2008 Woodie Awards
The responsibility and importance of issues at stake is on us
Andrew Zaleski
Issue date: 2/26/08 Section: Opinion
Two weeks before entering college, my family and I packed up our Pennsylvania belongings and relocated them to the northeastern shore of Maryland. As if entering college would not prove a large enough adjustment, I suddenly found myself living in a new home, at a new town, situated in a new state.
"What is going on?"
Since the initial shock, Maryland and I have been getting along quite nicely. The weather isn't too bad, I'm closer to the ocean than I had been previously -- it even snows every now and then. The adjustment seemed to be progressing along swimmingly.
Unfortunately, I was rudely awakened to a key component of this new situation last week. Now that I live in Maryland, I have to vote in Maryland. Consequently, any legislation that the state of Maryland passes will now directly affect my way of life. Duh.
Last Thursday, The Baltimore Sun ran an article detailing proposed legislation state lawmakers are currently debating. The new legislation has nothing to do with raising taxes or the implementation of new government programs. Rather, the proposed measures concern themselves with issues of beyond critical proportions.
After all, is a state really a state if it doesn't have an official dessert?
It's no joke -- Maryland lawmakers, down in Annapolis, are using their time to ponder whether Smith Island Cake should be the state's official dessert, whether walking should be the state's official exercise and whether there should be a designated "Pollinator Week" in June to highlight the plight of the honey bee.
It's great to know Maryland has its priorities in order. Why couldn't that initial shock have been a concussion instead?
Better question: "Uh, politicians get paid for this?" Remarkably, matters such as picking an official state exercise are what Maryland lawmakers have decided to spend time on to start off 2008. If wasting away precious hours racking my brain to decide whether there should be a week-long honey bee love-fest is a prerequisite to becoming a politician in Maryland, then sign me up.
"What is going on?"
Since the initial shock, Maryland and I have been getting along quite nicely. The weather isn't too bad, I'm closer to the ocean than I had been previously -- it even snows every now and then. The adjustment seemed to be progressing along swimmingly.
Unfortunately, I was rudely awakened to a key component of this new situation last week. Now that I live in Maryland, I have to vote in Maryland. Consequently, any legislation that the state of Maryland passes will now directly affect my way of life. Duh.
Last Thursday, The Baltimore Sun ran an article detailing proposed legislation state lawmakers are currently debating. The new legislation has nothing to do with raising taxes or the implementation of new government programs. Rather, the proposed measures concern themselves with issues of beyond critical proportions.
After all, is a state really a state if it doesn't have an official dessert?
It's no joke -- Maryland lawmakers, down in Annapolis, are using their time to ponder whether Smith Island Cake should be the state's official dessert, whether walking should be the state's official exercise and whether there should be a designated "Pollinator Week" in June to highlight the plight of the honey bee.
It's great to know Maryland has its priorities in order. Why couldn't that initial shock have been a concussion instead?
Better question: "Uh, politicians get paid for this?" Remarkably, matters such as picking an official state exercise are what Maryland lawmakers have decided to spend time on to start off 2008. If wasting away precious hours racking my brain to decide whether there should be a week-long honey bee love-fest is a prerequisite to becoming a politician in Maryland, then sign me up.
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