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BALTIMORE (Map, News) - "NIMBY” Nellie is a white cat with a blotchy nose and ears, and a tabby tail. She’s been around the block a few times and has the battle scars to prove it. She and her two kittens were left behind as a part of the cast-off life of a family that was evicted from a rental property, and were on their way to the local animal shelter when a friend intervened and brought them to me for rescue.
Reluctantly I took them in, fostering them in a spare room until the kittens were weaned and adopted. With no takers for Nellie, I set her loose with my other cats.
It was then that I learned Nellie was a “NIMBY.” For those who may not be familiar with the term, “NIMBY” stands for “Not In My Backyard.” Planners and others often invoke it when referring to citizens who do not embrace development in their neighborhoods. They claim that if such projects are accepted, rural areas will be spared.
Nellie had no more desire to share limited space with her cat cohorts than those NIMBY citizens care to share their already overcrowded schools, failing intersections and limited parking — all circumstances that have arisen due to the failure of local jurisdictions to enact and uphold adequate facilities laws.
Now one could argue that in NIMBY Nellie’s case, beggars should not be choosers, since the life — or lack there of — for which she and her kittens were otherwise headed was anything but cheery. Of course, Nellie doesn’t know that since she is simply an old cat trying to adapt to a new way of life.
I made the NIMBY Nellie analogy last week, after hearing a supporter of the Reality Check Plus project say the strength of neighborhood associations to stop local infill development is pushing it to rural areas, deemed less desirable for growth.
He said we must all be willing to suffer a little for the greater good.
I expect my elected officials to preserve my standard of living, not make me “suffer for the greater good.” Besides, when one considers the run-away development taking place on the rural Eastern Shore, simultaneous to suburban infill, I don’t think my sacrifices are doing anybody any good!
Reality Check Plus is a statewide project aimed at planning for Maryland’s growth over the next 30 years. Phase One, recently completed, included four workshops across Maryland where citizens, elected officials, and community leaders participated in exercises using Legos to determine where growth would be directed. This sounded good to me — until I heard that the only premise of the exercise was that growth must be accepted.
I forced myself to consider “reality” — to step out of my NIMBY role for a minute and honestly ask myself, just where would I like to see growth directed? My best suggestion is Baltimore City, but how can you convince young families to settle where the school system is one few would ever consider sending their children to?
According to the Reality Check Plus Participant Guidebook, the U.S. Census Bureau predicts an increase of 1.5 million people, or 580,000 households by 2030. Yet most planners agree that every projection is wrong, and the real question is just how wrong. We know a population increase is coming, though. Unlike in the case of old Nellie and other animal pieces of the throw-away society we live in, euthanasia is not an option.
Missing from most jurisdictions are laws that will effectively protect the standard of living suburban residents are accustomed and yes, entitled to. Each time such laws are proposed, pro-development organizations line up to oppose them, and politicians back off in droves, while we NIMBY citizens watch their campaign tills overflow with developer donations.
Based on what this NIMBY Nellie has seen so far, the outlook is grim. Until I see otherwise, I’m rooting for those NIMBY neighborhood associations made up of the voters who elect the politicians!
Corinne Becker writes about quality-of-life issues in the community. She is president of Riderwood Hills Community Association in Towson. She can be reached at cbecker1102@verizon.net.


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Examiner Reader larry russ said:
Couldn't agree more. I am familiar with Columbus' evil side. If it comes to a vote, I vote with you. Ya know, Columbus isn't the only creep who is honored in history.
10 agree | 10 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Why do you print such lies. sow are only kepted in create for three to four day to be bred to a boars. Then put back into sow pens. If they come in to hea t again they are put back in creates to be rebred. Sows who are not in heat will fight with sow who are in heat (estrus). Creates prevent fighting and injury. In the wild none donimate sows will be injured or killed by other sow or baors durning mating. Get your fact right
56 agree | 59 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Bravo, Greg. But remember, once a government-sponsored program is initiated, it creates jobs and, thus is self-sustaining. It's all political patronage and never contributes to the bottom line. So, like they say, follow the money.
