1. Congratulations to Baltimore City College’s football team for winning the City-Poly game the first Saturday in November.

The Black Knights beat the Engineers 20-14. (Yes, I know Poly’s official mascot is a parrot; City’s is the Black Knight. I call Poly’s athletic teams “the Engineers” because I want to spare them the embarrassment of calling them “the Parrots.” Look, I’m trying to give ‘em a break here.)

City’s victory ended a four-year Poly win streak in the series, the oldest high-school rivalry in the nation. The City-Poly football game is even older than some of the classic college tiffs: Army-Navy, Michigan-Ohio State, and Alabama-Auburn.

A plea to City football coach George Petrides and his future teams: please, allow no more Poly win streaks. They make me nervous, and take me back to the days when Poly won 17 straight City-Poly games.

That was from 1970 through 1986, when Tech’s teams were strong and City was on a downward spiral both athletically and academically. City ended this nightmare in 1987, winning 34-22 when quarterback Chris Smith and running back Paul Williams combined for the game-winning touchdown on what has been called The Play.

2. After the Baltimore Ravens Sunday, November 25, 2012, victory over the San Diego Chargers we now have The Play, Part II. The Play, Part I involved Smith taking the snap and handing the ball off to Williams, who started to run and then tossed the ball back in a lateral to Smith.

The quarterback took off toward the Poly end zone in a twisting, exciting run that ended with his crossing the goal line for a touchdown. However, The Play, Part I, doesn’t even come close to The Play, Part II.

Anyone who saw the game knows what happened. And, if you’re like me, you are still wondering HOW it happened— even over a week later.

The Ravens trailed 13-10 and faced a fourth and 29. The game should have been over.

  Then, Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco took the snap and passed the ball to running back Ray Rice, a measly ONE YARD beyond the line of scrimmage. Rice ran through the Chargers’ defense for 29 more yards and the first down.

“OK,” I said after Rice got the first down. “There’s something fundamentally wrong with what I just saw.” The Ravens tied the game and then won it 16-13 in overtime.

I’ve been watching National Football League games for nearly 50 years. I can’t remember any team converting on fourth down and 29. Might have happened, but I sure as heck don’t remember it.

Any defensive unit worthy of being called a defensive unit is supposed to stop a team facing a fourth down and 29 situation. But the Chargers’ defensive unit didn’t.

Here’s the kicker: earlier in the fourth quarter, the Chargers stopped the Ravens on a fourth down and INCHES play. What can you say about a team that can’t convert a fourth down and inches, and then converts a fourth down and 29 to tie the game and then eventually win it?

The Ravens are out to drive their fans bat guano crazy. Ditto for the Chargers, who as of the end of the game on Sunday, November 25 have lost seven of 11-games. Their fans have to be wondering how the Chargers won four games.

Colts fans saw their team go up 24-0 on the Denver Broncos, only to lose the game. Now the Chargers have once again snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. What’s the problem?

I’m blaming “Purple Drank.” Never heard of Purple Drank? I hadn’t either, until a few weeks ago.

Purple Drank is a concoction, of either Sprite or Seven-Up, codeine syrup and Jolly Ranchers candy. The dangerous combination is said to be popular among rappers. Lil’ Wayne’s name has been mentioned as one of those people who imbibe Purple Drank on a regular basis.

That might explain some of Lil’ Wayne’s more bizarre raps; it may or may not explain why he has the most annoying voice of any rapper that’s ever lived.

In addition to rappers, Purple Drank is said to be gaining in popularity among some NFL players. Former Oakland Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell was a number-one draft pick whose career went nowhere.

He was arrested in 2010 for possession of codeine syrup and then rumors started to fly that Russell was a Purple Drank connoisseur. Russell denied the allegation in a 2011 interview with Sports Illustrated.

Former Green Bay Packers player Johnny Jolly was found with codeine syrup and nailed with a six-year suspension for violating his probation.

Did one or more of the Chargers have too much Purple Drank the night before they faced the Ravens? They sure played like it.

