Issue #31, November 14, 2018 Contents: • Election Results on The

Issue #31, November 14, 2018

Contents: • Election Results on the Eastern Shore • The Potential Impact of the Election: Issues to Watch • Mid-Term Elections: Visas and Immigration • Eastern Shore Agriculture—Especially Soybeans—Hard Hit by Trade War with China • Thanksgivings Past, Present and Future • Murder at Barclay Meadow: A Review

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Election Results on the Eastern Shore In General Assembly races, Republican incumbent Senators by Peter Heck Steve Hershey (Dist. 36) and Adelaide “Addy” Eckart (Dist. 37) The Nov. 6 election is in the took more than 60% of the vote books, and with all but in their districts. The District 38 provisional ballots and a second Senate race was closer, as round of absentee ballots Republican Mary Beth Carozzo, counted, the results are clear. who moved up from the House While there was undeniably a of Delegates, defeated “blue wave” nationwide, the Democratic incumbent Jim Republican party held its ground Mathias, 52% to 47%. on the Eastern Shore—even overturning a Democratic Republicans also did well in the incumbent in a state Senate House of Delegates races. In race. However, most races on Dist. 36, Republican incumbents the Shore re-elected incumbents, Jay Jacobs (Kent), Steve Arentz regardless of party. (Cecil) and Jeff Ghrist (Caroline) won re-election over Democrats In one of the most significant Kieren Taylor (Caroline), races, Rep. Andrew Harris won Michael Welker (Cecil) and re-election to Maryland’s 1st Crystal Woodward (Queen Congressional District seat. Anne’s), with every Republican District-wide, Harris took just more than 10,000 votes ahead over 60% of the votes, with of the strongest Democratic Democratic challenger Jesse performance. Colvin at 37.8% – pretty much In District 37A, incumbent what polls and pundits predicted. Democrat Sheree Sample- On the Eastern Shore, Colvin Hughes was re-elected over won two counties—Kent and Republican Frank Cooke, scoring Talbot. Kent voted for Colvin an impressive 68% of votes. 54.8% to 44.7% for Harris. District 37B had two Talbot gave Colvin 51% of the Republicans, Christoper Adams vote. In both counties, Colvin (Wicomico) and Johnny Mautz held a strong lead after the (Talbot) win re-election over conclusion of Early Voting. Then Democratic challenger Dan on Election Day, more O’Hare (Wicomico). Republican voters turned out District 38A saw Republican and boosted Harris’s totals, but incumbent Charles J. Otto not enough to take the lead in receive nearly 60% of the votes those two counties. against Democrat Kirkland J.

Common Sense for the Eastern Shore, Issue #31, 11/14/18 2 © 2018 Hall Sr. In District 38B, hard-pressed to win votes on incumbent Carl Anderton was this side of the Bay. Cardin lost unopposed; he scored 94% every Shore county except Kent against assorted write-ins. And and Wicomico, although he lost in District 38C, Republican Dorchester by only a handful of Wayne A. Hartman captured the votes. And Frosh took only Kent seat vacated by Del. Carozzo for County on the Shore, though as her successful Senate run, with Cardin, his totals in the racking up 94% against write- rest of the state were more than ins including fellow Republican sufficient to win him re-election. Ed Tinus, who as of the first round of absentee tallies had Finally, the GOP’s quest to win received exactly no votes. five state Senate seats (“drive for five”) to undercut the Gov. Larry Hogan and Lt. Gov. Democrats’ supermajority in Boyd Rutherford outperformed that house fell short. The two their 56% statewide margin of parties each picked up two state victory in every county on the Senate seats formerly held by Shore, rolling up 70% or more the other, so the status quo was over challengers Ben Jealous maintained. In the House of and Susan Turnbull. For a Delegates, the Democrats added Republican to win a second term five seats, increasing their in one of the bluest states in the majority. And they won multiple Union is a remarkable feat, a county executive elections testimony to Hogan’s personal statewide. So while the “blue popularity and his generally wave” may have missed the moderate positions. Shore, it was a force to be reckoned with in Maryland as a Other statewide races went to whole. The two years between Democratic incumbents by solid now and the next general margins. Senator Ben Cardin, election promise to be Comptroller Peter Franchot and interesting! Attorney General Brian Frosh were all returned to office with ***** more than 60% of the vote. Franchot, whom some have The Potential Impact of the touted as the next Democratic Election: Issues to Watch gubernatorial candidate, rolled up more than 70% in his race. by Al Hammond On the Shore, he took every county except Cecil. Democrats flipped more than 30 seats in the U.S. House of On the other hand, Cardin and Representatives and now control Frosh, both Democrats, were that branch of Congress, and

