Standing On Principle/Mike Calpino For Wicomico County Council

Standing on Principle

On of the things that irritates people about the political process is that so few of the men or women who are part of it are principled, and even fewer are willing to consistently stand on their principles. First, allow me to define a principle. Webster’s defines it as a “fundamental truth or law, a moral rule.” I will also quote Ayn Rand’s definition, because I find it highly instructive.

“A principle is “a fundamental, primary, or general truth, on which other truths depend.” Thus a principle is an abstraction which subsumes a great number of concretes. It is only by means of principles that one can set one’s long-range goals and evaluate the concrete alternatives of any given moment. It is only principles that enable a man to plan his future and achieve it.” (Capitalism, the Unknown Ideal, p143.)

It is the lack of principles that have led, politically, fiscally and morally, to the situation in which we find ourselves. We have politicians we assume are corrupt and self-serving, debt we cannot repay, citizens who are content to be slaves whining for their basic bread from the hand of the state. Our political discourse consists of petty arguments over how to properly allocate billions or trillions of dollars to special interest groups in order for the politicians to secure their power and re-election. The only principle involved is that of power, gaining it and expanding it. The fiscal and moral health of the country, any consistency of program or policy, is all sacrificed on the altar of power. Power over the individual, the collective, over you and I. The power to determine every decision, the power to mold and shape minds, the power to control everything in society, for their own egomania. They happily sacrifice the freedom and rights of the individual on the altar of “the public good” or the “greater good” or “social justice.” The merrily go about confiscating the wealth of those who produce it for their own aggrandizement and the perpetuation of the perverse system that supports them. They speak the language of “compromise,” “fairness,” and “bi-partisanship,” but they are all lies to hide their true motives and the consistent advancement of their cause at the expense of our liberty.

There can be no compromise with evil. Strong word, you say? Any man or system that proposes to reduce or eliminate my God-given rights to life, liberty and property is evil. Any man who believes it is in his power to grant or abrogate natural rights is evil. Any system that believes it has first rights to the labor of our bodies and minds, that thinks it owns our production and our property, that it has the right to dictate every decision and action, that our liberty is inconsequential to their desire for control is evil. I state that unapologetically. Therefore the struggle of liberty and tyranny, freedom and state control is one of good and evil, the free state of man as God intended versus man as a slave of the state. To “give up essential liberty…for a little temporary security,” as Franklin said, is a false choice for a free people. To give up a natural right, or any portion thereof, reduces our humanity. Any compromise of our freedom is only a green light to the statists to take more.

In “the Anatomy of a Compromise”, Ayn Rand lists three rules about the application of principles.

1. In any conflict between two men (or two groups) who hold the same principles, it is the more consistent one who wins.

2. In any collaboration between two men (or two groups) who hold different basic principles, it is the more evil or irrational one who wins.

3. When opposite basic principles are clearly and openly defined, it works to the advantage of the rational side; when they are not clearly defined, but are hidden and evaded, it works to the advantage of the irrational side.

Let us briefly look at each one of these in turn. In the first, the men involved purport to hold the same principles. However, if they disagree, one of them is inconsistent. For example, if two politicians hold the principle that job creation is important yet one supports government policies that have historically been demonstrated to drag the economy down, he betrays his true motivations and priorities. One of the reasons the Democrat party has been successful in moving the country ever closer to statism is because while both major parties believe in wielding the power of government, the Democrat party has been more consistent in its advancement and application while the Republicans have attempted to give lip service to limited government, while their actions demonstrate their inconsistency. The problem we have in America is that both the political powers hold the same principles-those that support government expansion-and the only way to reverse our progress toward totalitarianism is to change the principles upon which our politicians govern and the principles by which we the citizens expect our politicians to govern.

The second one states that in any collaboration between two different principles, the evil one wins. This is simply articulated by this quote from Atlas Shrugged. “In any compromise between food and poison, it is only death that can win. In any compromise between good and evil, it is only evil that can profit.” The Bible says the same thing, “A little leaven works its way through the whole batch of dough.” Any compromise which betrays a basic principle, any policy that infringes on basic rights, no matter what the supposed “emergency” or “crisis”, is a victory for statism. We cannot save freedom by abandoning freedom. A little poison or a lot of it will still bring about the same result.