Learning to read does not come naturally, says Margie Gillis, Ed.D. “It must be taught. The earlier you begin, the greater your child’s chances are of becoming a fluent reader.” While reading may not be intuitive, it is a skill that all successful students must master—  the sooner the better.   

Consider some of the benefits preschool literacy documented by the National Commission on Reading, American Early Childhood Literacy Gap Commission and the National School Readiness Indicators Initiative Report respectively:

•The single most significant factor influencing a child's early educational success is an introduction to books and being read to at home prior to beginning school.

•Reading to a child aged three to five years builds alphabetic knowledge, print convention concepts and phonological awareness— skills that are fundamental to literacy.

•At least 50 percent of the educational achievement gaps between poor and non-poor children already exist when entering kindergarten.

To help prepare preschoolers for successful written language processing and reading comprehension, Dr. Ellis has created 12 easy to follow activities. She advises parents to keep it fun by initiating these and other learning activities while riding in the car, taking a walk or just playing.

•Syllable Recognition: Clapping so kids can hear how many syllables a word contains. Words like bi-cy-cle and el-e-phant engage attention.

•Rhyming: Reading, rhyming books is fun. So is making up nonsense rhymes or playing “I see something that rhymes with hat.”

•Alliteration: Try Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers with three or four-year-olds, calling their attention to hearing the “p” sound at the beginning of the word.

•Oral language comprehension: Ask your child to retell a story you have read, or to repeat a sentence. Using a puppet to demonstrate delights your kids. If your child has difficulty with words out of context or multiple meanings (confuses letter of the alphabet

with a letter that is mailed), explain it.

•Abstract words: Demonstrate abstract words such as prepositions. For example, “Let’s put Danny’s shoe under, next to, and on the table.”

•Background knowledge: Relate to real experiences. To understand a story about the zoo, it helps to have been there, or to have seen a zoo on TV.

•Sentence structure: Explain complexities, particularly for sentences that are long and have several parts. Some children need help understanding that “I went to the store after playing in the park” can be expressed as “After playing in the park, I went to the store.”

•Oral language expression: Children that learn to talk late are at a disadvantage. Give them the chance to express themselves. Talking with a puppet may help.

•Vocabulary: Learning to read requires knowledge of vocabulary (recognizing what words mean) and verbal reasoning abilities. Ask your child to explain things such as why it gets cold at night.

•Print awareness: This includes recognizing that the words on the page-not the pictures-carry the message, and that words are read left to right and top to bottom.

•Letter recognition: To help kids identify letters with confidence, play with 3-D letters, watch Sesame Street together, look at alphabet books and notice familiar letters in signs and names, particularly the child’s own.

•Phonological and phonemic awareness: Children begin by recognizing and producing words that rhyme. Nursery rhymes and poetry are great for this. As they move into Kindergarten the focus shifts to individual sounds in words. For example, “What sound do you hear at the end of fish?” “Tell me the three sounds in fish.”

Jayne Matthews-Hopson is a writer and academic advocate. Education Matters because “only the educated are free.” Your thoughts, comments and suggestions are welcomed at: www.baltimoretimes-online.com. 

Millions of black American families observed Thanksgiving this week. We have much to be thankful and grateful for. Yet, we should also be cognizant of the challenges and struggles that lie ahead in the pathway to future economic empowerment and social sustainability not only in America but throughout a changing world as well. In other words, this is a time for reflection, self-assessment, self-improvement and collective development and progress.

I know that there are some cynics even among us who prefer to see the plight of black Americans only from a pathological or from a continuously negative critique. It is true that unemployment in our communities, in particular for our youth, remains devastatingly high. Prisons and jails across the nation continue to overflow disproportionately with black American inmates and defendants. Abject poverty continues to have an alarmingly mortal grip on too many of our families and communities. Improving the systematic quality education of our children remains one of the highest priorities. Constructive criticism does have its place and value. But isolated and even well intentioned criticism concerning the ongoing struggle to eliminate racism, injustice and inequality without a concomitant plan of action to advance the cause of freedom, justice and equality is just a nonproductive waste of time and energy.

