I grew up in SW Montgomery County, Bethesda and Silver Spring. I moved to Northern Virginia in 1978 and would never consider returning. When living in Maryland, I would look across the river at Virginia and think (1) the people there are not as well-educated as we are, (2) they do not bath as often, and (3) the whole place is full of dangerous rednecks. Now, having lived in Virginia for forty years, I look across at the people in Maryland and think (1) they are not as well-educated as we are, (2) they do not bath as often, and (3) the whole place is full of dangerous rednecks.
My slam against Montgomery County and Prince George County? Fair amount of corruption with county officials, Prosecutors, and police. Even when you start talking about Metro management (subway) in the two counties....that’s crapped-up. I lived there in Arlington for 3.5 years and virtually every week, you’d have some weird episode occur that avoided national and even local news...getting reported strictly in the regional newspapers (not WaPo).
Don’t even bring up the Silver Springs Metro station and it’s failed design.