More letters …
Maine needs
a governor,
not a campaigner
To the Editor:
If I wanted to write a glowing review of Gov. Paul LePage, I could grab the campaign flyer from the kitchen table and list, point by point, the many things he has done for Maine during his term. I could wax rhapsodic about how many jobs have been created, how taxes have decreased, and sing hymns about how Maine is better off now than it was when LePage took office, especially if one happens to be involved in running a hospital. But that’s already been done.
Rather than talk about LePage, let’s talk about us, the voters.
We’re products of the television age, just as the kids now are products of the information age. We want our politicians sparkly and personable, clothes pressed, teeth whitened and glistening like the first snow on Katahdin. We went them to say all the right things, in the right order, in the space of a single commercial ad or news spot.
Instead of voters, we’re conditioned to be casting directors, searching for a particular look or catchphrase that makes us feel good. Elections are about buzz, X-factor, momentum, about hitting a mark and delivering pre-scripted lines that resonate with the focus groups. It’s about small knots of carefully selected supporters, standing behind candidates and clapping, reduced to nothing more than animatronic props.
That’s the legacy of television. The future of our state, and our nation as a whole, is being determined by people who were cast for a role instead of carefully selected to do the very real and very serious work of safeguarding our liberty. And thanks to television and the casting-mentality we’ve adopted, this liberty is steadily eroding away.
I don’t need the candidate with the best speechwriters. I don’t need the candidate with style and lofty promises, and impassioned pleas for saving this or that oppressed class of self-identified victims. I certainly don’t need a candidate sent to us by the Central Casting Department in Washington, D.C.
I don’t want a campaigner. I want someone to govern. I want a candidate who has proven that he will sit down, roll up his sleeves and do the work he was sent to Augusta to do. Because when the campaigning is over, when the press coverage ends and the news cycle shifts its attention to other things, all the catch-phrases and sound-bites will cease to resonate.
Paul LePage might not be perfectly cast for the role of Governor in “Maine: The Motion Picture” but we’re not characters in a screenplay. Our problems aren’t going to vanish in a puff of eloquence. What we need is governor, not a campaigner. Which is why, on Nov. 4, I will once again vote for Gov. Paul LePage.
Michael LaReaux
Haynesville
Two important
petitions
To the Editor:
At the Charleston polls this 4th of November, there will be someone collecting signatures for two petitions that a lot of residents may be interested in. One petition would reverse the Citizens United decision by the U.S. Supreme Court that corporations are people (the cause for the flood of “dark money” in elections in the past few years). It would direct the state legislature to ask Congress to call a Constitutional Convention to propose a constitutional amendment to revoke corporate person-hood and allow the regulation of money in elections. That is a very long process, but this is how it starts.
The other petition asks for an article on the next town meeting warrant asking the town to notify residents (who want to be notified) by email of all selectmen meetings, committee and subcommittee hearings, civic events, and all other official town events and functions.
The table for these petitions may not be in a real obvious location, so please look around for us, come over, and sign, if you are interested in either one.
Bob Lodato
Charleston
Keep it simple,
it’s the Constitution
To the Editor:
Here we go again, another election year and now we suffer the one sided, one issue sentiments that fill the opinion pages to ad-nauseam! Don’t people get it, even though a person has emotions and one sided issues that a candidate shares, does not a good candidate make.
Tom Jefferson said (and I generalize): ”The greatest detriment to a republic is a two party system”. What did he mean? His fear was that people would place more trust in their party ideology than a government with honest and truthful legislators. So why would an elector today cast their vote just because a candidate belongs to the elector’s party?
The problem is the electors today do not investigate or vet their candidates, they know absolutely nothing about the candidate and they are swayed and fooled with lies, what they see, hear, their emotions and their party. This is why we continue to lose our national and state governments and our unalienable rights.
Why has this happened and this is not just opinion! When a Representative is voted into office, they must swear or confirm an oath. Article VI of the U.S. Constitution, paragraph four reads: The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the members of the several states legislatures, and all executive and judicial officers, both of the United States and of the several states, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution (United States).
Article IX, Section 1 of the Maine Constitution, is apparently clear: “Every person elected, appointed, or commissioned to any judicial, executive, military or other office under this State, shall, before entering on the discharge of the duties of that place or office, take and subscribe the oath or affirmation: to support the Constitution of the United States and of this State (Maine).”
This means to us, that we trust the legislators to make all laws according to the U.S. and Maine Constitutions. The Maine Constitution confirms this in Article IV part third, it says: The Legislature … shall have full power to make and establish all reasonable laws and regulations for the defense and benefit of the people of this State, not repugnant to this constitution, nor to that of the United States.
