Promises

What if, during William Howard Taft's presidency, Congress had enacted laws that would predetermine all spending well into the 21st century? As economic growth swelled government revenues, legislators would continue to prescribe - from six feet under - how to divvy the spoils. Their well-worn policy wheels would run over future elected officials and voters, preventing them from embracing new priorities unless they simultaneously rescinded past promises written into the law. Unable to see their way out of this logjam, the next generation of Republicans and Democrats would only make it worse - waddling back and forth between promising even more benefits relative to what could be delivered and enacting low-cost but ineffectual policies to achieve symbolic results.

DO YOU GET calls and letters promising immediate riches? "Consumers lose millions to investment fraud," warns "How To Be An Informed Investor: Protect Your Money from Schemes and Scams," a paperback by the Council of Better Business Bureaus.It suggests: Buy nothing from strangers. Be wary of phone calls, letters, e-mail. Make no promises; you owe the caller nothing. Never rely on promoters' references.Demand a prospectus and specifics about the group behind the proposal, and before investing, get professional advice from your attorney, accountant or the Better Business Bureau.

Browsing the brie torte and sundried tomato capellini at the deli counter of Eddie's of Roland Park, the shoppers of North Baltimore were talking about the mayor's race and revealing their political tastes.As the customers pondered how they would vote on primary election day, many found themselves thinking more about the character of the candidates than their promises -- reasoning that promises can be broken.They seemed to see the virtues of the candidates and the challenges faced by the city as relevant to one another.

MESSAGE FROM Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller to Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan:"Quit bellyaching."Miller offered his advice on WAMU-FM's "Public Interest" with Kojo Nnamdi, an hourlong talk program devoted yesterday to Maryland government and politics.Asked to comment on Duncan's contention that campaign promises by Gov. Parris N. Glendening have not been kept, Miller said Duncan was grandstanding."Duncan's a show person," he said. "He's tall and gregarious" and enjoys the spotlight.

Ravens offer empty promisesA number of Ravens PSL owners and I are concerned about the commitment that the organization has to us and to putting a winner on the field.We fans have done everything possible to give Art and David Modell what they want/need so that they could compete in the NFL world of greed. In return they just keep giving us promises and hopes that this year we will see the Promised Land.They don't re-sign our quality players and don't sign any quality free agents.We don't have a say in where our money goes, ticket prices will increase, we will only sign second-rate free agents, and our hard-earned money will always stay in the Modells' pockets.

INAUGURATION speeches usually contain showy promises and flowery hyperbole. Martin O'Malley avoided both yesterday as he was sworn in as Baltimore's 47th mayor.Instead, he called for citizens to help themselves."When you accept responsibility for improving your own family, or congregation, or neighborhood, or school, you make a difference. You change the world. And no one in city government can do it better than you can."The 36-year-old mayor was surrounded by thousands of well-wishers, from schoolchildren and municipal workers to leading politicians, clergy and business people.

WASHINGTON -- The major airlines will disclose this week exactly what pledges of customer service they are making as part of a voluntary program they agreed to this year to stave off federal legislation on passenger rights.Each airline is supposed to tell the Transportation Department by Wednesday how it will implement the voluntary plan. David Fuscus, a spokesman for the Air Transport Association, the big airlines' trade group, said that the airlines would probably post their plans on their Web sites soon.

IN a perfect world, no state would spend taxpayer funds to lure corporations -- and jobs. But reality dictates a different approach in which states compete fiercely to hold on to big companies and lure new ones.Maryland officials have handed out some $100 million to businesses over five years. In most cases, the money was well spent, ensuring thousands of jobs for local citizens. In a few instances, though, taxpayers were royally ripped off by companies that took the state's money and reneged on their promises -- or never intended to move from Maryland.

WHEN President Reagan negotiated arms treaties with Soviet leaders, he repeated the maxim, "trust, but verify."It's unfortunate for residents living along Mansion House Crossing in Pasadena that they did not do likewise 20 years ago when real estate agents allegedly assured them that their residential road would remain a dead end.It has evolved into one of the Mountain Road peninsula's most heavily traveled commuter thoroughfares.During the past two decades, as the area's population and traffic ballooned, residents along the road became increasingly angry with the empty assurances made when they bought their homes.

IN THE WAKE of crimes and penalties for injuries and pollution in breaking up the Navy's proud old ships, a panel representing seven federal agencies recommended keeping the system that kills workers and dumps asbestos and PCBs in coastal waters.Just let the fly-by-night contractors achieve economies by buying several ships at a time to break up and sell for scrap at a profit, the panel said.It also recommended more inspections for occupational safety and environmental protection, and weeding out the worst offenders.

