How do we end Montgomery County socialism?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Marc Elrich is just a symptom. The people that elected him are the disease.

If you want to cure MoCo you either have to get those people to use their brains, or flood the county with moderates or conservatives. And neither of those things is going to happen.

So I’ll enjoy watching the county spiral downwards.

WRONG

Currently conservatives want the US to turn into a fascist country with KING Trump.

Conservatives want a criminal in office. They are ok with Congressmen knowingly lying to the American people to stand with Russia.

They stand with garbage.

Not PP, but Trumpists are not conservatives. Not traditional ones anyway. The current MoCo government is really pushing a lot of liberals more to the center. And that's who decent candidates (like Blair) should be rallying.

I agree Elrich is a symptom and not the disease. There are many super-active, very-liberal interest groups in the county who are wielding a lot of power right now. The politicians listen to them. Those activists, though, live in their own little silos. The anti-police folks want the department defunded and consider police themselves to be the biggest public safety threat to the county. The school equity folks want massive redistricting and refuse to see other perspectives, or worse, immediately discount them as per se racist. The living wage folks want to regulate the heck out of the minimum wage, the ban the box, and rent control. But they never look at the whole picture. Just their own little causes. Nobody cares about the overall health and welfare of the county as a whole. And the politicians we've elected certainly don't. Not sure if political leadership can't or won't see the forest for the trees, though. Most are very much serving their own egos and their own future political ambitions. I miss the Marilyn Praisners of the Council. Super-smart, held government accountable, and actually gave a damn about the county itself. They are long gone. They all love to surround themselves with their various little coteries of activists and promise them the world. It's really sad to watch in a county that has historically had top-notch, highly-intelligent and proactive leadership descend into this bush league mess.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yet another grim warning about Montgomery County's economy:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/montgomery-economic-slow/2021/06/24/4fdd0cd8-d427-11eb-9f29-e9e6c9e843c6_story.html

Over the past five years, the report adds, Fairfax County outpaced Montgomery in adding research jobs in life sciences - and industry that Mongomery has touted as a cornerstone of its economic development strategy.

To reverse course, the report proposes the formation of a $275 million job creation fund that would offer grants and other perks to companies willing to set up shop or expand operations in the Maryland suburb of 1 million people. The District and Northern Virginia have unveiled similar incentive programs in recent months, but it is unclear whether officials in liberal Montgomery, who have been focused on supporting vulnerable residents hit hardest by the pandemic, will be receptive to the idea.

Leftists like to say that Virginia is winning for the cynical reason that Americans prefer "death sciences" (military/defense) to life sciences. Well, Virginia is winning in life sciences too. The left does not want to admit that the reason Montgomery County is failing is because of its socialistic policies and woke ideology of its government.

MoCo is a government town. When you look at the top Montgomery County employers, they are:
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Montgomery County Public Schools
U.S. Department of Defense
County of Montgomery

So, federal government and county government.
If you don't work for the government, then where do you work? Probably Northern Virginia.

This is what socialism is - everybody works for the government, and relies on the government for their own income AND communal public services. Socialism doesn't work, because eventually you urn out of other people's money. That is exactly what is happening right now. Never mind the fact that the County Executive and County Council are focused on climate virtue signaling (yes climate change is real, but how exactly is one county going to reverse climate change? China and India will wipe away any progress one US county makes in one hour, and all the tax dollars will be wasted) and Racial Equity and Social Justice. While it is admirable that people want to help the lowest earning residents, we need more ladders to climb up than temporary boosts in the form of handouts. And this is just not happening.

Socialism is ingrained in the Montgomery County system. The government and all its services are omnipresent and feed off their own bureaucracy. Also, the County Executive and his cult of personality in Takoma Park remind me of an old Soviet political vanguard. They are so into their own revolutionary facade but they don't know how to actually govern effectively, and turn to authoritarianism to hold power instead (refer to our own pandemic regime, and the control of public employee unions) People like Elrich also want to shut down criticism and free speech.

Why does Montgomery County have to feel like 1980s East Germany? Mr. Elrich Tear Down This Wall .. the metaphor can be extended to the Potomac River, and an additional bridge crossing and highway expansion, which will enable people to migrate across the river like they moved to the West when the Berlin Wall came down.

How can we permanently end Socialism in Montgomery County?

OP here. i spent the AM researching socialism, and i can clearly see i was just making inflammatory political commentary that isn't based in reality. I regret making this post and i am sorry to those i have offended.

I'm so surprised by this post!

[Anonymous]

This thread is hyperbolic, but that linked article does point out some serious concerns.