Common Sense for the Eastern Shore, Issue #31, 11/14/18 3 © 2018 they flipped more than 330 Resources will now be in seats in state legislatures, as Democratic hands, well as adding seven additional bringing leadership governors. (Though not in concerned about (instead Maryland, where Republicans of denying or opposing) held the gubernatorial seat.) climate change and clean Since the House of energy. The House will Representatives initiates all also likely try to rein in funding bills and has oversight the Trump policies of powers to investigate actions of virtually uncontrolled the executive branch, it has mining and oil/natural gas considerable ability to influence drilling on public lands. At government actions and policies. the state level, new Here’s a guide to what might Democratic governors are change as a result of the also concerned about election. climate issues and might add their states to the • Health care was a key climate alliance focused issue in the Democrat’s on limiting greenhouse victory, so the House of gas emissions, in line with Representatives seems the Paris climate treaty. certain to block further • Ethics and Election Republican attempts to do reform. This is also an away with the Affordable announced Democratic Care Act (Obamacare) or priority, so efforts to to undermine protection upgrade ethical standards for pre-existing for the House and conditions. Democrats strengthen procedures for also campaigned on dealing with sexual lowering healthcare costs harassment complaints (especially of prescription seem likely. They also drugs), something may draw attention to President Trump has also widespread state-level endorsed, so changes efforts at voter there are a possibility. The suppression. House will also likely • Oversight. Expect oppose Republican investigations and public attempts to cut Medicare hearings on corrupt and Social Security behavior by Trump- benefits. appointed cabinet officials, • Environment. Control of on Trump policies of House committees family separation at the focused on Science, border, on poor Energy, and Natural performance of federal

Common Sense for the Eastern Shore, Issue #31, 11/14/18 4 © 2018 hurricane recovery efforts, issues that will probably be and on the impact of addressed by the new Trump tariffs on Democratic House majority. agriculture and other industries. “Dreamers” are the people who • Taxes. The Democratic were brought to the United House is likely to oppose States as children by any more tax cuts that undocumented aliens, usually favor wealthy individuals, by their parents. Most are now major industries, or adults. The protections afforded specific companies. them by the Obama • Gun Control. Major Administration were largely changes seem unlikely, removed by its successor. There but the House may has been no permanent propose more complete resolution to their future. screening before gun Maryland is home to purchases. approximately 9,000, while the Eastern Shore hosts some 800 ***** dreamers.

Mid-Term Elections: Visas General immigration attitudes and Immigration by the Republican Congress and President Trump reduced by Tom Timberman substantially the annual numbers and composition of The recent November 6, 2018 immigrants (permanent resident mid-term elections saw few aliens—green card holders) changes in Maryland’s executive admitted to the US. However, or legislative government. it’s in the area of temporary However, at the national level, worker visas that we can expect the Democratic Party replaced the new Democratic House the Republican majority in the majority to attempt changes. House of Representatives. H1B Visas permit skilled foreign The Trump administration, workers to be temporarily through executive orders and employed by US companies. Congressional actions, has Many of Maryland’s (and substantially affected US visa America’s) high-tech firms have and immigration laws, used these visas extensively. regulations and past procedures. Over the past two years, the And although it’s too early to number of available visas has know with any precision what been cut. The Democrats have this change implies, what traditionally been supportive of follows is a brief summary of Silicon Valley and its interests

