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It is really a shame to see that the local schools have to be concerned about gang activity.
People join gangs for basic reasons that include: They are in fear, they desire acceptance, they desire power over others or they just do not fear the consequences of joining. Besides that, there are a small few who are actually forced in or are just plain predatory by their very nature.
This gang culture can be mostly attributed to the power struggle in the illegal drug trade. The only answer to stopping the cancer of this gang mentality is to take the profit out of selling drugs. They must be regulated just like alcohol, in order to achieve some balance on the issue. The current profit in the drug trade is so large that it fuels these criminal gangs, and as they grow they prey on our uninformed youth in our schools.
The other option is to make the penalty for gang activity very severe, i.e. the death penalty. Of course, we could have done that with all the drug dealers in the beginning, then we would not have the problem with gangs to begin with.
Let me make this very clear: Gangs are a collateral consequence of law and policy that has inflated the price of illegal drugs. Case in point: We do not have people affiliating to stand on our street corners and sell beer. Because it's not worth it.
In prison, I am surrounded by gang members, but I refuse to bow down to their god of false promises. I would rather die standing alone than live on my knees. All we can do now is ask God to be merciful and give us an effective and accountable form of government.
Austin Gladhill III, No. 322-221
Maryland Correctional Training Center
Flush tax needs to be repealed
To the editor:
Repeal the flush tax.
It's long overdue and unjust to responsible homeowners who don't put fertilizers on their lawns and don't live near a stream, creek, natural spring or river where any runoff would end up in the Chesapeake Bay.
Do we have any politicians left who are willing to protect individuals in these recessionary times and withdraw this flush tax? Some of our founding fathers once climbed aboard a merchant ship to protest a tax on tea.
I already pay a state tax for Maryland. The flush tax should be paid from there, and don't increase that either to fund the restoration of the bay.
Repeal this flush tax.
Martin Smith
Boonsboro
Hats off to Parrott for his leadership
To the editor:
How different fact is from commentary. Neil Parrott was raked over the coals by Tim Rowland shortly after Del. Parrott was sworn in, before he had an opportunity to do anything.
Del. Parrott has shown real leadership in leading the petition drive against giving a tuition break to "illegal aliens." How much more out of state can one be when they are citizens of a foreign country?
It's just refreshing to see "we the people" having our will considered over Gov. Martin O'Malley and his minions. The legislative vote of three or four over what was required is a far cry from 63,118 legal signatures submitted or 7,382 more citizen signatures than needed — and being added to daily. According to the front page of The Herald-Mail (July 8), Parrott suggested the success rate of the signature count continues to exceed 80 percent. News sources have reported this to be an historical achievement in the annals of politics in the State of Maryland.
Thank you, Neil, for standing up for the "legals" living in our state. Mr. Rowland, do you believe, as so many Marylanders believe, that we should have a voice in how we spend our money and for whom?
Richard Baumgartner
Williamsport
People join gangs for basic reasons that include: They are in fear, they desire acceptance, they desire power over others or they just do not fear the consequences of joining. Besides that, there are a small few who are actually forced in or are just plain predatory by their very nature.
This gang culture can be mostly attributed to the power struggle in the illegal drug trade. The only answer to stopping the cancer of this gang mentality is to take the profit out of selling drugs. They must be regulated just like alcohol, in order to achieve some balance on the issue. The current profit in the drug trade is so large that it fuels these criminal gangs, and as they grow they prey on our uninformed youth in our schools.
The other option is to make the penalty for gang activity very severe, i.e. the death penalty. Of course, we could have done that with all the drug dealers in the beginning, then we would not have the problem with gangs to begin with.
Let me make this very clear: Gangs are a collateral consequence of law and policy that has inflated the price of illegal drugs. Case in point: We do not have people affiliating to stand on our street corners and sell beer. Because it's not worth it.
In prison, I am surrounded by gang members, but I refuse to bow down to their god of false promises. I would rather die standing alone than live on my knees. All we can do now is ask God to be merciful and give us an effective and accountable form of government.
Austin Gladhill III, No. 322-221
Maryland Correctional Training Center
Flush tax needs to be repealed
To the editor:
Repeal the flush tax.
It's long overdue and unjust to responsible homeowners who don't put fertilizers on their lawns and don't live near a stream, creek, natural spring or river where any runoff would end up in the Chesapeake Bay.
Do we have any politicians left who are willing to protect individuals in these recessionary times and withdraw this flush tax? Some of our founding fathers once climbed aboard a merchant ship to protest a tax on tea.
I already pay a state tax for Maryland. The flush tax should be paid from there, and don't increase that either to fund the restoration of the bay.
Repeal this flush tax.
Martin Smith
Boonsboro
Hats off to Parrott for his leadership
To the editor:
How different fact is from commentary. Neil Parrott was raked over the coals by Tim Rowland shortly after Del. Parrott was sworn in, before he had an opportunity to do anything.
Del. Parrott has shown real leadership in leading the petition drive against giving a tuition break to "illegal aliens." How much more out of state can one be when they are citizens of a foreign country?
It's just refreshing to see "we the people" having our will considered over Gov. Martin O'Malley and his minions. The legislative vote of three or four over what was required is a far cry from 63,118 legal signatures submitted or 7,382 more citizen signatures than needed — and being added to daily. According to the front page of The Herald-Mail (July 8), Parrott suggested the success rate of the signature count continues to exceed 80 percent. News sources have reported this to be an historical achievement in the annals of politics in the State of Maryland.
Thank you, Neil, for standing up for the "legals" living in our state. Mr. Rowland, do you believe, as so many Marylanders believe, that we should have a voice in how we spend our money and for whom?
Richard Baumgartner
Williamsport