A Black Thanksgiving this year and every year should be focused on taking the time as family, friends, colleagues and simply as “brothers and sisters” to adequately assess and plan for further advancement of the interests, intelligence, and institutions of the black American community. This is also a time for the elders of the freedom movement to share wisdom with our young emerging activists and leaders in spirit of acknowledging that every inch of progress that has been accomplished over the past 400 years has come as a consequence of struggle and sacrifice.

This is not, however, the time for carelessly taking anything for granted. We all should be first and foremost appreciative for the very breath of life to be alive in this day and time. We have come a mighty long way, and yes, we still have a long way to go toward the fulfillment of the dream of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the realization of the aspirations and prayers of past generations. A Black Thanksgiving is the time for us to affirm the importance of giving back to help our communities to better develop and prosper. This is the time for sharing what we have with those who are less fortunate. More than 40 million black Americans now spend more than $1 trillion annually.

“Thanksgetting” presupposes “Thanksgiving.” Let’s assess how we spend that much money every 12 months. How much is for our empowerment as a people? How much do we spend to educate our children? How much do we invest in our own businesses and institutions such as our Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)?  How much to we give to our churches and charities that serve the interests of our communities? How much do we give back to Africa? We should at Black Thanksgiving be financially supporting the NAACP, SCLC, National Urban League, NAFEO, Rainbow Push Coalition, National Action Network, Hip-Hop Summit Action Network, Diamond

Empowerment Fund, Georges Malaika Foundation, the NNPA and other organizations and institutions that continue to make a positive difference in the United States, in Africa and the world community. We should be particularly aware and supportive of the African Union and other Pan African organizations.

A Black Thanksgiving should show utmost respect and solidarity with our Native American brothers and sisters who still are struggling for self-determination, freedom and development. It is also important to note here that we should be more proactive in building lasting coalitions with our Latino brothers and sisters because with have mutual interests, anthropological and cultural roots, as well as sharing strategic political goals and objectives as just witnessed on Election Day. The future success of our advancement is dependent upon our unity and solidarity with others who know from history and from the present day realities the importance of standing up, speaking out, taking action, and working tirelessly for the freedom and equality of all people throughout the world.

We are very thankful for the re-election of President Barack H. Obama. This election was triumphantly won by the massive voter turnout against the backdrop of voter suppression. The world is continuing to change for the better and the varied prospects for black Americans to prosper going forward are significantly enhanced. We just have to stay focused and to avoid the regressive temptations of hopelessness and cynicism. Lastly, when you have an “undying love,” respect and a sense of giving for the help of your own family and community, you are clear about the necessity to have love, respect and a sense of giving for the help of others. Thus, a Black Thanksgiving in the truest sense is a Thanksgiving for all people.

Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr. is president of the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network and Education Online Services Corporation and can be reached at:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Another city and another fracas between a bus driver and a passenger!

Eager, no doubt, to get in on the publicity that Cleveland bus driver Artis Hughes received when he popped Shi’Dea Lane with that right uppercut, a Baltimore Mass Transit Administration driver was caught on a cell phone video tussling with a passenger.

Both the driver and the passenger are female, so at least there will be none of that “a man should NEVER hit a woman under any circumstances” nonsense here. (That rule simply wouldn’t apply if the woman were, say, of the size and athletic skill of Laila Ali, and the man stood around 5 feet, 2 inches, weighed 100 pounds and was 70 years old, would it?)

We are left with the nagging questions of exactly who was at fault, and why? Was it the bus driver? Did the passenger get out of control and force the driver to do what she did? Or did the driver lose it?

When I was in the Air Force, my basic training sergeant was fond of telling us, “the bad stuff settles at the bottom, and that’s where you guys are: the bottom.”

Of course, he didn’t say “bad stuff.” He used a one-word, four-letter term that might be described as a bit more scatological. But we got the message.

