Randallstown's Economic Destruction

I hate it when politicians take credit for when the economy does really well. Anyone who has taken Introduction to Economics, be it macro or micro, knows that the economy is bigger than the politician. They call it a business or economic cycle for a reason. It goes up. It goes down.


Bill Clinton once claimed that he had beaten the business cycle. He said this during an upturn on the market. He didn't say too much during the downturn in 1994. And he's been very quiet during the downturns that have followed since his Presidency.

So turning local, have you been down Liberty Road in Randallstown lately? There's nothing there! So if politicians want to take credit for the good times, let's place the blame squarely on their face for the bad times.

Here's one of several empty stores in the Deer Park Shopping Plaza in Randallstown that Elijah Cummings has let fail. He's been unable to get new tenants that will generate tax revenue.


Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith loves this empty car dealership because it allows his entourage of gas-guzzling SUV's a good place to turn around and head back to safer ground. Remember all those speeches that he gave recently about how we need to bring businesses back to Randallstown? No? That's because he didn't give them. He doesn't care about Randallstown because he's too busy gearing up his campaign for State Senate.



Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger (2nd District) has allowed several car dealerships to go out of business. I haven't heard him hollering about needing to help this economically depressed area. I can only assume he doesn't care about Randallstown.


Remember Prestige Imports? They always had exotic Italian sports cars for sale such as Lamborghinis and Ferraris, in addition to other high-end used cars. As you can see there isn't much going on there except dead trees and unkempt lawn. I haven't heard Ben Cardin talk about the loss of jobs along the Liberty Road retail corridor, so we can only imagine that he doesn't care about Randallstown either.


District 4 Baltimore County Councilman Kenneth N. Oliver doesn't buy his cars from Antwerpen Automotive in Randallstown. Why? Because they went out of business. I guess he now has to shop for cars in Kevin Kamenetz' District 2. Councilman Oliver - why have you allowed this economic destruction of your district to occur?



District 10 House Delegates Emmett C. Burns, Jr., Adrienne A. Jones, and Shirley Nathan-Pulliam - you won't be buying food for your Memorial Day cookouts from Giant in Randallstown Plaza, will you? Nope. Because it's been closed for a couple years now. Dozens of employees are now on the state's unemployment role. And this large building sits empty. The three of you should work together to get a thriving food retailer back in Randallstown. Instead, you've sat in Annapolis and have been ineffective leaders.

State Senator Delores G. Kelley - are you embarrassed that there are so many empty stores in strip malls throughout your district? You have been so busy blowing sunshine up Martin O'Malley behind that you have totally ignored your district and the jobs are now all gone. And it's your fault!



Senator Barbara Mikulski - you are responsible for the entire state of Maryland. We depend on you to help us grow. But instead, we've watched your failures. Look at this picture of one of dozens, if not hundreds, of abandoned and empty retail buildings in Baltimore County. Why have you allowed so many people to lose their livelihood? It's not fair! Do something about it. And by doing something I don't mean more government jobs or extended unemployment benefits. I'm talking about creating an economic environment that will allow those so called greedy millionaires to open new stores and hire people. Because the last time I checked poor people don't hire people.

You'd Be a Fool If...

you thought Bob Ehrlich was not going to decide sometime in the future if he will decide on running for an office or not.

if you thought that Obama's new healthcare plan actually covered all Americans. It only covers about an additional 10-20 million more Americans, many of whom already have access to health insurance via their spouse.

you believe the government when they say that inflation is under control.

you think that the Chinese aren't going to control our economy in 20 years.

you think I'm going to lose 15 pounds by the time I go on vacation in July.

you think I don't enjoy watching hockey on my new 52" HD television with 16 speaker-sound.

you think the Orioles will do any better than last place this year.

you think I can get my 2 year old to bed before 10pm.

you think everyone loves those GEICO commercials.

you think that Dr. Pepper is better than Mr. Pibb.

you think John Sarbanes loves being a Congressman. He's got higher offices in mind. Hopefully we can do something about that. Preferably in a 14th story building in a law firm rather than an office in Congress.

