.
After the new courthouse is built, all criminal cases could take place there.
At that point, one of the existing city courthouses could house the civil cases while the other is renovated. Then, after one courthouse is renovated, the other could be modernized.
The space in the existing courtrooms opened up by moving criminal cases to the new building could then house the state District Court, which currently is at Fayette and Gay streets, in another historic but crumbling facility.
Irwin Weiss
Baltimore
The writer is an attorney who practices in Baltimore.
Maybe misconduct explains scrutiny
David Nitkin's astonishingly unbalanced article "White House under a scope" (May 21) hammers home the message that the White House is "struggling" to cope with an unusual number of congressional investigations and, as a result, federal "agencies are suffering and morale is low."
Why is the Democratic Congress pursuing "at least a half-dozen investigations" of Bush administration behavior?
The first answer in Mr. Nitkin's piece: Congress is "feeling its oats."
That comes from Jan Baran, a "veteran Washington lawyer who was general counsel to the Republican National Committee during the previous Bush administration."
The story jumped to Page 4A at that point, so the only explanation the busy front-page reader got is that the Democrats are simply playing the old partisan sport on the Washington playground, heckling a Republican White House.
The next quote in the article comes from another Republican spokesman, Tony Fratto at the White House, commenting on the effect of the congressional inquiries: "I'm not going to say it impairs our ability to do what we are here to do, which is to lead the government on policy, but it has come at considerable time and cost."
But the White House is holding up well under this political assault, we learn soon from Trent Duffy, a former deputy press secretary for the Bush White House.
Finally, in the article's 27th paragraph, comes the story's rather weak attempt at balance. The co-author of a book on presidential power, Aziz Huq, is quoted saying: "Congress is flexing its muscles in a way that is useful and important."
Immediately, however, Mr. Nitkin gets back to his theme, telling us that as "leaders of agencies prepare for congressional testimony and comb their files for letters and e-mail, the work of the departments slows."
Mr. Nitkin attributes this statement to "longtime Washington observers."
It was hardly necessary, after all that, to remind the readers of the story's basic message, but Mr. Nitkin did so: "Some have accused Democrats of overreaching."
To be fair, high up in the story, a Democratic leader - if given the chance - might have noted that the rising number of congressional investigations simply reflects the higher level of official misconduct and incompetence.
There wouldn't have been space, of course, to list all of the examples of the Bush administration's malfeasance.
Roscoe C. Born
Sykesville
Tucker caricatures conservatives' views
Pulitzer Prize-winning commentator Cynthia Tucker transformed herself into an anti-Jerry Falwell caricature while ridiculing his legacy ("Falwell's poisonous values," Opinion
Commentary, May 21).
Instead of thoughtfully commenting on the excesses that seemed to characterize the Rev. Jerry Falwell's life, she chose to ridicule thoughtful opinions different from her own, employing a similarly excessive style.
I am a Republican from the libertarian wing of the party, and a Roman Catholic.
Because I'm a conservative, Ms. Tucker characterizes me as beholden to a "group of flat-earthers who deny evolution, mock gays, denounce stem cell research, suspect contraceptives and believe all Muslims are going to hell."
Instead, I like to think of myself as someone who: respects other people who have religious beliefs that conflict with the theory of evolution (and my own beliefs); believes that marriage is between one man and one woman (but civil unions of a pair of consenting adults should be allowed); supports stem cell research (but believes science can eliminate the necessity to destroy life to save life); supports the availability of contraceptives for adults and sexually active young adults (but is concerned that young adults receive more education about the practice of physical intimacy than the benefits of emotional intimacy); and will strive to thwart those extremist Muslims who believe killing Jews, Buddhists, Hindus, Christians and less-worthy Muslims praises God (but does believe Muslim holy days should be recognized on public school calendars).
Paul Spause
Hanover
Cell phone use also causes road carnage
In his account of Australian measures to reduce highway fatalities, Michael Dresser ignored cell phone use as a cause of accidents ("Aussies face road carnage head-on," May 21).
As The Sun has reported, Western Australia has banned talking on cell phones while driving unless a hands-free device is used. The same article noted that cell phone use was just as dangerous whether the driver was using a handset or a headset ("Cell phones dangerous whether hands-free or hand-held, study says," July 12, 2005).
The major news from the Australian study cited in that article was that drivers were four times more likely to have an accident while talking on a cell phone than were those who kept their eyes and ears - and minds - on the road.
