Listening to You!

       The Citizens Agent by Tim Quinn Democratic Candidate for Maryland Delegate District 37-B

       What is the proper role of government? Government should consider the needs and wants of all its citizens. It is government which can help provide the necessary room and opportunity for its citizens, as a group and as individuals, to savor their past, secure their present and to reach their potential. No one individual or group can or should be left behind.

      Too often our elected officials do not go the extra mile to prevent hurting one group with the changes they make in the name of the common good, when all it would take is one more "sit down, figure it out and put it into workable language". This can be true of government at all levels.

       We need to get back to basics: the realization that we are all in this boat together and each and every one of us will always pay, in human and economic terms, for what it takes to make our individual lives and communities better.

       Our elected officials must serve as agents for all the citizens they represent. They must be on a constant learning mission, not just parroting a party line. The party line can be and sometimes should be a road map helping to create ideas that work for a community. It is when the party's credo becomes and ideological end in itself or just a tool to get someone elected that it becomes distorted. We get our best and most useful ideas when we listen and work with each other. It's not about who is right or wrong, or whose idea it is; it is about what works best to serve the broad needs of the groups and individuals in our communities. That is why legislation should be written to mirror the wants and desires of this pluralistic society we call the United States of America, Maryland and yes, the Eastern Shore.

       Since we are uniquely the stewards of our Eastern Shore farmland, open spaces, historic towns and yes, our treasure, the Chesapeake Bay, we deserve our fair share from our State and Federal Governments. We on the Eastern Shore are proud of the fact that our higher education enrollment is on the rise, proud or our working farms, proud of our picturesque country side, proud that we have been able to maintain ourselves as a hunters' haven, and proud of the fact that we are the point of destination for tourists from our own state as well as our region and nation.

       We create a lot of revenue for our beautiful Maryland and we deserve our fair share in return. Our legislators need to advocate this point so we can begin to take care of our consumers, elderly, children, infirm of all ages, our heritage and yes, our businesses. I wanted to just give you a general look into my heart and mind; I promise you, and if you know me you know my promise is a good one, I will get far more specific in the coming months.