July 12, 2013 The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch Page 43 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR FROM PAGE 42 your base. This governor and the Democratic legislators don't give three hurrahs in hell about those they govern. When will you Marylanders awaken to what is happening to you and me and vote the rascals out? You are too stupid to face the realities that are confronting you. Here are some valuable facts: Detroit, Mich., first on the poverty rate list, hasn't elected a Republican governor since 1961; Buffalo, N.Y., second on the list, hasn't, since 1954. There are a total of 10 major cities in this sad category of loving and fawning over their politicians, with Newark, N.J., being 10th, not electing a Republican since 1907. The famous Einstein once said, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” Maryland voters, does this shoe fit? You damn well better believe it does. Yesterday, I drove to the WalMart large parking area where you can still recycle cans, paper, plastic, etc. No thanks to OC discontinuing this valuable service. Signs say please empty all bags, huh, these people who can't read and understand are voters, and more than likely voted for Hussein Obama, O'Malley, and how many other Damnocrats.? As I was driving to get on Route 50 from the parking area, in my side mirror I saw a car racing to pass me. When this Pennsylvania driver got to the stop sign, not a brake light was to be seen. Hey, folks, that sign wasn't there for him – I'd wager he voted for those D's. Ocean City needs/must have term limits for mayor along with term limits for the U.S. Congress. About taxes, as a non-resident owner, I pay OC taxes, county taxes and state taxes and I can't vote. Is this taxing without representation? There's only one answer. Some years ago, one of your council members, Margaret Pillas, wrote an article about the need to dissolve a tax differential system where Ocean City was/is paying a tax for services that are also being paid to Worcester County. A year later at the Caine Woods picnic, I questioned the lady about what relief had taken place following her desire to rectify this duplication, and she didn't even know the name of the tax; she went to the mayor to ask him. Finally, it has just occurred to me that aside from all the talk about placing parking meters almost everywhere, may I recommend two valuable sources for more, more money, that have not been discussed? There's the valuable venerable Harry Kelley Route 50 bridge and the Route 90.These locations should have toll booths. What's the matter with you grubbers? Why haven't you thought about these? Just do it and depose Meehan for one. Jerry Courtney Ocean City Between The Lines By Publisher/Editor Steve Green Over the last month, a firestorm of controversy has embroiled the OC Car and Truck Show, which has been held at the Roland E. Powell Convention Center in June for the last 12 years. At the heart of the issue is the belief held by some business owners and elected officials that the show was one of the reasons for the well-documented upheaval that took place the first full weekend in June. Up until this week, most of the concerns have been privately expressed with the exception of a slew of comments made on a thread on this paper’s Facebook page about a stabbing on the Boardwalk in June. That thread was eventually removed because the content took an obscene turn toward inaccurate, extreme accusations not germane to the topic at hand. Similar tensions played out this week when former Councilman Joe Hall brought the fiery issue back to the surface. Via email, Hall wrote the Mayor and Council, City Manager David Recor, this newspaper editor and others about a recent conversation he had with Fager’s Island owner John Fager, who believes the city should not be renting space at the convention center to the Car and Truck Show any longer. Here’s an unedited look at a part of Hall’s email. “He said that the car show brought wrong completion people to town. That crime all of june was due to the twelve year old car show that's never had a police call. Or bad report. I told him he was wrong and he should target a fellow family business person. I would stand silent. I said looking in his eyes. If you continue to bash brads car show without facts I will get my own facts on what happens at bar closing on 60th street. He said he didn't take kindly to threats and he still oposed car show. I said fine and we parted. … I don't threaten. If there is family image issue in town. Its not any of the car shows. Drunks run over is good start. I've have no problem going out on street and tapeing and pics some real family image problems. Lets gather facts. I going too,” he wrote. Unclear if the email was meant as a letter to the editor, which Hall said later it was not, Fager laid out his concerns with the car and truck event in response. “If anyone wants facts about the impact on Ocean City and the socioeconomic class of visitors that this event drew, I invite you to check out the star and featured performer that the attendees came to see. Google "Fat Joe," a thug type rapper, who in his video "My Life" is very honest about who he is: drugs, gangs, violence, murder, complete disrespect for women, etc.,” Fager wrote. “Then imagine what type of visitor this guy would attract. And he did. These are the people the car show markets to. It