I was pleased to receive your survey. Nice to know that you really give a damn about what we, your constituents, may think. Or maybe you just want us to think you give a damn. Whichever, I will endeavor to answer to the best of my ability.
GENERAL ISSUES
WHICH ARE MOST CONCERNING?
The threat to our democracy. This wasn’t on your checklist. Which doesn’t surprise me, since you have been an active participant in the ongoing attempt to overturn the election. An election that was fair and balanced, despite your ridiculous claims to the contrary. You insist on claiming voting irregularity, despite it being disproved multiple times. This does nothing except create doubt about the integrity of our democratic institutions.
Regarding the recent antics of the “berserker caucus” hijacking the House of Representatives, you say “it will be the greatest change in how the House operates and becomes much more responsive to the American people in at least two generations.” I can’t help but wonder what American people you people keep referring to. Must be those vested interests that keep you pointed in the “right” direction.
You do have education on your checklist. The general population needs to be educated to the fact that our democratic institutions are not dysfunctional. Top heavy perhaps, but not threatening to our personal liberty as you and your cohorts claim.
DO YOU BELIEVE OUR COUNTRY IS ON THE RIGHT OR WRONG TRACK?
A loaded question. If you say it’s on the right track you will be branded as a delusional Pollyanna. If on the wrong track, you will be presented with overly simplistic answers laying blame on the scapegoat du jour, which can only be remedied by reinstating good old Christian family values as prescribed by the so called Freedom Caucus.
ECONOMY AND JOBS
DO YOU BELIEVE FEDERAL REGULATIONS HELP OR HINDER MD’S ECONOMY?
Let’s see. If you say Federal regulations are a pain in the ass, nobody is going to disagree. So let’s say I’m in favor of getting rid of them. Ok, Mr. smarty pants, which ones? Your record would indicate that you’re in favor of getting rid of all of them.
Federal regulations are designed to protect the public good when the state has neither the will nor the means to do so. Where does the public good end and personal advantage start, or personal freedom, as your base supporters are wont to complain about?
ARE YOU PAYING MORE THAN YOU WERE A YEAR AGO?
Must be Biden’s fault.
CRIME
DO YOU SUPPORT DEFUNDING THE POLICE?
Before the 2020 elections you were asked by the Chestertown Spy if Trump would be gracious in losing. Your response, which you repeated several times, was, “That’s a ridiculous question.” May I quote you. This is a ridiculous question. I say that using the same good faith you displayed back in 2020.
SCOPE OF GOVERNMENT
DO YOU BELIEVE IMPLEMENTING MORE SOCIALIST POLICIES ….IS GOOD OR BAD FOR AMERICA?
Let’s drag out that old “socialist” red flag, why don’t we? There could have been a concerted bipartisan effort to make the Affordable Care Act (Obama Care) much more workable if it hadn’t been labeled socialism/communism. How many times did you vote to overturn it? Again, having the government serve the greater good is not a communist plot. By painting it as such only serves the vested interests efforts to maintain their position of power.
BORDER SECURITY
DO YOU SUPPORT EFFORTS TO SECURE THE SOUTHERN BORDER?
Sure, why not. Except it paints an unrealistic picture of what is possible. What would it take? Separating families at the border? Gunning them down as they swim, or ford, the Rio Grande? The “wall” is a joke. It’s like the war on drugs. Make it harder just increases the pressure on the border. Simplistic messaging again.
DO YOU SUPPORT POLICIES TO GRANT AMNESTY TO UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS?
Amnesty is another of those red flag terms designed to mount opposition to immigration reform. If there is a policy to earn citizenship, is that amnesty? Having a long wait period, paying past and present taxes, maybe having their own business, owning their house, having assets? Is that not a way to pay for the crime of crossing the border illegally?
I have heard you say concerning the DACA kids, that they should have to wait in line like everyone else. Perhaps you are not aware that there is no line. If you are poor and apply for a visa to enter the USA, it costs $160. You are not told that you have 0% chance of securing a visa, and the fee is non-refundable.
I hear a lot about how we are a country of laws. What is a greater crime? Crossing the border illegally or fomenting an attempted insurrection? Or being complicit in the attempted insurrection, such as yourself? Have you no decency?
TAXES AND SPENDING
ARE TAXES TOO HIGH OR TOO LOW?
The real concern should be, ”Are we getting enough bang for our buck”. That’s your job, big guy. Defunding the IRS so that the 1%’ers get to keep more is not the answer.
