NEWS
May 20, 2012
Recently I spent 90 minutes on the metal benches at the DMV in Glen Burnie waiting to renew my driver's license on a day a lot of my fellow Marylanders had the same idea. While waiting - especially without a book to read - can be difficult, I left with a smile on my face. The DMV employees I dealt with - getting my number, answering questions and finally getting my license - could not have been more pleasant, helpful or friendly. Bravo Maryland state employees! Want a shorter wait?
NEWS
May 19, 2012
Thomas Schaller make a case for how the private sector can be just as if not more flawed than the public sector ("Sure, government is flawed - but markets are too," May 16). One aspect of the comparison that he (perhaps intentionally?) failed to mention, however, is that in the private sector, dissatisfied customers always have the option of switching to a different vendor, bank, insurance carrier, etc. That's not the case with any government agency. That is where the private sector excels over the public sector.
NEWS
May 19, 2012
I take exception to Thomas Schaller's assertion that "Overhead in federal insurance programs like Medicare and Social Security is minimal. By some estimates, only 2 percent of expenditures go to administrative overhead" ("Sure, government is flawed - but markets are too," May 16). My wife formerly worked in the Social Security Administration, and she says Mr. Schaller's arguments are way off the mark. "By some estimates?" How vague is that? Why doesn't The Sun require the learned professor to cite his sources?
NEWS
May 18, 2012
I agree with Thomas F. Schaller that there is waste and imperfection in the marketplace as well as government ("Sure, government is flawed - but markets are, too," May 16), but the pivotal difference is choice. I maintain the option to purchase goods and services from competing entities in the marketplace. If I do not agree with the business practices of a certain company, a competitor will get my money. In order to increase revenue, a company must produce enough quality to elicit demand.
NEWS
May 18, 2012
Pfc. Bradley Manning is accused of leaking the largest document dump in U.S. history to Wikileaks, including the Iraq and Afghan war logs as well as the infamous "Collateral Murder" video depicting an Apache helicopter attack on Reuters journalists. Mr. Manning faces 23 different charges including one of "aiding the enemy," and if convicted he could spend the rest of his life in prison. Thus far, Mr. Manning's case has not been given the attention it deserves. The government's treatment of Mr. Manning, both during his pre-trial confinement and in the court room, has been appalling, and the American people need to hear about it. Mr. Manning will be in Ft. Meade on June 6th for his next pre-trial hearing.
NEWS
Dan Rodricks | May 16, 2012
I want to thank Ms. Nina Platt of Homeland for providing me with a copy of her outrageous water bill - and her neighbor's - because, until this happened, I was feeling left out of the Great Baltimore Water Bill Commiseration. It seems like everybody in the city but me has a goofy and outrageous water bill to brag and gripe about. My bill looks normal, boring and puny compared to what I see here: $813.75 due by May 29 for Ms. Platt, who lives alone, and $1,219.06 for the family of four next door.