I just learned that I'll be meeting with MD's Governor today. UPDATE

I agree. Except for Bartlett's district, MD is a lost cause. My 7th district rep, E Cummings, doesn't even return my calls and emails. He's too busy not reading the 1300 page bills he votes in favor of. Den of thieves, all sucking up to our neighbors in DC. Much as I love the state I grew up in, I'm ready to beat feet as soon as I finish my master's degree.

I think the activity in this thread is a demonstration that we should all be meeting with our representatives. It's our right, you know. Keep calling and asking to speak to the scheduler. Ask that a secretary is present to write notes.

1. How are the "Lexus Lanes" coming?
They've blown billions on a concrete monstrosity by Whitemarsh so the wealthy can avoid traffic. 3 years later and it's still an unfinished mess.

2. Why are the dogs after Mayo?
Mayo Shattuck, one of the bright bulbs in MD and the CEO of Constellation Energy, made a couple million last year doing his job - somehow spawns a state senate witch-hunt. What gives?

3. How did the mayor of the "City that Bleeds" ever become Governor??

thanks,

ps. Please tell him I really admire the ol bait-in-switch routine on the Easy Pass!!

Tell him to read Radley Balko's latest at Reason and then ask him to rein in the Prince George County SWAT team before somebody gets killed!

I live in Maryland.

Recenlty slots were aproved for a select group of places. Note that gambling was not made legal and slots were not made legal. This is a special privledge that was granted to a few organizations with political ties that were choosen by politicians. This was also implemented with an amendment to the Maryland constitution, not normal legislation. That would make it much harder to change then regular legislation. Slots were also proposed by the previous administration and they were shot down.

Here are some questions:

Why was this done via a constitutional amendment?

Why were a few select organizations choosen instead of making slot (or gambling) legal for all similar organizations?

What changed from the last administration aside from the governor's political party?

At what point is the governor going to consider reducing the size of government within the state and get off the stupid educational agenda? Why waste money pushing kids through a practically useless secondary education when tax payers can start getting some of their money back in their pocket? Yeah, slots were voted in but the money doesn't seem to be rolling in anytime soon ("NIMBY" seems to be the problem with that issue).

Furthermore, furloughs may help keep jobs (stimulus money does help fill the holes that might otherwise have been a problem too), but this short term solution only puts aside the issue till the next term (which is coming up fairly soon).

When's he going to realize that not only are residents being stripped of their income tenfold at the federal, state, county, and local level, but those revenues are going to really fall short and the state of Maryland will have some real problems?

As much as I would love no taxes, this state is too damn dependent on them to cut the drug cold turkey so some amount of cutbacks needs to happen sooner rather than later.

BTW, tell him to get rid of the MSA's. They are a waste of time and resources for teachers all around the state, not to mention, the damn things should NOT apply to kids with special needs. This equality ideal is embarrassing and kids with learning disabilities should not have to be put under that type of stress (they all practically fail it, and the state expects that - which is why they make them take it again with assistance to see if they could pass it). That time could equally be used on practical knowledge and life skills, more speech therapy, etc. Efficiency, O'Malley, efficiency is key.

Mr. Lawson. For starters, any question regarding promises not kept by the current adminstration to our failing monetary system will do.
Most anything you can find from any of Ron Pauls writings is enough to cause a stir.
All in our area will be thinking of you. And yes we will help on the bail if needs be. Might as well, every one else is getting bailed out.;) The Chicago Cubs will be next. What a joke our government is today.
Continue marching freedom fighters.

Bring your portfolio and offer up a Maryland Flag or something

He appears to be a BIG TIME UN Agenda 21 idiot, so I would ask him how smart is smart growth when it's following the UN Agenda for a 21st Century which has brought us wars, famine, viral and bacteria outbreaks, fewer consumer protections and stripped us of our rights under the Patriot Act. Where did the word "smart" come in from something so dumb?

From his page: The Governor’s announcement came after a walking tour of local development projects in downtown Cambridge.

