There’s growing controversy over whether to vaccinate children against various diseases and illnesses. However, the choice should be a simple yes to protect the health of the child and those around the child.

Many opponents of “big government” cite concerns about how government dollars are spent – and often wasted. In Maryland, it seems that their concerns are indeed justified.

There is a Moorish proverb that says “He who does not travel does not know the value of men.” Indeed, this was my experience on my latest travel adventure.

A recent post on Facebook by former Maryland gubernatorial candidate Brian Murphy said: “We know government can't create wealth, but maybe it goes beyond that. Is government the cause of poverty?”

Social Security will be out of money by 2033, according to a report issued by the trustees that oversee the program. This estimate is three years sooner than the trustees’ last report. Similarly, Medicare will also be out of money by 2024.

Last month, Sen. John Thune (R., SD) introduced the Death Tax Repeal Permanency Act (S. 2242) to abolish the federal estate tax. This bill is a companion to the House version H.R. 1259 introduced by Rep. Kevin Brady (R., TX).

I voted Tuesday in the primary election because it was my civic responsibility. I have voted in every election, but this one nagged at me more than others in the recent past.

Earlier this month, Frederick County Public Schools had late openings and early dismissals for parent-teacher conferences. These partial days wreaked havoc for many parents who work outside of the home and require childcare.

There have been rumblings from Annapolis that the state would like to push the funding of teacher pensions onto the counties. Many counties across the state have already stated that they are against this shift because it’s not economically feasible for them to take on the increased financial burden.

Today we continue with the responses of candidates for the Frederick County Board of Education in this year’s election to a basic question. Yesterday we posted the responses of three of them.

The topic of charter schools in Frederick County has dominated the recent headlines. This is an issue that seems to be gaining traction. It is likely to come up in some form or fashion during the term of the next Board of Education. Therefore, it’s important to understand where the candidates stand on this issue.

Today we continue with the responses of candidates for the Frederick County Board of Education in this year’s election to a basic question. Yesterday we posted the responses of three of them.

The race for the Frederick County Board of Education is heating up and there’s a crowded candidate field with 12 people vying for three seats. Over the next few months, candidates will be asked a variety of questions about their positions on various topics associated with Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS).

Although we’re only two weeks into this year’s state legislative session, a trend is already emerging with our governor. When Martin O’Malley’s mouth is moving, he’s talking about taking more money from our pockets.

The Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration often draws the ire of people due to its lack of customer service and seemingly endless wait times both on the phone and in-person.

Former New Mexico governor and presidential hopeful Gary Johnson is either a marketing genius or a man desperate for media attention.

Newspaper readership has been on a steady decline for several years, and we can expect to see print publications make additional changes in the future to simply stay alive in the ultra-competitive world of media.

Most government entities have some sort of ethics ordinance that is generally intended to ensure the elected officials in that area act appropriately and disclose matters that may impact their positions of power.

It’s refreshing to see an elected official in the state of Maryland be a good steward of the taxpayers’ dollars and use common sense. Fiscal responsibility and sound reasoning are indeed precious commodities in our current culture of tax-n-spend and tax-some-more, led by Gov. Martin O’Malley.

We are still two years away from the next City of Frederick election and already political pundits and interested citizens are speculating about who is running for mayor and the Board of Aldermen. This discussion seems very premature.

Earlier this month the State of Maryland’s Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (DLLR) announced an extension to unemployment insurance benefits. Individuals who are still unemployed are eligible for another 13 weeks of benefits.

Last week, Gallup released the results of a recent survey on how satisfied Americans are with how the nation is being governed. Not surprisingly, 81 percent are currently dissatisfied.

Television news has evolved tremendously since the first broadcasts in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Back then, television news was only 15 minutes.

The current crop of Republican presidential candidates is less than awe inspiring, and many knowledgeable voters are already grumbling, “Can’t we find someone better?”

Last week, MarylandReporter.com reported that the Maryland Budget and Tax Policy Institute is recommending $2.6 billion in tax increases to cure the state’s budget shortfalls. At least one state delegate, Del. Ron George (R., Anne Arundel), is concerned that people will be forced to move out of the state if taxes increase any further.

It seems that everywhere we turn these days there’s talk of debt ceilings and deficits. The financial picture for our government – at all levels – is dismal at best.

The trust of the public used to be a key component in a democratic society, but it seems that both locally and nationally we’ve strayed from this concept. The public should ideally trust the leaders it elects and, in turn, respect those governing bodies. However, this doesn’t seem to be happening.

The taxpayers of Maryland need a Hail Mary pass thrown by the NFL Players’ Association and the team owners. If the two can’t resolve their differences, Maryland may lose $40 million or more in tax revenue, according to a report recently released by Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot and the Board of Revenue Estimates.

The media has already started gearing up for Election 2012 and we’re still more than a year away from the actual vote. It seems that the hype around who’s running and who’s not starts being broadcast earlier and earlier each election season.

Maryland’s unemployment rate is currently at 6.8 percent, which equates to 203,416 people collecting unemployment benefits from the state. This number has actually decreased every month since September 2010, but many Marylanders are still out of work.

The failure of the petition drive to overturn the current charter writing board and force a special election was announced last Friday, but the petitioners may not be done yet.

