Resistance to gun control amid shooting wave shows hypocrisy
To the editors:
The hypocrisy takes my breath away.
Hagerstown city leaders are all angry about the incidents of gun violence in the city. They call for meetings, they call for the police department to be strengthened, they point fingers, but in a city that has seen more than 100 shootings since 2021, no one is calling for sensible gun control — no, not in this Second Amendment “sanctuary,” as Washington County Commissioners unanimously voted in November 2020.
Apparently it is safe for some people to own and use the guns they want, but it is not safe for others.
I have a thought: Get rid of the guns and you'll get rid of the shootings (of course) and then do something about the underlying causes of the violence instead of constantly blaming others.
Paulette Lee
Hagerstown
Are Democrats really helping working men and women?
To the editors:
Do Democrats’ policies help working men and women?
Hardly.
Biden/Harris and now Walz all say they are on the side of the workers, but the statistics don't match.
Our economy is slowing. Some even believe we are heading for a recession. But Friday's jobs report sent fear into the stock market. It showed a sharp rise in unemployment and a meager number of new jobs being created.
What is even more alarming, however, is who is being laid off. It is the uneducated. In particular, those with (only) a high school diploma and those without.
Excessive spending and higher interest rates have slowed economic growth so much that companies are laying off more workers than at any time since the COVID pandemic.
And the Democrats are doing nothing to help the middle class.
Do you want a better economy?
Choose two businessmen – Trump/Vance!
Mike Hebert
Hagerstown
Never leave pets in the car in hot weather
To the editors:
It is absurd that people take their pets in their cars when they are in stores or restaurants in extreme heat.
They do not seem to be aware that at high temperatures – especially above 90 degrees – they could die within a very short time.
Some people don't care. If they didn't care, they wouldn't let the animals out there.
I also noticed that some people hold their pets while driving. Stupid people.
Russell “Pete” Seville
Greencastle, Pennsylvania.
Tim Rowland’s column will be missed
To the editors:
Oh! Please say it isn't true, Tim!
There have been many great journalists at the Herald Mail in the 36 years I have lived in Hagerstown, but your columns have so often been the highlight of the day, the week, the month!
I always enjoyed your column and subscribed to it.
Washington County needs you, Tim! Please reconsider your retirement and keep doing what you do while entertaining.
David Engle
Hagerstown
PS: I signed up for Substack today in case my post doesn't change your mind.
Maryland Grange rejects expropriation for energy project
To the editors:
The Grange has been advocating for the interests of farmers and landowners since 1867. In the 19th century, the Grange fought against the robber baron railway that was taking away farmers' land. Ironically, the Grange also fought for the electrification of rural areas.
The Maryland State Grange has been a strong advocate for the preservation of agricultural lands in the state. We support private property rights. We strongly oppose expropriation, particularly “quick expropriation,” and believe it should only be used as a last resort.
The Grange believes that too much productive farmland will be taken out of production to meet water quality and climate targets. We are concerned that the proposed project will also damage too much productive farmland.
We recognise that there will be a greater need for electricity supply in the future. Any plan will affect homes, farmland and/or environmentally sensitive areas. The aim should be to keep this to a minimum.
BGE is unwilling to use its current power lines because some of them are nearly 100 years old and may not be able to handle the additional load. That begs the question: doesn't that mean that this infrastructure needs to be upgraded anyway? The Grange believes that this may be the best option.
The proposed new data center near Frederick will be connected to Northern Virginia via underground lines under the Potomac River, which will provide the largest-capacity fiber-optic ring ever built. Can this cable be laid underground? There are also innovations called microgrids that could reduce the need to seize private property for new power lines.
The original Aligned Data Center proposal was rejected by the Maryland Public Service Commission because the backup generators exceeded Maryland's 2022 emissions standards. The Critical Infrastructure Streamlining Act exempts data centers and hospitals from these PSC rules. It would be a good idea to review these emissions standards because they will also result in more farmland being converted into another eyesore, solar panel farms, taking more productive farmland out of production.
Finally, the Grange supports the proposal to confiscate the least productive farmland and private homes. The best solution seems to be to upgrade the current infrastructure.
On behalf of the Maryland State Grange
Richard Stonebraker
president
Hagerstown
What the Republicans will really do for our country
To the editors:
This is a response to Ms. Taylor's accusations against Republicans.
The poor and middle class have been severely negatively impacted by the Democrats. The country has experienced rampant inflation, reaching 19.9% in the first 41 months of Biden's term. Excessive spending has pushed the national debt to $34.75 trillion, 25% more than the day Biden took office.
Democrats believe in open borders, which allows cartels, criminals, terrorists and drugs to come into this country. Human trafficking and rampant crime are at an all-time high.
Global conflicts, including two major wars in Israel and Ukraine, are causing chaos and instability.
The Republican Party will reverse the worst inflation crisis that has crushed the middle class, devastated family budgets, and made the dream of homeownership unattainable for millions.
Republicans will secure the border, deport illegal immigrants, and reverse Democrats' open-borders policies that have driven up housing, education, and health care costs for average American families.
Republicans will end global chaos and restore peace through strength.
Republicans condemn anti-Semitism and will hold accountable those who commit violence against all races.
Republicans represent the people of this great country.
We have seen enough destruction and chaos under the Democrats and the country deserves change.
Martha Sullivan
Hagerstown
Medicare for All is a dangerous idea
To the editors:
Kamala Harris has proposed a healthcare initiative called “Medicare for All.” Under this proposal, anyone with private health insurance would lose it and be replaced by the “Medicare for All” plan.
Even more worrying, there will be two additional consequences. First, all the people currently employed in the health insurance industry will lose their jobs because the health insurance companies will go out of business. Many thousands of people will be unemployed. And second, our income taxes will have to be raised to fund this plan because all the immigrants who crossed the border illegally will now have health insurance.
I suggest we ask ourselves some questions and figure out how the money is going to be financed. Our federal government is already $39 trillion in debt.
Be cautious in your voting until you have more information.
Len Lindenmeyer
Waynesboro, Pennsylvania.