From the article:

""By comparing the county’s share of the regional economy in 2007 and 2019, Sesker said, he found that over 12 years, Montgomery lost 14,000 jobs in high-paying industries like finance and information technology to neighboring jurisdictions. It also lost real estate investment amounting to about 32 buildings and 3.3 million square feet of office space.

This “economic underperformance,” he wrote, led to the county forgoing up to $275 million in tax revenue.""

And this:

"County officials recently passed a $5.96 billion operating budget that boosted funding for schools and social services, including food distribution hubs and mental health crisis counselors — resources that community leaders and advocates say are badly needed."

The social justice warriors have taken over MoCo politics and have filled the Council with politicians who have been nothing but activists for their entire lives and get elected solely on the basis of parroting slogans and waving banners. They are addicted to creating programs with zero concern on how they are funded, or not funded.

At some point, MoCo political entities will have to cease with their dreams of making Montgomery County into the largest soup kitchen in the world and start generating economic activity instead of repulsing businesses large and small away.

I'll leave this quote from the former Jackie's restaurant owner to illustrate my point:

"It's a pain in the butt to operate in Montgomery County," Greenbaum said. "My Silver Spring customers will hate me for saying that."

https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/dine/jackies-restaurant-to-close/

Vote for David Blair and the entire Council needs to be swept out of office.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can you please explain how Montgomery County is a socialist regime?

MoCo elected a tyrant like Erlich.

Which private enterprises has Elrich nationalized?

https://redmaryland.com/2019/11/comrade-elrichs-kirwan-plan-government-run-pot-stores/

Yes it's a right wing blog, but the quotes from Elrich are real and this is actually something he wants to do.

Instead of privatize liquor control... moco has a liquor monopoly that loses money and only plays to the hands of powerful public employee unions... Elrich wants to expand it to include marijuana. State controlled, socialist marijuana. That's the most Takoma Park thing I've ever heard.

This entire thread is so confusing...if you don't like it, MOVE AWAY. And then that way all us "rule following, socialist-loving, Elrich voting, anti-expand 495ers can stay and be happy. Like do you not get that most people who choose to live here AGREE with those items listed. And a bs report about VA outperforming in some manner won't convince us otherwise?

This seems to be a "Progressive" trend. Well, if you don't like all of the changes that we are making to the place where you live, then you should be the one to leave. Well, actually, the people who like the status quo and bought under that assumption would seem to be the ones who should stay. But, in MoCo, it is a lost cause, and people who care about rational and limited government ARE much better off leaving, because there is no turning back from this death spiral of higher taxes for reductions in services (because the money goes toward an ever-increasing low income population drawn by generous benefits and sanctuary status), increasing density with no effort to maintain roads, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can you please explain how Montgomery County is a socialist regime?

MoCo elected a tyrant like Erlich.

Which private enterprises has Elrich nationalized?

https://redmaryland.com/2019/11/comrade-elrichs-kirwan-plan-government-run-pot-stores/

Yes it's a right wing blog, but the quotes from Elrich are real and this is actually something he wants to do.

Instead of privatize liquor control... moco has a liquor monopoly that loses money and only plays to the hands of powerful public employee unions... Elrich wants to expand it to include marijuana. State controlled, socialist marijuana. That's the most Takoma Park thing I've ever heard.

This entire thread is so confusing...if you don't like it, MOVE AWAY. And then that way all us "rule following, socialist-loving, Elrich voting, anti-expand 495ers can stay and be happy. Like do you not get that most people who choose to live here AGREE with those items listed. And a bs report about VA outperforming in some manner won't convince us otherwise?

This seems to be a "Progressive" trend. Well, if you don't like all of the changes that we are making to the place where you live, then you should be the one to leave. Well, actually, the people who like the status quo and bought under that assumption would seem to be the ones who should stay. But, in MoCo, it is a lost cause, and people who care about rational and limited government ARE much better off leaving, because there is no turning back from this death spiral of higher taxes for reductions in services (because the money goes toward an ever-increasing low income population drawn by generous benefits and sanctuary status), increasing density with no effort to maintain roads, etc.

No different from conservatives who can't stand any criticism of America. The Go Back to Africa crowd. Hypocrites.

[Anonymous]

Can we end NIMBYism first? thx

[Anonymous]

Maybe it's not socialism, but the whatever you call it, the county is being run into the ground and as a life-long resident, it's sad. The county is so anti-business that they can't even fill existing office parks -- look at Rock Spring over by Montgomery Mall and how that's all being converted to housing or nursing homes (I'm not making this up -- the Marriott headquarters will be torn down in favor of an old folks home!).