I’ve been a journalist nearly 20 years, and that rule has changed. For me, the “bad stuff” doesn’t settle at the bottom— It kind of rises to the top. So here is who, I’m blaming for that bus driver-passenger dustup on that MTA bus. MTA executives.

They are the ones who were supposed to send a message, loudly and clearly that physical engagements between bus drivers and passengers will not be tolerated.

Indeed, once the incident went viral, MTA spokesman Terry Owens was on local news channels talking about the MTA’s “non-engagement” policy vis-à-vis bus drivers and passengers.

Yo, Big T: did the driver in this particular case get that memo? Would you SWEAR to that fact? Because it doesn’t seem she did get it.

For years I’ve had the sneaking suspicion that MTA honchos kind of tolerated questionable, rude and sometimes downright nasty conduct from their drivers, especially in the way they treat customers. I base that conclusion on my experiences in the years when I was a regular MTA bus rider.

Full disclosure: I now drive my own car, so I seldom ride MTA buses these days. When I do ride MTA, I use the subway. The last time I was on an MTA bus was, I believe, during “Snowmageddon” back in 2010.

Hey, why should I have driven my car through that mess if MTA buses were operating?

In the days when I routinely rode MTA buses, I remember the times drivers would blow right by me and other passengers, standing in plain sight on the bus stop, frantically waving our arms trying to get the moron to stop.

I remember spats between bus drivers and passengers. Sometimes the passenger was at fault; other times, it was the driver. Sometimes both were equally at fault.

In such instances I tended to sympathize more with the drivers. I have to concede, 99 percent of the bus drivers are cool, or at least they were when I was riding the buses. It was only rare that I encountered a bus driver with a bad attitude.

Bus drivers, on the other hand, might have to contend with four, five, perhaps a dozen rude passengers in one day. I can see where some drivers might snap.

I remember one incident that left me convinced those running the MTA don’t give the proverbial tinker’s dam about how drivers treat passengers, the proclamations of indignation spewing forth from MTA headquarters about the recent incident notwithstanding.

This incident involved a beef between a passenger and a female bus driver. The driver was particularly nasty, which didn’t bother her one bit.

She gave the passenger her name AND identification number. Then she DARED the passenger to call MTA and file a complaint.

There’s only one reason, I figured, the driver would do that. She knew NOTHING would happen to her. Not a blessed thing. She knew nothing would happen to her because disciplining rude, nasty drivers was not how MTA executives rolled. At least not then!

If things have changed, MTA honchos are going to have to go quite a ways to convince me of that fact.

It seems like the more we watch our elected officials debate, argue and accuse, the more of the same keeps happening. For the sake of our future they need to come to terms with our dire economy and start managing our financial affairs. America is in great danger and no one seems to be very concerned. Iran will soon have nuclear weapons and China is building its military at a scary and phenomenal rate. Russia is as slick as ever and the whole Middle East is erupting. If we don’t remain strong, peace will soon go away.

President Obama has an excellent opportunity to build on his legacy. This term he needs to be a “healer” and cross the aisle to negotiate the best path for America. Politics is supposed to be about compromising and negotiating. Both parties must begin a give and take on the important issues that lay ahead.  Let’s look at some of these make or break issues.

The last time we faced this upcoming financial disaster we called it “Taxmageddon.” We would not solve the matter or bring it to closure. Instead we kicked the can down the road and raised our debt limit. Now, we face it again and call it the “Fiscal Cliff.” The Fiscal Cliff becomes a reality on January 1. If Congress doesn’t come to terms with this matter soon, our economy will crash. Half of our military budget will be cancelled which would cause the loss of hundreds of thousands of jobs and many business closures. Or, we can do like the last time, which was to raise our debt limits and kick the can down the road again. A wise government would adjust our spending and revenues to begin chopping away at our $16 trillion debt.