This study was not noted Mr. Dresser's unconvincing apologia for phoning while driving, which argued that that there are other causes of accidents and suggested that it's OK to talk and drive so long as the conversation is kept short and unemotional ("Distractions kill - not cell phones," March 12).
Texting while operating a motor vehicle may be even more dangerous.
I'm 70 and ride a bike. My particular bete noire used to be cab drivers and rednecks in pickup trucks.
Now it's SUV drivers using their cell phones.
James D. Dilts
Baltimore
Shelter dog's tale truly heartwarming
I became somewhat emotional reading about the shelter dog Ace and his devoted owner learning about Ace's DNA results ("Hey, Mister, what kind of dog is that?" May 14-May 20).
Even though this beautiful dog couldn't understand what reporter John Woestendiek was explaining to him about his roots, Ace showed his love and attachment to his human with his glances, touching and happy expressions in the accompanying video.
This once-abandoned shelter animal has obviously filled a void in the writer's life, and it is so heart-warming to see the closeness between them.
I have had rescue dogs for pets since I was a child. They all had unique temperaments and different sizes, coats and colors; they will always hold a special place for me.
My two current dogs are both mixed-breed dogs from the Annapolis SPCA.
Ginger and her two littermates were labeled as pit bull/Rottweiler mix. When I saw this, I quickly hurried past their enclosure in fear. However, after a few seconds, I was drawn back to them.
They were gorgeous, friendly, fawn-colored puppies. To make a long story short, I picked Ginger as a pet from the shelter, and she has been with me for five years now.
Like Ace's owner, I constantly hear, "What kind of dog is that?"
Thank you so much for this story.
Ann Geiger
Pasadena
Repeat drug offenders belong behind bars
Once again, Dan Rodricks shows his ignorance about drugs and crime ("O'Malley's veto a big setback to drug reform," May 20).
And now it is Gov. Martin O'Malley who has incurred the wrath of Mr. Rodricks for vetoing a bill that would have relaxed parole requirements for people with multiple convictions for selling (not merely using) illegal drugs.
During my 16 years of working in state prisons, I interviewed thousands of drug offenders who were newly committed to prison by the courts or recommitted for parole violations.
I know that most of the people doing a second or subsequent state sentence for drug violations are anything but harmless, "nonviolent" criminals.
In my experience, people don't get their first prison sentence for their first drug violation; they generally get it for perhaps their fifth violation, after they have been granted probation for earlier offenses and the courts have run out of patience with the offender's thumbing his or her nose at community supervision.
In Baltimore, I have seen as many as eight separate felony drug incidents bundled by plea bargain into one sentence.
Prosecutors don't seek the mandatory drug sentences lightly, because they know that the prospect of that penalty will force the defendant to go to trial and that the state will have to prove its case before an unpredictable jury.
So a person sentenced a second time, on mandatory provisions, for selling drugs is very likely to be a career drug dealer.
Easing that person's eligibility for parole after a second or subsequent drug-related sentence only helps him or her get back to the street to resume his or her career.
I would also hotly dispute the idea that drug-dealing is "nonviolent."
Drug markets are allocated at the barrel of a gun. The surge in shootings in Baltimore and in Prince George's County is completely attributable to drug wars.
No one affected by the bill the governor has vetoed is likely to be a harmless junkie who simply craves drug treatment.
As a former mayor of Baltimore, the governor is listening to experience.
He has acted, quite simply, to save lives.
Mr. Rodricks keeps assuming that we know how to treat drug addiction. We don't.
That's why drug relapse and a return to crime are so common.
If Mr. Rodricks knows a reliable cure for being a drug fiend, it is rather urgent that he share it.
Hal Riedl
Baltimore
The writer was a case management specialist for the Department of Corrections from 1990 to 2006.
There are no easy answers to the problem of drug addiction and the crimes fueled by those caught in that downward-spiraling lifestyle.
Writers such as Dan Rodricks can't seem to understand that if the threat of 10 years in prison isn't enough to scare someone away from becoming a "dealer-user," how on Earth could the "possibility of parole" be an "incentive for behaving better"?
The fact is that society will never be able to scare anyone away from using and dealing drugs and that simply being sensitive to the problems of addicts will not work either.
But people who believe drug addiction is purely a criminal matter have missed the boat, too.
We could lock up every drug addict today and within a week an entirely new legion of the hopeless would be drifting in and out of the shadows of our city and our lives.
While I certainly have no solutions, I believe that drug addiction is a health issue and should be treated as such.
But I also believe that dealing drugs is part of a bigger problem that must be handled by law enforcement.
John Tully
Baltimore