I’m always amazed at what the mainstream media deems relevant, newsworthy and important. With so many things going on around the world each day, producers and editors have very difficult jobs in determining what makes the cut.

Last Sunday afternoon I walked by Baker Park. Ellis Burruss was standing there in all his glory trying to obtain signatures for his petition drive. I considered going over and having a chat with him, but I wasn’t sure I could be nice, so I refrained.

There are people out there who enjoy flying; and then there are those people who see air travel as a means to an end. Not end, as in plane crash; but end, as in destination.

I’m not sure that I’m old enough to start conversations with “back in my day,” but the recent events at Tuscarora High School have caused me to reflect on my childhood and my experiences of being a Frederick County Public Schools student.

The Frederick Board of County Commissioners is currently reviewing a proposal that would give tax breaks to companies that open offices within the county, or add employees to their existing businesses. With just that initial information, most citizens would agree that the proposal sounds great.

The Supreme Court ruled on March 2, 2010, that members of the Westboro Baptist Church have a constitutionally-protected right to protest at military funerals. The vote was 8-1, with Justice Samuel Alito dissenting.

I’ve always had an interest in criminal justice, so it’s not surprising that I’ve quickly become a big fan of A&E’s show “Beyond Scared Straight.”

State Sen. David Brinkley (R., Frederick/Carroll) has introduced his medical marijuana bill again this year. At cursory glance, this might not seem like a big deal. The senator makes an impassioned plea that he’s trying to help people who are suffering from cancer and other debilitating illnesses by easing their pain.

Frederick-area business owners just can’t be satisfied, or so it seems from the information published in The Gazette about local restaurateurs Bryan Voltaggio and Hilda Staples.

There has been a lot of talk lately about the privatization of local government. In plain language, this simply means that governmental functions are transferred from the public sector to the private sector.

In what seemed like mere minutes after the Arizona shooting tragedy, the mainstream media began pointing fingers and conjecturing about why Jared Loughner came armed with the intent to kill Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords at a “Congress on your Corner” event last Saturday in Tucson.

A recent article in The Baltimore Sun outlined the controversy surrounding the owner of Café Hon’s decision to trademark the word “hon.” Some locals were so upset that they staged a protest outside of Denise Whiting’s 36th Street diner in Baltimore’s Hampden enclave.

One would think that holiday shopping online would be a convenience, but this year it has turned into more of a nightmare. My Christmas spirit was slightly tarnished earlier this month when packages were stolen from my front porch in the middle of the afternoon.

I have a confession to make: I love outdoor Christmas decorations. The lights symbolize the beginning of the holiday season and always bring a smile to my face.

November 8, 2010, was a sad day for Frederick’s local economy. Bon-Ton’s corporate management team announced that almost 60 jobs will be lost in January when its storefront in the nearly defunct Frederick Towne Mall closes.

I feel like a new person! I had been censored from writing about the Board of County Commissioners’ race because I was working on Michael Kurtianyk’s campaign. While I understand the position of our editor, there were quite a few times that I had trouble biting my tongue. So, now that the election is over, my gloves are off.

I love local politics. I love the drama. I love the excitement. I even love the fast-paced and often frenetic schedule that comes with working on a campaign – or being a candidate. However, there are some things that I love more than politics, my family among them.

Before the primary, I urged, begged and pleaded with you to vote in the primary. Most of you didn’t listen and I’m more than a little peeved about your wanton disregard of my request.

Despite my repeated pleas to get people to vote in the primary election, fewer than 25 percent of the registered voters in Frederick County cast ballots. This is really quite pathetic. Based on the election results, I now realize that I cannot trust one in four voters to select the candidates that I think are best for Frederick County.

Out of all my friends, I think I’m probably in the top 10 percent in terms of political awareness and involvement. Some of my friends vote and some do not, despite my constant lecturing on the importance of it. The realization that I’ve come to is this: they don’t vote because they feel that their lone voice doesn’t make a difference. I’m here to tell you that it does.

The primary election is only a few weeks away and political signs continue to sprout like weeds in an overgrown lawn. Most candidates play by the rules and only place signs on properties where they have the express consent of the owner.

Americans for Tax Reform sent out a recent communication stating that beginning in January 2011, the largest tax hikes in the history of America will take effect. One section of their release explained the changes to estate taxes, better known as the “death tax.”

As I was driving to work the other day, there was a news story on the radio about a proposed increase to postal rates. If approved, the current first-class postage would increase to 46 cents starting January 2, 2011.

The field of primary candidates has been finalized and the speculation about the projected winners and losers can begin. Candidates will be busy on the carnival and forum circuits.

Recently friends and I were talking about elected officials who often resort to name calling and personal attacks. I find this behavior to be reprehensible and unfitting of community leaders.

Political candidates are increasingly using social media as a way to reach and interact with voters. The appeal is clear. Since social media is largely free, it is attractive to many candidates as they try to stretch their precious campaign dollars even further.

A political campaign, even at a local level, is an intense combination of hard work, countless hours and sometimes sleepless nights replaying the last candidate forum or question from the media. So, why would anyone willingly enter their name into the craziness that is campaigning?