Out and About (Sort of): Me-Against-Them by Howard Freedlander

I sensed during the run-up to the county council election an uncomfortable undercurrent of me-against-themism. It bothered me.

I found it off-putting, smacking of a bit of class warfare on a small scale.

It struck me that the supporters of councilwoman Jennifer Williams viewed her opposition, namely the Bipartisan Coalition for New Council Leadership, as representing wealthy, waterfront property owners opposed to business-oriented change in Talbot County. An Easton resident for more than 42 years, I see water only when my backyard is flooded.

I supported the Coalition because I was concerned about land use decisions that would destroy the mostly pristine environment that draws people of all socioeconomic levels to our county.

Were change as represented by the planned and yet unfinished community of Waterside Village the norm, I gladly would applaud similar improvements that enhance, in my opinion, our wonderful quality of life.

I digress a bit.

Class warfare, either real or imagined for political matters, achieves very little. It presumes that owners of waterfront property are less concerned about the economic viability of our community than those who think that growth, however executed, represents progress and prosperity.

Hogwash!

Those who wake up to waterfront views, and those who awaken in cozy neighborhoods are similarly concerned about governmental leadership of a county whose beauty and allure are known and appreciated worldwide.

Who in their right mind would want to create a community that devalues the wonderful assets that draw people who simply appreciate beautiful viewscapes, reasonably uncluttered roads and a way of life that values friendly human interaction?

Now, readers, I realize that the bottom line is politics. Political campaigns, particularly as they draw to an end, produce silly and vicious comments. That’s the nature of the game. It won’t change. As the finish line approaches, some candidates believe the end justifies the means.

Dump the trash on the public, and if the voters’ reaction reflects the stink and odor of ridiculous accusations and hurtful innuendo, so be it. It’s the final vote that matters, truth and ethics be damned.

After the election, a small businessman wondered to me if Talbot County faced the prospect of becoming a rich retirement enclave. Admittedly, the average age is 49.4, the median salary is $61,395, the median poverty rate is 10.9 percent and the median house cost is $320,500, according to. Data USA. These figures certainly connote wealth.

As a comparison, in neighboring Caroline County, the median age is 40, the median income is $50,830, the median poverty is 17.1 percent and the median house cost is $192,600.

The figures, however, don’t illustrate the significant engagement of Talbot County residents, evidenced by their personal and financial investment in the economic and cultural strength of our county.

Do town and county residents equally want to preserve our rural character and its human dimension? Of course they do. Are they determined to fight to preserve what they consider special about our part of our Shore? Again, yes.

Change, however, is necessary, though unpleasant at times. Real estate development can’t stop. No community can become static and survive. Business development should be encouraged. Adequate and appropriate housing should be available. All age groups should feel welcomed.

I started out bemoaning the me-against-them comments that underscored the response by some to the relentless effort by the Bipartisan Coalition to unseat Jennifer Williams from the County Council. Her backers resented the criticism of her policies and land use decisions. The Coalition never attacked her personally.

Class warfare is ludicrous. Disagreement about the future direction is not. References to the motives and actions of wealthy, waterfront landowners accomplish nothing but poison the discourse and hamper cooperation.

Elections and the nonsense they sometimes engender thankfully come to an end. Winners celebrate; losers grieve. Rancor diminishes; passion does not. Political wounds take time to heal.

The holiday season awaits us. It’s a good time to embrace a sense of unity.

It’s worth the effort—way beyond December.

Columnist Howard Freedlander retired in 2011 as Deputy State Treasurer of the State of Maryland.  Previously, he was the executive officer of the Maryland National Guard. He  also served as community editor for Chesapeake Publishing, lastly at the Queen Anne’s Record-Observer.  In retirement, Howard serves on the boards of several non-profits on the Eastern Shore, Annapolis and Philadelphia.