Some of us thought perhaps the retrograde run of the Republican Party into the quagmire of neoconservatism had begun to run its course. Apparently our hopes for the restoration of responsibility were ill-founded.
In Washington, we were told the party was prepared to govern. No such luck. We are now into the middle of February, and nothing has changed. Once again, they engaged in an immature and futile attempt to destroy Obamacare even as its success and benefits of all kinds have been demonstrated. And Boehner has engaged in undercutting efforts on the international stage.
In Maryland, Hogan took the oath for governor and promptly demonstrated his willingness to work again the hopes and dreams of Maryland families with the negativity found in his proposals regarding education. America’s middle class has been victimized by income inequality, the failure to build good paying jobs and in the face of it Hogan raises tuition. And then he moved on to undermine the efforts to manage the cost of stormwater runoff. In other words, he is working against a coordinated effort to deal with climate change issues and matters of pollution of our bay.
It seems our new governor is going to follow in the footsteps of former Republican Governor Ehrlich. He left office with a $1.5 billion dollar structural deficit in place. So much for conservative efficacy. We then had to struggle to undo the damage even as the Great Recession struck. We do not need another irresponsible governor, but it seems we have one. Maryland shot ourselves in the foot. America is lagging in developing the skills of our youth through education and attacking education, and its availability is hardly a solution.
Words need to be followed by constructive deeds, and all we are seeing from Republicans is an utter failure of constructive vision and usually forward-looking Maryland has made a terrible mistake. We need to press for sound negotiations and a recognition of a responsible vision for our future free of archaic and ineffective ideology. If the recent election was about change, it left us with a new governor who wishes to turn away from constructive decisions and budgets. His proposals have nothing to do with sound conservatism or functional economic processes.
It remains to be seen how Governor Hogan will behave in the long run, but his opening positions leave a very great deal to be desired. It is, indeed, time for sound governance, functional and honest negotiations but locally and in Washington we see the Republican Party offering neither. People who are against governing are in charge.
Jeff Robinson says
It seems that Mr. Burt does not want to give the system a chance to work. The voters spoke loud and clear in November 2014. Maryland has lost many residents, myself included. The previous administration created a negative business environment and many companies also left our great state. Lets give Hogan a chance. Maybe the democratic majority in Annapolis will accept the will of the voters. I don’t thinnk Mr. Burt will.
ron Jordan says
Jeff, Mr. Burt did say at the end of his comments that hopes the Gov. Hogan doesn’t go the way of our last Republican Governor, Erlich. As you have abandoned Maryland, what you have say has no bearing on our present situation, as you left and now you wish to comment? Governor Hogan’s planks were about lowering business taxes to attract businesses to Maryland. Anyone with half a brain would know if you cut educational spending, not many businesses will return because they won’t have the workers with the acumen the businesses need to do business, simple. Why would a new Governor cut funding for our rainwater? One answer is that is a easy pitch to those industries that pollute our bay. In case your forgot and I think the Governor did, the majority of those that voted for him are Watermen/women and Fishermen/women, those votes were thrown away and with those votes our new Governor threw his constituents under the bus. I do hope that Governor Hogan will restore educational funding especially for a small community like Kent county, as you will remember Jeff, before you left, we are the smallest county in Maryland and therefore we get hit the hardest when educational funding is cut. We lose, you win because unlike some of the citizens here, you could get up and move and in your wake you have the audacity to make a comment. Come home Jeff, with solutions, otherwise pipe down with your outsider comments.
Steve Payne says
I’d be happy to get some more neocons about now. Some of the new U.S. house and senate Republicans ( not Larry Hogan) are Anarchists and “Patriots”, etc.
gerald Maynes says
Gosh , The Sky is Falling Down! The Sky is Falling Down! The Hogan Administration has been in charge about 30 Days and The Sky is Falling Down ! The Kids will not be able to read, The Roads will crumble, The Bay will turn into the worlds largest toilet ! Yes did I mention the Sky is falling Down? No Rain Tax, Oh My, The State will go broke, broke I say, The sky is falling down
The State is no longer forward looking, because the taxes are going down, Oh My! Good Gravy, Give Me a break, You sound like and tax addict , whose supply has just dried up. Give Mr Hogan a Break, its just been thirty days.