Save Maryland

Submitted by Tim B

At our May meeting, Delegate Don Dwyer told us an effective way to voice our opinions on proposed legislation is to send letters to the editor because elected officials read them in the newspapers every day.

At our June meeting, writer Rick Vatz (frequent guest on Ron Smith’s show) will speak to us about crafting effective letters. And it looks like Ron Smith and Ryan Bogash will stop by!

WHEN: Tuesday, June 30, 2009 at 6:30pm.

WHY: Towson Distinguished Professor Rick Vatz - expert in persuasion and wordsmithing – will meet with us to give us pointers for effective letter writing and will talk about his experiences writing letters.

WHERE: HighTopps Backstage Grille at 2306 York Rd in Timonium just north of the MD state fairgrounds. Parking is available directly across York Rd. (Each person pays for himself.)

Join us!

RSVP to ron_smith_fans-owner@yahoogroups.com

MARYLAND FOR RESPONSIBLE ENFORCEMENT

Unfortunately, today was not a bright day for the citizens of Maryland; as they fell just shy of the required 17,883 signatures needed to bring SB-277 to Ballot Referendum with approximately 16,000 signatures.

MRE would like to thank all like minded Marylanders who signed the petition and helped collected signatures. We want everyone to know your voices will be heard and we will use our lessons learned to assist citizens challenge speed cameras in their jurisdictions.

Over the past few weeks many Marylanders have expressed their utter disdain ranging from anger over it being another tax to concern over an increased big-brother 1984 police state.

Maryland is one of the hardest if not the hardest states in the union to pass a referendum. Sadly, this results in so many Marylanders being denied a voice in their government by not being able to hold their elected officials responsible for questionable and unpopular policy.

The burdensome state guidelines only guarantee the citizen petitioners a limited few weeks. This allows little time for people to express their concerns over a law. Even if Marylanders had submitted the correct number of signatures, the state would still omit 20-30% of the voter intent. By means of a strict process that if a middle initial was not used, the signature would be void.

During the final days of MRE’s efforts, many Marylanders reached out to us who had just learned about the petition effort and wanted to sign or help collect signatures themselves. Many more Marylanders told us they were in a busy time of the year but would do everything they could to help. With little money spent and a volunteer effort the message was clear Marylanders do not want speed cameras and do not want more taxes and burdens in these troubling financial times.

Between the information the law requires you to collect, specifically the exact way the voter is registered, and the extremely limited time frame it would be a near impossible monumental task for anyone to succeed in.

We would like to again thank all those who signed the petition and helped collect signatures. You were all able to accomplish so much in so little time.

The fight is never over and our continued activism of Speed Cameras will continue

Best Regards,

Justin Shuy and Daniel Zubairi
Co-Chairs
Maryland for Responsible Enforcement
info@mdscamera.com

Submitted by Tim B

Today I feel as though I was royally ripped off by the State of Maryland.

I subjected my car to the emissions test. (Poor thing is still sobbing about a complete stranger fondling it.)

But it’s not the fact I went to have it tested that I feel as though I was ripped off (and my car sexually molested at the same time). We all know that the emissions test is a rip off to begin with.

I was ripped off because I did not get my numbers. All I got for my $14.00 was a whole bunch of N/A’s in all the blocks except for the block labeled OBD (On-Board Diagnostic). There was printed the word “pass”.

In years gone by, even when I had my Saturn, which had an computer diagnostic hook-up thingy so the computer could perform a diagnosis (Like what? Computers are doctors now?), I still received some numbers.

You know, numbers like .016 milliparts of the 30th molecule of oxygen tested on the fifth cycle of exhaust type of numbers only graduate chemists understand.

And even though I never understood what those numbers meant (I’m not a graduate chemist), I still got numbers!

I didn’t even get the proper tense of the word “pass” printed out on the paper. It does not say my car “passED” the test. It only “pass” the test. Even in school a student is said to have “passED” the test. Not just “pass” the test. They couldn’t even print the past tense of the word pass out on the paper! I have to settle for the present tense!

Like I said, I was royally ripped off today by Maryland! I did not get my money’s worth! I did not get my numbers!

I WANT MY NUMBERS!!!

