CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="en-US"> <head> <meta charset="UTF-8"><meta name="application-name" id="app-name" content="baltimoresun"><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"> <meta name="msvalidate.01" content="4B535F7EB2971D1FCBA5D1D3E3E292C3" /> <title>Opinion</title> <link rel='preload' as='image' fetchpriority='high' href='https://www.baltimoresun.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/baltimoresun.svg' type='image/svg+xml' /> <meta name='robots' content='max-image-preview:large' /> <script type='text/javascript'> /* <![CDATA[ */ var scriptHelpers = {"staticPath":"https:\/\/www.baltimoresun.com\/wp-content\/themes\/assets\/static\/"}; /* ]]> */ </script> <style>body{--primary:#007580;--secondary:#ffea00;--tertiary:#00838f;--primary-light:#00838f;--primary-dark:#0a5962;--primary-darker:#014a52;--subsite-custom:#0097a7;--font-primary:"Noto Serif",Helvetica,serif;--font-secondary:"Noto Sans",Helvetica,sans-serif}:root{--primary:#006fb7;--secondary:#d70000;--tertiary:#ffc518;--primary-lighter:#47b6ff;--primary-light:#0093f5;--primary-dark:#00568f;--primary-darker:#003d66;--site-branding-primary:#00102e;--site-branding-secondary:#233452;--site-branding-tertiary:#3d5268;--site-branding-gray-100:#38322a;--site-branding-gray-200:#5d5b5a;--site-branding-gray-300:#9d9a98;--site-branding-gray-400:#aaa7a4;--site-branding-gray-500:#d7d6d2;--site-branding-gray-600:#f1efeb;--primary-obit:#8d092d;--primary-obit-light:#c00c3d;--secondary-obit:#946c82;--tertiary-obit:#227db4;--quaternary-obit:#b3bc9c}:root{--site-branding-font-family-headers:"Noto Serif",serif;--site-branding-font-family-copy:"Noto Sans",sans-serif;--site-branding-font-style:normal;--site-branding-font-size-copy:0.875rem;--site-branding-font-size-headline:1.812rem;--site-branding-font-size-subheadline:1.125rem}.icon-arrow-down,.icon-hamburger,.icon-home3,.icon-plus,.icon-search,.pushnav .menu-item-has-children:not(.nav-alt-links)>a:before{-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;display:-webkit-box;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;font-family:icomoon;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:400;-webkit-box-pack:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;justify-content:center;line-height:1;speak:none;text-transform:none;-webkit-font-smoothing:antialiased;-moz-osx-font-smoothing:grayscale}.icon-arrow-down:before,.icon-hamburger:before,.icon-home3:before,.icon-plus:before,.icon-search:before,.pushnav .menu-item-has-children:not(.nav-alt-links)>a:before{color:inherit;font-size:inherit}:root{--icon-access-time:"";--icon-amazon:"";--icon-android:"";--icon-appleinc:"";--icon-applepay:"";--icon-arrow-down:"";--icon-arrow-left:"";--icon-arrow-right:"";--icon-arrow-up:"";--icon-attachment:"";--icon-backward2:"";--icon-bell-cross:"";--icon-bell2:"";--icon-bell3:"";--icon-bin:"";--icon-bookmark2:"";--icon-bookmark3:"";--icon-bookmarks:"";--icon-bubble2:"";--icon-bubbles3:"";--icon-calendar-empty:"";--icon-camera:"";--icon-cart-add2:"";--icon-cart-add:"";--icon-cart-remove:"";--icon-cart4:"";--icon-cart5:"";--icon-checkmark3:"";--icon-circle-small:"";--icon-city:"";--icon-close:"";--icon-cog:"";--icon-coin-dollar:"";--icon-comment:"";--icon-content_copy:"";--icon-credit-card2:"󮤢";--icon-dollar:"";--icon-download4:"";--icon-email:"";--icon-enlarge2:"";--icon-enlarge:"";--icon-equalizer2:"";--icon-eye-blocked:"";--icon-eye:"";--icon-facebook:"";--icon-feed:"";--icon-film4:"";--icon-first:"";--icon-floppy-disk:"";--icon-flower2:"";--icon-flower:"";--icon-gift2-share-01:"";--icon-gift2:"";--icon-google-plus:"";--icon-google:"";--icon-graduation:"";--icon-grid2:"";--icon-hamburger:"";--icon-headset:"";--icon-heart3:"";--icon-heart4:"";--icon-home3:"";--icon-info2:"";--icon-info:"";--icon-instagram:"";--icon-ios_share:"";--icon-key:"";--icon-last:"";--icon-library2:"";--icon-library:"";--icon-link:"";--icon-linkedin:"";--icon-location:"";--icon-lock4:"";--icon-magazine:"";--icon-map4:"";--icon-meter-medium:"";--icon-minus:"";--icon-mng-podcast1:"";--icon-mng-podcast:"";--icon-mobile:"";--icon-more2:"";--icon-music5:"";--icon-mute:"";--icon-new-tab:"";--icon-newspaper:"";--icon-next2:"";--icon-next:"";--icon-notification2:"";--icon-notification:"";--icon-office:"";--icon-paperplane:"";--icon-pause2:"";--icon-paypal:"";--icon-pen6:"";--icon-phone2:"";--icon-phone:"";--icon-piggy-bank:"";--icon-pinterest-p:"";--icon-play-arrow:"";--icon-plus:"";--icon-previous2:"";--icon-print:"";--icon-question3:"";--icon-question4:"";--icon-reddit:"";--icon-search:"";--icon-share-alt:"";--icon-share-more:"";--icon-share2:"";--icon-shrink2:"";--icon-shrink7:"";--icon-slideshow:"";--icon-sms:"";--icon-soundcloud:"";--icon-spam:"";--icon-sphere:"";--icon-spotify:"";--icon-stackoverflow:"";--icon-star-empty2:"";--icon-star-empty:"";--icon-star-full:"";--icon-stitcher:"";--icon-stop2:"";--icon-store:"";--icon-stumbleupon:"";--icon-thumbs-down2:"";--icon-thumbs-up2:"";--icon-tree2:"";--icon-tree:"";--icon-tumblr:"";--icon-twitter:"";--icon-unlink:"";--icon-unlocked:"";--icon-upload4:"";--icon-user-minus:"";--icon-user-plus:"";--icon-user4:"";--icon-user:"";--icon-users:"";--icon-vimeo:"";--icon-volume-decrease:"";--icon-volume-high:"";--icon-volume-increase:"";--icon-volume-low:"";--icon-volume-medium:"";--icon-volume-mute:"";--icon-warning2:"";--icon-warning:"";--icon-windows8:"";--icon-x:"";--icon-yelp:"";--icon-youtube:"";--icon-zoom-in2:"";--icon-zoom-out2:"";--icon-book:"";--icon-book3:"e993";--icon-quill3:"";--icon-quill4:"";--icon-google-color:"";--icon-padlock:"";--icon-bluesky:"";--icon-arrow-outline-up:"";--icon-arrow-outline-right:"";--icon-arrow-outline-left:"";--icon-arrow-outline-down:"";--icon-users4:"";--icon-heart-broken2:"";--icon-arrow-up11:"";--icon-arrow-right11:"";--icon-arrow-down11:"";--icon-arrow-left11:""}.icon-arrow-down:before{content:var(--icon-arrow-down)}.icon-hamburger:before{content:var(--icon-hamburger)}.icon-home3:before{content:var(--icon-home3)}.icon-plus:before{content:var(--icon-plus)}.icon-search:before{content:var(--icon-search)}a,article,aside,body,div,figure,form,h1,h2,h3,h4,header,html,i,iframe,img,label,li,nav,p,section,span,time,ul{margin:0;padding:0;border:0;font-size:100%;font:inherit;vertical-align:baseline}article,aside,figure,header,nav,section{display:block}body{line-height:1}ul{list-style:none}button{border:none;background-color:rgba(0,0,0,0);font-size:inherit;appearance:none;-webkit-appearance:none;-moz-appearance:none}#content,.trending-bar .trending-bar-wrapper{max-width:81.25em;margin:0 auto;padding:0 .625rem}html{-webkit-box-sizing:border-box;box-sizing:border-box;font-size:100%}html *,html :after,html :before{-webkit-box-sizing:inherit;box-sizing:inherit}html a{text-decoration:none}body{font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:100%;margin:0;text-shadow:1px 1px 1px rgba(0,0,0,.004);-webkit-font-smoothing:antialiased;-moz-osx-font-smoothing:grayscale}h1{font:normal 600 2.25em/1.1666666667 "Noto Serif",Helvetica,serif}h2{font:normal 600 1.875em/1.0666666667 "Noto Serif",Helvetica,serif}h3{font:normal 600 1.5em/1.1666666667 "Noto Serif",Helvetica,serif}h4{font:normal 600 1.25em/1.2 "Noto Serif",Helvetica,serif}a{color:inherit}img{display:block;height:auto;max-width:100%}body .entry-section{display:none}body,html{-webkit-overflow-scrolling:touch}#page{position:relative;overflow-x:initial;overflow-y:visible}#content{margin-bottom:1em;margin-top:1em}@media (max-width:64.9375em){#content{margin-top:1em}}.feature-small figure{float:left;margin:0 1.25em 0 0;max-width:8.75em}.feature-small header{float:left;width:calc(100% - 160px)}#content:after,.archive-view:after,.site-header:after,.trending-bar .trending-bar-wrapper:after,form:after{clear:both;content:"";display:table}.sr-only{position:absolute;width:1px;height:1px;padding:0;margin:-1px;overflow:hidden;clip:rect(0,0,0,0);white-space:nowrap;border:0}.newsletter-simple a{font:normal 400 .9375em/1.0666666667 Noto Sans,Helvetica,sans-serif;border:1px solid rgba(0,0,0,.15);padding:.75em 1.0625em}.section-title{font:normal 400 1.875em/1 Noto Sans,Helvetica,sans-serif;display:inline-block;margin-bottom:1.0666666667em;text-align:center;text-transform:uppercase;width:100%;overflow:hidden}input[type=text]{border:1px solid #9d9a98;border-radius:0;color:#0a0908;height:30px;padding:.5em .625em}.search-form [class^=icon-]{color:var(--primary);font-size:1em;position:absolute;right:.3125em;top:.4375em}body{background-color:#fff}.feature-section .section-title{font:normal 400 1.25em/1.1 Noto Sans,Helvetica,sans-serif;color:#38322a;display:block;letter-spacing:.035em;margin-bottom:.75em;text-transform:uppercase}.newsletter-simple a{font:normal 600 .9375em/1 Noto Sans,Helvetica,sans-serif;background-color:var(--primary);border-radius:4px;color:#fff;padding:.8125em 1.0625em;text-shadow:0 0 1px var(--primary-dark);text-transform:uppercase}a img{border:none}figure{font-size:1rem}.image-wrapper{height:0;padding-bottom:56.25%;overflow:hidden;position:relative;width:100%}.image-wrapper img{left:0;position:absolute;top:0;width:100%}.subscriber-only-tag{background-color:var(--primary-dark);color:#fff;font-family:Source Sans Pro,Helvetica,sans-serif!important;font-size:13px!important;line-height:22.652px!important;padding:0 5px;text-transform:uppercase;display:block!important;clear:both!important;width:-webkit-max-content!important;width:-moz-max-content!important;width:max-content!important;margin:auto auto 3px 0}.trending-bar nav ul li a .dfm-title.premium:before{display:none}.archive-view>*{margin-bottom:.5em}.archive-view>:last-child{margin-bottom:0}.archive-view h3,.archive-view h4{margin-top:0}.archive-view header{margin-bottom:.25em}.archive-view time{font:normal 400 .75em/1.5 Noto Sans,Helvetica,sans-serif;vertical-align:top;color:#5d5b5a;white-space:nowrap}.archive-view figure{display:block;position:relative}.archive-view .excerpt{font:normal 400 1em/1.375 Noto Sans,Helvetica,sans-serif}.headline-only{position:relative}.headline-only>:last-child{margin-bottom:1em}.feature-large figure{margin-bottom:.5em;width:100%}.feature-small figure{width:8.75em;height:-webkit-fit-content;height:-moz-fit-content;height:fit-content}.footer-menus a{color:#000}.site-footer .menu-item-has-children .expander{position:absolute;display:none;top:0;right:0;width:2.9375em;height:2.9375em;text-align:center;z-index:5}.site-footer .menu-item-has-children .expander a{position:relative;display:inline-block;line-height:3;vertical-align:middle}@media (max-width:39.9375em){.site-footer .menu-item-has-children .expander{display:block}}.dfm-site-info .colophon ul{-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;display:-webkit-inline-box;display:-ms-inline-flexbox;display:inline-flex;margin-top:1.25em}@media (max-width:49.9375em){.dfm-site-info .colophon ul{display:-webkit-box;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-ms-flex-wrap:wrap;flex-wrap:wrap}}.dfm-site-info .colophon .footer-flex-menu-wrap ul{display:contents;margin:0 auto 0 0;padding:0;width:auto}.site-header{background-color:#fff;position:relative}.site-header .input-wrapper{display:-webkit-box;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-box-pack:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;justify-content:center;height:100%;width:95%;margin:0 auto}.site-header #search-bar{background:#fff;position:absolute;right:0;-webkit-box-shadow:0 3px 3px rgba(0,0,0,.25);box-shadow:0 3px 3px rgba(0,0,0,.25);border-top:2px solid rgba(0,0,0,.5);display:none;height:4rem;margin:4rem auto;z-index:100;width:100%}.site-header #search-bar input[type=text]{width:92%;padding:1.3em .3em;outline:none;font-size:.9375em}@media (max-width:49.9375em){.site-header #search-bar input[type=text]{font-size:1rem}}.site-header .search-button-container{width:5%;display:-webkit-box;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-box-pack:end;-ms-flex-pack:end;justify-content:flex-end}.site-header .search-button-container .search-button{width:75px;font-size:.9375rem;font-weight:600;color:#fff;background:var(--primary);border-radius:5px;-webkit-box-pack:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;justify-content:center;margin:0 auto}.site-header .icon-search,.site-header .search-button-container .search-button{height:2rem;display:-webkit-box;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center}.site-header .icon-search{color:#0a0908;font-size:1.2rem;-webkit-box-pack:start;-ms-flex-pack:start;justify-content:flex-start;position:relative;top:0}@media (min-width:65em){.site-header{height:auto}}.nav-wrapper-primary{border-bottom:1px solid #9d9a98}.nav-wrapper-primary .nav-primary-bottom,.nav-wrapper-primary .nav-primary-middle,.nav-wrapper-primary .nav-primary-top{max-width:95%;margin:0 auto}@media (max-width:79.9375em){.nav-wrapper-primary .nav-wrapper-secondary{max-width:79.9375em}}.nav-wrapper-primary .accuweather-wrap{-webkit-box-ordinal-group:2;-ms-flex-order:1;order:1;width:33%;-ms-flex-item-align:center;align-self:center;padding:.9375rem}.nav-wrapper-primary .accuweather-wrap,.nav-wrapper-primary .accuweather-wrap .weather-date{display:-webkit-box;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex}.nav-wrapper-primary .accuweather-wrap .weather-date .dfm_accuweather_current_conditions{display:-webkit-box;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-ms-flex-item-align:center;align-self:center}.nav-wrapper-primary .accuweather-wrap .weather-date .dfm_accuweather_current_conditions a{display:-webkit-box;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex}.nav-wrapper-primary .accuweather-wrap .weather-date span{font-size:1em;font-weight:700;position:relative;color:#0a0908}.nav-wrapper-primary .accuweather-wrap .weather-date i{font-size:1.65rem}.nav-wrapper-primary .accuweather-wrap .weather-date .date{margin-left:.8em;font:normal 600 .9375em/1.0666666667 Noto Sans,Helvetica,sans-serif;color:#0a0908}.nav-wrapper-primary .accuweather-wrap .weather-date .date .e-edition{font-size:.8em;font-weight:500;margin-top:5.5%;color:#0a0908}.nav-wrapper-primary .nav-primary-top{display:-webkit-box;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:4em;-webkit-box-orient:horizontal;-webkit-box-direction:normal;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row}.nav-wrapper-primary .nav-primary-top .pushnav-flex-wrapper{-webkit-box-ordinal-group:2;-ms-flex-order:1;order:1;width:33%}@media (max-width:49.9375em){.nav-wrapper-primary .nav-primary-top .pushnav-flex-wrapper{width:23%}}.nav-wrapper-primary .nav-primary-top .accuweather-wrap{padding:0 15px 5px;width:100%;display:none}@media (max-width:64.9375em){.nav-wrapper-primary .nav-primary-top .accuweather-wrap{display:block}}.nav-wrapper-primary .nav-primary-top .digisubs-wrapper{-webkit-box-ordinal-group:4;-ms-flex-order:3;order:3;width:30%;display:-webkit-box;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-box-pack:end;-ms-flex-pack:end;justify-content:flex-end}.nav-wrapper-primary .nav-primary-top .digisubs-wrapper .icon-arrow-down{font-size:.7em;padding-left:5px}@media (max-width:49.9375em){.nav-wrapper-primary .nav-primary-top .digisubs-wrapper{width:20%}}.nav-wrapper-primary .nav-primary-top .digisubs-wrapper .digisubs-pushmenu{display:none}@media (max-width:64.9375em){.nav-wrapper-primary .nav-primary-top .digisubs-wrapper .digisubs-pushmenu{display:block}.nav-wrapper-primary .nav-primary-top .digisubs-wrapper .digisubs-pushmenu #mng-icon-image{display:-webkit-box;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex}.nav-wrapper-primary .nav-primary-top .digisubs-wrapper .digisubs-pushmenu .wrapper-nav-subs{height:calc(100vh - 