“Focusing investment in Maryland’s great neighborhoods and existing communities is critical to achieving smarter growth in our State,” Governor O’Malley said on Sunday in Cambridge, announcing the Smart Site designations and the funding for Cambridge’s Smart Site project, the Green Workforce Housing Initiative. “Even in difficult economic times, and perhaps most especially, it is important that we and our local partners focus on the best projects that can revitalize business districts, enhance transit hubs and encourage private investment in those communities that need it the most.”

if the government feels any responsibility for cutting back programs and expenses considering ordinary citizens have to cut back.

Tell him that if he supports a few key issues like no pre-emptive war, sound money, and low taxes, we will put him in the white house.

ask him for a job.

for MD state offices. If it is the Governor I think it is, then he is very libertarian in his approach.

Governors are in a great postion to help state office candidates raised money and get plugged in. Be a little bird that this could be a very significant way for him to help the cause of liberty.

The Federal Reserve. (Print out plenty of copies for everyone there) Then ask about States Rights superceeding Federal. Then ask if he understands fractional reserve banking.

"It is well that the people of the nation do not understand our banking and
monetary system, for if they did, I believe there would be a revolution before tomorrow morning." — Henry Ford

“If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and the corporations which grow up around them will deprive the people of all property until their children wake up homeless on the continent their father conquered.” - Thomas Jefferson

"We have, in this country, one of the most corrupt institutions the world has ever known. I refer to the Federal Reserve Board. This evil institution has impoverished the people of the United States and has practically bankrupted our government. It has done this through the corrupt practices of the moneyed vultures who control it." - Congressman Louis T. McFadden in 1932 (Rep. Pa)

"Most Americans have no real understanding of the operation of the international money lenders. The accounts of the Federal Reserve System have never been audited. It operates outside the control of Congress and manipulates the credit of the United States" - Sen. Barry Goldwater (Rep. AR)

“The real truth of the matter is, as you and I know, that a financial element in the large centers has owned the government of the U.S. since the days of Andrew Jackson.” - Franklin Delano Roosevelt

“The money powers prey upon the nation in times of peace and conspire against it in times of adversity. It is more despotic than a monarchy, more insolent than autocracy, and more selfish than beaurocracy. It denounces as public enemies all who question its methods or throw light upon its crimes. I have two great enemies, the Southern Army in front of me and the bankers in the rear. Of the two, the one at my rear is my greatest foe.” - Abraham Lincoln

"I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. Already they have raised up a monied aristocracy that has set the government at defiance. The issuing power (of money) should be taken away from the banks and restored to the people to whom it properly belongs." - Thomas Jefferson, U.S. President.

"History records that the money changers have used every form of abuse, intrigue, deceit, and violent means possible to maintain their control over governments by controlling money and it's issuance." - James Madison.

"This [Federal Reserve Act] establishes the most gigantic trust on earth. When the President [Wilson} signs this bill, the invisible government of the monetary power will be legalized....the worst legislative crime of the ages is perpetrated by this banking and currency bill." - Charles A. Lindbergh, Sr. , 1913

"A great industrial nation is controlled by it's system of credit. Our system of credit is concentrated in the hands of a few men. We have come to be one of the worst ruled, one of the most completely controlled and dominated governments in the world--no longer a government of free opinion, no longer a government by conviction and vote of the majority, but a government by the opinion and duress of small groups of dominant men." - President Woodrow Wilson

"By this means government may secretly and unobserved, confiscate the wealth of the people, and not one man in a million will detect the theft." - John Maynard Keynes (the father of 'Keynesian Economics' which our nation now endures) in his book "THE ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES
OF THE PEACE" (1920).

"The few who understand the system, will either be so interested from it's profits or so dependant on it's favors, that there will be no opposition from that class." - Rothschild Brothers of London, 1863

"Give me control of a nation's money and I care not who makes it's laws" - Mayer Amschel Bauer Rothschild

What's up with that? Give us the full report when you get back.

Here's my general question for all government: "What are the limits? In your opinion, are there any?"

"What was taken from the boomers, it ain't there, what was taken from the X'ers it ain't there, what is being taken from their great, great, great squared grandchildren it ain't there. Some generation just has to have the guts to quit passing it on." Me