Finally, as we enter the debates in what could be the most important election in America’s history, an election that will put people in office who will be in a position to guide us through the most difficult times since our inception as a nation, who may determine the very survival of our nation and our way of life, we need to clearly define the issues. Platitudes, bumper stickers, sound bites and flashy smiles are not going to lead to the restoration of our liberty and the stability of our country. The statists will win if their true motives and the principles by which they govern remain hidden or they are allowed to evade answers to the crucial questions. Only the irrational would willingly vote for someone who said that their goal was to control every aspect of our lives, to confiscate all our wealth, that they believed the state owns our property and our very bodies, that it was only their desire for control that led them into politics in the first place. Yet those who support the status quo of our current government operation govern according to those principles. We need people to run for office who have the courage and the ability to articulate and apply the principles of liberty at all levels of our government. People who will consistently and unapologetically make the argument for the founder’s vision of America, a vision of limited government, individual freedom, God-given rights and laissez-faire economic policy that made us the “shining city on a hill” for so much of our history.

“The spread of evil is the symptom of a vacuum. Whenever evil wins, it is only by default: by the moral failure of those who evade the fact that there can be no compromise on basic principles.” Ayn Rand

Or, put another way, the only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.

Mike Calpino

Candidate for Wicomico County Council

It’s time for mayor to work with Salisbury’s rental owners, for the city’s sake

A letter to the editor: The Daily Times

E: “Slum of Week tensions mount,” May 26

It’s past time for Mayor Jim Ireton to end the “Slum Property” nonsense and find a more effective way to deal with code compliance for rental properties in Salisbury.

Besides presenting a less-than-desirable image to visitors (potential residents and/or business relocations?) on the city’s website, there is no indication using a bludgeon rather than a “carrot and stick” approach is remotely effective.

I suggest Ireton make an overture to Salisbury Property Owners Association, asking to reinstate a program that was in place a few years ago: The city administration would notify SAPOA leadership of problems with specific properties. A committee of SAPOA members would approach the owner(s) of the subject property and attempt to get the problem resolved for the good of the city and the rental community.

More often than not, the problem was taken care of quickly and efficiently. Peer pressure can be a powerful incentive. It may not have created the level of drama some seem to desire, but it was effective. It also retains the bludgeon approach as an option for cases that were unsuccessful.

At the recent City Council meeting, we saw representatives of property owners practically begging for a cooperative effort at equitable code enforcement. The administration needs to reach out to those who are willing and able to help. They may be amazed at what a bit of quiet diplomacy can accomplish.

Full disclosure: I have no financial interest in rentals. I do not now nor have I ever owned any property other than the one occupied by me and my family.

Bob Caldwell

Salisbury

Fisher For Congress/1st District/Maryland

Rob Fisher to Run For Congress

(Salisbury) Republican Rob Fisher today announced he will run for Congress in Maryland’s First District after submitting a Statement of Candidacy to the Federal Elections Commission (FEC). A small businessman, veteran and Eastern Shore native, Fisher is looking to bring real leadership to Congress that puts the needs of Maryland residents first.

“At a time when the people of the First District are struggling to make ends meet, Congress is more concerned with forcing job-killing legislation down the throats of taxpayers instead of helping lead us through these turbulent economic times,” said Fisher. “Maryland deserves a representative with real-world experience who will put people ahead of party and bring an entrepreneurial spirit to Congress. I pledge to be a tireless advocate for my constituents and make job creation my first priority.”

A serial entrepreneur who has run several successful small businesses in the First District and the Capitol Region, Fisher knows first-hand the challenges faced by small businesspeople and the barriers to success that have been championed by Nancy Pelosi and Congressional Democrats. Fisher’s current company, Secure Infrastructure Solutions — a Cyber Security firm helping to safeguard America’s National Security assets — has been able to grow and expand despite the terrible economic conditions of the past two years.