Common Sense for the Eastern Shore, Issue #31, 11/14/18 5 © 2018 and will likely press to restore close completely. These closures the larger issuance of H1B visas caused trickle-down effects on for skilled workers. watermen, truckers, other businesses and consumers. The H2A Visas allow foreign new House majority is expected agricultural workers to enter the to restore the number of H2B US and work in American visas to previous levels. This will agriculture and related greatly help the crab industry businesses. The Trump on the Eastern Shore. administration has removed the cap on this program, a decision ***** welcomed by most producers who have relied on these Eastern Shore Agriculture— workers. The regulations are Especially Soybeans—Hard being broadened to include the Hit by Trade War with China hospitality sector. It is doubtful the new majority will address by Jane Jewell this visa. Last winter, before the trade H2B Visas have since the 1980s wars began, US soybeans were allowed low skilled foreign selling at almost $11 a bushel. workers to be employed by a It would surprise many number of Maryland seafood Americans to know that in 2017, processing and related soybeans were the largest US businesses, particularly on the agricultural export, bigger than Eastern Shore. Nationally, on corn or wheat. And China average, some 200,000 visas bought almost 60% of those were issued every year. But in American soybeans. But not 2018, due to changes in Trump anymore. China has retaliated administration immigration and put tariffs on American policies, the number was soybeans in response to the slashed to 66,000 and that tariffs imposed by the Trump quota was already filled by administration on many Chinese February of 2018, causing the products exported to the US. 20 authorized Maryland crab processing firms serious By the end of last week, the problems because they normally price per bushel had dropped to applied for the visas in April. An under $9 for a bushel. In Sept additional 15,000 visas were 2018, soybean exports were issued in early summer, but this down 90% from the same time still left some firms without any last year. Now China is looking or not nearly enough workers. to Brazil, Argentina and other Several crab-processing plants countries for their soybeans. on the Eastern Shore had to The US was already in

Common Sense for the Eastern Shore, Issue #31, 11/14/18 6 © 2018 competition with these other Thanksgivings Past, Present soybean producing countries and Future and now US farmers are losing even more business to them. by Tom Timberman

With approximately 500,000 Those of us who are well acres of soybeans in Maryland, launched into adulthood, even many of them on the Eastern into its older branches, Shore, soybean framers are now remember Thanksgiving Dinners hard-pressed to decide what to past: hazily as a child, impatient do with the crops that they had as a teenager, worried about expected to export to China. impressions as a young adult, Many farmers are storing their nervous as a couple and soybeans, in the hope, exhausted as our own family. especially with the changed The evolution of our attitudes political situation, that trade along the way contain restrictions will be loosened by commonalities but also next summer and prices will rise. uniqueness, because life strikes However, storing soybeans is a us differently at different times. problem. Soybeans are much more difficult to store long-term My mother was an incredible than other crops such as corn. planner, constantly taking on Soybeans are hard to keep dry. responsibility, particularly for They absorb moisture easily and holiday dinners. Basically, all rot quickly. But farmers must the family had to do for many either sell now if they can or years was just show up. She arrange to store the crop and died in October many years ago, hope. and we were startled to realize that she had organized There have also been large Thanksgiving down to the last drops in exports of other detail. It was a very quiet and American crops such as corn, sad Thanksgiving. wheat, sorghum and beef—on all of which China has placed And then there was my wife’s tariffs, generally at 25%. All of and my first Thanksgiving in our this has affected farming on the own home with many guests Eastern Shore, making for lost invited. One of whom locked the income this year and turkey in the oven! By the time uncertainty for the future of we figured out how to open our farming on the Shore. new stove, the turkey had become inedible. There was ***** much laughter, too much to drink, lots to eat, albeit minus the turkey. That was a very loud