64px);width:300px}.nav-wrapper-primary .nav-primary-top .digisubs-wrapper .digisubs-pushmenu .wrapper-nav-subs .border-container{min-height:65vh}.nav-wrapper-primary .nav-primary-top .digisubs-wrapper .digisubs-pushmenu .wrapper-nav-subs .border-container #push-account-content{margin:.75rem auto;width:230px;display:none}.nav-wrapper-primary .nav-primary-top .digisubs-wrapper .digisubs-pushmenu .wrapper-nav-subs .border-container #push-account-content .show-digisubs-push{display:grid;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center}.nav-wrapper-primary .nav-primary-top .digisubs-wrapper .digisubs-pushmenu .wrapper-nav-subs .border-container .menu-item{height:3.5em}.nav-wrapper-primary .nav-primary-top .digisubs-wrapper .digisubs-pushmenu .subscribe-special.custom-button>a{width:230px;font:normal 600 .9375em/1.7333333333 Noto Sans,Helvetica,sans-serif;color:#fff;background:var(--primary);border-radius:5px;display:-webkit-box;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;-webkit-box-direction:normal;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-box-pack:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;justify-content:center;padding:.875rem .625rem;margin:.75rem auto}}.nav-wrapper-primary .nav-primary-top .digisubs-wrapper .digisubs-wrapper-large{display:-webkit-box;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center}.nav-wrapper-primary .nav-primary-top .digisubs-wrapper .digisubs-wrapper-large #dfm-digisubs-menu{display:-webkit-box;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-box-pack:end;-ms-flex-pack:end;justify-content:flex-end}@media (max-width:64.9375em){.nav-wrapper-primary .nav-primary-top .digisubs-wrapper .digisubs-wrapper-large #dfm-digisubs-menu{display:none}}.nav-wrapper-primary .nav-primary-top .digisubs-wrapper .digisubs-wrapper-large #dfm-digisubs-menu .subscribe-special.custom-button>a{width:8em;display:block;margin-left:1em;background-color:var(--primary-dark);color:#fff;text-align:center;font:normal 600 .9375em/1.7333333333 Noto Sans,Helvetica,sans-serif;padding:7% 5%;border-radius:4px}.nav-wrapper-primary .nav-primary-top .search-icon-wrapper{-webkit-box-ordinal-group:5;-ms-flex-order:4;order:4;width:4%;display:-webkit-box;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-box-pack:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;justify-content:center;padding:.9375rem}.nav-wrapper-primary .nav-primary-middle{display:-webkit-box;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;min-height:5em;-webkit-box-orient:horizontal;-webkit-box-direction:normal;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row}@media (max-width:64.9375em){.nav-wrapper-primary .nav-primary-middle{display:none}}.nav-wrapper-primary .nav-primary-middle .sponsorship-ad-wrapper{width:33%;-webkit-box-ordinal-group:4;-ms-flex-order:3;order:3;-ms-flex-item-align:center;align-self:center;-webkit-box-pack:end;-ms-flex-pack:end;justify-content:flex-end;display:-webkit-box;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex}.nav-wrapper-primary .nav-primary-bottom{display:-webkit-box;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:3em;-webkit-box-orient:horizontal;-webkit-box-direction:normal;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;width:100%;-webkit-box-pack:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;justify-content:center}@media (max-width:64.9375em){.nav-wrapper-primary .nav-primary-bottom{display:none}}.nav-primary .menu{-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;display:-webkit-box;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:100%}@media (max-width:64.9375em){.nav-primary .menu{-webkit-box-pack:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;justify-content:center}}.nav-primary .menu>li{margin-right:1.5625em;font-size:1rem}@media (max-width:64.9375em){.nav-primary .menu>li{border-right:1px solid #fff}.nav-primary .menu>li:last-child{border:none}}.nav-primary .menu>li>a{font:normal 700 1em/1 Noto Sans,Helvetica,sans-serif;display:block}@media (max-width:64.9375em){.nav-primary .menu>li>a{border:none;display:inline-block;font-weight:700;padding-right:.625em}}.nav-primary li{display:inline-block}.nav-primary a{color:#0a0908;text-decoration:none}.pushnav::-webkit-scrollbar{display:none}.pushnav{overflow:hidden;height:4em}@media (max-width:64.9375em){.pushnav{width:50px}}.pushnav.digisubs-toggle{display:-webkit-box;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;height:4rem;padding:.9375rem 0 .9375rem .9375rem;-webkit-box-pack:end;-ms-flex-pack:end;justify-content:flex-end}.pushnav .log-out-button{visibility:hidden}.pushnav .menu-toggle{display:-webkit-box;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;height:4rem;padding:.9375rem;width:-webkit-fit-content;width:-moz-fit-content;width:fit-content}.pushnav .menu-toggle .icon-hamburger{padding-right:.25rem}.pushnav .menu-toggle .menu-label{font:normal 600 .9375em/1.0666666667 Noto Sans,Helvetica,sans-serif;padding-left:.25rem;color:#0a0908}@media (max-width:64.9375em){.pushnav .menu-toggle .menu-label{display:none}}.pushnav .menu{font:normal 600 .9375em/1.0666666667 Noto Sans,Helvetica,sans-serif;background-color:#fff}.pushnav .wrapper-nav{height:calc(100% - 64px);height:-moz-calc(100% - 64px);width:300px}.pushnav .border-container{border-bottom:1px solid #0a0908;padding:.75rem 0 3rem}.pushnav .top-pushnav-container .subscribe-button{font:normal 600 .9375em/1.0666666667 Noto Sans,Helvetica,sans-serif;color:#fff;background:var(--primary);border-radius:4px;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;-webkit-box-direction:normal;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;-webkit-box-pack:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;justify-content:center;padding:.875rem .625rem;margin:.75rem auto}.pushnav .top-pushnav-container .home-link,.pushnav .top-pushnav-container .subscribe-button{width:230px;display:-webkit-box;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center}.pushnav .top-pushnav-container .home-link{padding:.75rem .625rem;height:2.25rem;-webkit-box-pack:start;-ms-flex-pack:start;justify-content:flex-start}.pushnav .top-pushnav-container .home-link span{font:normal 600 .9375em/1.0666666667 Noto Sans,Helvetica,sans-serif;padding-left:.75rem}.pushnav li>a{display:block;width:100%;padding:.9375em;color:#0a0908;height:3.25rem}.pushnav .menu-item-has-children:not(.nav-alt-links){overflow:hidden;position:relative}.pushnav .menu-item-has-children:not(.nav-alt-links)>a{display:inline-block;position:relative;width:100%;z-index:5}.pushnav .menu-item-has-children:not(.nav-alt-links)>a:before{-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;color:#0a0908;content:"";display:-webkit-box;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;font-size:.5625em;height:100%;width:100%;-webkit-box-pack:end;-ms-flex-pack:end;justify-content:flex-end;padding-right:.9375em;position:absolute;top:0;right:0}.pushnav .menu-item-has-children:not(.nav-alt-links)>ul{position:relative;background-color:#fff;-webkit-transform:scaleY(1);-ms-transform:scaleY(1);transform:scaleY(1);z-index:4;margin-top:-6px}.pushnav .newsletter-item{display:-webkit-box;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;-webkit-box-direction:normal;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-box-pack:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;justify-content:center;margin:1em 0;font:normal 600 .9375em/1.7333333333 Noto Sans,Helvetica,sans-serif}.pushnav .newsletter-item .prompt{text-align:center}.pushnav .newsletter-item .sign-up-button{letter-spacing:normal;text-transform:capitalize;height:2rem;width:230px;font:normal 600 .9375em/1.0666666667 Noto Sans,Helvetica,sans-serif;color:#fff;background:var(--primary);border-radius:4px;display:-webkit-box;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;-webkit-box-direction:normal;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-box-pack:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;justify-content:center;padding:1.2rem 1rem}.trending-bar{float:left;position:relative;font-family:Noto Sans,Helvetica,sans-serif;width:100%}@media (max-width:64.9375em){.trending-bar{position:absolute;display:none;top:7.3125em;left:0;margin:0;z-index:7}}.trending-bar nav{width:100%;padding-left:5.625em;display:inline-block;float:left}@media (max-width:64.9375em){.trending-bar nav{padding-left:0}}.trending-bar ul{list-style:none;float:left;width:100%;overflow:hidden}@media (min-width:65em){.trending-bar ul{-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;display:-webkit-box;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-ms-flex-pack:distribute;justify-content:space-around}}@media (max-width:64.9375em){.trending-bar ul{width:100%;height:auto;overflow:visible}}@media (max-width:64.9375em){.trending-bar li{display:block;float:none;line-height:1.25;margin:0}.trending-bar li:last-child a{border:none}}.trending-bar a{text-decoration:none}@media (max-width:64.9375em){.trending-bar a{border-bottom:1px solid #aaa7a4;color:#0a0908;display:block;font-size:.9375em;padding:1em}}.trending-bar .trending-bar-wrapper>p{position:absolute;top:.1875em;font-weight:800;line-height:1.875em}@media (max-width:64.9375em){.trending-bar .trending-bar-wrapper{padding:0}}@media (max-width:64.9375em){.trending-bar .label{display:none}}.logo{display:inline-block;font-size:1rem;position:relative}.logo a{overflow:hidden;text-indent:-9999px}.logo.custom-logo img{margin:0 auto;max-height:3em;width:100%;-o-object-fit:contain;object-fit:contain}.logo.custom-logo a{background-image:none}.newsletter-simple{position:relative}.dfp-ad{height:auto;width:100%;overflow:auto}.dfp-ad.dfp-interstitial{height:1px;width:1px}.dfp-ad.dfp-top_leaderboard{margin-left:0!important;padding:0!important;clear:both;top:inherit!important}@media screen and (min-width:300px){.dfp-ad.dfp-top_leaderboard{min-height:50px}}@media screen and (min-width:750px){.dfp-ad.dfp-top_leaderboard{min-height:90px}}@media screen and (min-width:1000px){.dfp-ad.dfp-top_leaderboard{background-color:#fff;min-height:250px;width:100%;display:-webkit-box;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-box-pack:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;justify-content:center;margin-bottom:1em}}@media (max-width:750px){.header-banners{-webkit-box-sizing:content-box;box-sizing:content-box;left:-10px;padding:0 10px;position:relative}}.search-form{display:inline-block;position:relative;width:100%}@media (max-width:64.9375em){.search-form{padding:.625em}}.search-form.header-search{clear:both;margin:0 auto}.search-form.header-search input[type=text]{font:normal 400 1.125em/1.2222222222 Noto Sans,Helvetica,sans-serif;height:3.0555555556em;width:100%}.search-form.header-search{height:3.75em}.search-form.header-search input[type=text]{height:100%}.search-form.header-search{display:none;height:2.5em;margin-top:.625em;position:absolute;right:.625em;width:10.9375em;z-index:1}@media (min-width:65em){.search-form.header-search{display:block}}.category aside>*{margin-bottom:2em}.category aside>:last-child{margin-bottom:0}@media (min-width:80em){.category aside{width:calc(25% - 15px);width:calc(25% - .94rem)}}@media (min-width:65em)and (max-width:79.9375em){.category aside{width:calc(30.76923% - 14px);width:calc(30.76923% - .87rem)}}@media (min-width:50em)and (max-width:64.9375em){.category aside{width:100%}}@media (min-width:40em)and (max-width:49.9375em){.category aside{width:100%}}@media (min-width:20em)and (max-width:39.9375em){.category aside{width:100%}}.homepage>*,.section>*{margin-bottom:2em}.archive-view{display:-webkit-box;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;font-size:1rem;-webkit-box-pack:justify;-ms-flex-pack:justify;justify-content:space-between;position:relative}.archive-view header{width:100%}.archive-view .article-info{display:inline-block;margin-bottom:0}.archive-view .entry-meta{display:inline}.archive-view .excerpt{font:400 .9375rem/1.4 Noto Sans,Helvetica,sans-serif;margin-bottom:.5em;color:#38322a}.feature-section .feature-large{border-bottom:1px solid #d7d6d2;padding-bottom:1em;text-align:left;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;-webkit-box-direction:normal;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-wrap:wrap;flex-wrap:wrap}@media (min-width:40em)and (max-width:49.9375em){.feature-section .feature-large{-webkit-box-orient:horizontal;-webkit-box-direction:normal;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row}}@media (min-width:80em){.feature-section .feature-large{-webkit-box-orient:horizontal;-webkit-box-direction:normal;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row}}.feature-section .feature-large>figure{display:none;-webkit-box-ordinal-group:2;-ms-flex-order:1;order:1}@media (min-width:40em)and (max-width:49.9375em){.feature-section .feature-large>figure{width:calc(50% - 10px);width:calc(50% - .63rem)}}@media (min-width:80em){.feature-section .feature-large>figure{width:calc(56.25% - 9px);width:calc(56.25% - .55rem)}}@media (min-width:40em)and (max-width:49.9375em){.feature-section .feature-large>figure{display:block}}@media (min-width:80em){.feature-section .feature-large>figure{display:block}}.feature-section .feature-large header .entry-title{font:normal 700 1.5625em/1.16 "Noto Serif",Helvetica,serif;letter-spacing:-.03em;margin-bottom:.3636363636em}@media (min-width:40em){.feature-section .feature-large header .entry-title{font-size:1.8125em;line-height:1.13}}@media (min-width:40em)and (max-width:49.9375em){.feature-section .feature-large>.article-info{width:calc(50% - 10px);width:calc(50% - .63rem)}}@media (min-width:80em){.feature-section .feature-large>.article-info{width:calc(43.75% - 12px);width:calc(43.75% - .71rem)}}@media (min-width:40em)and (max-width:49.9375em){.feature-section .feature-large>.article-info figure{display:none}}@media (min-width:80em){.feature-section .feature-large>.article-info figure{display:none}}.feature-section .feature-large .excerpt{font:normal 400 .9375em/1.2666666667 Noto Sans,Helvetica,sans-serif;margin-bottom:1em}@media (max-width:64.9375em){.logo.custom-logo a img{-webkit-filter:unset!important;filter:unset!important}}.feature-small.section-feature-small h3,.feature-small h3.entry-title{font:normal 600 1.125em/1.2222222222 "Noto Serif",Helvetica,serif}.feature-section{display:-webkit-box;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-box-pack:justify;-ms-flex-pack:justify;justify-content:space-between}@media (max-width:49.9375em){.feature-section{-webkit-box-orient:vertical;-webkit-box-direction:normal;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column}}.feature-section .section-title{font:normal 700 1.875em/1.0666666667 Noto Sans,Helvetica,sans-serif;border-bottom:4px solid var(--primary);padding-bottom:.3125em;text-align:left}@media (min-width:65em){.feature-section .section-title{display:none}}.feature-section .feature-wrapper{display:-webkit-box;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-box-orient:horizontal;-webkit-box-direction:normal;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-wrap:wrap;flex-wrap:wrap;-webkit-box-pack:justify;-ms-flex-pack:justify;justify-content:space-between;margin:0 1.25em 2em 0}@media (min-width:80em){.feature-section .feature-wrapper{width:calc(75% - 5px);width:calc(75% - .32rem)}}@media (min-width:65em)and (max-width:79.9375em){.feature-section .feature-wrapper{width:calc(61.53846% - 8px);width:calc(61.53846% - .49rem)}}@media (min-width:50em)and (max-width:64.9375em){.feature-section .feature-wrapper{width:calc(60% - 8px);width:calc(60% - .5rem)}}@media (min-width:40em)and (max-width:49.9375em){.feature-section .feature-wrapper{width:100%}}@media (min-width:20em)and (max-width:39.9375em){.feature-section .feature-wrapper{width:100%}}.feature-section .archive-view{-ms-flex-wrap:wrap;flex-wrap:wrap}.feature-section .archive-view>:last-child{margin-bottom:0}.feature-section .feature-top{border-bottom:1px solid #d7d6d2;display:-webkit-box;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-box-pack:justify;-ms-flex-pack:justify;justify-content:space-between;margin-bottom:1.5em;width:100%}@media (max-width:64.9375em){.feature-section .feature-top{-webkit-box-orient:vertical;-webkit-box-direction:normal;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column}}.feature-section .feature-top .feature-large{border-bottom:0}@media (min-width:80em){.feature-section .feature-top .feature-large{width:calc(68.75% - 7px);width:calc(68.75% - .4rem)}}@media (min-width:65em)and (max-width:79.9375em){.feature-section .feature-top .feature-large{width:calc(61.53846% - 8px);width:calc(61.53846% - .49rem)}}@media (min-width:50em)and (max-width:64.9375em){.feature-section .feature-top .feature-large{width:100%}}@media (min-width:40em)and (max-width:49.9375em){.feature-section .feature-top .feature-large{width:100%}}@media (min-width:20em)and (max-width:39.9375em){.feature-section .feature-top .feature-large{width:100%}}.feature-section .feature-right{display:-webkit-box;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-box-pack:start;-ms-flex-pack:start;justify-content:flex-start;min-height:0}@media (min-width:80em){.feature-section .feature-right{width:calc(31.25% - 14px);width:calc(31.25% - .86rem)}}@media (min-width:65em)and (max-width:79.9375em){.feature-section .feature-right{width:calc(38.46154% - 13px);width:calc(38.46154% - .77rem)}}@media (min-width:50em)and (max-width:64.9375em){.feature-section .feature-right{width:100%}}@media (min-width:40em)and (max-width:49.9375em){.feature-section .feature-right{width:100%}}@media (min-width:20em)and (max-width:39.9375em){.feature-section .feature-right{width:100%}}@media (max-width:39.9375em){.feature-section .feature-right{-webkit-box-orient:vertical;-webkit-box-direction:normal;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column}}@media (min-width:65em){.feature-section .feature-right{-webkit-box-orient:vertical;-webkit-box-direction:normal;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;padding:0 1em}}@media (min-width:40em)and (max-width:64.9375em){.feature-section .feature-right{-webkit-box-pack:justify;-ms-flex-pack:justify;justify-content:space-between}}.feature-section .feature-right .feature-small{-ms-flex-wrap:wrap;flex-wrap:wrap;margin-bottom:1em;width:100%}@media (min-width:40em)and (max-width:64.9375em){.feature-section .feature-right .feature-small{width:calc(50% - .625em)}}.feature-section .feature-right .feature-small figure{width:100%}.feature-section .dfp-ad{-webkit-box-flex:0;-ms-flex:0 0 18.75em;flex:0 0 18.75em;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;margin-top:3.75em}#content .obit-article-search-result .obit-card-essential-info-container{height:-webkit-fit-content;height:-moz-fit-content;height:fit-content;grid-area:essential-info}#content .obit-article-search-result .article-info{height:-webkit-fit-content;height:-moz-fit-content;height:fit-content;grid-area:additional-info}.colophon ul{display:-webkit-box;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-ms-flex-wrap:wrap;flex-wrap:wrap;-webkit-box-pack:start;-ms-flex-pack:start;justify-content:flex-start;margin:0 auto;padding:1.25em .625em;width:100%}.site-footer .footer-menus>.menu-item .expander,.site-footer .menu-item-has-children .expander{position:static;width:50%}.site-footer .footer-menus>.menu-item .expander a,.site-footer .menu-item-has-children .expander a{-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;display:-webkit-box;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:100%;-webkit-box-pack:end;-ms-flex-pack:end;justify-content:flex-end;padding-right:5%}.site-footer .footer-menus>.menu-item .expander a:before,.site-footer .menu-item-has-children .expander a:before{display:none}.site-footer .footer-menus>.menu-item .expander a:after,.site-footer .menu-item-has-children .expander a:after{content:"";border-color:#aaa7a4 rgba(0,0,0,0) rgba(0,0,0,0);border-style:solid;border-width:7px 5px;margin:.3em 0 0 .25em}.header-placeholder{display:none}@media (max-width:64.9375em){.header-placeholder{height:4rem}}@media (min-width:65em){.header-placeholder{height:14rem}}.site-header{background-color:rgba(0,0,0,0)}.hidden-logo{-webkit-box-ordinal-group:3;-ms-flex-order:2;order:2;width:33%;-ms-flex-item-align:center;align-self:center}@media (max-width:49.9375em){.hidden-logo{width:53%}}.logo{-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;display:-webkit-box;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-box-pack:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;justify-content:center}@media (max-width:64.9375em){.logo{width:100%}}@media (max-width:64.9375em){.logo a{display:grid;place-items:center}}.section-header{font:normal 700 2.5em/.5 "Noto Serif",Helvetica,serif;color:var(--primary);text-align:center;overflow-wrap:break-word;line-height:1em;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto}@media (max-width:64.9375em){.nav-primary{overflow:visible}}.nav-primary .menu{padding:0}@media (max-width:64.9375em){.nav-primary .menu{-webkit-box-pack:end;-ms-flex-pack:end;justify-content:flex-end}}.nav-primary .menu>li{margin:0}@media (max-width:64.9375em){.nav-primary .menu>li{border:0}}.nav-primary .menu>li>a{font:normal 600 .9375em/1.7333333333 Noto Sans,Helvetica,sans-serif;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;display:-webkit-box;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex}@media (max-width:64.9375em){.nav-primary .menu>li>a{padding-left:.625em}}@media (max-width:79.9375em){.nav-primary .menu>li>a{font-size:.9375em}}@media (min-width:65em)and (max-width:79.9375em){.nav-primary .menu>li>a{padding:0 1.28vw}}@media (min-width:80em){.nav-primary .menu>li>a{padding:0 .8823529412em}}.nav-primary .menu>li:last-child>a{border-right:0}@media (min-width:65em)and (max-width:79.9375em){.nav-primary .menu>li:first-child>a{padding-left:.7142857143em}}@media (min-width:80em){.nav-primary .menu>li:first-child>a{padding-left:.5555555556em}}.pushnav li>a{font:normal 600 .9375em/1.0666666667 Noto Sans,Helvetica,sans-serif;background:#fff}.pushnav .menu-item{height:2.5em;background:#fff}.pushnav .menu-item>a{height:2.8888888889em}.pushnav .menu-item>ul a{font:normal 600 .9375em/1.0666666667 Noto Sans,Helvetica,sans-serif;margin-left:1rem}.trending-bar{width:100vw}@media (min-width:65em)and (max-width:79.9375em){.trending-bar{width:calc(100vw - 1.25em);left:.625em}}.trending-bar nav{float:none;padding:.5em 0}@media (min-width:65em){.trending-bar ul{-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;display:-webkit-box;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-ms-flex-wrap:wrap;flex-wrap:wrap;height:1.125em;-webkit-box-pack:start;-ms-flex-pack:start;justify-content:flex-start;overflow:hidden}}.trending-bar li{line-height:1.15;padding-right:1.5625em;position:relative}.trending-bar a{color:#38322a;font-family:Noto Sans,Helvetica,sans-serif}.trending-bar .trending-bar-wrapper p,.trending-bar a{font-size:.9375em}.trending-bar .trending-bar-wrapper{-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;display:-webkit-box;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;padding:0 .3125em}@media (min-width:80em){.trending-bar .trending-bar-wrapper{max-width:80em}}.trending-bar .trending-bar-wrapper>p{color:var(--primary-dark);display:block;font-size:.875em;padding-right:1.5625em;position:static;text-transform:uppercase;min-width:130px;white-space:nowrap}.newsletter-simple a{display:inline-block}.newsletter-simple .newsletter-item{border-bottom:1px solid #fff;padding-bottom:1em}@media (max-width:64.9375em){.newsletter-simple .newsletter-item{padding:1em 0}}.prompt{font:normal 700 .9375em/1.0666666667 Noto Sans,Helvetica,sans-serif;color:#0a0908;margin-bottom:.75rem;position:relative;width:100%}.search-form.header-search{margin-top:0}.search-form.header-search input[type=text]{border:none;background-color:#fff;font-size:.9375em;padding:.75em}@media (min-width:65em){.section-title{display:none}}.feature-section .primary-related-title{font:normal 600 .75em/1.25 "Noto Serif",Helvetica,serif;border-bottom:1px solid #aaa7a4;color:#5d5b5a;margin-bottom:.75em;padding-bottom:.25em;text-align:left}.feature-section .primary-related{list-style:disc;list-style-position:outside;margin-left:1rem;text-align:left;font-size:.625em}.feature-section .primary-related article{display:-webkit-inline-box;display:-ms-inline-flexbox;display:inline-flex}.feature-section .primary-related li{margin-bottom:.4375em;position:relative}.feature-section .primary-related li a{font:normal 600 .875em/1.1428571429 "Noto Serif",Helvetica,serif;letter-spacing:-.01em;display:inline}.feature-section .primary-related li time{display:inline;line-height:1.875em;font-size:.6875em;margin-top:.125em}.feature-section .primary-related time{font:normal 400 .75em/1.5 Noto Sans,Helvetica,sans-serif;color:#5d5b5a}.feature-section .primary-related .headline-only .entry-title{font-size:.875em;line-height:1.357142857}@media (max-width:64.9375em){.feature-small{border-bottom:1px solid #aaa7a4;margin-bottom:1em;padding-bottom:1em}}.feature-right .feature-small figure{max-width:100%}</style> <link rel='dns-prefetch' href='//cmp.osano.com' /> <link rel='dns-prefetch' href='//htlbid.com' /> <link rel='dns-prefetch' href='//ajax.googleapis.com' /> <link rel='dns-prefetch' href='//s.ntv.io' /> <link rel='dns-prefetch' href='//d250.baltimoresun.com' /> <link rel='dns-prefetch' href='//embed.sendtonews.com' /> <link rel='dns-prefetch' href='//stats.wp.com' /> <link rel='dns-prefetch' href='//cdn.jsdelivr.net' /> <link rel='dns-prefetch' href='//fonts.googleapis.com' /> <link rel='dns-prefetch' href='//v0.wordpress.com' /> <link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="Baltimore Sun » Feed" href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/feed/" /> <link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="Baltimore Sun » Comments Feed" href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/comments/feed/" /> <link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="Baltimore Sun » Opinion Category Feed" href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/opinion/feed/" /> <link rel='canonical' href='https://www.baltimoresun.com/opinion/'><meta name='description' content='Opinion pieces in the Baltimore Sun, including columns, editorials and op-eds' /> <script> window._wpemojiSettings = {"baseUrl":"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/15.0.3\/72x72\/","ext":".png","svgUrl":"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/15.0.3\/svg\/","svgExt":".svg","source":{"concatemoji":"https:\/\/www.baltimoresun.com\/wp-includes\/js\/wp-emoji-release.min.js?ver=6.6.2"}}; /*! This file is auto-generated */ !function(i,n){var o,s,e;function c(e){try{var t={supportTests:e,timestamp:(new Date).valueOf()};sessionStorage.setItem(o,JSON.stringify(t))}catch(e){}}function p(e,t,n){e.clearRect(0,0,e.canvas.width,e.canvas.height),e.fillText(t,0,0);var t=new Uint32Array(e.getImageData(0,0,e.canvas.width,e.canvas.height).data),r=(e.clearRect(0,0,e.canvas.width,e.canvas.height),e.fillText(n,0,0),new Uint32Array(e.getImageData(0,0,e.canvas.width,e.canvas.height).data));return t.every(function(e,t){return e===r[t]})}function u(e,t,n){switch(t){case"flag":return n(e,"\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\u26a7\ufe0f","\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200b\u26a7\ufe0f")?!1:!n(e,"\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf3","\ud83c\uddfa\u200b\ud83c\uddf3")&&!n(e,"\ud83c\udff4\udb40\udc67\udb40\udc62\udb40\udc65\udb40\udc6e\udb40\udc67\udb40\udc7f","\ud83c\udff4\u200b\udb40\udc67\u200b\udb40\udc62\u200b\udb40\udc65\u200b\udb40\udc6e\u200b\udb40\udc67\u200b\udb40\udc7f");case"emoji":return!n(e,"\ud83d\udc26\u200d\u2b1b","\ud83d\udc26\u200b\u2b1b")}return!1}function f(e,t,n){var r="undefined"!=typeof WorkerGlobalScope&&self instanceof WorkerGlobalScope?new OffscreenCanvas(300,150):i.createElement("canvas"),a=r.getContext("2d",{willReadFrequently:!0}),o=(a.textBaseline="top",a.font="600 32px Arial",{});return e.forEach(function(e){o[e]=t(a,e,n)}),o}function t(e){var t=i.createElement("script");t.src=e,t.defer=!0,i.head.appendChild(t)}"undefined"!=typeof Promise&&(o="wpEmojiSettingsSupports",s=["flag","emoji"],n.supports={everything:!0,everythingExceptFlag:!0},e=new Promise(function(e){i.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",e,{once:!0})}),new Promise(function(t){var n=function(){try{var e=JSON.parse(sessionStorage.getItem(o));if("object"==typeof e&&"number"==typeof e.timestamp&&(new Date).valueOf()<e.timestamp+604800&&"object"==typeof e.supportTests)return e.supportTests}catch(e){}return null}();if(!n){if("undefined"!=typeof Worker&&"undefined"!=typeof OffscreenCanvas&&"undefined"!=typeof URL&&URL.createObjectURL&&"undefined"!=typeof Blob)try{var e="postMessage("+f.toString()+"("+[JSON.stringify(s),u.toString(),p.toString()].join(",")+"));",r=new Blob([e],{type:"text/javascript"}),a=new Worker(URL.createObjectURL(r),{name:"wpTestEmojiSupports"});return void(a.onmessage=function(e){c(n=e.data),a.terminate(),t(n)})}catch(e){}c(n=f(s,u,p))}t(n)}).then(function(e){for(var t in e)n.supports[t]=e[t],n.supports.everything=n.supports.everything&&n.supports[t],"flag"!==t&&(n.supports.everythingExceptFlag=n.supports.everythingExceptFlag&&n.supports[t]);n.supports.everythingExceptFlag=n.supports.everythingExceptFlag&&!n.supports.flag,n.DOMReady=!1,n.readyCallback=function(){n.DOMReady=!0}}).then(function(){return e}).then(function(){var e;n.supports.everything||(n.readyCallback(),(e=n.source||{}).concatemoji?t(e.concatemoji):e.wpemoji&&e.twemoji&&(t(e.twemoji),t(e.wpemoji)))}))}((window,document),window._wpemojiSettings); </script> <link rel='stylesheet' id='all-css-0' href='https://www.baltimoresun.com/_static/??-eJyNjUEKhEAMBD+0Y9yFQS+ybxlD0IBJZJLB76tHbx6rm66GY09oGqQB+9YWVgfnoPSAuWzBYpW8KXiUYAT0q8RKpJ2wdhd+4JUsKs9N6aUnVhLyO5Hi9ng3L2oJm4fJvfvL9B1+Oedx7PMJcWxRIw==' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='__htl_style-css' href='https://htlbid.com/v3/baltimoresun.com/htlbid.css?ver=6.6.2' media='' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='all-css-2' href='https://www.baltimoresun.com/wp-content/client-mu-plugins/src/Sitemap/includes/style.css?m=1686068054g' type='text/css' media='all' /> <style id='wp-emoji-styles-inline-css'> img.wp-smiley, img.emoji { display: inline !important; border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; height: 1em !important; width: 1em !important; margin: 0 0.07em !important; vertical-align: -0.1em !important; background: none !important; padding: 0 !important; } </style> <link rel='stylesheet' id='general_css-css' href='https://www.baltimoresun.com/wp-content/plugins/mng-digisubs/static/mng-digisubs.styles.css?ver=1734030008' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='all-css-6' href='https://www.baltimoresun.com/wp-content/client-mu-plugins/src/Ads/assets/css/mobile-adhesion-style.css?m=1686068054g' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='dfm-accuweather-bootstrap-icons-css' href='//cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/bootstrap-icons@1.5.0/font/bootstrap-icons.min.css?ver=5.2.0' media='screen' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='mason-fonts-css' href='https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Noto+Sans%3A400%2C700%7CNoto+Serif%3A400%2C400i%2C700%2C700i%7CArvo%3A400%2C400i%2C700%2C700i&ver=6.6.2' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='all-css-10' href='https://www.baltimoresun.com/_static/??