you think that the University of North Carolina will be horrible again next year.

you think that John Edwards will ever be elected to office again after cheating on his wife while she was battling cancer.

you think that Comcast will eventually stop raising their rates faster than the rate of inflation.

you think we haven't had enough of Kate Gossling, the Duggars, and Lindsay Lohan.

you don't think this is the most horrible season of American Idol.

you don't think Martin O'Malley will run for U.S. Senate after Babs Mikulski retires in 6 years.

you think 'moving Maryland forward' means anything other than Democrats getting their way.

you don't think that Black Pepper Jack Doritos were the best snack food ever made.

you don't think that Winthrop University's men's basketball team is the most awesomest mid-major in Division I.

you don't think some physical education teachers in Carroll County Public Schools don't have anger-management problems.

you think I'm impressed that your kid is on 'travel'.

you think I don't like chicken.

you don't think I'm wrapping up this post so that I can go to bed.

Back to States' Rights - Not Really

Hard left-wing liberal Maryland Senators Babs Mikulski and Ben Cardin have submitted a bill to the Senate to remove control of locating liquefied natural gas facilities from the federal government to the state. Currently the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has the power to place these facilities where they think they will best serve the country, regardless of what the states and the people want.

The bill that our Senators submitted would effectively repeal a 2005 law that transferred the power to the commission. Both Senators are praising their own efforts to give the power back to the people of the states, despite years of ripping power away from the people.

However, any smart person can figure this one out. Marty O'Malley doesn't want to bring more jobs to Maryland. He wants to keep as many people in Maryland either on the payroll of the government or dependent on hand-outs from the government, thus securing Democratic votes. If we start allowing companies to come here and create jobs, people will start thinking about keeping their money and liberty and all of those other dangerous thoughts.

A couple hundred people protested this LNG gas facility and the route it would take into Pennsylvania. However, you never see people coming out to support new business - just to protest new business. If the facility and pipeline were already built, then people who moved here most likely wouldn't bat an eye at the fact that there's a natural gas line running down the road.

Opponents claim that it will be a target for terrorists. Just like all the other gas pipelines that have been attacked in the United States? So while Babs and Benny are claiming that this bill will give the states the right to decide what we want to do, the real reason is that Marty doesn't want it and if he gets to make the decision, then it isn't going to happen.

And again, Maryland will lose another opportunity to move forward.

O'Malley: Iraq and Hard Place

Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley just visited occupied Iraq claiming it was to visit Maryland National Guard troops. While there he held up the Maryland flag for a photo-op, ate some barbecue, put on his fake smile, thanked the soldiers, and left.

I don't have a problem with the spirit of the visit. We all want to thank our troops for putting their lives on the line. Many of us actually do things like coordinate gift packs, books, magazines, etc. for the soldiers. Marty had to do something so that he didn't look like an callous fool come election day.

But you must ask yourself - how much money did it cost the state of Maryland to fly him there and how much did we have to foot for his protection? God help us if Marty got blowed up. (I heard students from Baltimore City saying 'blowed-up', and since B-more City teachers and elected officials say that the students have made great strides, then 'blowed-up' it is!)

However, like Ehrlich, I question the true reasons for the visit. You know he has an ulterior motive for going there. Now he can go to the military voters (overwhelmingly Republican) and say, "I support the troops! I went to Iraq!!! Go America!!!"

We all know Marty is going to run for Gov'nah again and it's probably safe to say (God help us) that he will win again. But he's clearly lining himself up for a run at Senator. If Babsy runs again, it is probably safe to say (God help us) that she'll win again, she'll finish her term and be done, leaving her seat wide-open for him. John Sarbanes - there ain't no way in H-E-double hockey stick you're going to get that U.S. Senate seat if you run against Marty (God help us).

