I am so glad to live in Maryland

[Anonymous]

Unironically so.

It just seems that angry populism and demagoguery is taking over the world. This may sound elitist but I don't care: I am grateful to be surrounded by educated, smart, level-headed people who elect politicians who are also educated, smart, and level-headed.

Yes, one can complain about Maryland for its taxes and traffic and occasional bureaucratic hangups in local government. Yes I'm aware of MCPS scandals and crime, but none of these problems aren't things you come across elsewhere. Sure, we could do better, and people know that, and they go out there and elect people to do better. Sometimes it's disappointing. But it's always sane and normal. MAGAs don't win here. We elect rational adults from with enough ideological diversity from Hogan to Raskin. People here believe in the rule of law, a functional democracy, that vaccines work, that public health is important and not a mind-control conspiracy, that public education is not woke indoctrination, and we believe in regulated free-market capitalism with empathy those down on their luck.

It's great to be in a place where conspiracy theories are not the norm, where people don't worship dictators who hate America, where people actually love this country and its values. It's not a one-party state either, it's that the MAGA party doesn't get very far. Hogan Republicans do. And the Democrats we elect are not the wild-eyed Squad types and not populist left-wing demagogues either (Elrich notwithstanding). While Maryland may be to the left of most of the country politically by US standards, I would really say we're ideologically the most moderate and sensible on a global scale.

[Anonymous]

Go spend some time in western Maryland, large chunks of Washington, Frederick, and Carroll Counties, as well as the Eastern Shore.

Your post should be titled, “I am so glad to live in my slice of close-in Montgomery County.”

[Anonymous]

Ditto!

P.S. Fredrick is purple and quickly becoming highly educated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Unironically so.

It just seems that angry populism and demagoguery is taking over the world. This may sound elitist but I don't care: I am grateful to be surrounded by educated, smart, level-headed people who elect politicians who are also educated, smart, and level-headed.

Yes, one can complain about Maryland for its taxes and traffic and occasional bureaucratic hangups in local government. Yes I'm aware of MCPS scandals and crime, but none of these problems aren't things you come across elsewhere. Sure, we could do better, and people know that, and they go out there and elect people to do better. Sometimes it's disappointing. But it's always sane and normal. MAGAs don't win here. We elect rational adults from with enough ideological diversity from Hogan to Raskin. People here believe in the rule of law, a functional democracy, that vaccines work, that public health is important and not a mind-control conspiracy, that public education is not woke indoctrination, and we believe in regulated free-market capitalism with empathy those down on their luck.

It's great to be in a place where conspiracy theories are not the norm, where people don't worship dictators who hate America, where people actually love this country and its values. It's not a one-party state either, it's that the MAGA party doesn't get very far. Hogan Republicans do. And the Democrats we elect are not the wild-eyed Squad types and not populist left-wing demagogues either (Elrich notwithstanding). While Maryland may be to the left of most of the country politically by US standards, I would really say we're ideologically the most moderate and sensible on a global scale.

Wow, glad you happy, to each his/her own.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Unironically so.

It just seems that angry populism and demagoguery is taking over the world. This may sound elitist but I don't care: I am grateful to be surrounded by educated, smart, level-headed people who elect politicians who are also educated, smart, and level-headed.

Yes, one can complain about Maryland for its taxes and traffic and occasional bureaucratic hangups in local government. Yes I'm aware of MCPS scandals and crime, but none of these problems aren't things you come across elsewhere. Sure, we could do better, and people know that, and they go out there and elect people to do better. Sometimes it's disappointing. But it's always sane and normal. MAGAs don't win here. We elect rational adults from with enough ideological diversity from Hogan to Raskin. People here believe in the rule of law, a functional democracy, that vaccines work, that public health is important and not a mind-control conspiracy, that public education is not woke indoctrination, and we believe in regulated free-market capitalism with empathy those down on their luck.

It's great to be in a place where conspiracy theories are not the norm, where people don't worship dictators who hate America, where people actually love this country and its values. It's not a one-party state either, it's that the MAGA party doesn't get very far. Hogan Republicans do. And the Democrats we elect are not the wild-eyed Squad types and not populist left-wing demagogues either (Elrich notwithstanding). While Maryland may be to the left of most of the country politically by US standards, I would really say we're ideologically the most moderate and sensible on a global scale.

You live in the DC metro area bubble. You are not describing most of Maryland, but rather a circle that reaches about 30 miles outside the beltway, where 2/3’s of the state’s population resides. The whole entire rest of the state and 1/3 of the population could just as easily be Alabama or Texas.

