Editor's Blog

Economists call such taxes, by definition, confiscatory. Mr. Ficker remains the only candidate who recognizes the unfairness of the taxes we pay. He voiced the same concerns about municipal rebates as a state legislator in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s.

Ike Leggett will do nothing to reduce our double taxation. In his response to the question of municipal rebates on the Voice’s questionnaire, he spoke about adhering to “formulas” and so on. Not a word about fairness. He intends to do nothing on this issue. So if you own property here and vote for Mr. Leggett, I can only assume that you have the wherewithal to greet the ever-increasing property tax burden with indifference. Remember, however, that such insouciance leads to more taxes, and to more strain on low-and-moderate income people.

I also don’t care for Mr. Leggett’s idea of aggregating low-income housing. Most planners prefer a mix of housing for communities. The county council has paid lip service to the concept of mix but hasn’t implemented it. Mr. Ficker’s criticism that new county developments, such as Kentlands, have little or [no] low-income housing remains valid.

Perhaps because he was born here, Mr. Ficker will attempt to keep the Adventist Hospital in Takoma Park. Failing that, he promises to work to set up a first-rate medical clinic in its stead to serve our community.

Mr. Ficker has also spoken out for some time about the need for a new Potomac crossing—a subject that the county council and county executive have studiously avoided for years. Mr. Leggett only recently and seemingly reluctantly spoke of a new Potomac crossing. He looks like a Johnny-come-lately on some of these issues, for in all his years on the county council he never mentioned it. He remained equally silent about the Purple Line.

Mr. Ficker’s idea of a reversible-track trolley between Silver Spring and Bethesda makes sense in and of itself (eventually it would join with the Purple Line, which will have to overcome neighborhood opposition among Silver Spring residents), as does his call for extending Metro northward. The extension of Metro and a new Crossing should do much to alleviate the horrible traffic on I-270 and the Montgomery portion of I- 495.

I also will vote for Kevin Zeese, the Green Candidate for US Senate. Mr. Steele and Mr. Cardin will not represent us, rather they will represent their respective parties most conventionally. Mr. Cardin’s record demonstrates as much. He voted against both Republican Presidents Bush on military actions against Iraq. But he remains loathe to vote against his own party leaders.

For example, Mr. Cardin voted against the Sensenbrenner amendment, which would have reduced the penalty for being in the country illegally from a felony to a misdemeanor. Rep. Sensenbrenner originally called for illegal aliens to be felons, realized his mistake, and then proposed the amendment to his own bill. In order to embarrass Republicans and to have a cudgel to beat them with in the November elections, the Democratic House leaders, Pelosi and Hoyer, whipped up their caucus to vote against Sensenbrenner’s amendment. Only six—six—Democratic representatives had the gumption to go against party leaders, and Mr. Cardin (or, sadly, Mr. Van Hollen) was not among them. Enough Republicans voted with almost the entire Democratic caucus to brand illegal aliens as felons. The issue has yet to be resolved. Still, where was Cardin? Well, he was voting to please his party leaders to whom he remains indebted for campaign funds.

I also have to wonder why Maryland congressmen don’t take any initiative on voting rights for D.C. After all, the District land that remains was once part of Maryland; the Virginia part was ceded back to that state after the Civil War. Yet the most activity on this issue has come from two Virginia Republican congressmen, Messrs. Wolfe and Davis. I have asked Mr. Van Hollen about D.C. voting rights (he repeats the Democratic mantra of “statehood for D.C.”). But as I noted when I wrote him, the country will not see D.C. statehood even in the lifetime of my youngest grandchild, who just turned two.
Why should voters add two senators to an institution that has become perhaps the least democratic chamber of all the world’s democracies? Why not grant D.C. two representatives since they will have no senators? But, truth be told, the average Montgomery County voter doesn’t give a good damn about D.C. voting rights, nor do our state’s congressmen.

Mr. Cardin lacks creativity and innovation (his years of party loyalty have seen to that), as does Mr. Steele. It disappoints to think that either of them, if elected, could remain ensconced in office for years and years.

I say we need an Independent as County Executive and a Green in the Senate.

— Lin Edgar Moyer
Takoma Park, MD