75 agree | 69 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Mr. Kane you never cease to amaze me. I now know where you writing and will fully enjoy your articles. I prefer your commentary better but I guess this will do Good Luck in all future endeavors
73 agree | 69 disagree
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Cash Kammer said:
I don’t want anybody to misinterpret what I’m saying, so I’ll make it clear: Marijuana should not only have been legalized, it should have been legalized years ago. The only reason it hasn’t been legalized is because we Americans have a passion for sending dimwits and jellyfish to Congress. This, +1 Greg
82 agree | 68 disagree
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Mister MirthAlert said:
Cal Thomas's op-ed on Solzhenitsyn's admonishments for the West was excellent, but it's too bad Mr. Thomas doesn't have the same tolerance for today's critics. Maybe they're not all prophets, but there are lotsa people that say the same things about the West (read: the US of A) & more recently than 30 yr ago.
72 agree | 68 disagree
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Keys said:
Thank God Greg Kane is still writing. I read in another paper - more of a birdcage liner - that he'd taken a buyout. I will now enjoy your columns in the Examiner Mr. Kane.
67 agree | 68 disagree
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Indie said:
Great article on Douglass. There are a lot of positive initiatives going on in Balt City through partnerships and reforms. I'm optimistic about what this means for our city youth. My only fear is that the non-believers will always condemn these youth who just need a fair chance and a well-funded school. Baltimore City students need great programs like Talent Dev't and the Freedom Academy. Schools need to be renovated and funding for teachers needs to increase after the change in the state funding law which slashed $300 million from education statewide. Every district in MD got hit. We have to make education a priority especially for the at-risk kids, who grow up in unstable, violent, and underserved communities, with single parent headed households that oftentimes don't value education. That's b/c it never worked for them. That has to change if we are to maximize the assets of this city and country.
70 agree | 69 disagree
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Indie said:
I'd really like to look into this matter as I've been puzzled over what programs are effective with dealing with poverty. Poverty in Baltimore City is just sad. In looking at the raw numbers in this article, these families should be benefitting from all the programs the various levels of gov't offer. However, we still see severe and widespread poverty in this city and it's not getting any better. Free hand outs, free checks, free healthcare, free whatever doesn't work. It created a society of paupers. The culture of poverty is quite insidious and defective in many ways. It seems the gov't must create programs to promote sustainability and self-sufficiency to solve the problem. It's time for us to get smarter about how we spend out tax dollars. There are a lot of errors we must correct such as the concentration of poverty and fixing our school system. We must stop funding sprawl which contributes to our resources spreading to thin. it's now hurting the traditional suburbs.
70 agree | 70 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
To consider all program costs as welfare expenditures ignores the Department's infrastructure costs and in his assessment of "the least of these" he did not factor in Corporate bailouts, subsidies and tax breaks to companies that enhance poverty creation by insourcing illegal labor and outsourcing skill jobs. My question is this: can American capitolism thrive - or even survive without exploiting people via chattle slavery, indentured servitude, cheap (profiled into)prison labor, illegal (wink and a nod) labor, etc. The economy cannot exist in a vacuum. It is part of our society and the situation is getting worse now that 9/11 has deemed every citizen with any criminal justice record a workplace pariah - in the United Staes of Chicken Little (the sky is falling!). Pretty soon, as the insatiable ownership class lobbies to dismantle middle class America, there will be no one left to buy their products/services except their employees in other countries making starvation wages.
70 agree | 72 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Heard on the radio: If a company wanted to get rid of oil it had in containers by drilling a hole and pouring the oil down into the ground, would the Environmental Defense Fund, Sierra Club and the Nature Conservancy sue them for polluting the earth? That is where the oil is now, lets get that nasty stuff out of motehr earth and get rid of it by converting it to fuel!
74 agree | 73 disagree
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johnn said:
this judge was picked by the department, to not find this officer guilty,its how they do business,and its ashamed that shela dixson is a part of this kind of behavior.this officer is guilty and should be fired,he has done this before,and no charges,but if he was black,you can be sure he would be fired,,and as far as internal investigations go,nothing is going to happen to this officer,and he will keep on assaulting tax payers,and you can thank beafeild, shela dixson and the police department for putting this jerk police officer on the city streets..and there are a lot more like him,just wait
71 agree | 72 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
WOW! An anti-Obama piece by Jay Ambrose! Who'd a thunk it? Geez... what a waste of ink.
