I find it very fitting that The Sun published a photo of Gov. Martin O'Malley on his trade mission to Asia with a binder in front of him showing the word "Maryland" upside-down ("O'Malley plans more travel to foreign nations," June 15).

Under Governor O'Malley's leadership, the "Free State" is anything but free. According to a new Mercatus Center study, Maryland ranks 43rd in overall freedom — 50th in personal freedom, 44th in regulatory freedom, and 28th in economic freedom. Labor regulations are excessive, health insurance coverage mandates add almost 51 percent to the cost of policies, and eminent domain abuse is rampant.

If Maryland truly wants to be competitive on the world stage, it must shed the onerous regulations and mandates that put our businesses and citizens at a competitive disadvantage. Providing citizens more freedom to pursue the American Dream is also the morally right thing to do.

John Flynn, Annapolis