does not belong in this town and I am disturbed that the Convention Center would allow it to be booked.” Reached yesterday, promoter Brad Hoffman said he takes umbrage with the criticism of his show by members of the community and Mayor and Council members. Hoffman believes his event has been made a “scapegoat” unfairly for the problems that existed in June and that the facts back up his belief. “We are very proud of our event, and proud of our record of no issues over 12 years. We have a great record of having a defined event with no issues,” he said. “My show is not inappropriate for Ocean City, and it’s supported by major corporate sponsors. It’s unfair to arbitrarily place problems in town on my event, and that’s what some members of the Mayor and Council are doing.” Regarding the lead entertainer at last month’s event, Hoffman said critics do not understand the extent of the entertainment offered each year. “It’s basically a meet-and-greet where they sign autographs and then they play two songs and those guys are gone. The people at my show are families, car enthusiasts and people who are not problematic. We have 3,500 people to town for our entire event, about 1 percent of the people in town, and about 800 were there for the music. The entertainment is one small component of. It’s 45 minutes of a nine-hour event,” he said. “The crowd is not problematic, and everyone who works at the convention center knows that. There were no problems with the show. My event is no more to blame than the Air Show, lacrosse tournament, the surf contest or Fager’s Island … there is no history of problems with our event in town. The police department knows that and there are no facts to prove otherwise. The bigger picture is we all have to work together to get our town under control during those times, if there are people causing it to get out of control. Those are not the people at my show. We need a better offense and a better plan from the city when June gets here.” Hoffman relayed one story involving a convention center employee, Sharon Bradford, who reported she would have much rather had her children at the Car and Truck Show that weekend than on the Boardwalk where they were. It’s clear to Hoffman the event has gotten caught up in the testy and divisive political culture that exists in Ocean City at the moment. “I don’t deserve to be a pawn in a political fight … I feel slandered to a degree. I don’t deserve to be. For no apparent reason, I have been brought into this political tug-o-war. I like all the Mayor and Council members, and I like John Fager and Joe Hall. There is a misperception of my event and everyone is invited to come and visit. I’m proud of our event. I’ve been very pro-active to make it a safe, friendly event, one that I am proud to have my family attend and friends of my family.” Hoffman said he is currently working to sign his contract for next year’s show at the convention center and has no reason to believe it will not be inked like it always has. Costs Keep Climbing Editor: Last weekend, we celebrated the 4th of July. The truth is the 4th of July is not a celebration of the birth of a nation, as many believe. What are we celebrating? It is the celebration of the birth of the revolutionary new idea that all men are created equal and are endowed with inalienable rights. Our birthright or endowment of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness and equality under the law was declared in 1776 in our Declaration of Independence. For the first time, humankind was viewed as special and unique and recognized with inalienable rights. Our endowment was given to all of us by God and our nature. It cannot be repealed by law or man. Based on these God-given natural rights, we were uniquely empowered to form a government. More importantly, our declaration said "should any Form of Government become destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter it or abolish it." These sacred rights, unique to mankind, was our precious endowment celebrated on July 4, 1776. Not the formation of a new government; that came later. Endowed with these special rights, at last we the people were unique and special ourselves. From the beginning it was clear that our country was governed by the people, not the government. After our Declaration the people so empowered got together and first wrote, then ratified, our Constitution in 1787, giving a stable governmental structure to our nation, eleven years after our July 4 Declaration. Key point: the Declaration for once and all settled it, the people were the boss, not the government. It is important to recall these rights today, at this town meeting called to take our small town back from destructive governance. It is important to remember that it is not only our right it is our duty to purge the government from time to time as we deem it is needed. The early stages of destructive governance always show elevated costs. Elevated costs largely come from extraordinary expenses to pay for unnecessary and destructive governance. Increases in taxes, sky-high assessments, fees, licenses, “use” taxes. Too many rules and ordinances to enforce equally! If these symptoms of decline aren't addressed, destructive governance always results in financial collapse, latter. Tony Christ Ocean City Check Out The Dispatch’s Cell Phone-Friendly Website Find Us On Your Mobile At www.mdcoastdispatch.com