70 agree | 72 disagree
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Joe Guitar said:
I play music too. But let's imagine the writer living in or adjacent to a B2 zoning district--say, in Union Square or Federal Hill or any number of old historic neighborhoods where bars are sometimes on every corner in residential blocks. Let's say he has invested considerable money in his property there and really loves his house after some years there with spouse and maybe family. Would he be so optimistic about a plan that would allow a bar next door to or down the street from his house hosting live entertainment? A cabaret, maybe, or an acoustic guitar night would probably be fine, I'd imagine. But the legislation makes absolutely no distinction among levels of live entertainment. That little bar could become a high-volume rock or hiphop venue, rumbling the writer's walls, changing the character of that place he calls home. And maybe even interfering with his ability to produce opiniion pieces like this one. Would he then be so philosophical?
71 agree | 78 disagree
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Attila the Hon said:
Either J. Thomas Sadowski is a yesman or he drank a few libations too many. This city desperately needs a world-class expansion of the Baltimore Metro Subway system a lot more than it does a suicidally-planned new arena, especially for $300 million.
80 agree | 75 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
mccain is a dilsy old man!
81 agree | 78 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Perhaps one way to avoid votes on bills that are too voluminous to read and digest in short periods of time (by the way, Bush pushed us into war by pushing trojan horse legislation with no review time available before the vote)is to establish a minimum timeline (that dirty word) between delivery of proposed legislation and the required vote to pass that legislation or not. The short review period is part of the game to push through pork and provide alibis to elected officials. Given a required minimum review time would force legislators to read what they intend to sign off on. Then the only excuse they'll have left is, "the donkeys/elephants ate my homework!"
79 agree | 75 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
"Too good to be true" is the only antidote McCain has to Obama's candidacy, especially now that Bush has begun to adopt Obama's presciptions for ending the Iraq quagmire and dealing with Iran directly, positions that Obama was harshly criticized for by Hillary. Now that McCain has taken up the "kitchen sink toss" strategy that Hillary used, it behooves Hillary as a loyal Democrat to push back hard on McCain's nasty tactics so Obama can maintain his "high road" posture. As for McCain, he has abandoned every position and promise of civility, derailing the "straight Talk Express", in the hopes that the damage will also harm Obama. Obama needs to combat the nastiness with a populist agenda that will draw the middle and working class voters, whose very existence is being dismantled piece by piece by the policies McCain has now fully adopted.
76 agree | 75 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
tom, i have read your lopsided opinion and couldn't disagree more!!with whom did you speak when doing your research about the vellegia's request? we the residents and business {yes i said business owners} are not idiots or berserk. we have been subjected to mr. coffman's version of "cabaret" and it was not fun for the all of us who were disturbed by spot lites in the sky, pit bulls on leashes,public urination, gun fire,and total mayhem in our community!! get your facts right buddy.you don't run over hordes of people with a ten ton truck and then ask these same people to support you when you try to get your drivers liscense!! live entertainment has it's place in baltimore, but not in a community that consists of 80% of residents, such as little italy. we give up enough in taxes and inconveniences with valet parking, festivals, open air movies and 35 family restaurants.we don't need to tolerate nite clubs because someone is in financial straits.no nite clubs in little italy. phil,lico
81 agree | 81 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
I have to take exception with Tom Moores portrayal of the situation and the residents opposing the issuance of a live entertainment liscence to Vellegia's. He paints a picture of the the residents as a hysterical mob foaming at the mouth,unfairly keeping Mr. Coffman from obtaining an unrestricted permit. Mr. Moore is either ignorant of or unwilling to convey all of the circumstances of this situation. That is to say that one of Mr. Coffmans first acts upon taking over Vellegia's was to throw an all night rave party, which culminated in his drunken, patrons roaming the streets in the early hours of the morning, screaming,fighting,urinating and causing all kinds of mayhem in what is gererally a quiet,residential area. Since that time Mr. Coffman has been cited for serving to minors. The BERSERK , Mr.Moore says, property owning, taxpaying residents just don't understand why their peace,safety not to mention property values must be threatened. Michael Salconi Pres. Little Italy comm.org
84 agree | 78 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Spot on Mr. Gainor.