/wp-content/themes/assets/static/css/boldcoastal.css,/wp-content/mu-plugins/jetpack-14.0/modules/widgets/top-posts/style.css?m=1734030008' type='text/css' media='all' /> <script src="https://cmp.osano.com/16A1AnRt2Fn8i1unj/f15ebf08-7008-40fe-9af3-db96dc3e8266/osano.js" id="osano-js"></script> <script src="https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/3.5.1/jquery.min.js?ver=3.5.1" id="jquery-js"></script> <script async src="https://htlbid.com/v3/baltimoresun.com/htlbid.js?ver=6.6.2" id="__htl_script-js"></script> <script id="__htl_script-js-after"> window.htlbid = window.htlbid || {}; htlbid.cmd = htlbid.cmd || []; htlbid.cmd.push(function() { htlbid.layout('universal'); htlbid.setTargeting("is_testing","no"); htlbid.setTargeting("kv", ["opinion"]); htlbid.setTargeting("page", "section"); htlbid.setTargeting("content", []); htlbid.setTargeting("RPN", "226220341360"); htlbid.setTargeting("rurl", ""); htlbid.setTargeting("articleid", ""); window.htlbid.pubads().setPublisherProvidedId("cb76b07aa096ba0258c2416edd359e9c365b48147b3ab3344ccd62bcfb321f6c"); }); </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.baltimoresun.com/wp-content/client-mu-plugins/src/SSO/assets/js/sso-tools.min.js?m=1722373338g" ></script><script id="mg2_loader_loader-js-extra"> var MG2 = {"settings":{"environment":"prod","version":"dfm","xCode":"","randomURLChoosing":false,"plugins":[{"name":"FP","required":true,"initOptions":{"version":"dfm","environment":"prod"}},{"name":"DL","required":false,"initOptions":{"version":"dfm","environment":"prod","tagManager":"GTM","containerId":"GTM-NFD2QGD","collectors":["connext"]}},{"name":"NXT","required":true,"initOptions":{"environment":"prod","siteCode":"Tribune","configCode":"200ConfigTrib","clientCode":"dfm","debug":false,"silentmode":false,"attr":"200","settingsKey":"200","userAuthenticationTime":360,"authSettings":{"domain":"login.npuserlogin.com","client_id":"6Yc39HQJPnNPUnV9LWmdmxQeQPCR3NPS","redirect_uri":"https:\/\/www.baltimoresun.com\/login"}}}],"CONFIG_URL":"https:\/\/loader-config.baltimoresun.com\/prod\/dfm\/loader-config.json","appInsightsKey":"8241cbc2-50a5-47c4-b91f-462506490fad"}}; </script> <script src="https://www.baltimoresun.com/wp-content/plugins/loader-wp/static/loader.min.js?ver=1.6.3" id="mg2_loader_loader-js"></script> <script id="mg2_loader_loader-js-after"> (function( MG2, MG2Loader ) { if ( 'undefined' !== typeof MG2 && 'undefined' !== typeof MG2Loader) { console.log("mg2loader: not waiting"); MG2Loader.init( MG2.settings ); } })( MG2, MG2Loader ); </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.baltimoresun.com/wp-content/plugins/loader-wp/static/engageLibrary.min.js?m=1734030008g" ></script><script src="https://cdn.auth0.com/js/auth0-spa-js/1.13/auth0-spa-js.production.js?ver=6.6.2" id="auth0_sdk-js"></script> <script src="https://accounts.google.com/gsi/client?ver=6.6.2" id="google_one_tap-js"></script> <script id="authentication_main-js-extra"> var authentication_config = {"debug":"","entitlementsEnabled":"1","oneTapEnabled":"1","useTribMainGoogle":"1","gotPositionEnabled":"","gotModalPosition":"","dropdownEnabled":"1","auth0Domain":"login.npuserlogin.com","auth0ClientId":"6Yc39HQJPnNPUnV9LWmdmxQeQPCR3NPS","auth0RegwallUserEmail":"","sessionManagement":"1","sessionServer":"https:\/\/session.baltimoresun.com","newsletterId":"285","newslettersEnabled":"","myAccountLink":"https:\/\/myaccount.baltimoresun.com\/","entitlementsEndpoint":"https:\/\/user.mng-digisubs-prod.com\/","entitlementsAPIKey":"DHL8Vs1UNo9u0WO52dVBzSuLi4kw2so25cXK1fy7","linaCheckOnArticles":"1","serverEntitlements":"1","bcLowaSegements":"","blueconicEnabled":"1","sophiEndpoint":"","sophiGetDesicionTimer":"","sophiABTestingEndpoint":"","sophiPluginEnabled":"","enableReaderDashboardLink":"","enableRDLink":"","enableDatadog":"","isAdfreeArticle":"","googleClientId":"965743605721-c7flcidim2hetof56egoh0m6pudde8u1.apps.googleusercontent.com"}; </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.baltimoresun.com/_static/??-eJylzMEOQDAQBNAfolsh4SKufqOqaVbaJXYbPl+dxJXTJJOZB8dW2pXEkcAWkkdiiOTLGT1ymhhYjKB9dSoaJDUlmoNTCxfwxcgHcqf8ZfIYJbiYk/9aCUdzA/sDDbGv2rrRtda6Wy6/CXEK" ></script><script src="https://d250.baltimoresun.com/script.js" id="d250-js"></script> <script id="article_sharing-js-extra"> var article_config = {"article_sharing_faq":""}; </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.baltimoresun.com/wp-content/plugins/mng-digisubs/static/mng-digisubs.articleShare.bundle.js?m=1734030008g" ></script><link rel="https://api.w.org/" href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/wp-json/" /><link rel="alternate" title="JSON" type="application/json" href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/wp-json/wp/v2/categories/96" /><link rel="EditURI" type="application/rsd+xml" title="RSD" href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/xmlrpc.php?rsd" /> <meta name="generator" content="WordPress 6.6.2" /> <script id="cnx-init-script">!function(n){if(!window.cnx){window.cnx={},window.cnx.cmd=[];var t=n.createElement('iframe');t.display='none',t.onload=function(){var n=t.contentWindow.document,c=n.createElement('script');c.src='//cd.connatix.com/connatix.player.js',c.setAttribute('async','1'),c.setAttribute('type','text/javascript'),n.body.appendChild(c)},n.head.appendChild(t)}}(document);</script> <style> .getty.aligncenter { text-align: center; } .getty.alignleft { float: none; margin-right: 0; } .getty.alignleft > div { float: left; margin-right: 5px; } .getty.alignright { float: none; margin-left: 0; } .getty.alignright > div { float: right; margin-left: 5px; } </style> <style id='htl-mobile-adhesion-override'> @media screen and (max-width:1000px) { #mobile-adhesion { display: block !important; } } </style> <style>img#wpstats{display:none}</style> <script type="application/ld+json">{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"WebPage","headline":"Opinion","url":"http:\/\/www.baltimoresun.com\/opinion\/","articleSection":"Opinion"}</script><script> var PushlySDK = window.PushlySDK || []; function pushly() { PushlySDK.push(arguments) } pushly('load', { domainKey: decodeURIComponent("qvafiWEMPCh8IoPeDXjiO7iGSktQ4yIaTHfS"), sw: "/wp-content/plugins/pushly/assets/js/pushly-sdk-worker.js.php", swScope: "/wp-content/plugins/pushly/" }); </script> <style id="customizer-styles"> div#page { --primary: #1c2551; } div#page { --secondary: #98712a; } div#page { --tertiary: #5f6264; } div#page { --primary-light: #303551; } div#page { --primary-dark: #1c2551; } div#page { --primary-lighter: #373751; } div#page { --subsite-custom: #1c2551; } div#page { --subsite-text: #f9f9f9; } </style><script>window.addEventListener('message', function s2nEventCallback(a){if('s2nEvent'===a.data.type) {let t={event:'SendToNews load',sendtonews_player_key: a.data.playerKey};window.dataLayer.push(t), window.removeEventListener('message',s2nEventCallback)}});</script> <script type='text/javascript'> analyticsEvent = function() {}; analyticsSocial = function() {}; analyticsVPV = function() {}; analyticsClearVPV = function() {}; analyticsForm = function() {}; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; dataLayer.push({ 'ga_ua' : 'UA-40841508-34', 'quantcast' : '', 'quantcast label' : '', 'comscore' : '', 'Publisher Domain' : 'baltimoresun.com', 'Publisher Product' : 'baltimoresun.com', 'kv' : 'Opinion', 'Platform' : 'Web CMS', 'Release Version' : '6.6.2', 'Digital Publisher' : '', 'Section' : 'Opinion', 'Taxonomy1' : '', 'Taxonomy2' : '', 'Taxonomy3' : '', 'Taxonomy4' : '', 'Taxonomy5' : '', 'Publisher State' : '', 'Page Type' : 'section', 'User ID' : '', 'SiteName' : 'Baltimore Sun', 'Cluster' : '', 'Mobile Presentation' : 'no', 'Canonical URL' : 'https://www.baltimoresun.com/opinion/', 'Content Title' : 'Opinion', 'URL' : 'https://www.baltimoresun.com/opinion/', 'Page Title' : 'Opinion' }); </script>   <script> (function(w,d,s,l,i) { w[l]=w[l]||[]; w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'}); var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:''; j.async=true; j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f); }) (window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-TLFP4R'); </script>  <meta property="og:type" content="website" /> <meta property="og:title" content="Opinion" /> <meta property="og:site_name" content="Baltimore Sun" /> <meta property="og:image" content="https://www.baltimoresun.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/baltimore-sun-fallback.png" /> <meta property="og:image:alt" content="" /> <meta property="og:locale" content="en_US" /> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://www.baltimoresun.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/baltimore-sun-fallback.png" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://www.baltimoresun.com/opinion/" />  <link rel="icon" href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/baltimore-sun-favicon.png?w=32" sizes="32x32" /> <link rel="icon" href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/baltimore-sun-favicon.png?w=126" sizes="192x192" /> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/baltimore-sun-favicon.png?w=126" /> <meta name="msapplication-TileImage" content="https://www.baltimoresun.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/baltimore-sun-favicon.png?w=126" /> </head> <body class="archive category category-opinion category-96 wp-custom-logo">  <noscript><iframe src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-TLFP4R' height='0' width='0' style='display:none;visibility:hidden'></iframe></noscript>  <a href="#content" class="sr-only">Skip to content</a> <div id="page" class="hfeed site"> <div class="header-placeholder"></div><header class="site-header default headroom--top"> <div class="nav-wrapper-primary"> <div class="nav-wrapper-secondary"> <div class="screen-wrapper"> <div class="nav-primary-top"> <div class="pushnav-flex-wrapper"> <nav class="pushnav" role="navigation" aria-label="Main Menu" id="pushnav-container"><div id="menu-toggle" class="menu-toggle" role="button" aria-expanded="false" tabindex="0" aria-label="Open menu of all sections"><span class="icon-hamburger"></span><span class="menu-label">All Sections</span></div> <div class="wrapper-nav pushnav"> <div class="border-container"> <div class="top-pushnav-container"> <a href="https://mktops.baltimoresun.com/subscriptions/land-new-years-25/?market=bs&source=index&g2i_source=SB&g2i_medium=sub-nav&g2i_campaign=NY25" id="mega-subscribe-button" class="subscribe-button" type="subscribe"> <span>Subscribe Now</span> </a> <div class="accuweather-wrap"> <div class="weather-date"> <div class='dfm_accuweather_current_conditions'> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.accuweather.com/en/us/baltimore-md/21202/current-weather/8844_pc?lang=en-us" title="Current Weather Conditions" aria-label="Current temperature is 41°F, view full weather conditions in a new window"> <span>41°F</span> <i class="bi-sun" role="img" aria-label="weather icon sun"></i> </a> </div> <div class="date"> Thursday, December 12th 2024 <a title="Link to E-Edition opens in a new window" target="_blank" href="https://digitaledition.baltimoresun.com/"> <p class="e-edition">Baltimore Sun eNewspaper</p> </a> </div> </div> </div> <a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com" class="home-link icon-home3" title="Link to Home Page"> <span>Home Page</span> </a> </div> <button class="sr-only pushnav-close">Close Menu</button><ul id="pushnav" class="menu"><li id="menu-item-8552611" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-has-children menu-item-8552611 menu-large"><a href="https://myaccount.baltimoresun.com/" aria-expanded="false" aria-haspopup="true">Subscriber Services</a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li id="menu-item-8552613" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-8552613 menu-large"><a href="https://myaccount.baltimoresun.com/200/home">Manage Subscription</a></li> <li id="menu-item-8552614" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-8552614 menu-large"><a href="https://myaccount.baltimoresun.com/200/autopay/signup/">EZ Pay</a></li> <li id="menu-item-8611286" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-8611286 menu-large"><a href="https://myaccount.baltimoresun.com/200/verifyaccount">Vacation Stop</a></li> </ul> </li> <li id="menu-item-8552616" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-has-children menu-item-8552616 menu-large"><a href="https://digitaledition.baltimoresun.com/html5/desktop/production/default.aspx?edid=b36c7fa6-0605-48b1-8121-b8fac5f93ec7" aria-expanded="false" aria-haspopup="true">eNewspaper</a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li id="menu-item-8552617" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-8552617 menu-large"><a href="https://digitaledition.baltimoresun.com">Daily Sun</a></li> <li id="menu-item-8552618" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-8552618 menu-large"><a href="https://digitaledition.baltimoresun.com/eveningedition">Evening Edition</a></li> <li id="menu-item-8552619" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-8552619 menu-large"><a href="https://digitaledition.carrollcounty.baltimoresun.com">Carroll County Times</a></li> <li id="menu-item-8552620" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-8552620 menu-large"><a href="https://digitaledition.capitalgazette.com/">Capital Gazette</a></li> <li id="menu-item-8552621" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-8552621 menu-large"><a href="https://enewspaper.theaegis.com/">The Aegis</a></li> <li id="menu-item-8552622" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-8552622 menu-large"><a href="https://enewspaper.howardcountytimes.com/">Howard County Times</a></li> </ul> </li> <li id="menu-item-8552623" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-has-children menu-item-8552623 menu-large"><a href="https://placeanad.baltimoresun.com/#nt=primarynavbar" aria-expanded="false" aria-haspopup="true">Advertise with Us</a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li id="menu-item-8552624" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-8552624 menu-large"><a href="https://placeanad.baltimoresun.com/#nt=primarynavbar">Advertise</a></li> <li id="menu-item-9097821" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-9097821 menu-large"><a href="https://classifieds.baltimoresun.com/#nt=secondarynavbar">Classified</a></li> <li id="menu-item-9115604" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-post_tag menu-item-9115604 menu-large"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/tag/hot-properties/">Homes</a></li> <li id="menu-item-8552625" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-8552625 menu-large"><a href="https://jobs.baltimoresun.com/">Jobs</a></li> <li id="menu-item-9132071" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-9132071 menu-large"><a href="https://www.baltimoresunspecialsections.com/">Special Sections</a></li> </ul> </li> <li id="menu-item-8552626" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category current-post-ancestor current-menu-parent current-post-parent menu-item-has-children menu-item-8552626 menu-large"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/" aria-expanded="false" aria-haspopup="true">News</a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li id="menu-item-9118180" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category