So on top of Ehrlich doing the mandatory criticism of O'Malley taking this trip during an state-wide economic crisis (which may be to redirect the attention of our short-minded voters), Tony Brown immediately responds by saying that Ehrlich's criticism is irresponsible. I was hoping that Ehrlich would respond to Tony's criticism by saying it was partisan, to which Tony could have replied that Erhlich's rebuttal was inappropriate, to which Ehrlich could have responded that Tony's rebuttal was immature. And so on. And so on.

I love the juvenile nature of politics!!!

Carmen Amedori for U.S. Senate

Check out this interview on Red Maryland with former Carroll County State Delegate Carmen Amedori. She is going to challenge liberal extremist Barbara Mikulski for her U.S. Senate seat. There are rumors that Mikulski may retire rather than run again, but I'll believe it when I hear it from her mouth.

Is Blair Lee Steeling from Eludius?

You may recall a couple of weeks ago I went off on our liberal lapdog Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara Mikulski for not getting any booty for Maryland while Congress and the White House handed out the booty to Montana, Louisiana, and Nebraska in order to get their vote. In some legal circles this would be considered illegal. Anyway, Blair Lee calls them out for the same thing in his most recent article. You can read his article here and mine here.

Senators Cardin & Mikulski Hate Colleges

We are supposed to be curbing urban sprawl, right? And we have a lot of colleges in the Baltimore \ Washington area, right? Then why did Senator Cardin and Senator Mikulski seek $1 million for a new training center in Mount Airy that will train health care workers and dental hygienists?

After bragging about the her accomplishments in Warshington to help all Merlanders, Senator Mikulski said that the facility will be shared by the community colleges of Howard, Frederick, and Carroll Counties. I'm not attacking the allocation of money to this institutes of a little bit higher learning. However, I question what kind of facility can be built for $1 million. Seriously - houses in my neighborhood go for $500,000, so that would equate to 2 houses. They are going to construct a 5,000 ft facility with 4 parking spots to help train people? Senator Mikulski - is it near the wooder?

Would it not be better money spent to allocate the money to the existing colleges to expand their existing programs at their existing campuses that already do this very same function? Or does that make too much sense? Does Ben get a great thrill out of seeing money burn? I know Cardin and Mikulski need to show off spending money for Maryland. It's better to waste money than to get no money in the eyes of these 2 shallow tax and spend liberal extremist politicians. And we know that these 2 Senators are not good with money after supporting the $200 quadrillion health care plan.

So while Senators Cardin and Mikulski pontificate about being green and saving the environment on even numbered days, be wary of the odd numbered days as these are the ones that are the most destructive.

Cardin & Mikulski - Harry Reid's Lap Dogs

We all know that Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara Mikulski are tow-the-line tax and spend liberals that salivate at the mere mention of any socialist programs. Mention tax increases for the rich and middle class and Cardin gets that kid in a candy store grin. Mention increasing the size of the federal government and Mikulski starts jumping up and down doing the YMCA.

If you haven't heard already, Nebraska Democrat Senator Ben Nelson basically extorted millions of dollars from Americans not living in Nebraska. Americans will now have to foot the bill for expanding Medicare coverage in Nebraska, Nebraska-based Mutual of Omaha, won't have to pay taxes on so-called Medigap insurance, and I think some hookers from Harry Reid's home state of Nevada were thrown in for good measure.

In Louisiana, well-known home of corrupt local politics, Democrat Senator Mary Landreau secured a $300 million bump in Louisiana's Medicaid funding.

What sweetheart deals did Senator Cardin and Senator Mikulski secure for Maryland? Nothing. The only thing we can be sure of is that Maryland, home of a lot of middle class Americans, will get socked with huge tax increases that will be needed when Obamacare's dubious savings never appear.

Instead of rallying for our state, they romped around Harry Reid's podium like a couple of Pomeranians in heat sitting, speaking, rolling over, and basically wagging their tails to his every command. Unlike Nebraska and Louisiana whose Senators held out for their booty, our Senators were the first to sit on Harry Reid's lap.

Nebraska - win. Louisiana - win. Maryland - lose.