[Anonymous]

Dunno. I live in DC but am hearing a lot about far left extremism in MCPS these days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Unironically so.

It just seems that angry populism and demagoguery is taking over the world. This may sound elitist but I don't care: I am grateful to be surrounded by educated, smart, level-headed people who elect politicians who are also educated, smart, and level-headed.

Yes, one can complain about Maryland for its taxes and traffic and occasional bureaucratic hangups in local government. Yes I'm aware of MCPS scandals and crime, but none of these problems aren't things you come across elsewhere. Sure, we could do better, and people know that, and they go out there and elect people to do better. Sometimes it's disappointing. But it's always sane and normal. MAGAs don't win here. We elect rational adults from with enough ideological diversity from Hogan to Raskin. People here believe in the rule of law, a functional democracy, that vaccines work, that public health is important and not a mind-control conspiracy, that public education is not woke indoctrination, and we believe in regulated free-market capitalism with empathy those down on their luck.

It's great to be in a place where conspiracy theories are not the norm, where people don't worship dictators who hate America, where people actually love this country and its values. It's not a one-party state either, it's that the MAGA party doesn't get very far. Hogan Republicans do. And the Democrats we elect are not the wild-eyed Squad types and not populist left-wing demagogues either (Elrich notwithstanding). While Maryland may be to the left of most of the country politically by US standards, I would really say we're ideologically the most moderate and sensible on a global scale.

That’s great you found a place you like. Probably makes the rest of your life a little easier.

[Anonymous]

Apparently you don't get out much. No state is safe from what you describe

[Anonymous]

Really, OP? I find MoCo too progressive, and so does my Dem spouse.

Cops not allowed to pull over people for some violations while driving, like dark tinted windows because it impacts mostly certain groups.
Repeat violent kids allowed back in schools because it impacts mostly certain groups, but also hurts that same group the most.
Allowing illegal immigrant criminals to roam free on our streets, mostly impacts lower/middle income people.

Moco is way too soft on crime. If it wasn't so soft on crime, I might agree with you.

[Anonymous]

OP, you do not know Maryland very well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Really, OP? I find MoCo too progressive, and so does my Dem spouse.

Cops not allowed to pull over people for some violations while driving, like dark tinted windows because it impacts mostly certain groups.
Repeat violent kids allowed back in schools because it impacts mostly certain groups, but also hurts that same group the most.
Allowing illegal immigrant criminals to roam free on our streets, mostly impacts lower/middle income people.

Moco is way too soft on crime. If it wasn't so soft on crime, I might agree with you.

I would go a little softer on the racism, but I agree MoCo is a little too soft on crime/criminality, and it is also affecting the schools. But still I would prefer that to the opposite extreme of crazy MAGAs everywhere…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Go spend some time in western Maryland, large chunks of Washington, Frederick, and Carroll Counties, as well as the Eastern Shore.

Your post should be titled, “I am so glad to live in my slice of close-in Montgomery County.”

Now you know Garrett County is north of the mason dixie and MoCo is south. Garrett is great!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Really, OP? I find MoCo too progressive, and so does my Dem spouse.

Cops not allowed to pull over people for some violations while driving, like dark tinted windows because it impacts mostly certain groups.
.

I’m a 50 yr old white guy, live in Chevy Chase Village, drive an older, expensive car in pristine condition, drive very sedately, and I’ve been pulled over twice in the last year for window tint despite my Florida tags (where the car is titled and tagged) ..

Cops in MoCo are indeed still pulling people over for minor things. Just not black people.

[Anonymous]

Did Baltimore move to Delaware?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Really, OP? I find MoCo too progressive, and so does my Dem spouse.

Cops not allowed to pull over people for some violations while driving, like dark tinted windows because it impacts mostly certain groups.
.

I’m a 50 yr old white guy, live in Chevy Chase Village, drive an older, expensive car in pristine condition, drive very sedately, and I’ve been pulled over twice in the last year for window tint despite my Florida tags (where the car is titled and tagged) ..

Cops in MoCo are indeed still pulling people over for minor things. Just not black people.

You must be military. This happened to my husband too. We have also been pulled over in MD. My spouse is black and was pulled over once because DC screwed up registration. Treated fine / worked it out. I'm glad MoCo keeps tabs - we are thinking of moving there. I hope it doesn't go the way of DC/lawlessness. Nothing can describe how terrible DC is right now.