current-post-ancestor current-menu-parent current-post-parent menu-item-9118180 menu-large"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/">News</a></li> <li id="menu-item-9097822" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-9097822 menu-large"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/latest-headlines/">Latest</a></li> <li id="menu-item-9097823" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-9097823 menu-large"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/crime-public-safety/">Crime and Public Safety</a></li> <li id="menu-item-8552630" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-8552630 menu-large"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/education/">Education</a></li> <li id="menu-item-8552631" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-8552631 menu-large"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/politics/election/">Elections</a></li> <li id="menu-item-8552632" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-8552632 menu-large"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/environment/">Environment</a></li> <li id="menu-item-8552633" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-8552633 menu-large"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/health/">Health</a></li> <li id="menu-item-8552634" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-post_tag menu-item-8552634 menu-large"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/tag/lottery/">Lottery</a></li> <li id="menu-item-8552635" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-8552635 menu-large"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/marijuana/">Marijuana</a></li> <li id="menu-item-8552636" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-8552636 menu-large"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/national/">Nation</a></li> <li id="menu-item-8552637" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-8552637 menu-large"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/politics/">Politics</a></li> <li id="menu-item-8552638" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-post_tag menu-item-8552638 menu-large"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/tag/sun-investigates/">Sun Investigates</a></li> <li id="menu-item-8552639" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-8552639 menu-large"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/world/">World</a></li> </ul> </li> <li id="menu-item-9104813" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-has-children menu-item-9104813 menu-large"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/carroll-county-times/" aria-expanded="false" aria-haspopup="true">Carroll County Times</a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li id="menu-item-9115227" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-9115227 menu-large"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/carroll-county-times/">Carroll County Times</a></li> <li id="menu-item-8552691" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-8552691 menu-large"><a href="https://digitaledition.carrollcounty.baltimoresun.com">eNewspaper</a></li> <li id="menu-item-8552692" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-8552692 menu-large"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/carroll-county-times/cct-education/">Education</a></li> <li id="menu-item-8552693" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-8552693 menu-large"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/carroll-county-times/cct-high-school-sports/">High School Sports</a></li> <li id="menu-item-8552694" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-8552694 menu-large"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/carroll-county-times/cct-news/">News</a></li> <li id="menu-item-8552695" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-8552695 menu-large"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/carroll-county-times/cct-opinion/">Opinion</a></li> <li id="menu-item-9569806" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-9569806 menu-large"><a href="https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/carrollcountytimes/">Obituaries</a></li> <li id="menu-item-9237127" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-9237127 menu-large"><a href="/cct-submit-news/">Submit News</a></li> </ul> </li> <li id="menu-item-8552697" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-has-children menu-item-8552697 menu-large"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/aegis/" aria-expanded="false" aria-haspopup="true">The Aegis</a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li id="menu-item-8553030" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-8553030 menu-large"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/aegis/">The Aegis</a></li> <li id="menu-item-8553031" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-8553031 menu-large"><a href="https://enewspaper.theaegis.com/">eNewspaper</a></li> <li id="menu-item-8552698" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-8552698 menu-large"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/aegis/aegis-opinion/">Aegis Opinion</a></li> <li id="menu-item-8552699" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-8552699 menu-large"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/aegis/aegis-sports/">Aegis Sports</a></li> <li id="menu-item-8552700" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-8552700 menu-large"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/aegis/harford-magazine/">Harford Magazine</a></li> </ul> </li> <li id="menu-item-8552640" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-has-children menu-item-8552640 menu-large"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/local-news/" aria-expanded="false" aria-haspopup="true">Local News</a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li id="menu-item-8552641" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-8552641 menu-large"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/local-news/">Local News</a></li> <li id="menu-item-8552642" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-location current-post-ancestor current-menu-parent current-post-parent menu-item-8552642 menu-large"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/location/maryland/">Maryland</a></li> <li id="menu-item-8552643" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-location menu-item-8552643 menu-large"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/location/maryland/anne-arundel-county/">Anne Arundel County</a></li> <li id="menu-item-8552644" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-location menu-item-8552644 menu-large"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/location/maryland/baltimore/">Baltimore City</a></li> <li id="menu-item-8552645" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-location current-post-ancestor current-menu-parent current-post-parent menu-item-8552645 menu-large"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/location/maryland/baltimore-county/">Baltimore County</a></li> <li id="menu-item-9183862" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-9183862 menu-large"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/carroll-county-times/">Carroll County Times</a></li> <li id="menu-item-9183865" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-9183865 menu-large"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/aegis/">Harford County – The Aegis</a></li> <li id="menu-item-8552648" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-location menu-item-8552648 menu-large"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/location/maryland/howard-county/">Howard County</a></li> <li id="menu-item-8552649" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-post_tag menu-item-8552649 menu-large"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/tag/eastern-shore/">Eastern Shore</a></li> </ul> </li> <li id="menu-item-8552650" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-has-children menu-item-8552650 menu-large"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/" aria-expanded="false" aria-haspopup="true">Sports</a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li id="menu-item-8552651" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-8552651 menu-large"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/">Sports</a></li> <li id="menu-item-8552652" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-8552652 menu-large"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/mlb/baltimore-orioles/">Baltimore Orioles</a></li> <li id="menu-item-8552653" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-8552653 menu-large"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/nfl/baltimore-ravens/">Baltimore Ravens</a></li> <li id="menu-item-10190509" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-10190509 menu-large"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/olympics/">Olympics</a></li> <li id="menu-item-8552654" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-8552654 menu-large"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/high-school-sports/">High School Sports</a></li> <li id="menu-item-8552656" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-8552656 menu-large"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/college-sports/">College Sports</a></li> <li id="menu-item-8552657" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-post_tag menu-item-8552657 menu-large"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/tag/terps/">Terps</a></li> <li id="menu-item-8552658" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-post_tag menu-item-8552658 menu-large"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/tag/horse-racing/">Horse Racing</a></li> </ul> </li> <li id="menu-item-8552659" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-has-children menu-item-8552659 menu-large"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/business/" aria-expanded="false" aria-haspopup="true">Business</a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li id="menu-item-8552660" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-8552660 menu-large"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/business/">Business</a></li> <li id="menu-item-8552661" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-post_tag menu-item-8552661 menu-large"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/tag/autos/">Autos</a></li> <li id="menu-item-8552662" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-8552662 menu-large"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/best-reviews/">Best Reviews</a></li> <li id="menu-item-8552664" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-8552664 menu-large"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/business/real-estate/">Real Estate</a></li> <li id="menu-item-8552665" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-post_tag menu-item-8552665 menu-large"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/tag/top-workplaces/">Top Workplaces</a></li> </ul> </li> <li id="menu-item-8552666" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-has-children menu-item-8552666 menu-large"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/opinion/" aria-expanded="false" aria-haspopup="true">Opinion</a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li id="menu-item-8552667" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-8552667 menu-large"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/opinion/">Opinion</a></li> <li id="menu-item-8552668" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-8552668 menu-large"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/opinion/editorials/">Editorials</a></li> <li id="menu-item-8552669" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-8552669 menu-large"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/opinion/opinion-columnists/">Opinion Columnists</a></li> <li id="menu-item-9104404" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-9104404 menu-large"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/author/dan-rodricks/">Dan Rodricks</a></li> <li id="menu-item-9113837" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-9113837 menu-large"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/opinion/commentary/">Op-Ed</a></li> <li id="menu-item-8552671" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-post_tag menu-item-8552671 menu-large"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/tag/readers-respond/">Readers Respond</a></li> <li id="menu-item-8552672" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-8552672 menu-large"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/submit-letter-to-editor/">Submit Letter to the Editor</a></li> <li id="menu-item-8552673" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-8552673 menu-large"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/submit-op-ed/">Submit Op-Ed</a></li> </ul> </li> <li id="menu-item-9569807" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-has-children menu-item-9569807 menu-large"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/newsobituaries/" aria-expanded="false" aria-haspopup="true">News Obituaries</a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li id="menu-item-9569951" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-9569951 menu-large"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/newsobituaries/">News Obituaries</a></li> <li id="menu-item-9569809" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-9569809 menu-large"><a href="https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/baltimoresun/today#nt=secondarynavbar">Death Notices</a></li> <li id="menu-item-9569812" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-9569812 menu-large"><a href="https://placeanad.baltimoresun.com/death-notices/">How to submit a death notice</a></li> </ul> </li> <li id="menu-item-8552678" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-has-children menu-item-8552678 menu-large"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/things-to-do/" aria-expanded="false" aria-haspopup="true">Things To Do</a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li id="menu-item-8552679" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-8552679 menu-large"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/things-to-do/">Things To Do</a></li> <li id="menu-item-8552680" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-8552680 menu-large"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/things-to-do/arts/">Arts</a></li> <li id="menu-item-8552681" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-8552681 menu-large"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/things-to-do/entertainment/">Entertainment</a></li> <li id="menu-item-8552688" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-8552688 menu-large"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/events/">Events</a></li> <li id="menu-item-8552683" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-8552683 menu-large"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/things-to-do/restaurants-food-drink/">Food and Drink</a></li> <li id="menu-item-9104411" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-9104411 menu-large"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/things-to-do/home-garden/">Home and Garden</a></li> <li id="menu-item-8552684" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-8552684 menu-large"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/things-to-do/horoscopes/">Horoscopes</a></li> <li id="menu-item-8552685" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-8552685 menu-large"><a href="https://fun.baltimoresun.com">Fun and Games</a></li> <li id="menu-item-8552686" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-8552686 menu-large"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/things-to-do/movies/">Movies</a></li> <li id="menu-item-8552687" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-8552687 menu-large"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/things-to-do/music-concerts/">Music</a></li> </ul> </li> <li id="menu-item-9116294" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-has-children menu-item-9116294 menu-large"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/sponsor-content-article/" aria-expanded="false" aria-haspopup="true">Branded Content</a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li id="menu-item-9116301" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-9116301 menu-large"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/sponsor-content-hub/?ntv_adpz=1632">Paid Partner Content</a></li> <li id="menu-item-9116302" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-9116302 menu-large"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/sponsor-content-hub-idx/?ntv_adpz=3660">Advertising by Ascend</a></li> <li id="menu-item-9116311" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-9116311 menu-large"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/sponsor-content-hub/?ntv_adpz=3309">Paid Content by Brandpoint</a></li> </ul> </li> </ul><button class="sr-only pushnav-close">Close Menu</button> </div> <div class="newsletter-nav"> <div class="newsletter-simple"> <div class="newsletter-item"> <p class="prompt">Sign up for email newsletters</p> <a class="sign-up-button" href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/newsletters" aria-label="Click here to go to the newsletter sign up page"> Sign Up</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </nav> </div> <div class="hidden-logo"> <div class="logo custom-logo"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com" aria-label="Baltimore Sun"><img src="https://www.baltimoresun.