“My company has grown in spite of Congress, not because of it,” said Fisher. “Small businesses need government to be their loudest cheerleader, not their biggest detractor.”

Fisher will run an issues-based, grassroots campaign that will focus on the needs of the residents of the First District. His campaign will be opening offices on the Eastern Shore, Anne Arundel County and the Baltimore area.

“The First District needs a Congressman who will put Maryland first,” said Fisher. “Career politicians have had their chance. It’s time for Congress to show real leadership, listen to the people’s concerns and find innovative solutions to our country’s problems.”

Mr. Fishers office number is 443-859-3342.

Read more here.

Slum of Week tensions mount

By Laura D’Alessandro

SALISBURY — Lisa Harman doesn’t understand why the apartment she rents is listed as a “slum” on the city of Salisbury’s website.

“I feel humiliated,” Harman said.

Harman is a tenant of Stu Leer, vice president of the Salisbury Area Property Owners Association. Her apartment, located at 605 Light St., was recently posted on the city’s website as part of Mayor Jim Ireton’s Slum Property of the Week initiative.

The weekly post on the city’s website with photos of a rental property calls attention to police and code compliance service to that address and displays the name and phone number of the owner. The move is part of Ireton’s campaign promise to crack down on delinquent landlords. The promise has been accompanied by the mantra, “Police yourselves or I will do it for you.”

While Ireton and other city officials call rentals like those designated “slums” a drain on the city’s resource, landlords have not been receptive to the tactic. Leer is as unhappy as his tenant, especially after reportedly spending months making attempts to work with the city to enforce its code.

Leer and SAPOA President Kris Adams are awaiting a meeting with Ireton to discuss putting a memorandum of understanding together to solidify a cooperative relationship. Under the leadership of Adams and Leer, SAPOA wants to clean up the Smith Street corridor, reward good tenants and crack down on the bad. But Ireton isn’t receptive to the meeting as proposed.

“SAPOA’s line of communication is: ‘Jim, do what we want, when we want,’ ” Ireton said.

Conversely, Ireton reportedly told Adams and Leer he would meet with them only when he was ready. He said the precrafted memorandum of understanding is indicative of preconceived notions.

“MOUs are written by all the groups at the table, so it is evident the discussion about calls for service, illegal nonconforming uses and crime statistics won’t happen,” Ireton said. “SAPOA is more than welcome to change their rental industry from within.”

Without the mayor’s cooperation, Adams said the organization will do just that with the backing of community organizations. But she is “disappointed” with the mayor’s refusal.

I had really hoped (the mayor) would be more open-minded,” she said. “My first impression of Jim Ireton was that he has a big heart and he would do the best thing for the city. What’s best for the people is solving problems, but I think he feels if he comes to the table with us then he’s sleeping with the enemy.”

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Adams said she feels the rental industry has been demonized, used as a scapegoat by some city officials for high crime rates. Ireton launched the Slum of the Week initiative after a shooting in the Smith Street corridor. Leer, now a target, said it was partly by his urging.

“I would like to have a meeting where (the mayor) drops his childish behavior, comes to a meeting as an adult and we can have an open-minded discussion to have a partnership to reduce crime and blight,” Leer said.

The mayor said he’s tackling “crime and blight” –by enforcing the city’s existing laws.

“I’m going to enforce the laws, take illegal uses to the Board of Zoning Appeals, work for a Crime-Free Lease Addendum, move the lines of the historic district in north Camden, continue our Safe Streets Partnerships and answer to the people who elected me — not answer to a special industry group,” Ireton said.

But Harman isn’t part of a special industry. The 44-year-old Salisbury native moved to Light Street after a downturn in the economy sent her looking for cheaper rent. She found it with Leer’s agency.

“I don’t feel splashing this across the Internet is fair,” she said. “I don’t recall anywhere that defines a slum by the number of police calls. I think it is defined as a filthy, dirty, dilapidated, falling apart place. That doesn’t put my house in that category.”