Air Jamaica and the Congress Hate Marylanders

After reading and hearing this story on the news yesterday, I'm not sure who hates people from Maryland more - Air Jamaica or our U.S. Senators Ben Cardin & Babs Mikulksi.

Yesterday passengers were stranded on an Air Jamaica flight on the runway at BWI airport for more than 8 hours because of the heavy snow. In an effort to keep up communications with passengers, the pilots told them nothing. The plane got stuck on the runway. Multiple efforts to help the plane were unsuccessful. When the plane was finally able to return to the terminal, the passengers were punched in the face and given a coupon for a sandwich at Subway. No food or beverages were provided on the plane. And no hotel accommodations were provided when the flight was canceled. Thank you for flying Air Jamaica!

In similar news, it appears that the U.S. Senate, which includes Ben Cardin and Babs Mikulski, will pass the socialized healthcare plan that they keep telling us that we all want. Now we will be forced to wait in hospital lobbies for 8 hours with no food or beverages. Communication with the patients will be prohibited (though I think that's currently the law). When we enter the room doctors will be required by law to punch us in the face and give us a coupon for a free sandwich at Subway. Fortunatley, however, someone else will pay for it. Probably wealthy Americans that make over $50,000 per year. Small businesses will probably also be punished and hit with a healthcare plan tax.

Welcome to the modern age of customer service.

Filling Senate Vacancies

I'm interrupting this string of blog posts about my vacation to comment on a post by Maryland House of Delegates member Saqib Ali on his blog.

Saqib Ali, if you don't know, once commented on my blog about me listing him as one of the 10 Democrats in the state that needs to be kicked out of office. I do not have any disdain for Delegate Ali, I just do not agree with his politics. Nor do I condone his violation of Wikipedia policy of updating articles about yourself, which he has done regularly. It is a well-written biography and advertisement, but that's not why I'm talking today.

Delegate Ali recently wrote House Bill #369: Special Elections for US Senate Vacancies Act. As the law currently reads, when a Senator leaves office either to appointment to a another office or by some other situation, the Governor of the state appoints his or her replacement until the next election cycle. Clearly, the Governor is going to appoint someone that he or she wants in office and politics being politics, you know there is some kind of kick-back, back-door shenanigans going on. We already saw this in Illinois when Governor Rod Blagojevich offered Obama's Senate seat to the highest bidder. The seat was eventually given to totally incompetent former Illinois State's Attorney General Roland Burris.

Delegate Ali's new law would mandate a special election called by the Governor of Maryland should a U.S. Senator from Maryland vacate his or her seat. I totally agree with this part of the bill. I do not agree with interim appointments as they, the appointee, usually end up getting elected in the next election cycle anyway without having to properly go through normal election channels to gain recognition, raise election capital, and gain the acceptance and trust of the people. Instead, the Governor picks the candidate of his or her liking, someone who will agree with him and push his agenda on a national level, then the candidate gains favor with the Congress and can easily attract funds for reelection. The intention of this bill is right-on. Congratulations, Delegate Ali, for submitting this part of the bill.

Unfortunately, Delegate Ali also included a provision that would not allow the bill to go into effect until January 2015, many years (hopefully) after we kick O'Malley out of office. The reason Delegate Ali gives for the inclusion of this provision is "so as not to seem to impugn the the integrity of our current Governor."

As if the Governor had any integrity. This totally leaves O'Malley a blank check to appoint a new Senator of his liking should Ben Cardin or Babs Mikulski suddenly decide to leave office mid-election cycle (if we could only be so lucky). Why is the thought of impugning the integrity of Governor being placed above the will of the people? The real intention of this provision is to protect the rapport of the Democratic legislators and their Governor when they vote to approve this bill. Imagine the pissing match O'Malley would have with the Democrats in the General Assembly that voted for this bill without the provision. I think it would make for great headlines!

What is more important? The reputation and rapport of the current gang of motley politicians, or the allowing the people of Maryland to choose which Senator will represent them in the United States Senate?

Unfortunately for Maryland, Delegate Ali is making that decision for us.