81 agree | 79 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
I agree with your comments 100%. What can we do to stop this craziness?
78 agree | 78 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
10:05 poster...I meant Downtown, not in a ghetto. Sorry for being unclear.
83 agree | 80 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Bad idea 9:00 am poster. An arena in the middle of the ghetto. Im sure that will draw alot of fans and venues. Downtown or in Canton is the best and safest spots for an Arena.
81 agree | 82 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
I agree. It's stupid. We have thousands of decrepit buildings in the city needing condemnation. Why not raze a few blocks, build an arena, then tear down the old one to make way for a different type of redevelopment? I smell money changing hands somewhere in all of this.
79 agree | 81 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Any SURGE is BAD, unless Obama suggests it, like for Afghanistan. Why is a surge both good and bad, and WHY does the press refuse to ask this question for our Future Flipper-in-Chief? Take the worthless surge troops out of Iraq because a surge can not help and send the surge troopt to Afghanistan where it will help...
79 agree | 82 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Here in Little Italy we have every reason to go "berserk" over live entertainment when it comes to Velleggias. The last time Mr. Coffman had entertainment at Velleggia's ,the neighborhood was held hostage by his patrons. He had a rap party not a cabaret night. I have no problem if a new board would grant Velleggias's a live license for a cabaret but just a cabaret. The way it is now once he is granted a live license he can just about put anything in. That is his intentions. He can not make it as a restaurant. Last month B.G.E closed him down for not paying his bills.He is in foreclosure now. If Mr. Moore wants a new gig I suggest he learns how to spell Velleggia,s
92 agree | 79 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
The community associations are like the Gestapo. They would shut down every bar in Baltimore if they could. Then they would complain because there's nowhere to go for Sunday brunch that they can walk to.
81 agree | 83 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
McCain strikes as someone who suffers from PTSD, but is functional, so long as he can ride the wave of respect he gets for being a war hero and torture victim. But, when he's pressed to answer questions that require nuance he's lost and when he tries to disarm critics with humor it seems nasty and aggessive instead of funny. By contrast, Obama seems imperturbable and surer footed when cornered by tricky questions - like a diplomatic politician should be.
115 agree | 84 disagree
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Greta said:
I must read or hear "thank you in advance" three or four times a week and always wonder what the heck they're talking about. Now I know its not just me...thanks!
118 agree | 89 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Thank you in advance for this very funny article. D.R. Belz's humor is always a pick me up.
133 agree | 93 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
I love, love, love how there are so many issues with the teachings at a Islamic School, about martydom, murder and other not-so-hot subjects; but there is no issue with any of the Christian Schools, whose Bibles claim that slavery is okay, as well as martydom, and murder for those who are not part of your sect. A little bit bias, don't you think.
97 agree | 99 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
What has happened to journalism? Why, instead of relying on the views of others, hasn't Mr. Cal Thomas gone and visited the school and its officials himself? As an Alexandria resident, I am unimpressed with mudslinging done without firsthand experience. Is it too much to ask that a journalist acutally go to the source when writing a story?
95 agree | 94 disagree
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Martin O'Malley could care less about you... reall said:
Great point but remember who we voted for Gov? The guy who’s only plan is higher taxes and who’s energy plan view has been "if energy were more costly; people would use less of it". Baltimore is a great city that has been high jacked by minority special interest and a liberal view that will surely mean its demise! Oh, I moved out years ago and my taxes are much less for a larger home… ummmm
99 agree | 97 disagree
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Cory Bryant, PhD Food Scientist said:
There has not been a "burp" because even though it's true that this technology has been around for decades it has seem very limited use on food in the marketplace. Likewise, we have very limited knowledge of the potentially negative long-term health effects. I have studied this technology extensively -- read many studies (most of which are funded by entities that support its use), including those upon which FDA based its decision to support. There are known unique radiolytic products (URPs) formed (aka chemicals we've not found in food before, some of which have carcinogenic potential), known nutrient degradation, known quality reduction, known negative environmental impacts, and known negative health impacts on animals. Not to mention that this is yet another band-aide for a problem that starts on the (factory) farm. Were it not for intensive animal agriculture we would not be faced with much of this problem. If you choose to eat this that's your business, I choose not.
