By Dennis Brent Melby

From our first elected County Executive, Jim Gleason, I’ve known so many great County Executives and Councilmembers. A few of them were Republicans - by far the majority were Democrats. But they were thoughtful “normal” Democrats.

They’d write zoning for our communities to improve transportation, separate residential neighborhoods from commercial, and provide great public schooling for our kids. Before the Bicentennial we were the wealthiest county in America – and proud of it.

It’s gradually changed, and recently rapidly deteriorated, pitting groups against each other, freezing Republicans, moderates and conservatives out of the picture, and pushing policies giving us high prices, crowded and overbuilt neighborhoods and underperforming public schools.

Instead of success, we’ve been pursuing “equity.” Everyone should be the same…how's that working in Cuba? Instead of success, we've resorted to tax, tax, and more tax. (I was gonna say "Moore Tax: but that's too simple!)

Instead of education, we’ve had falling grades, fewer students, no police protection in schools with even more administrators and exploding budgets. I’ve known so many Democrat politicians who lost support of the Apple Ballot crowd once they finally refused to acquiesce to giving raise after raise to the Unions, folks like School Board President Jim Cronin and County Councilmember Marilyn Praisner. They were Liberal Democrats who were thrown out and replaced by folks who’d OK more and more money to the Teacher’s Union folks. (The same folks who distribute the Apple Ballot at every polling station on election day.)

Left wing schemes for “equitable housing” have whole areas like Takoma Park with no new rental apartment housing for decades. And we’re seeing that spread to the entire County now.  The Democrat Socialists are studying Mamdani in New York and readying nationalizing apartment buildings and freezing rents - and free government run grocery stores. What could possibly go wrong?

Race, skin color and ethnicity have taken center stage in so many decisions, pitting black against Asian, against Hispanic as an easy way to win support and votes. Ike Leggett never did that. We ALL live in the same county, we all know each other and respect each other…and are happier for it.

Divisiveness gets votes and support from the radicals in all groups, so many elected officials pander to stereotypes that no longer exist. And in the new national socialist Democrat Party it works well. Recently they’ve even started targeting Jewish residents – and it seems to be working. Very sad. Esther Gelman, Sidney Kramer and Phil Andrews would be outraged. They were righteous, normal Democrats.

Let’s get back to working together. Let’s add a few normal Republicans to the mix – like we did in the times when we were successful, united and forward thinking.

Let’s return to success, abundance and safety. 

Yes, we CAN work together, I’ve seen it before – and we have great candidates on both sides to make that happen.

Don’t hand things to the Socialist fringe – it never turns out well.

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Tell me this, do you miss two-party government? Do you think Republicans and Democrats can work together? How about the National Socialist Democrats...are they the answer? Tell me what you think at [email protected]

Dennis Melby