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/baltimoresun.svg" alt="Baltimore Sun"></a></div> </div> <div class="digisubs-wrapper"> <nav class="digisubs-pushmenu" role="navigation" aria-label="Account Menu" id="digisubs-push-container"> <div id="digisubs-toggle" class="digisubs-toggle pushnav" role="button" aria-expanded="false" tabindex="0" aria-label="Open menu"> <div id="mng-icon-image"> <img id="pushnav-icon" alt=""> <div id="blank-icon-user"> <svg version="1.1" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 32 32"> <path fill="#000000" d="M18 22.082v-1.649c2.203-1.241 4-4.337 4-7.432 0-4.971 0-9-6-9s-6 4.029-6 9c0 3.096 1.797 6.191 4 7.432v1.649c-6.784 0.555-12 3.888-12 7.918h28c0-4.030-5.216-7.364-12-7.918z"></path> </svg> </div> <span class="icon-arrow-down"></span> </div> </div> <div class="wrapper-nav-subs pushnav"> <div class="border-container"> <ul id="dfm-digisubs-push-menu" class="menu"><li id="menu-item-5930333" class="subscribe-visibility subscribe-special custom-button menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-5930333"><a href="https://mktops.baltimoresun.com/subscriptions/land-new-years-25/?market=bs&source=index&g2i_source=SB&g2i_medium=nav2&g2i_campaign=NY25">Subscribe</a></li> <li id="menu-item-5930334" class="log-in-button subscribe-special custom-button menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-5930334"><a href="/login">Login</a></li> </ul> <div id="push-account-content"> <div class="show-digisubs-push" id="email-source-wrapper"> <a class="account-link" id="push-email-link"></a> <p class="logged-in-source" id="push-auth-source"></p> </div> <a class="show-digisubs-push account-link" id="push-account-link" data-mng-click="account-settings" data-mng-category="account-link" data-mng-action="account-settings">Account Settings</a> <a class="show-digisubs-push" id="push-contact-us" href="/contact-us" data-mng-click="contact-us" data-mng-category="account-link" data-mng-action="contact-us">Contact Us</a> <a class="show-digisubs-push" id="push-log-out" href="/logout" data-mng-click="log-out" data-mng-category="account-link" data-mng-action="log-out">Log Out</a> <div class="show-digisubs-push marketing-slot" id="push-marketing-slot"></div> <label class="user-spoof">Spoof a user</label> <input id="push-user-spoof-control" class="user-spoof" type="checkbox"> <ul id="newsLetterItem-push" class="newsLetterContent"></ul> </div> </div> <div class="newsletter-nav"> <div class="newsletter-simple"> <div class="newsletter-item"> <p class="prompt">Sign up for email newsletters</p> <a class="sign-up-button" href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/newsletters" aria-label="Click here to go to the newsletter sign up page"> Sign Up</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </nav> <div class="digisubs-wrapper-large" id="digisubs-wrapper-large"> <ul id="dfm-digisubs-menu" class="menu"><li id="menu-item-5930331" class="subscribe-visibility subscribe-special custom-button menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-5930331"><a href="https://mktops.baltimoresun.com/subscriptions/land-new-years-25/?market=bs&source=index&g2i_source=SB&g2i_medium=nav2&g2i_campaign=NY25">Subscribe</a></li> <li id="menu-item-5930332" class="log-in-button subscribe-special custom-button menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-5930332"><a href="/login">Login</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="search-icon-wrapper"><span class="icon-search" aria-label="Click here or hit enter to open a Search box" id="dfm-search-icon" role="button" tabindex=0 aria-expanded="false"></span></div><form class="search-form header-search" method="GET" id="search-bar" action="https://www.baltimoresun.com/"> <div class="input-wrapper"> <span class="icon-search" aria-hidden="true"></span> <input id="mng-search-focus" type="text" placeholder="Type your search" name="s" aria-label="Type your search"> <input name="orderby" type="hidden" value="date"/> <input name="order" type="hidden" value="desc"/> <div class="search-button-container"> <button class="search-button" type="submit"> <span>Search</span> </button> </div> </div> </form> </div> </div> <div class="nav-primary-middle"> <div class="accuweather-wrap"> <div class="weather-date"> <div class='dfm_accuweather_current_conditions'> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.accuweather.com/en/us/baltimore-md/21202/current-weather/8844_pc?lang=en-us" title="Current Weather Conditions" aria-label="Current temperature is 41°F, view full weather conditions in a new window"> <span>41°F</span> <i class="bi-sun" role="img" aria-label="weather icon sun"></i> </a> </div> <div class="date"> Thursday, December 12th 2024 <a title="Link to E-Edition opens in a new window" target="_blank" href="https://digitaledition.baltimoresun.com/"> <p class="e-edition">Baltimore Sun eNewspaper</p> </a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="hidden-logo"><div class="section-header">Opinion</div></div> <div class="sponsorship-ad-wrapper"> <div class="dfp-ad dfp-sponsorship_1" id="div-gpt-ad-sponsorship_1" style="visibility:hidden"> <div class="htlad-sponsorship_1" data-unit='baltimoresun.com/opinion/sponsorship_1' data-targeting=''></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="nav-primary-bottom"> <div class="nav-primary"> <ul id="subnav-opinion-menu" class="menu"><li id="menu-item-563" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-563"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/opinion/opinion-columnists/">Columnists</a></li> <li id="menu-item-560" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-560"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/opinion/editorials/">Editorials</a></li> <li id="menu-item-561" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-post_tag menu-item-561"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/tag/readers-respond/">Readers Respond</a></li> <li id="menu-item-9112520" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-category menu-item-9112520"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/opinion/commentary/">Op-Ed</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="widget widget-trending-stories"><div class="trending-bar trending"> <div class="trending-bar-wrapper"> <p class="label"> Trending: </p> <nav> <ul> <li class="entry-title"> <div class="entry-section"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/opinion/commentary/">Commentary | </a></div> <a class="article-title" href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/2024/10/24/fox45-news-live-broadcast/" title="FOX45 News live broadcast"> <span class="dfm-title metered"> 📺 Watch FOX45 news </span> </a> </li> <li class="entry-title"> <div class="entry-section"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/opinion/commentary/">Commentary | </a></div> <a class="article-title" href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/2024/12/11/luigi-mangione-case-coverage/" title="Luigi Mangione case coverage"> <span class="dfm-title metered"> 🚨 Luigi Mangione case coverage </span> </a> </li> <li class="entry-title"> <div class="entry-section"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/opinion/commentary/">Commentary | </a></div> <a class="article-title" href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/2024/12/08/reader-poll-do-you-think-marylands-budget-shortfall-could-be-reduced-by-cutting-government-waste-and-fraud/" title="READER POLL: Do you think Maryland’s budget shortfall could be reduced by cutting government waste and fraud?"> <span class="dfm-title free"> 💰 Maryland’s budget poll </span> </a> </li> <li class="entry-title"> <div class="entry-section"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/opinion/commentary/">Commentary | </a></div> <a class="article-title" href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/2024/12/06/baltimore-top-workplaces-redirect/" title="Baltimore Top Workplaces redirect"> <span class="dfm-title metered"> 🏆 Top Workplaces winners </span> </a> </li> <li class="entry-title"> <div class="entry-section"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/opinion/commentary/">Commentary | </a></div> <a class="article-title" href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/2024/06/01/baltimore-city-homicides/" title="Baltimore City Homicides"> <span class="dfm-title free"> 🚔 Baltimore homicide map </span> </a> </li> <li class="entry-title"> <div class="entry-section"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/opinion/commentary/">Commentary | </a></div> <a class="article-title" href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/2024/11/25/general-election-results-maryland-baltimore/" title="2024 Maryland general election results from Baltimore, congressional races, school boards"> <span class="dfm-title free"> 🗳️ Maryland election returns </span> </a> </li> </ul> </nav> </div> </div> </div> </div> </header><div id="content" class="site-content"> <div class="header-banners"> <div class="dfp-ad dfp-interstitial" id="div-gpt-ad-interstitial" style="visibility:hidden"> <div class="htlad-interstitial" data-unit='baltimoresun.com/opinion/interstitial' data-targeting=''></div> </div> <div class="dfp-ad dfp-top_leaderboard" id="div-gpt-ad-top_leaderboard" style="visibility:hidden"> <div class="htlad-top_leaderboard" data-unit='baltimoresun.com/opinion/top_leaderboard' data-targeting=''></div> </div> </div> <div id="primary" class="content-area"> <main id="main" class="site-main" role="main"> <h1 class="tag-name tag-name-simple-featured">Opinion</h1> <section class="feature-primary takeover simple-featured"> <h2 class="sr-only">Featured</h2> <article class=" feature-large archive-view has-image post-11045251 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-commentary category-latest-headlines category-opinion tag-social" data-id="11045251" data-timestamp="1734019213" > <div class="dfm-featured-top-flex-container"></div> <div class="article-info"> <header> <h3 class="entry-title"> <div class="entry-section"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/opinion/commentary/">Commentary | </a></div> <a class="article-title" href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/2024/12/12/angela-merkels-memoir-shows-how-little-shes-learned-guest-commentary/" title="Angela Merkel’s memoir shows how little she’s learned | GUEST COMMENTARY"> <span class="dfm-title metered"> Angela Merkel’s memoir shows how little she’s learned | GUEST COMMENTARY </span> </a> </h3>  <figure> <a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/2024/12/12/angela-merkels-memoir-shows-how-little-shes-learned-guest-commentary/" title="Angela Merkel’s memoir shows how little she’s learned | GUEST COMMENTARY" class=""></a> <a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/2024/12/12/angela-merkels-memoir-shows-how-little-shes-learned-guest-commentary/" title="Angela Merkel’s memoir shows how little she’s learned | GUEST COMMENTARY"> <div class="image-wrapper"><img alt="Angela Merkel's overweight memoir shows how little she's learned as chancellor of Germany, writes Bruce Fein." title="Angela Merkel's overweight memoir shows how little she's learned as chancellor of Germany, writes Bruce Fein." subtitle="" class=" size-hp_takeover" sizes="(max-width: 40em) 620px,(min-width: 40em) and (max-width: 50em) 780px,(min-width: 50em) and (max-width: 65em) 1020px,(min-width: 65em) and (max-width: 80em) 865px,(min-width: 80em) 955px,1020px" srcset="https://www.baltimoresun.com/wp-content/uploads/migration/2021/10/26/GGJOW5YQIA3QWXNC5GICLTUGGA.jpg?w=535 620w,https://www.baltimoresun.com/wp-content/uploads/migration/2021/10/26/GGJOW5YQIA3QWXNC5GICLTUGGA.jpg?w=673 780w,https://www.baltimoresun.com/wp-content/uploads/migration/2021/10/26/GGJOW5YQIA3QWXNC5GICLTUGGA.jpg?w=879 1020w,https://www.baltimoresun.com/wp-content/uploads/migration/2021/10/26/GGJOW5YQIA3QWXNC5GICLTUGGA.jpg?w=743 865w,https://www.baltimoresun.com/wp-content/uploads/migration/2021/10/26/GGJOW5YQIA3QWXNC5GICLTUGGA.jpg?w=821 955w" ></div> </a> </figure> </header> <div class="excerpt"> Angela Merkel's overweight memoir shows how little she's learned as chancellor of Germany, writes Bruce Fein. </div> </div> <figure> <div class="image-wrapper"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/2024/12/12/angela-merkels-memoir-shows-how-little-shes-learned-guest-commentary/" ><img alt="Then-German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrives for an EU summit at the Brdo Congress Center in Kranj, Slovenia, Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2021. E(AP Photo/Petr David Josek)" title="Then-German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrives for an EU summit at the Brdo Congress Center in Kranj, Slovenia, Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2021. E(AP Photo/Petr David Josek)" subtitle="" class=" size-article_feature" sizes="(max-width: 40em) 620px,(min-width: 40em) and (max-width: 50em) 780px,(min-width: 50em) and (max-width: 65em) 1020px,(min-width: 65em) and (max-width: 80em) 1280px,(min-width: 80em) 1860px,1860px" srcset="https://www.baltimoresun.com/wp-content/uploads/migration/2021/10/26/GGJOW5YQIA3QWXNC5GICLTUGGA.jpg?w=535 620w,https://www.baltimoresun.com/wp-content/uploads/migration/2021/10/26/GGJOW5YQIA3QWXNC5GICLTUGGA.jpg?w=673 780w,https://www.baltimoresun.com/wp-content/uploads/migration/2021/10/26/GGJOW5YQIA3QWXNC5GICLTUGGA.jpg?w=879 