Brendan Madigan recommends a "Texas model" for Maryland and touts its economy over ours, which he describes as being in "a state of ruin" ("A Texas solution for Maryland jobs," June 23). Well, I did some fact-checking to compare Maryland's economy with that of Texas.
First, the median household income in Maryland is $69,193, the highest of any state in the U.S., compared to Texas, where median household income is $51,507. Not bad for a Maryland economy that is "in ruins."
Next, unemployment in Maryland is running at a respectable 6.8 percent, compared to Texas' unemployment, which is currently 8.2 percent.
Maryland's poverty level is 9.2 percent compared to 17.8 percent in Texas.
Finally, the crime rate per 100,000 inhabitants in Maryland is the 12th highest in the nation, compared to Texas' crime rate, which is the eighth highest.
Given those comparisons, I don't think I will follow Mr. Madigan's advice to contact our legislators in Annapolis and recommend they act more like Texas lawmakers.
Jack Kinstlinger, Baltimore