Newton's 3rd Law of Motion

In middle school / junior high, we all learned about Newton's 3rd Law of Motion: Law of Reciprocal Actions. That may not sound familiar at first. But the layman's explanation you will surely know - for every action there is an opposite and equal reaction. This law is usually applied to physics, but it can really be applied to anything, such as economics and politics.

Unfortunately, politicians forget about this law. Instead, they pass these Earth-shattering and life-altering laws that are designed to help and protect us without an ounce of thought about the consequences of their actions. Instead, they often make the situations worse. Let's take the new Credit Card Reform Bill, sponsored by Chris Dodd (D) of Connecticut (the same guy who was outraged that banks were using stimulus money to pay bonuses until someone pointed out that he was the one included language that allowed them to use stimulus money to pay bonuses). The bill was passed by the Senate and is expected to be signed by President Obama this week.

The Credit Card Reform Bill, known to most people as the Congressional Attempt to Protect Idiots Who Don't Pay Their Credit Card Bill, has the intention of protecting the people who suck at paying their bills and from having their interest rates raised retroactively or raised without notice, or having credit limits lowered without reason or without notification. The Congress is always out to protect the people that are too stupid to protect themselves and act responsibly. To a degree this is probably needed. But on the other hand, why do idiots have credit cards in the first place?

So continuing with our theme, Congress' new bill is the action. What is the reaction? If you ask supporters of the bill, like Maryland's Barbara Mikulski, she will tell you, "there ain't no reaction cuz dis bill s'ports 'n pertects Merlin' citizens from greedy Wall Street linders." However, if you ask banks and lending institutions that issue credit cards, you will get another story.

If Congress is removing a revenue source from these companies, will they roll over and accept this goverment meddling in their business? Or will their shareholders punish them unless they take actions to generate new sources of revenue? Well, duh! Like a Baltimore crack dealer who's territory gets demolished by a Johns Hopkins neighborhood revitalization program, they're going to find new source of income.

Where will this new revenue be found? By the customers who are not protected by the Credit Card Idiocy Bill - the ones that pay every month. Gone will be the cards with no annual fees. In will be cards that begin charging interest immediately upon purchase. In will be fees for paying off your balance in-full. Gone will be the perks and rewards programs that they used to lure you to use their cards.

But this isn't fair, you say! I pay my bills every month and now I'm being punished? That's right. Because Congress has to protect the idiots, not the smart and responsible people. Perhaps you can learn to be an idiot and Congress will protect you, too!

Analysis of Babs

Barbara Mikulski is mad. She's madder 'en hell. She told me so. She wants to protect Bal'mer and Mer'lin. You see, in order to know what our far-left leaning liberal leaders are doing I signed up for their email newsletters. One of my friends phrased it as "spying on the enemy". I wouldn't call it spying. Senator Mikulski never asked me if I was a clear-thinking educated voter, commonly referred to a Republican. So it's not really spying. It's more like eavesdropping.

I recently sent Senator Mikulski a message letting her know that I did not agree with the terms of the economic bailout package that she and her cronies in Congress devised. For example, did you know that some of the bailout money, which is funded by you the taxpayers, loans from the Chinese and the Middle East, and by printing more money, making our money less valuable, included tons of pork?

Sure, there were some good things. FDIC insurance was raised from $100,000 to $250,000. That actually makes sense. However, a toy arrow manufacturer in Oregon received tax credits to continue producing these arrows, though Oregon's leaders in Congress deny inserting the provision. This seems to be the epitome of ridiculousness.

Other pork includes changes in tax laws for depreciating racetrack construction, a revenue sharing program for the rural schools and community self-determination program, costing taxpayers $3.3 Billion, tax credits to movie producers for producing their movies in the United States, an economic development package to American Samoa, and a program to provide benefits to people who ride their bicycles to work.

As you can clearly see, the need to maintain the integrity of our credit system hinged on toy arrows and bicycle commuters. Who knew that Oregon and American Samoa were the tipping point between world-wide economic collapse and a rosy future of economic prosperity?