The next financial trauma is the Dodd-Frank bill implementation. Senator Dodd and Congressman Frank steered this fiasco through Congress and then announced their retirements. President Obama signed it. The bill has done much harm in terms of capital access, business growth and job creation. By law, regulators must write 398 rules to fully implement the bill. So far they have issued 133 final rules (33 percent), proposed 133 more, which are pending and another 133 are yet to be proposed. This bill is making banks too timid to lend money to businesses. Our major corporations are refusing to further invest in this nation and are considering growing their businesses abroad. It may end Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and force us to come up with a new way to provide mortgage financing to homeowners. We need to undo this law and start over using common sense.

International trade is another area that needs to pick up the pace of the new global market. The last administration closed on free trade agreements with South Korea, Panama and Columbia. Maybe the second Obama administration will be more robust. The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is starting to get on the negotiating table. If completed, we will have free trade agreements (duty and tariff free transactions) with Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam. The National Black Chamber of Commerce is all for this. After we complete it, let’s consider some of the larger African nations. Also, wouldn’t it make sense to include the European Union, our nation’s biggest trading partner? We are talking business development and sizeable job creation.

It would be very important to the Obama legacy if we were to arrive at energy independence. Yes, we know he is all for the “all of the above” strategy in meeting our energy needs through every means available. Again, we are talking about a serious number of new jobs and business development. We must build the Keystone Pipeline. We should expand the new technique of natural gas drilling— Fracturing or “fracking.”  Off shore wells should now be allowed on all of our coastlines. We cannot become independent without these forms of energy gathering. The president is going to have to face this if he is to achieve his goal. He will have to do this with an absence of cap and trade legislation. That won’t happen and this position is non-negotiable.

If the new administration can work with Congress and complete the above, it would signal a new day for America. We are at risk and I pray that the turning point can happen sooner than later. It would be so nice to have some camaraderie and

respect on Capitol Hill and a happy Wall Street. If we can just get it together within the next year, the economy would start turning around, and may even start to boom in the second year of this administration. President Obama, Congress, it is all up to you. Let’s do it for the future of our great nation.

Harry C. Alford is the co-founder, president/CEO of the National Black Chamber of Commerce®. He can be reached at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . 

What does Johns Hopkins University, Morgan Stanley, Baltimore City Community College and professional staffing agency, Aerotek, have in common? The answer is Year Up Baltimore. These high-profile businesses and organizations are partners in an innovative training program that provides hand-on skill development, college credits and corporate internship to young adults between the ages of 18 and 24. 

Baltimore is part of the national Year Up initiative. Founded by Gerald Chertavian, Year Up was created to close what he calls the “opportunity divide” that limits financial success for low income, urban students.  Since its opening in 2000, the Boston-based organization has partnered with over 200 major corporations, served over 4,000 students and expanded to Atlanta, Chicago, New York, Providence, San Francisco and Seattle.

Smart companies put a premium on critical thinking and problem solving skills, teamwork and communication, says Chertavian. Year Up’s education/training program meets that need by preparing students for entry-level jobs in technology and finance. The first six months focuses on technical and professional skill building, while the second six months focuses on applying these skills through corporate internships. Students also earn up to 18 college credits.

Established in 2010, Baltimore is home to the first Year Up community college-based program. The Baltimore City Community College Liberty Heights campus serves an estimated 64 young adults, providing support services such as tutoring, library access, mentoring. Plans are to replicate the Baltimore model at Year Up’s around the country.

Chertavian’s commitment to working with urban youth spans more than 25 years. He has actively participated in the Big Brother mentoring program since 1985. He is the recipient of the 2003 Social Entrepreneurship Award by the Manhattan Institute and the 2005 Freedom House Archie R. Williams, Jr. Technology Award. In 2008, he was appointed to serve on the Massachusetts State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.

He earned a B.A. in Economics, graduated Phi Beta Kappa, summa cum laude, from Bowdoin College and an M.B.A., with honors, from Harvard Business School. He is on the Board of Advisors for the Harvard Business School Social Enterprise Initiative, a former board member of The Boston Foundation and an Emeritus Trustee of Bowdoin College. His 2012 book, A Year Up, was a New York Times best seller.

