Commentary

Politics in the 6th Congressional District have been warped for a dozen years now because we’ve been represented by two multi-millionaires — first John Delaney, now David Trone — who were willing to spend their millions to bring home victory. Trone spent nearly $20 million in the 2018 race; he spent about $10 million in 2022. These guys were willing to do whatever was necessary to represent their constituents — except actually reside in the same district. (They both live in Potomac outside the 6th District’s boundaries.)

For those who might have missed the latest battleground in the culture war — the “Try That in a Small Town” country music video — the performer responsible for this mess is set to appear Thursday at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia. That’s right: The amphitheater on the grounds of an estate that was once home to the Oakland Manor plantation, where Black people were enslaved, is set to host Jason Aldean, the singer who released “Try That” in May, but only recently saw it vault up the charts after Country Music Television banned the video version.

The Frederick County Board of Education has approved significant changes to its policy on public comments at board meetings — but the board could go further. Under the new policy, board meetings will begin with an hour allotted for public comment, rather than the current 30 minutes. Each person will be allowed to speak for three minutes, for a maximum of 20 speakers. Someone speaking on behalf of an organization will no longer be given extra time.

High school students across the nation are increasingly questioning the value of college. In a Gallup poll, just 36% of Americans have a “great deal” or quite a “lot of confidence” in higher education. The perceived value of a college degree is at an all-time low. Individuals see their peers weighed down by student loan debt exceeding an average of $30,000.

Landfills stink. Worse, they emit hazardous air pollutants, precursors to ozone and particulate matter, and methane — a super-potent greenhouse gas with about 80 times the near-term warming power of carbon dioxide. Methane is generated in huge amounts when organic waste decomposes in the landfill. In fact, landfills are the third largest source of human-driven methane in the United States, with annual emissions equivalent to driving 66 million gasoline-powered cars or operating 79 coal-fired power plants for one year.

The job of any big city mayor might be split into two distinct skill sets. The first is political — giving speeches and working crowds, strengthening your base of supporters while reaching out to build coalitions with members of the City Council, business and community leaders, and your state and regional counterparts. The other is administrative. This part of the job is not unlike serving as a chief executive officer of a company with thousands of employees.