Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I frequently read about MoCo's decline (Adam Pagnucco has a great series about it in his blog, Montgomery Perspective), while also following the political and economic instability in Europe. It's hard not to draw parallels.
Europe for decades had been praised by American liberals for its social market/mixed economy with high regulations, taxes that allegedly pay for nice things, and a big social welfare state. Also for their socially liberal and progressive values.
The same could be said for Montgomery County. As far as US counties go, MoCo is like the Norway of America. Or the BeNeLux of America.
But now look what's happening - unfettered immigration, new immigrants both being at odds with liberal values and straining the economic welfare system, and the double threat of excessive spending and the gravy train ending.
In Europe, it's the squeeze of energy costs and the war in Ukraine, plus the threats from the US pulling out of NATO.
In MoCo, it's the declining business environment, the state's budget shortfall, and the impending economic catastrophe coming from federal layoffs and Trump halting federal grants.
With immigration its also similar. Immigrants tend to be more socially conservative and at odds with the pro-LGBTQ policies. Lower income immigrants add to the demands on the social welfare state while also shrinking the tax base.
What will be interesting to see if what is happening in Europe will also happen in MoCo: A hard shift right. In Europe, the hard shift right is anti-immigrant; in MoCo, it will be pro-law enforcement more than anything, and presumably more pro-business and anti-spending. We will wait and see.
Screw off republicans had the government for eight years in MD .
You are a racist pos antisemite as well
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