The problem is most of the county is run by people from Takoma Park/Silver Spring, and they don't represent the views of the county overall. Even the at-large council members are from that area. There was an effort on the last ballot to change it so the 9 council members each represent a specific district. That was the result of people gathering tens of thousands of signatures to put it on the ballot. What happened? The Council got scared, and added _their own_ question to the ballot and placed it before this one, and the Council's version would just add more district-specific seats, thus enlarging the council, and keeping all at-large seats in place. That won -- first on the ballot and it probably confused voters. If the Council really cared about that, why did they wait only until _the people_ added a ballot question to react?

Anyway, I think a realistic solution is open primaries. Right now, whoever wins the D primary wins the general. Most voters don't vote in the primaries, so a candidate just needs to cater to one fringe group that votes heavily, to win in the primary. That's how Elrich did it -- he beat Blair by less than 100 votes, among a sea of moderates. The moderate vote was spread across a few candidates, so Elrich just courted 1-2 ultra-progressive votes and swept up all those votes.

If we had an open primary, then you'd end up with 2 (D) candidates on the general ballot and at least one is likely to be moderate.

It's justifiable because 1/3 of registered voters in MoCo are indepdendents, and all candidates can join in taxpayer-funded campaign financing. That means you could have R and D candidates both receiving your money, but no way to vote for/against them because primaries are closed.

Next time you're in Bethesda, drive by the Bethesda (Morella) library. It's named after Connie Morella, a moderate _Republican_ congressional representative. Imagine that -- we used to elect Republicans to office in this area!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe it's not socialism, but the whatever you call it, the county is being run into the ground and as a life-long resident, it's sad. The county is so anti-business that they can't even fill existing office parks -- look at Rock Spring over by Montgomery Mall and how that's all being converted to housing or nursing homes (I'm not making this up -- the Marriott headquarters will be torn down in favor of an old folks home!).

The problem is most of the county is run by people from Takoma Park/Silver Spring, and they don't represent the views of the county overall. Even the at-large council members are from that area. There was an effort on the last ballot to change it so the 9 council members each represent a specific district. That was the result of people gathering tens of thousands of signatures to put it on the ballot. What happened? The Council got scared, and added _their own_ question to the ballot and placed it before this one, and the Council's version would just add more district-specific seats, thus enlarging the council, and keeping all at-large seats in place. That won -- first on the ballot and it probably confused voters. If the Council really cared about that, why did they wait only until _the people_ added a ballot question to react?

Anyway, I think a realistic solution is open primaries. Right now, whoever wins the D primary wins the general. Most voters don't vote in the primaries, so a candidate just needs to cater to one fringe group that votes heavily, to win in the primary. That's how Elrich did it -- he beat Blair by less than 100 votes, among a sea of moderates. The moderate vote was spread across a few candidates, so Elrich just courted 1-2 ultra-progressive votes and swept up all those votes.

If we had an open primary, then you'd end up with 2 (D) candidates on the general ballot and at least one is likely to be moderate.

It's justifiable because 1/3 of registered voters in MoCo are indepdendents, and all candidates can join in taxpayer-funded campaign financing. That means you could have R and D candidates both receiving your money, but no way to vote for/against them because primaries are closed.

Next time you're in Bethesda, drive by the Bethesda (Morella) library. It's named after Connie Morella, a moderate _Republican_ congressional representative. Imagine that -- we used to elect Republicans to office in this area!

Office parks are dead. Marriott is building a new HQ in Bethesda to give up it's office park.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe it's not socialism, but the whatever you call it, the county is being run into the ground and as a life-long resident, it's sad. The county is so anti-business that they can't even fill existing office parks -- look at Rock Spring over by Montgomery Mall and how that's all being converted to housing or nursing homes (I'm not making this up -- the Marriott headquarters will be torn down in favor of an old folks home!).

The problem is most of the county is run by people from Takoma Park/Silver Spring, and they don't represent the views of the county overall. Even the at-large council members are from that area. There was an effort on the last ballot to change it so the 9 council members each represent a specific district. That was the result of people gathering tens of thousands of signatures to put it on the ballot. What happened? The Council got scared, and added _their own_ question to the ballot and placed it before this one, and the Council's version would just add more district-specific seats, thus enlarging the council, and keeping all at-large seats in place. That won -- first on the ballot and it probably confused voters. If the Council really cared about that, why did they wait only until _the people_ added a ballot question to react?

Anyway, I think a realistic solution is open primaries. Right now, whoever wins the D primary wins the general. Most voters don't vote in the primaries, so a candidate just needs to cater to one fringe group that votes heavily, to win in the primary. That's how Elrich did it -- he beat Blair by less than 100 votes, among a sea of moderates. The moderate vote was spread across a few candidates, so Elrich just courted 1-2 ultra-progressive votes and swept up all those votes.