So back to my letter from Bab's. Bab's writes that the taxpayers…"watched Wall Street executives pay themselves lavish salaries. They've watched irresponsible lending practices. They've watched Wall Street gamble on risky investment mechanisms. Now those very same Americans who've worked hard and played by the rules are being asked to pay the bill for those who didn't." Okay, Bab's, enough of the drama.

Wall Street Executives do not pay themselves. You know that. Only Congress pays themselves. Oh, snap! That's right. You vote on your own pay. Doesn't this make you a hypocrite? Sure does! In fact, executive pay by publicly traded companies is determined by the Board of Directors of the company which they work for. Millions of Americans are right when they say that "Barbara Mikulski doesn't know what she's talking about."

Irresponsible lending practices. Yes, kind of like the practices mandated by the Community Reinvestment Act that the Congress passed in 1977 requiring lending companies to give loans to low-income applicants - applicants who normally not qualify for loans. Low interest rates during the early 2000's exacerbated the problem. Is Wall Street to blame? Or the head-hunting loan scalpers?

Bab's goes on to say that the bill "protects tax payers". Protects tax payers? By requiring us to repay the first installment of what could be a $3 trillion bailout? If you call that protecting me, get the cuss out of Dodge, Miss Senator!

And let's not forget her attack of "Wall Street", you know those greedy irresponsible bastards who operate on loose regulations. What Bab's conveniently ignores is that "Wall Street" is a euphemism for the financial industry, a financial industry that extends across the country and right down Pratt Street. I know she doesn't give a shit, but there are a few decent sized "Wall Street" companies in Baltimore that are money managers that are getting their ass kicked by the market, some deservedly, others without cause.

Punish them all, Babs. They all deserve a hard and swift kick in the ankles. Because we all know that the upper management people will be the ones punished, not the rank and file employees that get laid off by the thousands, right? Oh, maybe not!

So, Babs Mikulski, before you go around with your miniature vicious attacks on the companies that manage our 401(k)'s, employ thousands of people, and provide the means to live in a house and raise a family, be cautious of what you vote for. It may come back to cause huge repercussions for thousands of your constituents. You know the ones - the ones that work and that are not on welfare and provide the tax dollars that keep this country moving.

We're mad as hell, too. And we vote. At least I hope so.

A Letter From Barbara Mikulski

Dear Mr. Eludius:

Thank you for getting in touch with me about the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act (P.L. 110-343). It's good to hear from you.

I know that taxpayers are mad as hell, and so am I. They've watched Wall Street executives pay themselves lavish salaries. They've watched irresponsible lending practices. They've watched Wall Street gamble on risky investment mechanisms. Now those very same Americans who've worked hard and played by the rules are being asked to pay the bill for those who didn't.

Time and time again we have seen the consequences of loose regulations and wimpy enforcement. Time and time again I voted for more teeth and better regulation. I voted to get the lead paint out of toys and the lead out of the bureaucracy at the Consumer Product Safety Commission. I voted to strengthen Federal Drug and Administration (FDA) to make sure it didn't approve dangerous drugs. I also worked to stop predatory lending and flipping in the mortgage market.

I remember back in 1999 when this banking mess got started. I was one of the nine Senators who voted against the bill that got rid of the division between investment banks and commercial banks. It lowered the bar on regulation and allowed for casino economics.

Now, we are facing a credit crisis that affects everyone - from people getting loans for college, to the small business owner who depends on credit to buy inventory. If we do not deal with this credit crisis, I believe that the Main Street economy will have to pay the bill for the bailout and pay the bill again in lost jobs, and in shrinking retirement and pensions.

Regrettably, this rescue is necessary to restore confidence and stability in our economy. The final version that passed is vastly improved from the three page bill that President Bush and Secretary Paulson originally sent to Congress. It protects tax payers, provides oversight and transparency, and rejects using tax payer dollars to finance golden parachutes for Wall Street CEOs. That's why I voted for it. This legislation was necessary to protect our economy, our middle class, and our way of life. But I heard the taxpayers loud and clear. Much more needs to be done to provide for rigorous reform and retribution against those who broke the law.