With a business career that began on Wall Street as an officer of the Chemical Banking Corporation, Chertavian co-founded Conduit Communications and fostered its growth to more than $20 million in annual revenues and more than 130 employees in London, Amsterdam, New York and Boston. After he sold the company in 1999, he turned his full attention to creating opportunities for others.

When asked to define the elements necessary for Year Up’s success Chertavian replied: “The most critical aspects of our program are threefold. First, we focus heavily on what we call ‘ABCs,’ or attitudinal and behavioral communication skills, and ensure that our young adults are prepared to enter into some very rigorous knowledge-based environments like the LinkedIns, the Googles, or the J.P. Morgans.

We focus very heavily on what some people call the "soft skills" or non-cognitive skills, and we are very good at preparing young adults for those professional environments. Second, we are well connected to those employers and both understand their needs and are able to satisfy those needs with pre-trained, pre-screened, entry-level talent.

Third, we practice a combination of what we call ‘high support’ and ‘high expectation,’ which is all about ensuring that we provide our young adults with the social and emotional support that they need, while also holding them highly accountable to meet the standards we know they will have to meet in order to be successful in corporate America.”

The future of Year Up Baltimore looks bright. According to statistics from established sites, 84 percent of alumni are employed or attending school full-time within four months of graduating, earning an average wage of $15/hour ($30,000/year for full-time employees).

One hundred percent of qualified students have been placed into internships, and 95 percent of interns meet or exceed partner expectations.

For information about Year Up admissions, partners, making a donation,  alumni services and volunteer opportunities in Baltimore, contact: Lameteria D. Hall, Site Director at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 410-462-7732.

Jayne Matthews-Hopson is a writer and academic advocate. Education Matters because “only the educated are free.” Your thoughts, comments and suggestions are welcomed at: www.baltimoretimes-online.com.

When the dust settles on this year’s presidential election, the real winner will prove to be Republican New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.

Christie is finishing his first term as governor and will be seeking reelection in 2013. He has built a reputation as a rare no-nonsense, straight-talking politician. The public claims they want an honest politician, but when they see one, he gets roundly criticized for being honest.

The governor has been given high marks for his response to the aftermath of super storm Sandy, which devastated both New Jersey and New York City. He is a living example of how a politician can set aside partisanship for the betterment of the people. The way he and President Obama joined together to comfort and help those affected by the storm was remarkable in light of the polarization of our body politic.

Christie served as one of Mitt Romney’s most visible and staunchest surrogates. Christie, can be very partisan but seems to have the maturity and wisdom to know when to put partisanship aside. This seems to have led him to be in trouble with many in the Republican Party.

Christie has been effusive with his praise of President Obama’s handling of the storm. The president, in turn, has been just as effusive in praise of Christie.

As a top surrogate for Romney, many in the party seemed to be taken aback at this “love-fest” between two politicians from opposite parties. Many Republicans thought Christie was providing a huge “political” boost to Obama at a critical time in the election.

Christy made it perfectly clear to media outlets that his focus was totally on getting help for his people without any political considerations. But, Fox News would not accept the governor’s words and proceeded to ask him about whether he would tour the state with Romney. In classic Christie style, he smacked the Fox anchors right across the lips with a stinging rebuke, “I have no idea, nor am I the least bit concerned or interested. I’ve got a job to do here in New Jersey that’s much bigger than presidential politics, and I could care less about any of that stuff… If you think right now I give a damn about presidential politics then you don’t know me,” he said. The Fox anchors looked like a deer in the headlights.

In other interviews Christie said, “The federal government response has been great. I was on the phone at midnight again last night with the president personally,” he told NBC’s “Today” program.

During a press conference Christie said, “The president has been outstanding in this. The folks at FEMA… have been excellent…I don’t give a damn about Election Day. It doesn’t matter a lick to me at the moment…I’ve got bigger fish to fry.”

