An Open Letter to Elijah Cummings

Dear Elijah (since you have put us on first name terms):

Has it never occurred to you that the largest source of the hard economic times you harp on in your constitutent newsletter is the government itself?

Take the so-called foreclosure crisis as the first example. It was the federal government, through encouraging lenders to make risky loans under the guise of encouraging people to realize the "American dream" that got so many people in over their heads on mortgages? Thirty-five years ago when I bought my current residence, the maximum allowable ratio of mortgage debt (P.I.T.I.) to gross income was 46 percent. We bought our house at a far lower cost, knowing that 46 percent was an unacceptable risk. Nowadays, I understand that lenders--with the complicity of Fannie Mae and other federal agencies--have increased that ratio to 64 percent or higher. Moreover, lenders were allowed to offer loans that no sensible person would make--zero down payments; loans with negative amortization; adjustable rate mortgages without caps; teaser rates that were completely unpredictable on expiration of a three- or five-year period.

Now you are expecting those of us who have spent their lives being financially prudent to bail out not only the citizens foolish enough to make such loans, but the financial institutions greedy enough to have offered them. Last I checked, there were very few mortgage lenders or brokers being held responsible for practices that can only be called usurious.

As to fuel prices, you have steadfastly supported laws that drive up the cost of owning and maintaining an automobile, refused to consider drilling in the tiny section of ANWR that would produce oil, and even proposed gasoline tax increases in the hope of deterring consumption.

Months ago, I inquired what happened to the moneys earmarked for renovating the auditorium at Woodlawn High School, which has yet to occur. (Not to mention that the school itself has no performing arts programs requiring an auditorium.) Neither you nor Mr. Weglein (the school principal) have given me the courtesy of a reply.

Last but not least, your current newsletter crows about the $28,642,207 in "earmarks" and pork-barrel grants in your district.

You have come up with six million dollars for JHU, which has recently been the beneficiary of more than 100 million from Michael Bloomberg alone, not to mention other private sources. Trust me, those people at Hopkins are swimming in money, and they certainly do not need or deserve involuntary contributions from the public.

Three million six to WEB DuBois High School, which has only 738 students. That's nearly a thousand a year per student for the next four years. For what, if I might ask specifics?

Two million three to Baltimore County to assist low-income home buyers. Aren't these the same people who have generally ended up in foreclosure, creating the "crisis" you are so worried over?

Nine million for Head Start programs in Baltimore City. Can anyone show evidence that these programs have helped since their inception? The number of city children dropping out of school, getting involved in drugs and other crime, becoming pregnant out of wedlock, and being murdered has done nothing but increase over the life of Head Start. It is long past time to pull the plug on this program, not continue funding it.

I could go on, but I suspect I have already lost your attention.

Presumably buying votes has worked for you in the past, since you continue to do so.

I am committed to exposing this sort of fraud, waste and rent-seeking, and removing from office the people who are responsible for it.

So my message to you, Mr. Cummings, is shape up or be prepared to ship out after November 4th.

Stan Modjesky

tags: politics  maryland  cummings  

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