1020w,https://www.baltimoresun.com/wp-content/uploads/migration/2021/10/26/GGJOW5YQIA3QWXNC5GICLTUGGA.jpg?w=1101 1280w,https://www.baltimoresun.com/wp-content/uploads/migration/2021/10/26/GGJOW5YQIA3QWXNC5GICLTUGGA.jpg?w=1200 1860w" ></a></div> </figure> </article> <aside class="sidebar-ad-container"> <div class="dfp-ad dfp-cube1_rrail_atf" id="div-gpt-ad-cube1_rrail_atf" style="visibility:hidden"> <div class="htlad-cube1_rrail_atf" data-unit='baltimoresun.com/opinion/cube1_rrail_atf' data-targeting=''></div> </div> <div class="dfm-sidebar-top-flex-container"></div> </aside> <div class="feature-bottom"> <article class=" feature-small archive-view has-image post-11049805 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-commentary category-latest-headlines category-opinion tag-social location-annapolis location-anne-arundel-county location-maryland" data-id="11049805" data-timestamp="1734017405" > <figure> <a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/2024/12/12/bill-belichick-and-tom-obrien-the-army-navy-game-inspires-leadership-beyond-the-field-guest-commentary/" title="Bill Belichick and Tom O’Brien: The Army-Navy Game inspires leadership beyond the field | GUEST COMMENTARY" class=""></a> <a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/2024/12/12/bill-belichick-and-tom-obrien-the-army-navy-game-inspires-leadership-beyond-the-field-guest-commentary/" title="Bill Belichick and Tom O’Brien: The Army-Navy Game inspires leadership beyond the field | GUEST COMMENTARY"> <div class="image-wrapper"><img alt="Army vs. Navy is much more than just a football game, Bill Belichick and Tom O'Brien write." title="Army vs. Navy is much more than just a football game, Bill Belichick and Tom O'Brien write." subtitle="" class=" size-hp_small" sizes="(max-width: 40em) 300px,(min-width: 40em) and (max-width: 50em) 380px,(min-width: 50em) and (max-width: 65em) 395px,(min-width: 65em) and (max-width: 80em) 470px,(min-width: 80em) 305px,470px" srcset="https://www.baltimoresun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/CAP-L-STAUBACHFOOTBALLINSPECTION-p1.jpg?w=300 300w,https://www.baltimoresun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/CAP-L-STAUBACHFOOTBALLINSPECTION-p1.jpg?w=380 380w,https://www.baltimoresun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/CAP-L-STAUBACHFOOTBALLINSPECTION-p1.jpg?w=395 395w,https://www.baltimoresun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/CAP-L-STAUBACHFOOTBALLINSPECTION-p1.jpg?w=470 470w,https://www.baltimoresun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/CAP-L-STAUBACHFOOTBALLINSPECTION-p1.jpg?w=305 305w" ></div> </a> </figure> <div class="article-info"> <header> <h3 class="entry-title"> <div class="entry-section"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/opinion/commentary/">Commentary | </a></div> <a class="article-title" href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/2024/12/12/bill-belichick-and-tom-obrien-the-army-navy-game-inspires-leadership-beyond-the-field-guest-commentary/" title="Bill Belichick and Tom O’Brien: The Army-Navy Game inspires leadership beyond the field | GUEST COMMENTARY"> <span class="dfm-title metered"> Bill Belichick and Tom O’Brien: The Army-Navy Game inspires leadership beyond the field | GUEST COMMENTARY </span> </a> </h3>  </header> </div> </article> <article class=" feature-small archive-view has-image post-11047892 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-opinion tag-readers-respond" data-id="11047892" data-timestamp="1734016481" > <figure> <a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/2024/12/12/bottom-line-of-health-care-should-be-health-not-profits-reader-commentary/" title="Bottom line of health care should be health, not profits | READER COMMENTARY" class=""></a> <a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/2024/12/12/bottom-line-of-health-care-should-be-health-not-profits-reader-commentary/" title="Bottom line of health care should be health, not profits | READER COMMENTARY"> <div class="image-wrapper"><img alt="A banner hanging from on overpass along Interstate 83 says, “Deny, Defend, Depose Health Care 4 All.”" title="A banner hanging from on overpass along Interstate 83 says, “Deny, Defend, Depose Health Care 4 All.”" subtitle="" class=" size-hp_small" sizes="(max-width: 40em) 300px,(min-width: 40em) and (max-width: 50em) 380px,(min-width: 50em) and (max-width: 65em) 395px,(min-width: 65em) and (max-width: 80em) 470px,(min-width: 80em) 305px,470px" srcset="https://www.baltimoresun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/TBS-L-LUIGI-MANGIONE-FOLLOW-p6.jpg?w=286 300w,https://www.baltimoresun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/TBS-L-LUIGI-MANGIONE-FOLLOW-p6.jpg?w=329 380w,https://www.baltimoresun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/TBS-L-LUIGI-MANGIONE-FOLLOW-p6.jpg?w=340 395w,https://www.baltimoresun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/TBS-L-LUIGI-MANGIONE-FOLLOW-p6.jpg?w=406 470w,https://www.baltimoresun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/TBS-L-LUIGI-MANGIONE-FOLLOW-p6.jpg?w=263 305w" ></div> </a> </figure> <div class="article-info"> <header> <h3 class="entry-title"> <div class="entry-section"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/opinion/commentary/">Commentary | </a></div> <a class="article-title" href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/2024/12/12/bottom-line-of-health-care-should-be-health-not-profits-reader-commentary/" title="Bottom line of health care should be health, not profits | READER COMMENTARY"> <span class="dfm-title metered"> Bottom line of health care should be health, not profits | READER COMMENTARY </span> </a> </h3>  </header> </div> </article> <div class="s2nPlayer k-359nlgba" data-type="float" style="width:100%;margin-bottom: 1.5em" data-s2n-api="dfm_stn_player_script_id_359nlgba"></div><script> function dfm_stn_player_script_id_359nlgba( getS2NApiForPlayer ) { if( typeof window.MNGAuthentication !== 'undefined' ){ const s2nApi = getS2NApiForPlayer( document.querySelector('.k-359nlgba') ); s2nApi.float = ! window.MNGAuthentication.isUserSubscriber(); } }</script> </div> <div class="dfm-featured-bottom-flex-container"></div> </section> <div class="content-wrapper"> <div class="tag-content load-more-wrapper"> <article class=" tag-search-view archive-view has-image post-11047839 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-opinion tag-readers-respond" data-id="11047839" data-timestamp="1734016432" > <figure> <a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/2024/12/12/theres-a-story-teller-on-the-city-payroll-reader-commentary/" title="There’s a ‘story teller’ on the city payroll? | READER COMMENTARY" class=""></a> <a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/2024/12/12/theres-a-story-teller-on-the-city-payroll-reader-commentary/" title="There’s a ‘story teller’ on the city payroll? | READER COMMENTARY"> <div class="image-wrapper"><img alt="Mayor Bernard C. "Jack" Young, speaks at a news conference during his final weeks in office in 2020." title="Mayor Bernard C. "Jack" Young, speaks at a news conference during his final weeks in office in 2020." subtitle="" class="lazyload size-feature_small" data-sizes="auto" data-src="https://www.baltimoresun.com/wp-content/uploads/migration/2020/11/23/7LYLGMXHRJE6ZKBJLGTW64HEPQ.jpg?w=135" data-srcset="https://www.baltimoresun.com/wp-content/uploads/migration/2020/11/23/7LYLGMXHRJE6ZKBJLGTW64HEPQ.jpg?w=135 140w" ></div> </a> </figure> <div class="article-info"> <header> <h2 class="entry-title"> <div class="entry-section"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/opinion/">Opinion | </a></div> <a class="article-title" href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/2024/12/12/theres-a-story-teller-on-the-city-payroll-reader-commentary/" title="There’s a ‘story teller’ on the city payroll? | READER COMMENTARY"> <span class="dfm-title metered"> There’s a ‘story teller’ on the city payroll? | READER COMMENTARY </span> </a> </h2>  <div class="entry-meta"> <div class="byline">By <a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/author/reader-commentary/">Reader Commentary</a></div> <time datetime="2024-12-12 15:13:52">December 12, 2024 at 3:13 p.m.</time> </div> </header> <div class="excerpt"> Baltimore's mayor needs to explain why his well-paid personal writer gets a six-figure salary. </div> </div> </article> <article class=" tag-search-view archive-view has-image post-11047769 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-opinion tag-readers-respond" data-id="11047769" data-timestamp="1734016365" > <figure> <a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/2024/12/12/thanks-to-maryland-sheriffs-for-supporting-veterans-reader-commentary/" title="Thanks to Maryland sheriffs for supporting veterans | READER COMMENTARY" class=""></a> <a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/2024/12/12/thanks-to-maryland-sheriffs-for-supporting-veterans-reader-commentary/" title="Thanks to Maryland sheriffs for supporting veterans | READER COMMENTARY"> <div class="image-wrapper"><img alt="Carroll County Sheriff Jim DeWees gives remarks at a press conference in support of families who have lost loved ones to fentanyl poisonings." title="Carroll County Sheriff Jim DeWees gives remarks at a press conference in support of families who have lost loved ones to fentanyl poisonings." subtitle="" class="lazyload size-feature_small" data-sizes="auto" data-src="https://www.baltimoresun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/CCT-L-VICTORIASCOTTIESLAW-0302-22.jpg?w=132" data-srcset="https://www.baltimoresun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/CCT-L-VICTORIASCOTTIESLAW-0302-22.jpg?w=132 140w" ></div> </a> </figure> <div class="article-info"> <header> <h2 class="entry-title"> <div class="entry-section"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/opinion/">Opinion | </a></div> <a class="article-title" href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/2024/12/12/thanks-to-maryland-sheriffs-for-supporting-veterans-reader-commentary/" title="Thanks to Maryland sheriffs for supporting veterans | READER COMMENTARY"> <span class="dfm-title metered"> Thanks to Maryland sheriffs for supporting veterans | READER COMMENTARY </span> </a> </h2>  <div class="entry-meta"> <div class="byline">By <a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/author/reader-commentary/">Reader Commentary</a></div> <time datetime="2024-12-12 15:12:45">December 12, 2024 at 3:12 p.m.</time> </div> </header> <div class="excerpt"> Kudos to local law enforcement for backing veterans drug court statewide. </div> </div> </article> <article class=" tag-search-view archive-view has-image post-11047705 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-opinion tag-readers-respond" data-id="11047705" data-timestamp="1734016312" > <figure> <a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/2024/12/12/dont-cut-federal-telework-cut-congressional-pensions-reader-commentary/" title="Don’t cut federal telework, cut congressional pensions | READER COMMENTARY" class=""></a> <a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/2024/12/12/dont-cut-federal-telework-cut-congressional-pensions-reader-commentary/" title="Don’t cut federal telework, cut congressional pensions | READER COMMENTARY"> <div class="image-wrapper"><img alt="Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., speaks during a press conference on the steps of the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, in Washington, D.C." title="Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., speaks during a press conference on the steps of the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, in Washington, D.C." subtitle="" class="lazyload size-feature_small" data-sizes="auto" data-src="https://www.baltimoresun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Congress_Lame_Duck_66860.jpg?w=132" data-srcset="https://www.baltimoresun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Congress_Lame_Duck_66860.jpg?w=132 140w" ></div> </a> </figure> <div class="article-info"> <header> <h2 class="entry-title"> <div class="entry-section"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/opinion/">Opinion | </a></div> <a class="article-title" href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/2024/12/12/dont-cut-federal-telework-cut-congressional-pensions-reader-commentary/" title="Don’t cut federal telework, cut congressional pensions | READER COMMENTARY"> <span class="dfm-title metered"> Don’t cut federal telework, cut congressional pensions | READER COMMENTARY </span> </a> </h2>  <div class="entry-meta"> <div class="byline">By <a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/author/reader-commentary/">Reader Commentary</a></div> <time datetime="2024-12-12 15:11:52">December 12, 2024 at 3:11 p.m.</time> </div> </header> <div class="excerpt"> Those in Congress who complain about rank-and-file federal workers are the real drain on tax... </div> </div> </article> <article class=" tag-search-view archive-view has-image post-11047661 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-opinion tag-readers-respond" data-id="11047661" data-timestamp="1734016259" > <figure> <a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/2024/12/12/klausmeiers-experience-stands-out-in-county-executive-search-reader-commentary/" title="Klausmeier’s experience stands out in county executive search | READER COMMENTARY" class=""></a> <a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/2024/12/12/klausmeiers-experience-stands-out-in-county-executive-search-reader-commentary/" title="Klausmeier’s experience stands out in county executive search | READER COMMENTARY"> <div class="image-wrapper"><img alt="The election of Baltimore County Johnny Olszewski Jr. to the U.S. House of Representatives leaves the Baltimore County Council with the decision who to appoint to fill out the remainder of his term." title="The election of Baltimore County Johnny Olszewski Jr. to the U.S. House of Representatives leaves the Baltimore County Council with the decision who to appoint to fill out the remainder of his term." subtitle="" class="lazyload size-feature_small" data-sizes="auto" data-src="https://www.baltimoresun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/TBS-L-BEDFORD-ELEMENTARY-p10-20241016.jpg?w=132" data-srcset="https://www.baltimoresun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/TBS-L-BEDFORD-ELEMENTARY-p10-20241016.jpg?w=132 140w" ></div> </a> </figure> <div class="article-info"> <header> <h2 class="entry-title"> <div class="entry-section"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/opinion/">Opinion | </a></div> <a class="article-title" href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/2024/12/12/klausmeiers-experience-stands-out-in-county-executive-search-reader-commentary/" title="Klausmeier’s experience stands out in county executive search | READER COMMENTARY"> <span class="dfm-title metered"> Klausmeier’s experience stands out in county executive search | READER COMMENTARY </span> </a> </h2>  <div class="entry-meta"> <div class="byline">By <a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/author/reader-commentary/">Reader Commentary</a></div> <time datetime="2024-12-12 15:10:59">December 12, 2024 at 3:10 p.m.