Common Sense for the Eastern Shore, Issue #31, 11/14/18 7 © 2018 and definitely happy have each other and tell them Thanksgiving. And so it goes for why. all of us. ***** However, thinking about the “meaning of Thanksgiving,” I Murder at Barclay Meadow: decided it could only be done if A Review you mentally removed food and drink from the refection. That by Jim Block leaves you with people: family and friends. We are created, Wendy Sand Eckel’s Murder at really, to have relationships with Barclay Meadow (Minotaur each other; that’s why we Books, 2015), takes place in a gather those we love and like to small college town, on a river, in celebrate not only holidays, but a rural area, where gossip also major life events: births, travels fast and everyone knows marriage, christenings, everyone. Change comes promotions, achievements, slowly, and the come-heres’ returns, departures, birthdays efforts to find acceptance are and on and on. constant. The town of Cardigan on the Eastern Shore of There are those who are alone Maryland may look familiar to for many reasons on Common Sense readers. But Thanksgiving. And that’s one day, a chicken-necker (a particularly difficult because we “come-here”) from Chevy Chase need special people around us discovers a surprise in the to be happy. So don’t leave marsh grass near her dock. A anyone you know alone on corpse. Female. College-aged. November 22, 2018. With a fancy brand-name backpack. In America, that first “Thanksgiving” was held to Rosalie Hart, the story’s celebrate surviving that first narrator, becomes obsessed year in a new land with those with finding the murderer of the who had also survived along John Adams College student with—so we’re told—the original Megan Johnston. Rose American neighbors. commences her amateur detective work with no help When you come down to it, from local law enforcement and we’re thankful for the people succeeds in exposing the killer who matter to us. And if on this at the end. She, naturally and future Thanksgiving Days, enough, runs into an obstacle or we’re fortunate to have them two, one of which is her come- around us, let’s thank God we here status.

Common Sense for the Eastern Shore, Issue #31, 11/14/18 8 © 2018 from her friends is critical to Rose faces hostility and threats solving the mystery. from the whiskey-breathed local sheriff, whose family has been Eckel’s efforts to make Rose an in the sheriff’s office for three engaging, strong, and generations. He even may have sympathetic hero succeed-- fired a deer-rifle round through more or less. Rose does develop her dining room window during an honest, credible affection a dinner party. If that weren’t (not at all macabre) for the enough, he manhandles, deceased Megan, genuinely harasses, and, without real trying to get justice for cause, arrests her. He also someone who otherwise has no frustrates Rose’s investigation a chance for it. In her quest, by not releasing the police Rose courageously fights her report on the murder. Rhonda, a own legitimate fears. friend of Megan’s family and illicit lover of Megan’s But sometimes as a narrator, stepfather, was hostile towards Rose’s language lacks what and perhaps even jealous of Aristotle calls “ethical appeal,” Megan, enough so that Rhonda the appeal of the speaker’s becomes a suspect, too. College character or personality. One of psychology professor Nick, Rose’s frequent stylistic quirks whose field is human sexuality, is, simply, product placement. is handsome, well-dressed, and The narrator-protagonist’s smooth to the point of slick. He frequent attention to makes moves on Rose that she commercial brands, most often fights to resist. Worse, he may fashion accessories, harms and have murdered his student possibly undercuts Rose’s Megan to cover up an affair with integrity. her. For instance, the dead Megan Rose has allies in her quest to wore a Vera Bradley backpack find justice for Megan. She gets (“doodle daisy” pattern). Rose’s important background and daughter, a Duke student whom moral support from her divorce Rose misses terribly, comes lawyer Tom Bestman (get it?). home with a “doodle daisy” bag, She enrolls in an adult-ed which suggests a connection memoir writing course, but between the living and dead fears she has no life worth daughters. Other women are writing about. However, she and equipped with brand name bags her classmates form, yes, a and other accessories—Michael Facebook-based group to solve Kors, Kate Spade, Chanel, etc. the crime. The help she gets etc. Whatever may be Rose Hart’s feminist fearlessness and

Common Sense for the Eastern Shore, Issue #31, 11/14/18 9 © 2018 courage, her ethical appeal diminishes when she constantly A good detective story should notes these materialistic, have a slam-bang crisis conspicuous-consumption status resolution climax. Murder at signals. Barton Meadow does not disappoint. Rose provokes a In a similar name-dropping way, quick, movie-action climax Eckel, perhaps amusingly to scene, and brings the conflict to Eastern Shore residents, works an end with her resourceful in some genuine Eastern Shore intelligence and self-possession, Identity Themes: “the land of neither of which were much in pleasant living,” Old Bay evidence at the start of her seasoning, locals “who want to adventure. Despite these keep the Eastern Shore the way problems, Murder at Barton it’s always been,” and, not least, Meadow is a fun read set on the “the shit house side of Eastern Shore of Maryland. Maryland”—a description of the Recommended. Shore famously used by a Maryland politician.

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