"The doer is always conscienceless; no one has a conscience except the spectator." - Goethe These few words from the great German poet have what lawyers like to call "explanatory value." We spectators tend to huff and puff about broken campaign promises from our politicians. How can they renounce or ignore what they so earnestly promised when seeking our votes? The reality is, how can they not? No doubt you've noticed that it's only when their faction is out of power that politicians embrace a set of appealing "principles," which they cast aside upon attaining or regaining ruling power.

Take responsibility for housing fiasco The torrent of "who could have known" comments from almost every person I hear interviewed about the drop in the housing market must stop - i.e., Dan Demeria, owner of Potomac Heritage Homes, asking, "Who in the real estate market believed that this market would drop as it has?" ("Short, sharp fall," Feb. 22). It is time for a mea culpa from the myopic, greedy people who saddled us with the inevitable results of their delinquent behavior. It would be nice to see someone - a bank executive, a regulator or a homeowner who knew he couldn't afford the mortgage he asked for - own up to his part in this disaster.

New kind of capitalism boosts quality of life Even rock-ribbed capitalists would agree with Jay Hancock that market-based economies can and should benefit all citizens in hard times - whether what motivates entrepreneurs is selfishness or not ("Butcher, baker, unemployment line maker," Nov. 22). But rather than a "payroll co-operative," as he suggests, let's consider a more effective and efficient way to use the rewards that come to those leading successful enterprises. Call it Capitalism 2.0. In such a system, which is growing in Baltimore right now, the market economy drives the means of generating wealth, but an awakening social conscience redefines how that wealth is distributed.

BAGHDAD - Iraq's parliament approved a three-year timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. troops yesterday, a pact that supporters call a path to sovereignty and opponents say could be used to keep Americans on Iraqi soil indefinitely. The pact is the first step taken by Iraqi legislators toward ending the U.S. presence in their country since the American-led invasion in March 2003. It is expected to be ratified by Iraq's three-member presidency council. The vote, held above the din of detractors shouting, "No!"

It's official! The bank bailout has not worked. Global stock prices are in a panic rush to the bottom. The bailout cannot fulfill its primary mission to restore investor confidence, because it does only half the job. It will provide banks with much-needed liquidity, but it does not address the compensation and management practices on Wall Street that drove irresponsible decisions and gave rise to the crisis. It does not address the void of sound leadership at the top of major financial institutions such as Citigroup and Merrill Lynch.

What if, during William Howard Taft's presidency, Congress had enacted laws that would predetermine all spending well into the 21st century? As economic growth swelled government revenues, legislators would continue to prescribe - from six feet under - how to divvy the spoils. Their well-worn policy wheels would run over future elected officials and voters, preventing them from embracing new priorities unless they simultaneously rescinded past promises written into the law. Unable to see their way out of this logjam, the next generation of Republicans and Democrats would only make it worse - waddling back and forth between promising even more benefits relative to what could be delivered and enacting low-cost but ineffectual policies to achieve symbolic results.

The United Nations Security Council's decision last week to send 26,000 peacekeepers to Darfur could mean a turning point in the long and brutal conflict there, but not necessarily in a positive direction. In order to move toward peace and stability, the ruling regime in Khartoum must make good on its promises to allow the blue helmets into the country; rebel groups in Darfur must join together in a unified force to negotiate a comprehensive settlement; and the Sudanese government must live up to the terms of the north-south peace agreement reached two years ago, which appears to be unraveling.

CHICAGO -- So now we have confirmation that Vice President Dick Cheney's chief assistant set out to discredit former Ambassador Joseph C. Wilson IV by secretly telling reporters Mr. Wilson's wife worked for the CIA - and then repeatedly lied about it during a federal criminal investigation. When George W. Bush assured us during the 2000 campaign that Mr. Cheney "is a man of integrity and sound judgment, who has proven that public service can be noble service," I doubt this is what Americans were expecting.

Quote Of the day It?s usually insane, with a line out the door. Now, were just sitting here, twiddling our thumbs and thinking about going out to buy some cat food.? Lisa Sunday, manager of Fleur de Lis flower shop, on the snow marring Valentine?s Day sales Up Next Tomorrow The Agent Who Spied Me Chris Cooper, Ryan Phillippe, Laura Linney star in Breach, based on the Robert Hanssen FBI spy case. in movies today Saturday Fun in the snow Take a snow break. Even if you do not ski or snowboard, snowtubing promises fun on the slopes.

Forget penicillin. The Revigator was the real medical breakthrough of the 20th century. It cured diabetes, high blood pressure, arthritis, "inflammation of the uterus" and many other maladies. Or so the ads claimed. The Revigator, a water jug lined with radium, is no longer available in stores. Somewhere about 1930, the general public lost interest in a product that made its lemonade and coffee dangerously radioactive. Nor are many people today gullible enough to believe that radioactive water will cure all their ills.