</time> </div> </header> <div class="excerpt"> Baltimore County would be best served with Kathy Klausmeier as interim county executive. </div> </div> </article> <article class=" tag-search-view archive-view has-image post-11049604 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-editorials category-latest-headlines category-opinion tag-social" data-id="11049604" data-timestamp="1734011071" > <figure> <a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/2024/12/12/can-maryland-resist-the-sirens-call-of-sin-taxes-editorial/" title="Can Maryland resist the siren’s call of sin taxes? | EDITORIAL" class=""></a> <a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/2024/12/12/can-maryland-resist-the-sirens-call-of-sin-taxes-editorial/" title="Can Maryland resist the siren’s call of sin taxes? | EDITORIAL"> <div class="image-wrapper"><img alt="In their next legislative session, Maryland lawmakers are expected to consider whether to allow Maryland grocers to sell beer and wine." title="In their next legislative session, Maryland lawmakers are expected to consider whether to allow Maryland grocers to sell beer and wine." subtitle="" class="lazyload size-feature_small" data-sizes="auto" data-src="https://www.baltimoresun.com/wp-content/uploads/migration/2020/10/05/QMPNVV5FAVB57BY2GVTZAIDSZE.jpg?w=135" data-srcset="https://www.baltimoresun.com/wp-content/uploads/migration/2020/10/05/QMPNVV5FAVB57BY2GVTZAIDSZE.jpg?w=135 140w" ></div> </a> </figure> <div class="article-info"> <header> <h2 class="entry-title"> <div class="entry-section"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/opinion/">Opinion | </a></div> <a class="article-title" href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/2024/12/12/can-maryland-resist-the-sirens-call-of-sin-taxes-editorial/" title="Can Maryland resist the siren’s call of sin taxes? | EDITORIAL"> <span class="dfm-title premium"> Can Maryland resist the siren’s call of sin taxes? | EDITORIAL </span> </a> </h2>  <div class="entry-meta"> <div class="byline">By <a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/author/baltimore-sun-editorial-board/">Baltimore Sun Editorial Board</a></div> <time datetime="2024-12-12 13:44:31">December 12, 2024 at 1:44 p.m.</time> </div> </header> <div class="excerpt"> Facing a major budget shortfall, state leaders face the double-edged sword of gambling, alcohol and... </div> </div> </article> <article class=" tag-search-view archive-view has-image post-11049989 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-baltimore-ravens category-college-sports category-nfl category-opinion category-sports tag-reader-poll tag-social tag-sports-reader-poll" data-id="11049989" data-timestamp="1734010645" > <figure> <a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/2024/12/12/reader-poll-will-bill-belichick-succeed-at-north-carolina/" title="READER POLL: Will Bill Belichick replicate his NFL success at North Carolina?" class=""></a> <a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/2024/12/12/reader-poll-will-bill-belichick-succeed-at-north-carolina/" title="READER POLL: Will Bill Belichick replicate his NFL success at North Carolina?"> <div class="image-wrapper"><img alt="Bill Belichick is going back to school. Will the 72-year-old succeed at North Carolina? We want to know what you think." title="Bill Belichick is going back to school. Will the 72-year-old succeed at North Carolina? We want to know what you think." subtitle="" class="lazyload size-feature_small" data-sizes="auto" data-src="https://www.baltimoresun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Bills_Patriots_Football_19065-6.jpg?w=132" data-srcset="https://www.baltimoresun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Bills_Patriots_Football_19065-6.jpg?w=132 140w" ></div> </a> </figure> <div class="article-info"> <header> <h2 class="entry-title"> <div class="entry-section"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/college-sports/">College Sports | </a></div> <a class="article-title" href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/2024/12/12/reader-poll-will-bill-belichick-succeed-at-north-carolina/" title="READER POLL: Will Bill Belichick replicate his NFL success at North Carolina?"> <span class="dfm-title free"> READER POLL: Will Bill Belichick replicate his NFL success at North Carolina? </span> </a> </h2>  <div class="entry-meta"> <div class="byline">By <a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/author/baltimore-sun-staff/">Baltimore Sun staff</a></div> <time datetime="2024-12-12 13:38:45">December 12, 2024 at 1:38 p.m.</time> </div> </header> <div class="excerpt"> Bill Belichick is going back to school. Will the 72-year-old succeed at North Carolina? We... </div> </div> </article> <article class=" tag-search-view archive-view has-image post-11049914 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-opinion" data-id="11049914" data-timestamp="1734007752" > <figure> <a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/2024/12/12/the-gift-of-clemency-editorial-cartoon/" title="The gift of clemency | EDITORIAL CARTOON" class=""></a> <a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/2024/12/12/the-gift-of-clemency-editorial-cartoon/" title="The gift of clemency | EDITORIAL CARTOON"> <div class="image-wrapper"><img alt="President Joe Biden commuted the sentences of nearly 1,500 Americans over a short span of time. " title="President Joe Biden commuted the sentences of nearly 1,500 Americans over a short span of time. " subtitle="" class="lazyload size-feature_small" data-sizes="auto" data-src="https://www.baltimoresun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/TBS-L-CARTOON-1213.jpg?w=140" data-srcset="https://www.baltimoresun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/TBS-L-CARTOON-1213.jpg?w=140 140w" ></div> </a> </figure> <div class="article-info"> <header> <h2 class="entry-title"> <div class="entry-section"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/opinion/">Opinion | </a></div> <a class="article-title" href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/2024/12/12/the-gift-of-clemency-editorial-cartoon/" title="The gift of clemency | EDITORIAL CARTOON"> <span class="dfm-title metered"> The gift of clemency | EDITORIAL CARTOON </span> </a> </h2>  <div class="entry-meta"> <div class="byline">By <a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/author/dana-summers/">Dana Summers</a></div> <time datetime="2024-12-12 12:49:12">December 12, 2024 at 12:49 p.m.</time> </div> </header> <div class="excerpt"> President Joe Biden commuted the sentences of nearly 1,500 Americans over a short span of... </div> </div> </article> <a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/opinion/page/2/" class="load-more">Load More</a> </div> <aside> <div class="dfp-ad dfp-cube2_rrail_mid" id="div-gpt-ad-cube2_rrail_mid" style="visibility:hidden"> <div class="htlad-cube2_rrail_mid" data-unit='baltimoresun.com/opinion/cube2_rrail_mid' data-targeting=''></div> </div> <div class="dfm-sidebar-bottom-flex-container"><div id="stick-trigger"></div></div> </aside> <div class="dfm-page-bottom-flex-container"></div> <div class="dfp-ad dfp-bottom_leaderboard" id="div-gpt-ad-bottom_leaderboard" style="visibility:hidden"> <div class="htlad-bottom_leaderboard" data-unit='baltimoresun.com/opinion/bottom_leaderboard' data-targeting=''></div> </div> </div> </main> </div> </div> <footer class="site-footer"> <div class="main-footer-wrapper"> <div class="footer-logo"> <div class="logo custom-logo"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com" aria-label="Baltimore Sun"><img src="https://www.baltimoresun.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/baltimoresun.svg" alt="Baltimore Sun"></a></div> </div> <ul id="footer-menu" class="footer-menus"><li id="menu-item-466" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-has-children menu-item-466"><a href="https://www.tribpub.com/">JTF Publications, LLC</a><span class="expander"><a href="#" class="icon-plus" aria-label="Click here to expand the menu"></a></span> <ul class="footer-menu"> <li id="menu-item-475" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-475"><a href="https://www.capitalgazette.com/">Capital Gazette</a></li> <li id="menu-item-476" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-476"><a href="https://www.studio1847.io/">Studio 1847</a></li> </ul> </li> <li id="menu-item-477" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-has-children menu-item-477"><a href="https://www.tribpub.com/#who-we-are">Company Info</a><span class="expander"><a href="#" class="icon-plus" aria-label="Click here to expand the menu"></a></span> <ul class="footer-menu"> <li id="menu-item-478" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-478"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/about-us/">About Us</a></li> <li id="menu-item-5923579" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-5923579"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/contact/">Contact</a></li> <li id="menu-item-5923580" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-5923580"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/2022/11/30/baltimore-sun-media-summer-internships-current-opportunities-what-past-interns-have-done-and-how-to-apply/">Mary J. Corey Internships</a></li> <li id="menu-item-9184346" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-9184346"><a href="https://store.baltimoresun.com/">Photo Reprints</a></li> <li id="menu-item-5923582" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-5923582"><a href="https://www.tkqlhce.com/click-8479697-11570746?url=https%3A%2F%2Fbaltimoresun.newspapers.com%2F%3Fxid%3D2338%26utm_campaign%3Devergreen%26utm_medium%3Dreferral%26utm_source%3Dnavigation%26utm_content%3D%26utm_term%3DBaltimore">Archives</a></li> <li id="menu-item-484" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-484"><a href="https://www.tribpub.com/privacy-policy/">Privacy Policy</a></li> <li id="menu-item-9184372" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-post_tag menu-item-9184372"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/tag/espanol/">En Espanol</a></li> <li id="menu-item-9184367" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-9184367"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/2019/05/16/tag-publisher-sourcing-disclosure/">Tag Disclosures</a></li> <li id="menu-item-9144102" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-9144102"><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/sitemap/">Sitemap</a></li> </ul> </li> <li id="menu-item-9115779" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-has-children menu-item-9115779"><a href="https://placeanad.baltimoresun.com">Advertising</a><span class="expander"><a href="#" class="icon-plus" aria-label="Click here to expand the menu"></a></span> <ul class="footer-menu"> <li id="menu-item-5923584" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-5923584"><a href="https://classifieds.baltimoresun.com/">Classified</a></li> <li id="menu-item-5923588" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-5923588"><a href="https://www.mddcpublicnotices.com/(S(woq4sng1ta54jkdmitnsoujv))/default.aspx">Public Notices</a></li> <li id="menu-item-5923590" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-5923590"><a href="https://store.baltimoresun.com/">The Sun Store</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="mng-follow"><div class="footer-follow"></div> <a href="https://mktops.baltimoresun.com/subscriptions/land-new-years-25/?market=bs&source=index&g2i_source=SB&g2i_medium=sub-nav&g2i_campaign=NY25" class="subscribe-button" type="subscribe"> <span>Subscribe Now</span> </a> </li></ul> </div> <div class="dfm-site-info"> <div class="colophon"> <div class="footer-flex-menu-wrap"><ul id="footer-bottom-menu" class="menu"><li id="menu-item-488" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-488"><a href="https://www.tribpub.com/subscriber-terms-and-conditions/">Subscriber Terms and Conditions</a></li> <li id="menu-item-5933886" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-5933886"><a href="http://www.tribpub.com/central-terms-of-service/">Terms of Service</a></li> <li id="menu-item-489" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-489"><a href="https://www.tribpub.com/cookie-policy/">Cookie Policy</a></li> <li id="menu-item-9102036" class="cookie-policy-click menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-9102036"><a href="#">Cookie Preferences</a></li> <li id="menu-item-490" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-490"><a href="https://www.tribpub.com/privacy-policy/#California_Notice_at_Collection">California Notice at Collection</a></li> <li id="menu-item-491" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-491"><a href="https://www.tribpub.com/privacy-policy/#Notice_of_Financial_Incentive">CA Notice of Financial Incentive</a></li> <li id="menu-item-492" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-492"><a href="https://my.datasubject.com/16A1AnRt2Fn8i1unj/23233">Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information</a></li> </ul> <div class="footer-copyright-notice"> <p>Copyright © 2024 Baltimore Sun</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </footer> </div> <script> (function(w) { if ( null !== document.cookie.match(/^(.*;)?\s*auth0_sub\s*=\s*[^;]+(.*)?$/) ) { w.PARSELY = { autotrack: false, onReady: function() { PARSELY.updateDefaults({ data: { plan: "subscriber" } }); PARSELY.beacon.trackPageView(); } }; } })(window); </script><div id="mobile-adhesion" class=""><button class="close-mobile-adhesion" onclick="closeMobileAdhesionAd()" onkeydown="keyboardHandler(event)">Close</button> <script> function closeMobileAdhesionAd() { document.getElementById("mobile-adhesion").classList.add("closed"); } function keyboardHandler(e) { var keycode = ( e.keyCode ? e.keyCode : e.which ); if (keycode == "13") { closeMobileAdhesionAd(); } } </script> <div class="dfp-ad dfp-mobile_adhesion" id="div-gpt-ad-mobile_adhesion" style="visibility:hidden"> <div class="htlad-mobile_adhesion" data-unit='baltimoresun.com/opinion/mobile_adhesion' data-targeting=''></div> </div></div><script type='text/javascript'> /* <![CDATA[ */ if ( 'undefined' !== typeof _snaq ) { _snaq.push(['setAuthor', '']); _snaq.push(['setArticlePublishTime','']); _snaq.push(['setSection', 'Opinion']); } /* ]]> */ </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.baltimoresun.com/_static/??-eJyVzUEKwjAQRuELGUeFYDfiWUIa2ymZmdB/qtjTq4uCGxduH3w8erSQTb2ok49FCuhdJMGU4Mk50wQyJLWQF7jJfsKOvlSry8AKEh3C6JUSUBzUM3xrQazHXlh/2Taam964VroX7W2mxtmXuXzSf7Cm9Qley/a7yuV4PsUYu+4QpxeAxVl5" ></script><script src="https://www.baltimoresun.com/wp-content/themes/wp-mason/static/js/ads.js?ver=1.0" id="can-run-ads-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.baltimoresun.com/_static/??-eJyNy8EJgDAMAMCFtIlU0I84S60RW9KmkIC4vT4cwO/BwdX6KNWoGthJhRSCKpmCWrAUISs04ftIzOpKqi5rBz/SJrxHCS/w19ayDJMf0SPinB/y9ywo" ></script><script async src="https://s.ntv.io/serve/load.js" id="nativo-js-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.baltimoresun.com/wp-content/themes/wp-mason/static/js/logo-img-attr.min.js?m=1703179823g" ></script><script src="//embed.sendtonews.com/player3/embedcode.js?fk=359nlgba&cid=4643&offsetx=0&offsety=112&floatwidth=400&floatposition=bottom-right&ver=1.0.0" id="dfm_stn_player_script-js"></script> <script src="https://stats.wp.com/e-202450.js" id="jetpack-stats-js" data-wp-strategy="defer"></script> <script id="jetpack-stats-js-after"> _stq = window._stq || []; _stq.push([ "view", JSON.parse("{\"v\":\"ext\",\"blog\":\"208788401\",\"post\":\"0\",\"tz\":\"-5\",\"srv\":\"www.baltimoresun.com\",\"hp\":\"vip\",\"j\":\"1:14.0\"}") ]); _stq.push([ "clickTrackerInit", "208788401", "0" ]); </script> <script async src="https://cdn.p-n.io/pushly-sdk.min.js?domain_key=qvafiWEMPCh8IoPeDXjiO7iGSktQ4yIaTHfS&ver=6.6.2" id="pushly-sdk-js"></script> </body> </html>