Baltimore: A Case Study of Failed Government

In case anyone was wondering how such failures as Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake can continue to get reelected in Baltimore, yesterday's Wall Street Journal has the answer.  In a piece titled, "How Property Taxes and the 'Curley Effect' are Killing Baltimore," two economics professors offer a trenchant explanation of the circuitous cycle of failed statism and electoral politics in cities like Baltimore.  Of course, Baltimore is the paradigm for such corrupt and odious leadership:

Away from the waterfront, this strategy's failure is apparent. The city has lost 30,000 residents and 53,000 jobs since 2000, marking the sixth consecutive decade of population and employment exodus. About 47,000 abandoned houses crumble while residents suffer a homicide rate higher than any large city except Detroit. The poverty rate is 50% above the national average.
Much of this decline is a result of the city's exorbitant property-tax rates, which are twice as high as any other jurisdiction in Maryland and Washington, D.C. The encouraging news is that all four major mayoral candidates are promising property-tax relief. [...]

In modern Baltimore, the machine has exploited class divisions, not ethnic ones. Officials raised property taxes 21 times between 1950 and 1985, channeling the proceeds to favored voting blocs and causing many homeowners and entrepreneurs—disproportionately Republicans—to flee. It was brilliant politics, as Democrats now enjoy an eight-to-one voter registration advantage and no Republican has been elected mayor in 48 years.

Be sure to read the full article here.

End Baltimore Beverage Tax a Year Early

Last year, the Baltimore City Council passed a 2-cent tax on all bottled drinks sold in the city.  They failed to anticipate the obvious pernicious effects that it would have on the local economy.  Immediately after the tax was implemented, Pepsi closed down their production of soda in the city, costing local residents more than 70 jobs.

Additionally, like most new taxes, the beverage tax was an inane revenue raising tool.  The city only generated $4.8 million in revenue from the tax.  The simple fact is that most of the population lives close enough to Baltimore County that they can purchase all of their beverages tax free.  Instead of generating revenue for the city, the beverage tax has harmed many supermarkets within the city limits.

Originally, the tax was set to expire two years from now, on June 30, 2013.  Thankfully, two members of the City Council, Belinda K. Conaway (District 7) and Warren Branch (District 13), are introducing a bill to repeal the tax a year earlier, in 2012.  While we would prefer immediate repeal, this is probably the best we can hope for in this one-party oligarchy.

Please help spread the message and call the other 12 members of the council.  Tell them to support repeal of the beverage tax and stop hurting job growth during such bad economic times.

Vile Hate Crime in Baltimore McDonalds, Silence from Local Media

Drudge has posted a disturbing video of two black women violently beating and torturing a white woman in a Baltimore McDonalds.  Unfortunately, Drudge is the only site that has widely disseminated this shocking crime.  In the video, you can see several male employees (also black) sitting idly and enabling the beating to continue.  Eventually, the woman suffered a seizure as a result of the beating until the assailants finally fled the scene.

Obviously, there are subhuman people in this world who commit unspeakable atrocities on a daily basis.  However, there is certain behavior that is endemic of areas such as Baltimore's inner city that require attention.  Due to the one-party oligarchy of the city and state, criminals are able to commit atrocities with no fear of reprisal.  Worse yet, there is such a racist bias in the city of Baltimore that the criminal justice system turns a blind eye to crimes committed by certain races.  In turn, it has created a climate in which people in those neighborhoods will cheer on violent beatings and even facilitate them.

The astounding thing is that as this story becomes a national headline, the local media has yet to report on the dastardly act.  That is correct.  Even the local paper of record, the Baltimore Sun, refused to report on a national story that has occurred locally until Drudge and other national conservatives forced them.  Anyone care to guess why?

Baltimore Delegate Jill Carter Hasn't Paid Water Bill since 2009

Only in a political oligarchy like Maryland can deadbeat politicians like Jill Carter get reelected time and again.  This public parasite who votes incessantly to raise taxes on us, hasn't paid her home water bills since 2009!  Here is the scoop from Laura Vozzella of the Sun:

The city's Bureau of Treasury Management put out a long list last week of properties with delinquent taxes and municipal liens, which are scheduled to be sold in a sealed-bid tax sale on May 17. Among the properties is Carter's Glen Allen Drive home, which is assessed at $283,392 and has a lien on it for $920.61.

