To Sen. Benjamin Cardin: The elections are now over (your words) and (Obama won, my words) “and it’s time for Congress — the House of Representatives and the Senate — to set political rhetoric aside and get back to the people’s business.
But before we can tackle the important legislative issues facing our na-tion, we must have a return to civility.”
Question: Mr. Cardin, where has the civility, cooperation and compromise been the past four years?
In 2009 and 2010 the Democrats controlled both houses. Real cooperation took place when the onerous Obamacare bill was passed; I believe it was late at night, 2,400 pages long, no input from the Republicans, not many Democrats or Republicans even read the bill.
Nancy Pelosi said something like, “We have to pass the bill so that we can understand the bill.” great statesmanship on all who voted for the bill.”
“It is also time to embrace a balanced approach to our budget deficit,” quoting you. How would the Senate know what a balanced budget is? They had the opportunity in the first two years of the Obama presidency to pass any budget they wanted.
However, the Senate hasn’t even proposed a budget in the last four years. The House has sent at least four budgets to the Senate for consideration; Mr. Reid immediately put them in his circular file.
You talk about the “middle class” and being fair. If there is a middle class, then there must be a “lower class” and an “upper class,” which means we can only be fair to the “middle class;” implying that we will be unfair to the “lower class” and the “upper class.”
What constitutes the middle class? Those who make between $35,000 and $60,000 per year; the lower class would make less than $35,000, the upper class would make more than $60,000 to $65,000 and if the news stories are correct, most of the federal workers make more than $65,000 a year so they would be in the upper class.
Members of Congress make $174,000, so to which class do you belong?
How can you have a “budget reduction plan” if you have never passed a budget? It is reassuring that at least one Democrat recognizes that there is a budget deficit and that we need to do something about it now.
According to you, we need to set partisanship aside to invest (code word for spend) in programs that will kick our economy into high gear. Invest in clean energy; we did that the first Obama term, remember Solyndra?
The company that was going to develop a new solar panel; result over $500 million down the tubes when the Energy Department discovered that China was already supplying them at about half cost.
Let’s not forget the battery-powered vehicle from California. The final cost of the car was about $60,000 each, just the vehicle for the middle class, right!
Your last paragraphs are interesting. Quoting; “I believe most elected officials appreciate the ‘power’ of the ballot box.”
There is one option that Congress will not put on the ballot for a vote, “term limits.” Do that, so that we can demonstrate the power and appreciation for the ballot box.
Now the president and congressional Democrats want compromise and cooperation to move us forward to tackle the serious issues we face, and to kick the economy down the road. Senator, this is not a football game.
The past four years the president did not move the ball down the field and it doesn’t appear, unfortunately, with no new players, that the next four years will be any different.
Richard Beeghly
Cumberland
Letters
Where has all this been for the past four years?
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‘Forgotten warrior’ not forgotten
The Korean War is often called “The Forgotten War.” My generation remembers the Battle for LZ X-Ray at Ia Drang, The Tet Offensive, and Khe Sahn of the Vietnam War.
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Organization needed to help utilize the Potomac River
I am a committee remember on the Tamiami Trail Scenic Highway which stretches from Palmetto to Venice, Fla.
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Reducing meat consumption can help ease climate change
A review of 12,000 papers on climate change, in the May 15 issue of “Environmental Research Letters,” found that 97 percent of scientists attribute climate change to human activities.
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Maryland has stopped being “The Free State”
I am a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans and, last but not least, the National Rifle Association. I am a yearly member of the American Legion.
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Save the Bridge Program
Please do not close the Frostburg United Methodist Church Bridge Program. The community and many families need this program. Let me enlighten you about a few things.
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Town of Westernport needs a police force and a curfew
Since the consolidation of Bruce and Valley high schools the town of Westernport rapidly deteriorated from what was once a quite respectable community to a community in a decline in residents, and along with that came a collapse in local government due to lack of knowledge and bad decisions that set the town of Westernport back 60 years.
One bad decision was to give up their police force, and with no constant visual law enforcement it has created an open range for drug dealerss, addicts, thieves, drunks and speeding vehicles that choose to ignore our city laws and speed limits and have totally disregard for the safety of the citizens who are on the streets, especially the children who are like deer, you don’t see them until their in front of you. -
Financial gutting will damage school system
I am writing in response to the Allegany County Commissioners’ efforts to cut local education spending to the lowest possible level allowed under state law.
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Cemetery organization plans events to mark Memorial Day
This upcoming Memorial Day marks the 30th anniversary of the Cumberland Historic Cemetery Organization (CHCO).
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Outside water customers pay for town’s mistakes
The following is the opinion of the individual and in no manner reflects the opinion of any other person or organization.
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We’re twisting the meaning of the Founding Fathers’ words
I really had to chuckle when I read a recent comment someone made in a northeastern publication: “I’d like to suggest that Congress make a tiny change in our Second Amendment that would more accurately reflect the Founding Father’s intent (to wit): “A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear muskets, shall not be infringed.”
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‘Forgotten warrior’ not forgotten