If we had an open primary, then you'd end up with 2 (D) candidates on the general ballot and at least one is likely to be moderate.

It's justifiable because 1/3 of registered voters in MoCo are indepdendents, and all candidates can join in taxpayer-funded campaign financing. That means you could have R and D candidates both receiving your money, but no way to vote for/against them because primaries are closed.

Next time you're in Bethesda, drive by the Bethesda (Morella) library. It's named after Connie Morella, a moderate _Republican_ congressional representative. Imagine that -- we used to elect Republicans to office in this area!

Office parks are dead. Marriott is building a new HQ in Bethesda to give up it's office park.

Office parks are only dead in Montgomery County because we are losing jobs. I seriously recommend that you get off your bike, rent a car and go drive out along 66 out to Leesburg. You have no idea what’s going on outside of your own little world.

[Anonymous]

Ex Republican living in MOCO.

I nor any of my neighbors will never ever vote for another Republican again.

Yes, I can speak for them as we just had a neighborhood meeting and had this very discussion.

Never going to risk any elected officials being Trumpers again.

While we may not be a large voting block our reaches in the community are far and wide.

NEVER AGAIN.

[Anonymous]

Huh? As someone who lives in MoCO and is married to someone who actually grew up in East Germany, you are spewing absolute nonsense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ex Republican living in MOCO.

I nor any of my neighbors will never ever vote for another Republican again.

Yes, I can speak for them as we just had a neighborhood meeting and had this very discussion.

Never going to risk any elected officials being Trumpers again.

While we may not be a large voting block our reaches in the community are far and wide.

NEVER AGAIN.

What part of Takoma Park do you live in?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe it's not socialism, but the whatever you call it, the county is being run into the ground and as a life-long resident, it's sad. The county is so anti-business that they can't even fill existing office parks -- look at Rock Spring over by Montgomery Mall and how that's all being converted to housing or nursing homes (I'm not making this up -- the Marriott headquarters will be torn down in favor of an old folks home!).

The problem is most of the county is run by people from Takoma Park/Silver Spring, and they don't represent the views of the county overall. Even the at-large council members are from that area. There was an effort on the last ballot to change it so the 9 council members each represent a specific district. That was the result of people gathering tens of thousands of signatures to put it on the ballot. What happened? The Council got scared, and added _their own_ question to the ballot and placed it before this one, and the Council's version would just add more district-specific seats, thus enlarging the council, and keeping all at-large seats in place. That won -- first on the ballot and it probably confused voters. If the Council really cared about that, why did they wait only until _the people_ added a ballot question to react?

Anyway, I think a realistic solution is open primaries. Right now, whoever wins the D primary wins the general. Most voters don't vote in the primaries, so a candidate just needs to cater to one fringe group that votes heavily, to win in the primary. That's how Elrich did it -- he beat Blair by less than 100 votes, among a sea of moderates. The moderate vote was spread across a few candidates, so Elrich just courted 1-2 ultra-progressive votes and swept up all those votes.

If we had an open primary, then you'd end up with 2 (D) candidates on the general ballot and at least one is likely to be moderate.

It's justifiable because 1/3 of registered voters in MoCo are indepdendents, and all candidates can join in taxpayer-funded campaign financing. That means you could have R and D candidates both receiving your money, but no way to vote for/against them because primaries are closed.

Next time you're in Bethesda, drive by the Bethesda (Morella) library. It's named after Connie Morella, a moderate _Republican_ congressional representative. Imagine that -- we used to elect Republicans to office in this area!

Office parks are dead. Marriott is building a new HQ in Bethesda to give up it's office park.

Office parks are only dead in Montgomery County because we are losing jobs. I seriously recommend that you get off your bike, rent a car and go drive out along 66 out to Leesburg. You have no idea what’s going on outside of your own little world.

Maybe you meant the Dulles Toll Road/Greenway? 66 will not take you to Leesburg or anywhere in Loudoun. It runs through Arlington, Fairfax, Prince William, and Fauquier counties on the way to Front Royal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ex Republican living in MOCO.

I nor any of my neighbors will never ever vote for another Republican again.

Yes, I can speak for them as we just had a neighborhood meeting and had this very discussion.

Never going to risk any elected officials being Trumpers again.

While we may not be a large voting block our reaches in the community are far and wide.

NEVER AGAIN.

Who cares!

Your taxes will go through the roof! Companies will leave for Lower tax states. You will complain the govt controls too much. To much crime and illegals. You made your bed, now rot in it you moron….

[Anonymous]

Also if you comparing about how crappy Montgomery county is in terms of you executive, crime, schools, illegals,

You can thank al lathe DEMOCRATS you have elevated locally past 20 years….

So keep it up!!!