The money is not owed for property taxes on the Hunting Ridge home, which Carter said she pays through her mortgage payment. It's for water.

Is there no floor to the degree of bottom feeders that populate Annapolis?

Maryland Democrats Continue their War on Jobs

Last month, we reported on the Baltimore City bottle tax that has prompted Pepsi to cease their soda production and eliminate 70 jobs.  Now, Democrats in the state legislature are proposing a bill that would increase the minimum wage to $10 an hour by 2013.  This is another teachable moment for liberal economics.  Amidst record unemployment, particularly among teens and part time minimum wage workers, Maryland Democrats are trying to encumber the creators of those jobs.  This bill will induce long term unemployment in many low wage industries.  Then again, most of those jobs are being filled by illegal aliens in Maryland anyway.

We need to continue to be vigilant during the closing weeks of the legislative session.  Democrats will employ every tool in their arsenal to attenuate our state and local economy.  They plan to introduce a 10-cent hike in gas taxes, an increase an vehicle registration fees, and a higher liquor tax.  Maryland conservatives really need to mobilize, or be prepared to leave this socialist land of fruits and nuts. 

Maryland Economics: Tax Beverages and Their Producers into Oblivion

I have always felt that liberal urban politicians would make the best teachers of economics.  They know how to illustrate economic principles through practical applications like nobody else.  Last year, the hoodlums on the Baltimore City Council passed a 2-cent beverage tax on all bottled beverages sold in the city.  Only a few months later, Pepsi plans to shut down their production of soda in Baltimore.  The Baltimore Sun reports:

"The Pepsi plant in Baltimore will no longer make soda, and the company plans to lay off 77 people as officials have decided to stop manufacturing operations — a decision they blame in part on a controversial new beverage tax in the city.
The last cans and 2-liter bottles of Pepsi-Cola, Diet Pepsi, Mountain Dew and other sodas ran through the production line Monday morning. Executives at Pepsi Beverages Co. told workers in meetings later in the day that production would be halted for good. Pepsi officials said they would work out details regarding the layoffs, including potential severance, with the local Teamsters union."

Now, all of the drones who voted for these crooks will have to suffer with the higher costs of beverages and the loss of jobs that will continue to ensue as a result of the tax.  Pepsi will just take their business to states that appreciate capitalism.

Since the beverage tax worked so well in Baltimore, the Maryland legislature is planning to increase alcohol taxes on all wine, beer, and liquor sold in Maryland.  Eventually, all beverage producers and retailers will be chased out of the state.  The Maryland politicians provide the most effective stimulus of economic growth for Pennsylvania and Virginia!  Unfortunately, with full control of Maryland government and a drone-like electorate, the Democrats and their tax hikes are virtually insuperable.

Baltimore Crime Update: White Patrols Are Racist and Must be Disbanded

Anyone who is familiar with the sociological orientation of Baltimore City knows that there is a a very troubling cycle of violent crime throughout every corner of the city.  Due to the Soviet style one-party rule for so many years, Baltimore has become one of the most criminally oriented cities in the country.  The laws that were passed by the legislature over many decades make it extremely difficult to lock up repeat offenders so they cannot hurt others.  The juvenile laws are non existent.  There are thousands of outstanding warrants in the city that are not pursued by the state's attorney.  In addition, Maryland has some of the most morally perverse anti-self defense laws in the country.

Now, the liberal media and prominent "black leaders" (creations of the media) are calling for the disbandment of a local Jewish patrol called Shomrim.  They claim that a recent incident, in which a patrolman roughed up a 15 year old black juvenile delinquent, is proof that the local Jewish community is racist and a threat to "community relations."  Worse yet, the police have arrested the patrolman for first degree assault.  Here is the report from the extreme leftist Baltimore Scum.

Tony Campbell, Baltimore County's Obama Supporting Republican Chairman

Lost amidst the devastation of of the Maryland GOP this past election, was a low profile election for Chairman of the Baltimore County Republican Central Committee.  Baltimore County is one of the few localities in which the voters choose the committee chairman as opposed to the committee's members. During the September primary, a little known challenger, Tony Campbell, edged out incumbent Chris Cavey for the Chairmanship of the Committee.  Some members of the committee warned that Campbell had worked for an organization named "Republicans for Obama" and that we were facing an Orwellian situation in which there would be a wolf gaurding our hen house.  Well, it appears that our fears have been confirmed.