Now what does all that mean. It means that the Congressmen and our Maine Legislators must make laws that will benefit and defend all the people. That does not mean that government laws and rules could line the pockets of corporations, their lobbyist, legislators, governors, congressmen, judges, or lawyers. That does not mean that the power and control can be stripped from the people by laws that take money from the people and then transfer the money, power and control by felonious laws!
There are two main problems. First of all, all of the candidates, the Congressmen, the Governor and the legislators refuse to read, study and follow the U.S. and Maine constitutions. This summer we provided six symposiums for them to attend the presentations, but both parties put out the word to ignore this opportunity. Secondly, by Constitutional law, once an elected person knows and understands the Constitutions and they willfully violate it, it could be considered “treason.”
Now you know why they refuse to study the Constitutions; vote accordingly!
Phil Merletti
Lee
Officers support
Dyer for sheriff
To the Editor:
We the undersigned, law enforcement officers in Piscataquis County, support and recommend a vote for Dennis Dyer for Sheriff of Piscataquis County. We feel that Dennis brings a style of leadership that is conducive to building relationships and working hand-in-hand with other agencies across the county and state.
We hope that you will support Dennis by voting for him on Nov. 4.
David Henderson,
Dover-Foxcroft
Todd Lyford, Brownville
Nick Clukey, Brownville
Chad R. Perkins, Brownville
Robert Cook, Milo
David Richards,
Dover-Foxcroft
James Carr, Greenville Jct.
Damien Pickel, Milo
Jason Parent, Milo
Chris Reardon,
Dover-Foxcroft
Chris Gibson, Brownville
Jason Heal, Brownville
Derek Hersey, Brownville
Adam LeProvost,
Dover-Foxcroft
Keep bears
in the woods,
where they belong
To the Editor:
As a Maine senior I strongly support our outdoor traditions. We have enough beautiful and abundant woods and waterways to keep hunters, fishermen and hikers happy for generations.
What I can’t support is baiting our black bears. Training a bear to come to a spot in the woods to feast on stale donuts and other junk food until the day his sugar pusher shoots him in cold blood ain’t hunting! It’s a threat to public safety.
These animals are naturally shy, going out of their way to avoid humans. Teaching bears to eat our garbage brings them to where we live, rather than where wild food is plentiful enough to keep the population healthy and at sustainable numbers.
It is highly unlikely that Maine’s bear population would ever exceed the carrying capacity of their natural habitat without our interference. Keep the bears in the woods where they belong and vote “Yes” on Question 1.
Arlene Smith
Dover-Foxcroft
Dyer offers
unwavering
leadership
To the Editor:
It is my pleasure to write in support of Chief Dennis Dyer for Piscataquis County Sheriff.
Growing up, I enjoyed spending a great deal of time at the Dyer residence, as I was the best of friends with Danielle, one of Chief Dyer’s four daughters. It didn’t take long to befriend the entire Dyer family because as a family, led by Chief Dyer’s example, they are friends to all, ears, hearts and doors always open.
Throughout my time spent with the Dyer family, I consistently witnessed Chief Dyer’s unwavering leadership and involvement in his community, constantly participating in civic organizations, taking on extra hours, assignments, and details, accepting invitations to make appearances and be present, all for the benefit of our town and community.
Dennis takes his role as chief to heart and brings over 40 years of law enforcement experience to the table. He is personable, approachable, and always willing to talk and listen.
His desire to best serve and protect his community drives each and every professional decision that he makes. We are in good hands with Chief Dyer’s knowledge and experience and I believe that he would serve us well in the role of Piscataquis County Sheriff.
Get on out and cast your vote for Chief Dennis Dyer for Piscataquis County Sheriff on Nov. 4!
Liza Smith
Mrs. Maine 2014
Sebec
Dyer’s desire to serve is top priority
To the Editor:
I worked for Chief Dennis Dyer for 17 years as his Office Manager and also as a Reserve Police Officer. Chief Dyer was excellent to work for and with. His desire to serve and protect was always his top priority. Chief Dyer is always deeply concerned for the safety and well-being of the public that he serves.
I personally witnessed many times that he put in uncompensated hours to make sure that the job assigned to the Police Department was carried out to perfection. His desire to make sure that projects like parades, fireworks, Dover Days and many other events are a success is above reproach.
As the Chief of Police, his door is always open for his subordinates to discuss professional and personal problems.
He has been the driving force for keeping the Dover-Foxcroft Police Department’s computer access current and up to date so they can communicate with other police departments in the state and nationwide.
His ability to coordinate with other police departments in emergency situations in shown by the fact that he offered the State Police their own room where they could do reports without having to do them in their cruisers.
I consider Chief Dyer an effective Chief of Police as well as a personal friend, and I feel that his is fully capable of handling the job of Piscataquis County Sheriff.
Jeff Weatherbee
Dover-Foxcroft