Commentary

One of the more unusual circumstances of Maryland’s primary election this year was the crowded race in the Democratic primary for governor featuring 10 slates of candidates. Wes Moore and his lieutenant governor running mate Aruna Miller have been recognized as winners with almost exactly one-third of the vote, followed by competitors with 29%, 21%, 4% and so forth down to 0.45%. But what if matters had gone quite differently? What if the 10 governor/lieutenant governor teams had split the vote more evenly and the winners received just 15% of the total or less? How would the 85% of Democrats who cast their ballots for candidates other than the top vote-getters feel about that?

As if we don’t have enough to keep us preoccupied, the world has a new virus to learn and worry about: monkeypox. Despite the sometimes alarmist news coverage, the current global outbreak of this well-known but previously rare virus is not a cause for panic. Unlike the situation with COVID-19 in 2020, this virus is not very contagious, has established treatments, and already has a safe, effective vaccine ready to use. Monkeypox is a member of a group of viruses called Orthopoxviruses, which also contains the viruses that cause smallpox and cowpox. The association with smallpox and our recent history with COVID is likely the source of the heightened anxiety around the current outbreak.

This Friday’s Mega Millions drawing, with its jackpot of more than $1 billion — one of the highest ever in the nation’s history — has launched a lot of daydreaming of what life as a billionaire might be like (or, more realistically, a third- or half- billionaire after taxes, depending upon whether the winner takes the cash or annuity option). With 303-million-to-one odds of winning the big jackpot (and pretty discouraging chances on smaller prizes, too), one presumes that most participants know they’ll be tossing their entries in the trash can by Saturday morning. All in good fun, right?

Montgomery County, Maryland’s largest jurisdiction, keeps growing; some might say the place is busting at the seams. But at the same time, its political influence is diminishing in the state, and it was never that high to begin with. How is this possible? And do we blame the county’s politicians, or the voters themselves?

Let’s be honest: The Republican Party has always been kind of a joke in Maryland. There is no “political machine” to speak of. The party has no significant cash on hand in its reserves. And there is no organizational apparatus in any meaningful way. In Washington, Maryland Republicans have no representation in the upper chamber and only one lone vote in the House of Representatives. Generally speaking, if you’re a Republican in Maryland, electing a Rino — “Republican In Name Only” — is the closest thing you have to a victory.

We all learn from failure. Our mistakes become the bridge to our successes, teaching us what works and what doesn’t, so that the next time we muster the will to try, we’ll succeed. But nefarious actors can also learn from failure. And that, unfortunately, is where we find ourselves with Donald Trump. His entire foray into politics has been one of testing the fences for weaknesses. Every time a fence has failed, he has been encouraged. He has become a better political predator.

The Maryland General Assembly recently punted the question of whether to legalize recreational cannabis to the public to be decided in November by a referendum. However, that vote will occur at a time when many medical cannabis businesses already exist in Maryland. Accordingly, not only is there a question as to whether Maryland will legalize recreational cannabis, but there are also many questions associated with how such legalization will affect existing Maryland medical cannabis licensees. For example, will Maryland medical cannabis licensees be permitted to grow, process and dispense recreational cannabis?

I stopped by my local Starbucks the other day to congratulate the baristas: Theirs is the second Albany-area store to join a union. I said, “Nice work,” but I really meant “Thank you.” They’re helping me face the day with a shot of something more invigorating than coffee: good news. American workers are standing up for themselves in encouraging numbers. More than 300 Starbucks stores nationwide have petitioned the National Labor Relations Board to hold a representation election. In 201 of those stores — across 32 states — pro-union forces have won. Just over 40 have lost.