Ron Fields' down-to-earth editorial very succinctly states the problem facing all American taxpayers, and none more than here in my state of Maryland, where the new governor promptly squandered a $1 billion plus surplus and added several billion more¬ in deficit spending¬ that resulted in¬  the biggest tax increase in state history.

I just wish the Baltimore Sun had some writers with your common-sense exposition of the problem, then maybe the people of this fair state would see why they (we) are in deep trouble with¬ businesses choosing to locate elsewhere, taking jobs with them.

God bless the good¬ people of towns such as Hays; they are the¬ strength of our beloved country.

J. A. Sagerholm

Vice Admiral, USN (Ret.)

Timonium, Md.