Prosecutor Mosby seeks to overstep her role

Just over a week ago, Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby announced that she would not prosecute persons found to be in possession of marijuana “in any weight” despite the decision of the Maryland General Assembly which decriminalized possession of less than 10 grams. Believing that she knows better than the courts, she called on the courts to cancel the convictions of thousands of individuals based solely on her new-found belief that possession of any amount of marijuana is not a crime — not on any error in their convictions.

Now, her office has called for granting it the ability to unilaterally reverse the convictions of individuals asserting that the state’s attorney should “have the same discretion post-judgment as we do prejudgment to deal with police misconduct.” Again, this “right” would be without oversight and without the imprimatur of the courts (“Baltimore prosecutors want greater flexibility to undo convictions after Gun Trace Task Force scandal,” Feb. 11) .

Ms. Mosby has absolute discretion in deciding what cases to prosecute. She has absolute control over what cases not to prosecute and can legally decide not to prosecute individuals found standing on corners in possession of pounds of drugs. However, while nothing can excuse the misconduct of police officers, nothing would be more dangerous to our democracy than to allow an elected prosecutor to usurp the roles of the legislature and the judiciary. It is terrifying to imagine an elected official with the ability to raise campaign funds and then reverse the conviction of anyone she decided merited it.

Offer the terminally ill more medical options

Contrary to Del. Susan McComas’ claims, it is factually wrong to equate someone who takes their life prematurely because they are depressed with someone who wants to live, but is terminally ill, and just wants the option to take prescription medication to die peacefully if their suffering becomes unbearable (“There are better options than suicide for the terminally ill,” Feb. 8).

In fact, the Maryland End-of-Life Option Act specifically says it does not authorize “assisted suicide.” It is based on 40-plus years of combined experience successfully implementing the practice of medical aid in dying in seven others states and Washington, D.C. The Maryland bill features 20 core safeguards and eligibility criteria.

Similar safeguards in the 1994 Oregon Death with Dignity Act resulted in the Journal of Medical Ethics to conclude: “Rates of assisted dying in Oregon … showed no evidence of heightened risk for the elderly, women, the uninsured … people with low educational status, the poor, the physically disabled or chronically ill, minors, people with psychiatric illnesses including depression, or racial or ethnic minorities, compared with background populations.”

In addition, the Hippocratic Oath of “do no harm” means not artificially prolonging an agonizing dying process by allowing dying patients to decide when they have suffered enough.

That’s why the Maryland State Medical Society has dropped its opposition to medical aid in dying, 65 percent of Maryland voters support it, and the state legislature should pass the End-of-Life Option Act.

GOP tax cuts are not helping average people

I have completed my own tax returns for most of the past 40 years. During that time, the Republicans raised taxes while saying they cut them at least twice — once under Ronald Reagan and now under Donald Trump. Both cut rates while eliminating exemptions and deductions (“Tax time: End of popular deductions may shock small-business owners,” Feb. 6).

My taxes increased over $6,000 in 2018 due to the elimination of personal exemptions, an increase in the standard deduction which reduced many deductions for charitable donations, mortgage interest, state income tax and property tax deductions. The Republicans have lied again. A carrot with a rate decrease while an increase at year’s end with a change in exemptions and deductions.

Wake up, America, and don’t waste more tax money on an unneeded border wall.