by Delegate Mike McDermott
I remember a time when I first heard the term, “OPM”. It was years ago when I had first been elected as the Mayor of Pocomoke City and I was reviewing the means by which we were seeking to fund a certain project. I pointed out some of my concerns and the tax money that was being applied and I was told, “Don’t worry about that Mayor...that’s OPM”. Since I knew we were not growing poppy fields, I asked, “What do yo mean by OPM?” He replied, “You know...Other Peoples Money”.
When it comes to government bureaucrats, “OPM” simply means Taxpayer money that does not have the appearance of being tied directly to a local source. It is tax money via the sleight of hand.
What is disturbing is when politicians stand up in front of the public, hold up those giant prop checks, and, in turn, hand them over to a local group or official as if it came out of their personal bank account. This is the great ruse of politicians and it is all done with OPM.
US Senator Ben Cardin poses with a Cheshire Cat grin holding a “check” signed by “U.S. Treasury” and takes a bow for a runway project that is simply part of ongoing improvements and upgrades at an airport that we pay for! To add more irony to the mix, Cardin and Jim Mathias pose with the check standing with a US Airways Turboprop in the background. Afterall, it is that private sector company (US Airways) who pays fees and taxes along with every passenger who flies in and out of the SBY terminal that have foot the bill for that runway. Heck, we even pay for the politician’s flights when they use the runway!
Taking credit is what politicians do best. Especially in an election year. Are we to believe that a state senator holds sway over the Federal government? No way! However, as a means of political control and illusion, whenever the Democrat power brokers show up with one of those checks they wrote on our account, they always put their arm around their local democrat politicians and infer that they had something to do with it. We saw the same thing in Crisfield following the devastation of Sandy. Frankly, it is shameless.
It is no different with school construction allocations or highway money; all of these things are projects on a list that are placed on a timeline. When their turn comes up, we will hear how hard the politician worked to aid in the process, but it is all just smoke and mirrors.
Ben Cardin and Jim Mathias had little to do with the decision to improve upon a runway at SBY. They simply acted as government couriers. After all, when someone sends you a beautiful bouquet of flowers, do you fall all over yourself thanking the delivery person from the florist for the thoughtful gift?
Here’s the picture I have in mind:
Taxpayers standing on the steps boarding the US Airways plane, an executive director for the commercial airline industry, a rep from the General Aviation group, the local airport planners, and lower shore business owners (everyone smiling). The caption would read: “All of the folks who provided the money for the expansion listen as local elected leaders thank them for believing in their community and investing in the future of the
Eastern Shore.”
One of the first things I learned in Annapolis: Self aggrandizement is often mistaken for leadership by those whose single goal is to be re-elected every 4-years.
Marylanders...Take Back Your State!
10 comments:
Salisbury's airport is a joke, how many times are we going to hear about another carrier coming in? never materialized, regional jets LMAO! Boob Bryant is a do nothing kiss ass. tax money spent for a corporation (USscare) that pays no landing fees, but you the public who's taxes pay for all this bs and will have to also pay again to park there. Take your business to BWI and let this white elephant sink under it's own weight!
It is not just the airline passengers paying for the runway upgrade, every private pilot in the country that puts fuel in their plane pays local and federal taxes on the high octane piston and turbine fuels.
Mike is spot-on here - that tax money is supposed to fund these type of airport maintenance. His view would show the transparency of what is really happening - and demonstrate the leadership by giving credit where it is due instead of taking credit for others work.
These three clowns are simply taking credit for SBY getting it's turn for maintenance....and collectively, we continue to reelect them.
Don't get me wrong, SBY needs the maintenance and I'm happy we got our turn at the checkbook!
Too bad some of this money could not go towards the maintenance of the radio navigation aids they are planning to decommission...not everyone has the money to put aviation grade GPS equipment in their planes - some of us still have old-fashioned radios.
Funny that this was a County project and a City Councilwoman is present.
12:38 - yup, taking credit for others work...it's the Democrat way!
Caption Contest?
The Three Grifters
The Three Stooges
PS. If they'd had a wide angle lens they coulda squeezed in Norm & Ricky!
12:38 - Where's Ricky!
12:10 seriously? you own a plane which costs at least $10K to $20K even for a pos one. and you can't afford a $1K gps? lmao! Maybe you ought to see if Obama will give you one! lol!
I got an email from Jim last week taking credit for TAX FREE HOLIDAY SHOPPING!
HOW MAGNANIMOUS THEY ARE! Babs will be along soon - no room for all of the pigs at the trough in the photo............
3:31 - price an approach certified GPS, which is what is required to replace the VOR navigation equipment...they start at about $10K and you have to have them professionally installed so add 4-5 more.
Aside from that if you're doing instrument approaches in a $10-$20k POS, I don't want to be near the airport when you are trying to land in bad weather!
James Mathias is a slick one. Soon he will have a turbine project proposed in Wicomico. There is currently talk of one in Worcester in the Newark region. Better wake-up before it is too late. Somerset was the first to be thrown under the Mathias bus.
Post a Comment