Political Parties

I was disappointed and, quite frankly, surprised to read Dan Rodricks ' column in which he wrote that based upon his opposition to the tax increase, Senator Bobby Zirkin should switch political parties and become a Republican ("Bobby Zirkin: secret Republican?" March 20). As a guest on Mr. Rodricks' radio program last year, I discussed my decision to support marriage equality and the fact that I was the only Republican senator to do so; support, I might add, that Mr. Rodricks applauded.

The thought of Ron Smith leaving us so soon is still difficult to fathom. Up to and including his last show on Nov. 28, he was as entertaining, opinionated and combative as ever. He was the self-proclaimed "Voice of Reason," firmly entrenched in the WBAL saddle, issuing quick-witted responses to those who had the guts to engage him on the airwaves. Even with the looming and unwelcome specter of a grave prognosis, when Ron was behind the mic, life temporarily resumed its regular order for him and his loyal listeners.

Albert Einstein is famously reported to have said that the definition of insanity was to continue doing the same thing over and over again and expect different results. By that definition, it appears that America has gone stark raving mad. Our economy is in tatters. We have mortgaged our children's future to the Chinese. We are mired in a state of perpetual war abroad and embarked on a ruinous course of nation building in distant, impoverished nations while our own infrastructure crumbles and decays around us. Our Congress is locked in perpetual gridlock, and our politicians are bought and paid for by lobbyists and corporate sponsors.

The trial of Paul Schurick is another example of how corrupt politics in this country have become. Our soldiers are overseas fighting and dying so oppressed people can gain the right to vote. After all the bloodshed in Iraq, the Iraqi people were given the ability to decide who will lead their country. Some walked tremendous distances and were so jubilant after voting, showing off their inked finger as proof that they cast a vote. And here in Maryland we have people scheming on how to stop people from voting.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has famously declared that she wants her next job title to be "grandmother. " But a Harris Poll indicates that Mrs. Clinton is just about the only politician with a job approval rating above sea level. And a second survey suggests that American moms - remember the role of the soccer mom in 1996? - would rather vote for her for president than Barack Obama or any of the Republican candidates. It might be time to change the date on those "Hillary 2008" buttons.

I was glad to see Dan Rodricks mention Congress as a culprit in his column about economic inequality ("Millionaires versus millennials," Nov. 15). Not just Wall Street but both political parties will have to be held accountable if the "99 percent" expect to see any progress. As I wrote in a recent letter to U.S. Sen. Barbara Mikulski, Maryland seems to have a multitude of rules, regulations and other methods to deny poor people the help they need. I say this from first hand experience, having lived below the poverty level the past two years.

Add another reason to your analysis of Tuesday's dismal Baltimore primary election turnout - a state that actually doesn't want people to be engaged in the political process, especially if there's a possibility they might want to change it. Despite the crocodile tears of politicians asking "what is wrong" with us uninspired, frustrated voters, behind the scenes Maryland's third and fourth-largest political parties are embroiled in a lawsuit for...

As Warren Buffett once observed, it takes about 20 years to build up a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. Last Friday's decision by Standard & Poor's to downgrade U.S. debt from AAA to AA+ was just that kind of hit - and the markets are showing their unhappiness with it today. One can debate S&P's decision-making process endlessly. It's telling that Moody's today reiterated its choice to keep the U.S. at AAA, citing the debt ceiling deal and signs of long-term economic improvement.

After reading last week's Columbia Flier , I was concerned with the seeming trend toward churches, summer camps, political parties, etc. that are composed of mostly one racial group. Whether such groups are predominately black, Asian or white, the point is the same. Such division doesn't speak well of us. I've been very proud to live in a community that was designed to be racially and economically mixed. The diversity here is something to be truly proud of and is a prime factor in all that has made Columbia what it is today.