Comments

• On the article Doug Duncan Tells Supporters He Will Run for Montgomery County Executive

  

  Ken Sandin

  10:35 am on Friday, December 7, 2012

  "Will he share his medication protocol with the public? Do we have a right to know his psychological profile? Is he still suffering from depression? "

  Not "flagging it"; saying it: inappropriate

• On the article Montgomery County GOP Chairman Responds to Romney Protest

  

  Ken Sandin

  11:35 am on Friday, September 7, 2012

  "However SEIU does not embarrass easily" is not a gratuitous anti-union swipe?.

• On the article Montgomery County GOP Chairman Responds to Romney Protest

  Ken Sandin

  11:15 am on Wednesday, September 5, 2012

  Uncapher found the bus drivers' protest "simply silly," so why did he think it was worth comment? Apparently for a gratuitous anti-union swing. This penchant for small ball shows why he and his crowd are not playing in the big leagues.

  Reply

• On the article Rockville Reels, Relaxes As Power Returns for Some

  

  Ken Sandin

  12:09 pm on Wednesday, July 4, 2012

  Beautiful comment, focusing on the immediate human costs; and let's appreciate the power company, public agency, and contractor crews who are working overtime out in the oppresive heat. Also, nice way to place this in the context of the broader and long-term economics.

• On the article Rockville Reels, Relaxes As Power Returns for Some

  

  Ken Sandin

  11:16 am on Wednesday, July 4, 2012

  Sorry, Rocky, I don't understand your comment. Mark is calling it the way he see it, not whitewashing PEPCO, but taking a balanced, constructive approach. That's not a demagogue.

• On the article Rockville Reels, Relaxes As Power Returns for Some

  Ken Sandin

  4:42 pm on Tuesday, July 3, 2012

  Thanks for the comments, but dumping on PEPCO is still the norm after all this time since the last major power outage, when it became clear, at least to me, that tree trimming is not the big issue (and Pepco has been raising citizen ire ever since with aggressive trimming). Branches on lines causes some outages; but the big problem is not branches, but large old trees coming down on power lines, houses, vehicles, and people. In the older, established suburban neighborhoods, like Bethesda and Rockville, we love our big trees, including the ones that are close to power lines. At the same time, we're not willing to pay the higher electric rates that would pay for burying the power lines. So what's a public policymaker to do: say take down the dangerous trees; or lobby the Public Service Commission for rate increases to fund burying the power lines (even incrementally in conjunction with other street work would help)? Either would bring howls from the public, of course, so it's easier to pander by dumping on PEPCO. My recommendation is to do both. (Full disclosure: I have a personal interest in this; I'm bothered when my European friends say our country looks so ugly with these power lines everywhere.) A Montgomery County council member answered me last year: "The problem is PEPCO; PEPCO has problems." OK, PEPCO has problems; does that let us off the hook?" Just one more in a universe of instances where Pogo's observation applies: "We have met the enemy, and he is us."

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• On the article Poll: Your Reaction to Affordable Health Care Ruling

  Ken Sandin

  11:40 am on Friday, June 29, 2012

  Starting with the mandate: everyone is coerced into buying private health insurance, a faulty (overpriced and under-performing) product. But the health insurance companies are not interested in our health, only about stockholders’ equity; and that part about the so-called ACA eliminating insurance companies’ ability to use preexisting-condition loopholes: With their lobbying power? Luck with that! One issue there: they consider being a woman a pre-existing condition.
  As all writers know, if you can get the audience to buy into a premise, you can sell all kinds of nonsense; in this case, the premise is private health insurance. If you don’t buy the premise, the whole thing is a charade—and worse, because it stands in the way of a national health program, which would save $ billions, millions of lives, and untold misery. The following, from Healthcare-NOW!, is just an introduction.
  The ACA:
  - Will not achieve universal coverage--at least 26 million people will remain uninsured.
  - Will not control healthcare costs, leaving Americans vulnerable to bankruptcy.
  A national single-payer system, such as the one proposed in Representative Conyers' (D-MI) National Health Care Act (HR676), would:
  - Cover all necessary medical care for everyone living in the US from birth to death.
  - Reduce healthcare spending by at least $400 billion a year by reducing administrative costs.
  - Remove the excessive profits and CEO salaries of for-profit insurers.

  Reply

• On the article Memorial Day Brings Closings, Modified Schedules

  Ken Sandin

  2:59 pm on Saturday, May 26, 2012

  On Memorial Day, a day of remembrance and recognition of those who have died in wars, a 65-minute film about five men and women who have pulled the trigger and then integrated this act into their lives. Ultimately these stories testify to the resilience of the human spirit and hopefulness for the future.
  http://rockville.patch.com/events/memorial-day-film-showing-hidden-battles

  http://rockville.patch.com/events/memorial-day-film-showing-hidden-battles

  Reply

• On the article Speak Out: Is the Maryland Income Tax Increase an Attack on Montgomery County?

  

  Ken Sandin

  9:05 am on Thursday, May 24, 2012

  "Virginia is looking better and better every day"? With all due respect, what are you putting in your tea? Have you lived there? I have. No thanks. But, considering the language you and ibcrazy favor, I'm sure you'll both find the environment to your taste.

• On the article Legislature Approves Tax Hike, Pension Shift

  Ken Sandin

  8:56 am on Thursday, May 17, 2012

  Geesh - Reading all this anti-tax stuff makes me wonder if I've been transported to Greece, where unwillingness to pay taxes for public services has led to collapse. I am a retired homeowner with an income well above the state median, and I happily pay my taxes for what I get. If you don't want what Maryland has, move to a low-tax state and see what kind of government you get. I've been there. No thanks.

  Reply