Aaron Keith Harris’ April 25 column, “Dem candidates reveal hollow core,” criticizes Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama for being “concerned with ... purely material concerns” rather than “something transcendent.” Funny, I was under the impression that they were running for the office of president and commander in chief, not national theocrat and pastor in chief! Apparently, Harris believes that government exists to support “moral truths” such as those devoutly embodied by elements such as the renegade Mormon polygamists in El Dorado, Texas. If Harris were to check out the Constitution, he would find no clause stipulating any “spiritual” responsibilities for the federal government.

Finally, he mockingly cites Sen. Clinton’s statement that voters seek “leadership ... that will summon them to something greater than themselves.” If Harris were not such an ideologue for global capitalism, he would have realized that this sentiment is simply a reiteration of John F. Kennedy’s famous call to patriotism: “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.”

J. H. Wilcox

Laurel

Fear hazardous to your health

I completely agree with Dan Gainor’s April 28 column, “Fear about fears.” It seems every day there is some new message in the media that what we eat/drink/breathe is hazardous to our health. What makes it worse is that one week a study by some purportedly learned group tells us one thing; the next week some other also purportedly learned group says exactly the opposite.

We have lost sight of one very important quality — common sense. Common sense tells you that a diet of Big Macs and supersize fries is not good for you, and that a healthy diet and exercise are good for you. But common sense also tells you that it is simply impossible to avoid every single thing that might possibly have some negative effect. As a former pastor of my church once said, “No matter how healthy you are, you are going to die sometime.” And what about the quality of life? Personally, I prefer to live as healthy a life as I can and allow myself a few indulgences, rather than live in so much fear that I deny myself any kind of pleasure.

Anita Cohen

Catonsville

Cutting teachers wrong for Anne Arundel

For as long as I can remember, I have supported Anne Arundel County Public Schools Superintendent Kevin Maxwell.  But I think he is wrong about cutting teaching positions in Anne Arundel public schools.

He and the rest of the school board need to take a long, hard look at the budget.  I am guaranteeing that there is much waste to be cut. Waste is a living organism found in every part of government, and Anne Arundel County Schools are no different.

I am not sure if he knows this, but the real progress in our schools does not come from money. The real progress for our children comes from home. When we finally achieve having fully qualified teachers, small class sizes to enable better learning, and lessons being reinforced at home, we will see our progress dramatically move forward.  

Is Mr. Maxwell ready?  I am ready to help him so that the students in our public schools move forward.

 Victor Henderson

Glen Burnie

Failed electric rate promises

This summer, BGE customers will get another rate increase. Where is Gov. Martin O’Malley, who promised he would do something to decrease our electric rates?  He was elected on a platform that made a promise to Maryland’s citizens. He has not only broken this promise twice, but lied to get into office. Our governor must have known as would anyone with common sense that there was no way he could have done anything to roll back the increase in electric rates. 

Unfortunately, the bulk of Maryland voters seem to lack common sense when deciding for whom to cast their vote. I pray that come the next election Maryland’s voters will forget their party affiliation and vote for the best candidate — not the one making exorbitant promises, but the one that will cut taxes, exercise good fiscal judgment, put the welfare of Maryland’s citizens first, and work toward once again regulating the energy industry.

Mark Wiesand

Kingsville