Last week, Campbell urged his fellow committee members to endorse radical, campaign finance crook,  Democrat Ken Oliver for County Council Chairman because he would "become the first African-American chair of the County Council".  In addition, he is demanding a commission for organizing fundraisers for local Republicans.  Last Wednesday, he sent out an email to the other members of the central committee telling them to impeach him of they don't like it.

Folks, you can't make this stuff up!  Do the Democrats have county party leaders who are members of Democrats for Palin?  Why are we saddled with this nonsense when our party is so small and insignificant in the first place?

Baltimore County is the key jurisdiction to any electoral success in Maryland and it is imperative that we have a committed conservative to lead our effort in this area.  Is it too much to ask for to have the leaders of our decimating fractious party be authentic conservatives?

Unfortunately, it appears that we are stuck with this impostor in Baltimore County for 4 years.  But we have a golden opportunity to elect a conservative tea party leader as state party chairman on December 11th.  Sam Hale, the founder of Maryland Society of Patriots, stands out as the only effective conservative voice among many uninspiring candidates.  You can see an interivew of Sam with our friend Mark Newman here.  Call your Republican Central Committee members and urge them to vote for Sam Hale so we don't wind up with Obama Republicans running the full state Republican Party.

Ken Holt Shows Why He Should be Baltimore County Executive

Republican Ken Holt

My district in Baltimore County has been represented by arch-socialist snob, Kevin Kamenetz for 16 years.  Last night was the first time that I've heard someone finally take him to task for his lying about issues concerning taxation and spending, corruption, and corporate cronyism with local land developers.  The man who took him down was Republican Ken Holt.  Holt is challenging Kamenetz for what Democrats thought would be a coronation for County Executive.  Holt and Kamenetz debated last night on a new radio show on WCBM hosted by Jay Liner of "All Politics is Local".

You can listen to the full audio of the debate here.  (Courtesy of Bryan Sears of Patuxent Publishing Company)

Some of the highlights included Holt's dressing down of Kamenetz's 10 year lie about not raising property taxes in the county.  Holt pointed out that they raised the assessed property values so much that it is tantamount to a tax increase.  Also, when asked about an intangible quality that he posses over his opponent, Holt tersely replied, "Honesty".  One of my favorite moments was when Holt reminded Kamenetz that for his million dollars worth of ads he only received 40,000 votes.  (And according to the Gazette, a third of that came from early voting, of course.)  Towards the end of the debate, Holt admonished Kamenetz for his nasty and misleading primary campaign against fellow councilman Joe Bartenfelder.  To everyone's surprise, Bartenfelder called in and gave the following haunting retort to Kamenetz's promise to run a facts and issues based campaign:

“Kevin, buddy,.. If we're gonna have factual dialogue between now and the general [election], let’s make sure you stick with exactly what the facts are, buddy, OK?

“Because, you know, I wouldn't want any more of those misrepresented ads out there.”

Will the Conservative Wave Sweep Baltimore County?

We continue our focus on local elections as we highlight some key aspects of the elections in Baltimore County.

Baltimore County has one of the most diverse political constituencies of any jurisdiction in Maryland.  This growing county of 800,000 has a staunch conservative area in the north with some other pockets in the east and southwest.  There is a large black population on the west side which votes overwhelmingly Democrat.  There is a strong community of Reagan Democrats in the east, and an area of Jewish liberal Democrats in the northwest.  BC used to lean Republican, but in the past two decades there has been an influx of Democrat voters that has tipped the balance of power in local elections to the left.  The Democrats have held the position of County Executive for 16 years, and control 6 of the 7 seats on the council.  The Democrats also hold 14 of the 21 House seats, and 6 of the 8 Senate seats.

All early indications point to a positive year for the GOP in Baltimore County.  The question on the table today is if we can make it a sweep.  Despite the overwhelming Democrat registration edge in the county, BC is still a competitive area.  In fact, Ehrlich won Baltimore County by 22% in 2002, and even in 2006, when Republicans were decimated across the state and country, he still won by 3%.  There is no doubt that Ehrlich will perform much better this year, irrespective of whether he wins statewide.  This means that we have a historic opportunity to make vital gains during this year's midterms.  Here are some important races to watch: