By guest blogger Sadako Red [see disclaimer]
[May 4, 2017] Ahhhh … identity politics continues to be alive and well in the City of Baltimore – a place I described as “stuck on stupid” just a few months ago in June when city leaders were adopting policies that simultaneously drove up crime rates and effectively dismantled its police department. And now they are reaping the full benefits; the city now has the highest violent crime rate in its history, its population continues to decline, and businesses are leaving in droves. Leadership in the City of Baltimore means you believe that crime is caused by racial discrimination against blacks (and illegal immigrants), a racist police force, and too many guns (especially assault rifles) on the streets.
To make matters worse, they make it easier to commit crimes by encouraging racial minorities to blame others for their plight, making it harder for the police to make arrests, questioning police motives each time a racial minority is stopped (even for questioning), and aggressively prosecuting police officers for minor mistakes. Maybe I should have titled my article “Stuck on Stupid III.” As she sees the world through rose colored glasses, Maryland State Attorney Marilyn J. Mosby continues to help the city circle the drain with her antics that have ruined the careers of many and encourages these policies with her race-based prosecutorial behavior. Want proof? Just as the six police officers she charged in the death of Freddie Gray … result was zero convictions.
As I sit here in my office, I look northward and see the skyline of Baltimore to ponder the problems of the City. Frankly, I don’t care any longer what happens and I actively avoid spending any time there with my family. So too my friends. D.C. has lots of good things to offer us and – as nuts as many of our politicians may seem – at least D.C. gives us a good ballgame (go Nationals!). Washington D.C. is a liberal city and very insular in its politics, policies, and people. Looking at Baltimore, it makes D.C. look like the bastion of conservatism in a Ronald Reagan sort of way. No wonder violent crime is spiking.
Hold on partner! … Doesn’t the City of Baltimore have new leadership after the negligence of Stephanie Rawlings-Blake forced her to not run again for mayor? Yep! The new major is Catherine Pugh (a Democrat and black woman). There shouldn’t be any astonishment given the standard identity politics of the city but the real question is, “will she make a difference?” She certainly has more commonsense than Rawlings-Blake and more motivation to do good for the city. Will the cycle of death for the city continue (with its massive bureaucracy continue) downward?
Now the mayor is asking for help from the Federal Government. Hummmm, what should we do? Send more of our hard-earned tax dollars to a city that did exactly what everyone in the country predicted with predictable outcomes? There are no consequences for stupidity if you’re a politician; you might even get re-elected. Remember, when leaders fail in the City of Baltimore, you simply get more of the same.
You can find me on the web. Just look and find my writings on ‘leadership.”
Author: Sadako Red
Disclaimer: I chose the pen name Sadako Red in order to remove any notoriety reflecting on my other real job as a very senior executive in the Department of Defense. Naturally, my opinion is my opinion only and despite DoD wanting to associate with my fine work, they cannot have it. Trust me, they want it. Trust me, they can’t stand for it.
Sadako Red’s Previous Posts:
- City of Baltimore: Stuck on Stupid II
- Weak Leaders, Politicians, and Racism …
- City of Baltimore and Race: Stuck on Stupid
- Lead by Example and Show Some Dignity!
- Fear: Racist, Sexist, Homophobe Accusations
- The U.S. Army, Race Relations, and Manhood
- Race: Leadership and the Lack of Leadership
- A Failed Management Culture in the VA
- Race Trumps and Leadership Fails
- Race, Character, and the Government
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