The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act was passed by both the House and Senate, and was recently signed into law by the President. Knowing of your views was very helpful to me, and I will keep them in mind. If you'd like to read more, I encourage you to visit the "News Room" page of my website at http://mikulski.senate.gov/Newsroom/PressReleases/index.cfm where you can read the transcripts of my three floor statements on this issue.

Again, thanks for contacting me. Please let me know if I can be of help to you in the future.

Sincerely,

Barbara A. Mikulski
United States Senator

Economic Bailout Package

I haven't written in a while, but I have been busy. The work at my paying job has picked up, which is good when you see the economy melting down before your eyes. And family life is as busy as always. Soccer practice continues to occupy several days a week of my time and I was able to squeeze in the collapse of the Ravens last night on Monday Night Football.

So what has been occupying my thoughts for the past week or so is the crisis on Wall Street. I have watched my stocks tumble 10-30% in a short amount of time. I have not sold anything, so I haven't lost any money. As any good money manager will tell you, you haven't lost any money in the stock market unless you sell. When you sell, you've solidified your loss.

I have watched institution after institution collapse in terms of stock price and in name. It seems that the mere mention by the media that a company poised for collapse causes said company to collapse. In a short amount of time we have lost Lehman Brothers, Bear Stearns, Merrill Lynch, Washington Mutual (WaMu), Wachovia, and AIG. What would normally be a major headline for each company has become second page news given what it happening everywhere else.

The Congress continues to bicker about providing an economic bailout to rescue Wall Street and Main Street. Each round continues to fail and each party blames the other for the failure. However, the average Joe, while not having a great understanding of what is going on, does understand that his family is the one that is going to pay for it.

With the economy sliding into recession, by whatever definition you want to use, the government continues to print more money to devalue the currency, making our hard-earned dollars worth less. The government continues to borrow money from China and the Middle East, giving them more leverage over our economy and our future. And as the proverbial slap in the face, we are told by the government that the foundations of our economy are strong and that inflation is in check. Meanwhile, we are watching our retirement plans dwindle in value. Our salaries are rising at 3-4% per year if we are lucky. Yet we're paying 100% more for gas than we were several years ago and $100 doesn't go that far at the grocery store anymore. If inflation is in check, then why does everything cost more?

Americans are tired of the lies. The President lies to us. The Congress lies to us. The media lies to us. The 2 major candidates for Presidency lie to us. Wall Street lies to us. We are tired of the lies. We want the truth.

Explain this economic crisis to us. If a bailout is needed, let's pass one that doesn't have riders giving subsidies to farmers in South Dakota. Pass a bill that does not just give a handout to Wall Street to provide more cheap credit, which will cause more people to go out and buy homes they can't afford. Do not pass a bill that makes United States Government the largest financial firm in the country. Do not try to over-regulate the market and artificially inflate the housing market, the credit market, and the stock market. Do not pass a bill that you know will only make things worse in the long run.

We are not stupid. Stop treating citizens as if we are. As for the voters, it is time we wake up. Why are our Senators and Congressmen in office for 20, 30 years? We holler for change, then vote for the same bozos every election. Steny Hoyer has been in office since 1981 - that's 27 years. Barbara Mikulski has been in Congress since 1976 - 32 years!

I urge you to contact your elected leaders - Senators, Congressmen, and tell them what you think. And let me tell you - they are pretty tricky. I wanted to contact the other Congressmen in Maryland, but they hide their email addresses and the only way to email them is to complete a online form and lie about your information. Otherwise, it directs you to the Congressman in your district. I want all Congressmen to hear what I have to say, but they make it so that you can't tell them.

If you want change, it will not come in the form of incumbents. I don't care who your party is. If you're a Republican, perhaps it is time for vote for a Democrat. If you are a Democrat, perhaps it is time to vote for a Republican. If you want change, DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT! Otherwise, sit back and expect things to continue the way they are.