IS AMERICA’S DEBT, WHICH IS APPROACHING $32 TRILLION, A SERIOUS PROBLEM?
Of course it is. What are you doing about it except voting against everything, without regard for a potential future return? Defunding the IRS is not the answer.
EDUCATION
DO YOU THINK PARENTS SHOULD HAVE MORE INPUT IN THEIR CHILDREN’S SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION?
There is a dangerous narrative gaining popularity that says we should ignore racial inequity and white (no pun intended) wash our history because the full story might implant guilt in the little darling’s minds.
Unfortunately, it seems that many parents can’t handle the truth. I’m trusting that the children can. You really can’t fool them forever.
John Ramsey
Chestertown
Maggie Andersen says
That survey was so biased in how the questions were framed that it is meaningless. Any student who submitted such a poor survey in a research methods class would not pass the course. Shame on Harris and his staff for not being smarter if they really want to know what is important to us!
J.T.Smith says
Mr. Ramsey’s cogent and thoughtful response to our lamentable Congressman will doubtless cause him to see the light!
Kathleen Linehan says
Very well said John!! Sure wish he WOULD listen?!$@&!
Stephen Clineburg says
Great letter and a public service to point out Handgun Harris’ hypocrisy. Interesting that i did not get asked to fill out this survey – maybe because I am a registered Democrat. Maybe Andy wants to hear only from his supporters.
Steve Clineburg
St. Michaels
ceres bainbridge says
You can find it on Facebook if you really want to answer it!
Eva M. Smorzaniuk MD says
Also available on line!
Mary Boyles says
Thank you for this. Not unusual to see partisan surveys designed to solicit bias responses, but the Harris survey was particularly egregious.
Howard Freedlander says
Excellent letter, John Ramsey. Suspect that Andy Harris will disregard it and claim it is an outlandish response to his ridiculously slanted and distorted survey. Good on you.
James Wilson says
I laughed when I glanced at his survey … hot button issues that require thoughtful, RATIONAL, answers. As others have stated the utter simplicity of the one line topics is stupefying. I considered it an insult to my intelligence and promptly threw it away.
We now need to ask for the results of the survey, but based on the response to other questions that I have sent to his office, it is a total waste of time. I once sent a question to Mikulski and had answers within 48 hours.
nuff said.
John Scott says
Here Here! Well done John.
Jerry McConnell says
Mr Ramsey has been exceedingly polite and restrained in his response to Rep (TopGun) Harris’ distorted, 5th grade solicitation. There are obviously more voters in this district who are sympathetic to Harris’ extremist views than not; that’s our burden, unfortunately. Notwithstanding enclaves of enlightened folks who think Harris is disgusting, we’re in a rural, mostly white, Christian, relatively under-educated and underachieving district. Sort of like a red stain on a blue carpet; or maybe a pimple on the face of a dignified lady.
How an educated professional could morph into such a stupid, unbalanced, reality-defying, pistol-packin’ political hack is difficult to understand…but it’s testimony to the failed political system in America today.
It’s entirely possible that the staffers who wrote Mr Harris’s rhetorical quiz actually don’t know the answers to the questions. If they understand what Mr Ramsey’s trying to tell them, maybe they will be able to enlighten dumb ol’ Andy on what’s really going on in this country.
William Keppen says
Responding to that survey would be a monumental waste of time, a fool’s errand. Andy will do what Andy always does, regardless of what his detractors say.
Mickey Terrone says
Harris needs to hear it from us and hear it daily and hear it publicly and read it daily in newspapers throughout MD District 1. He needs to read that he is not only a miserable excuse for a House member, he’s a msiserable excuse for an American and the details about why.
Anthony Morris Ellison says
Thank you. Thank you. Well said.
Helen Chappell says
Applause. What he said.
Barbara Cook says
So well said!!!!
Eva M. Smorzaniuk MD says
Thank you Mr. Ramsey! The only surprise was the omission of one question: “ Do you think that law-abiding Americans should have their access to guns restricted?” Although answering these questions is, indeed, a waste of your time, pointing out the truly important issues in the District is vital. I agree with Mr. Terrone that we need to be vocal and vigilant during Harris’ time in office.
Rebecca Ellison says
If memory serves, the ‘constituent survey’ did not ask about, or even mention, the climate emergency. Oops.
Michael Sosler says
Excellent!!! Excellent!!! Would now like to see a legit direct response from Mr. Harris.