The General Assembly along with Martin O’Malley recently legalized speed cameras in Maryland. Forgoing their normal diatribe of “It’s for the Children” nonsense many politicians who voted in favor of speed cameras openly admitted that speed cameras have nothing to do with safety and everything to do with separating you from your hard earned money. Maryland for Responsible Enforcement (MRE) needs to collect more than 53,000 signatures to put the decision of speed cameras directly in the hands of the voters. Send a message to Annapolis, take a few minutes and sign the petition.

http://www.mdscamera.com/

Submitted by Tim B.

Just thought I would pass along this announcement of the April meeting of the Ron Smith Fans Yahoo Group.

Do you value getting your news from a variety of sources including talk radio? Do you want to meet like-minded people? Join us!

What: The Ron Smith Show Fans Monthly Meeting

When: Friday, April 24 at 5:15-7:15pm

Where: HighTopps Backstage Grille in Timonium off York Rd. just north of the MD State Fairgrounds [parking is available directly across the street from the restaurant].

Why: Dave Wallace, organizer of Maryland Republican Meetup and host of a conservative radio show, will talk to us about his grassroots conservative vision for Maryland and for influencing 2010 elections. Then we’ll continue the informed discussion Ron brings up on the air and discuss ways to galvanize the conservative movement. Please bring something you have researched and want to discuss!

RSVP: Suzanne at ron_smith_fans-owner@yahoogroups.com Come on by! We want your ideas.. To learn more, visit  groups.yahoo.com/group/ron_smith_fans

Submitted by Daniel

Well, this post isn’t about existing news items. As much as all of us need to make sure that we are informed about all the laws being made - and broken - by our reps … I have a sincere question for any of you that would care to respond.

Just what kind of an elected official do you feel is important to have?

If you could construct the perfect candidate, what should that person hold true to?

Is it likely that you would vote for a recognized name?
Or, would you vote for someone that has never been in office (yet)?

I really would like to see/read/hear what anyone thinks along this line.

So far, I am am getting a bit tired of always complaining.

But what kind of action should such a candidate take that would get, and keep, your interest?

It’s time to speak up. We are still looking for guest bloggers so if there is a topic, story or event that you would like to see posted here just type it up and send it to GuestBlogger@SaveMaryland.com Remember to include your nickname and any sources that are relevant to the post.

It looks like we will have at least 8 Tea Parties in Maryland on the April 15th. Which one are you going to attend?

http://taxdayteaparty.com/teaparty/maryland/

There’s even a place to print some Free signs.

http://www.marshbaby.com/teaparty

And some great slogans to make your own signs.

http://lukeamerica2020.wordpress.com/2009/04/03/101-tea-party-sign-slogans/

Submitted by Bill in Annapolis

That’s right a group of new laws now allow a judge to take away your guns based solely on his or her personal opinion and the filing of a protective order. In my opinion these laws violate the Fifth and Fourteenth amendments of the U.S. constitution.

The Fifth amendment reads, “No person shall be … deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law ….”.

The Fourteenth amendment reads,  ”nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law …”

There is an old saying, “The path to Hell is paved with good intentions”, I think this is the case here. I understand why someone would think this was a good idea but as always there are unintended consequences. These laws place too much power in the hands of our Government. The power to take away personal property and personal rights based on hearsay and a judges personal perception of credible evidence. These laws are purposely vague and are nothing more than a back door gun confiscation scheme. I know it may sound like a stretch but what’s stopping a Police Officer, or Government official from filing a protective order on a group of people or all of us for that matter. Our court system is stacked with Judges that were appointed by the very people who would file these orders.  No one will get fair and impartial treatment.

Our rights are being eroded.  Sadly our Maryland Government has become embolden, self righteous and self serving. They have forgotten that they are our representatives and not our rulers. We need to remember their disservice when election time rolls around and we need to take our state back . They will continue to take away our rights until we do something about it.

These laws were filed at the direct request of Martin O’Malley and have passed both the House and Senate, they are just waiting on Martin O’Malleys signature.

http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/billfile/SB0267.htm

http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/billfile/SB0268.htm

http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/billfile/HB0296.htm

http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/billfile/HB0302.htm