108 agree | 105 disagree
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Sugar Pete said:
Wild stuff. Where'd you find this guy. Mencken and Thurber ride again at the Examiner. Keep up the great work.
183 agree | 115 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
And please do not forget the Pet Rock. This one "got off the ground" but maybe would have been better served if it remained buried.
108 agree | 117 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
I think Webb is a strong choice for Obama, filling most of Obama's holes. The only constituency that would be troubled would be hardcore Feministas who see Hillary as the only choice.
107 agree | 107 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Webb ran a dirty campaign and was the matermind of deceit. He fooled Senator Allen who fell for the bait. Yes Webb can mke Obama look better, however who wants another liar? There are better choices for Obama. The press is in love with the WEBB OF LIES
108 agree | 105 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Professor Williams's thesis on population has one glaring flaw: humans are the most environmentally damaging species nature ever suffered to crawl on the surface of the earth. We don't simply take from the environment and leave no traces as do whales, porcupines, redwoods and bacteria; we alter our environment and drive out the niche species that are supposed to share it with us. Ants crawling in the sugarbowl? Call the exterminator. Mice nesting in the basement? Call the exterminator. Geese defecating on the golf course? Call the exterminator. But who calls the Exteriminator for us? One good, longitudinal airborne plague will do it.
140 agree | 110 disagree
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Nio said:
a what
107 agree | 107 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Please change "imprevious" to "impervious." Sorry!
112 agree | 108 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
If I am reading this column correctly all the Congo has to do is increase its population and all will be well. Hati is still mired in poverty at 642 people per squae mile, so the magic thresehold must be nearer Hong Kong's 6,571 per square mile! If overpopulation is not the cause of zoonoses; forest decline; acidification of the oceans; biodiversity loss; impending freshwater shortages; climate change; loss of Net Primary Production from the sun's energy; water degradation from the increase of imprevious areas; etc. what is it? Perhaps human ingenuity? The Chesapeake Bay ecosystem has become too degraded to support the human population now occupying it. Fortunately, we have other more robust ecosystems to draw upon. But now I know, the problem in the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem is not too many people, it is too few. I wonder how much food Hong Kong exports?
110 agree | 108 disagree
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G. A. Harrison said:
Excellent piece. I agree with just about everything except the bit about Ron Paul While I respect libertarians, that is only one leg of the fusionist stool. I recommend Mickey Edwards' book, "Reclaiming Conservatism". I believe that Edwards lays out a prescription that will reignite the conservative movement. A problem remains with social conservatives (such as myself). Few of my brethren are willing to accept the notion that bringing social issues back to where they belong - the state, rather than federal, government and our own communities - is the answer. However, as long as faux conservatives pander, we will continue to have a problem.
113 agree | 113 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Land of opportunity? for Large corporations anyway. This is unacceptable! How can a legal business be shut down in this manner in the U.S.? Our government does not care about the people, only the $ - Shameful!
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Examiner Reader said:
whats the oldest a pittbull can be to have its ears clipped
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calamity said:
The CEO trying to pay students for good grades was no different then when Andre Bundly bribed parents and students at Walbrook for good grades if they voted for him when he ran for Mayor a few years ago. This is how people in our school system show their total disrespect for our children, our parents and our communities.
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Examiner Reader said:
democrats are just as usless lying and greedy as republicans.guess we have to put up with both parties till bankruptcy proceedings start,which should have been 39yeras ago.
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Examiner Reader said:
Well written commentary.
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Examiner Reader said:
Walter Williams objective insight into emotional issues helps bring order to ill conceived knee jerk reactions of politicians. We need to address criminals, not the means by which they commit crimes.
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