Is the state of Maryland headed in the “right” direction? The latest poll from Gonzales Research and Media Services paints a complicated picture of Maryland’s political landscape. In response to this question, 47% of respondents said Maryland is headed in the right direction, and 44% said the state is headed in the wrong direction.
A knee-jerk response to these statistics might be to dismiss those who believe the state is headed in the “right” direction as politically illiterate, mesmerized by Gov. Wes Moore’s charm. However, such an observation is short-sighted and narrow-minded. The truth is far more nuanced.
On paper, it is easy to make the argument that the state is objectively headed in the wrong direction. There is no evidence that the state of our economy is going to shift in favor of Maryland residents. Our federally dependent market must endure three more years of a ruthless and petty federal administration with a national mandate to cut spending. It also faces a politically combative governor, along with a partisan attorney general itching to drag Maryland into the sludge of political and expensive lawsuits.
The General Assembly is no help. They drive revenue and residents out of the state with harsh taxes and fees. Residents continue to bid farewell to their friends and neighbors as Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina and Florida lap up Maryland’s fleeing revenue. Legislative audits continue to expose the executive frailty of our state, and spiking property tax assessments leave residents in a state of constant irritation. There’s no question that Maryland is facing difficult days.
In the face of all these challenges, human nature will remain the “ace up the sleeve” that otherwise beleaguered politicians will lean on in the coming months. It is in our nature to craft any explanation to absolve ourselves of any contribution to the problems we face in our lives. In the case of Gov. Moore, nearly 65% of Marylanders voted for him. A large part of his base believed in his progressive ideals, manifested most potently in his continued advocacy for now-fired Department of Juvenile Services Secretary Vincent Schiraldi, and signing into law the heaviest tax and fee increase Maryland has experienced in recent history.
Still, a significant number of residents voted for him, believing him to be a charismatic moderate centrist in the style of former Governor Larry Hogan. Reality is gradually settling in that our governor is a Democratic partisan operative with national ambitions. Perhaps too many residents desperately cling to the hope that they were not, after all, manipulated into believing the governor was a moderate. Even as Marylanders witness a relentless stream of executive dysfunction, they may desperately seek a means to justify their decision.
This creates a rare circumstance in which the most obvious move may not be the correct move. The baited hook tempts Moore’s challengers to pounce aggressively, defining the governor in the context of his policy failures. However, a wiser approach would be to create a new definition of progress for Maryland and chart a new direction for the state to follow, leading to economic prosperity, a business- and household-friendly tax and fee policy, and a strong growth initiative. Challengers should give Marylanders the option to choose a new direction and remove the need to confront the painful reality that they were deceived.
A strong policy platform will emphasize an unrelenting goal of persuading as many Maryland residents and businesses to stay in our great state, with a pledge to curtail the harsh conditions that make staying in the state difficult, like oppressive vehicle registration fees. It should bring a sharp vision to restore integrity and confidence in those entrusted with executive stewardship of Maryland’s $67 billion budget, committing to selecting only the most qualified, transparent and competent of leaders, with strong accountability for those who fall short of those standards.
The platform should emphasize deep audits and accountability for the spending of tax dollars, including a clear understanding of the flow of billions to non-profits and NGOs. It should affirm that law-abiding residents will enjoy the best quality of life the state has to offer, and that no unnecessary risks will be taken to jeopardize that. Most importantly, the policy platform should be tailored specifically to address the needs of Maryland residents and should steer well clear of national partisan drama.
Maryland voters are understandably frustrated about a number of issues in our state. Perhaps a great number of them quietly struggle with buyer’s remorse, unprepared to dismiss the warm fuzzies and “good vibes” the sitting governor creates in them. This makes message discipline extremely important for anyone who decides to challenge the governor. The right voice, with the right path, will make the switch just a little easier.
Torrey Snow is a columnist and editorial board contributor at The Baltimore Sun; he can be reached at [email protected].