Wow! We heard a national Republican who actually believes that there is a legitimate role for the federal government to play in our lives. Maybe Christie is that “adult” the Republican Party needs to get our party back on track and to tone down some of the craziness happening within the party— “legitimate rape,” “the president is lazy,” “the president should learn how to be American,” etc.

In a country that has become hyper-partisan to the point of total gridlock, you have a politician who is determined to put the people first, even if it helps the opposition party right before a major election. Did Christie want Romney to defeat Obama in the election? Certainly he did. However, it was more important that he get the help that his people needed.

Without a doubt, Christie was the true winner of this year’s election. The Republican Party can win, too, if it adopts his road map for balancing partisanship with governorship. This is the only way to get the GOP back to relevancy.

Raynard Jackson is president & CEO of Raynard Jackson & Associates, LLC., a Washington, D.C.-based public relations/government affairs firm. He can be reached through his website: www.raynardjackson.com.

Aren’t you darn near in the throes of ecstasy now that you’ll not have to watch or listen to another advertisement either for or against Question 7?

That would be the ballot referendum in which voters either gave a thumbs-up or thumbs down to expanded casino gambling in Maryland. Proponents talked ad nauseam about the jobs and money for education expanded casino gambling would bring.

Opponents claimed no money generated from expanded casino gambling would go to education. They even trotted out state comptroller Peter Franchot to back up their claim.

Franchot is the state’s top guy when it comes to our money. If anyone should know whether or not money from expanded casino gambling would go to education, he is the guy who would, right?

So if Franchot is right, then that means Question 7 proponents lied about money from expanded casino gambling going to education, which prompts this question about Question 7:

Why did Question 7 proponents lie about money going to schools? And that prompts a second question:

If Question 7 proponents lied about money going to schools, what else did they lie about?

Here are even more questions:

How many of those 12,000 new jobs that Question 7 proponents claimed would be generated from expanded casino gambling would have gone to illegal immigrants, given this state’s passion for aiding and abetting illegal immigrants?

And how come proponents of Question 4— which would have allowed illegal immigrant children of illegal immigrants to attend Maryland colleges and universities at the in-state tuition rate— managed to run all their ads without once mentioning the words “illegal immigration”?

Oh, you heard either the words “fair” or “fairness” a couple of dozen times, but you never heard the words “illegal immigrants.” You heard how it’s “fair” to allow those who’ve paid Maryland taxes to have their children attend state colleges and universities at the in-state tuition rate.

What you didn’t hear was this: illegal immigrants shouldn’t be paying ANY taxes. There are federal laws that specifically say illegal immigrants can’t work in this country.

If illegal immigrants are working and paying taxes in Maryland, it is only because they are aided and abetted by elected officials who are helping them do it, and in the process breaking the law every bit as much as illegal immigrants are.

And THAT’S not fair to the immigrants that came here legally and played by the rules.

More Question 7 questions:

Proponents claimed the $550 million Marylanders spend at casinos in West Virginia would be spent here if Question 7 passed. How, exactly, would they know this?

Common sense tells me that Marylanders who gamble at West Virginia casinos more than likely hail from what I call our state’s “GAW” strip: Garrett, Allegany and Washington counties. There might also be a fair share coming from Frederick and even Carroll counties.

Even with expanded casino gambling in Baltimore City and Prince George’s County, where are those Marylanders in the western part of the state going to gamble?

Why, West Virginia, of course. It’s much closer. If you have a hankering for gambling and live in Garrett County, where are you going to go to gamble?

Nearby West Virginia or way the heck in downtown Baltimore or Prince George’s County?

I don’t visit downtown Baltimore unless I absolutely have to, and I LIVE here.

One final question, and it’s about that Question 7: we saw a number of elected officials support the referendum, crowing about the number of jobs expanded casino gambling would bring and how the money from it would help our schools.

Were they saying that they couldn’t generate jobs and fund schools WITHOUT expanded casino gambling? And if they can’t generate jobs and fund schools without expanded casino gambling, then why the hell are they in office?

Throw ‘em out! Throw ‘em out!