Posted by
Objection to Objectivity on Tuesday, January 27, 2009 9:56:04 PM
The old adage has rung true time and time again: absolute power corrupts absolutely. We see it everywhere: in the heavily Republican Congress of 2003-2004, in Illinois state politics, in Albany, New York. But as always, there are exceptions to the rule. Case in point: the state of Maryland.
I am 22 years old, and throughout my life there has only been one party making laws, spending money, and setting social policy: Democrats. Sure there was governor Erlich in 2002, but that was mainly the by-product of a terrible Democratic candidate that year. As soon as the next gubernatorial race rolled around, it was straight back to Democrats.
Now, I don't know when this will end, or if it ever will. There are murmerings now of rebellion in the ranks today, as I write this. People hate the tax increase of 2007. They also want more spending, however. People hate that crime continues to worsen in places like Montgomery and Prince George's counties. People despise the myriad fees and the expensive toll to get across the Bay Bridge. They hate the regulations on business but, in the same breath, ask for more environmental safeguards. In short, the people of Maryland are hard to please, but even harder to figure out.
With so many problems, what will voters do about it? My best guess now is that they will continue to elect huge Democratic majorities in the state house and that they will most likely re-elect Governor O'Malley. It is, to borrow a Hannity word, "stunning". But part of the problem here is that Republicans remain small, timid, and unwilling or unable to talk about things that Marylanders care about. I have already dispensed some advice in a previous posting, but here goes some more: be different, but not necessarily Republican.
More on this tomorrow.