Community Connection

Each of us is part of a legacy, whether it’s generations of fishermen, shipbuilders or other pursuits, and we all have a story to tell. Heritage matters and it is my belief that our State Government ought to promote the values of liberty and service, as oppose to a legacy of dependency and entitlement that our legislature currently fosters.

When I was out meeting residents, I met a gentleman who showed me a table with the pictures of his father, uncle, himself, his sons and most recently his grandchildren. These were all pictures of Army soldiers, and near the table stood an American flag with a battle streamer for every conflict from WW-II to the current Iraq War. He was filled with pride in what his family has given our country.

I had the same pride when I met one of my former Boy Scouts at the Republican Convention. I knew him as a twelve year-old Boy Scout hiking up mountains and pitching tents, and as an Eagle Scout. Now he is nearing thirty years old and has just completed his second tour of duty in Iraq. Long ago he was earning his Citizenship in the Nation merit badge and today he was a convention delegate acting on his values and beliefs. As a Scoutmaster, like a father, I am proud to see my Scout internalize a sense of civic duty and watch him act on his conviction.

As I begin walking the neighborhoods, I value the honest discussions that folks are having with me.  I met a woman the other day preparing to sell her house and move out of state.  She lived here for several decades and her life’s savings was in her home.  She said with regret, “the taxes in the state have become so high that I can no longer live here.  I physically cannot live here.  I must move in order to make ends meet.  I have a job as a geriatric nurse and I don’t want welfare, and I certainly shouldn’t be paying someone else’s way!”  She was upset that she is paying someone else’s health insurance premiums (i.e. Dirigo) when she struggles to pay her own insurance premiums. 

Hearing her story reaffirmed my perception that the current legislative majority just doesn’t get it.  By continually raising taxes, they are hurting hard-working people who live on the margin of self-reliance.  I believe that Mainers want independence, but are being driven into dependency or, as in this case driven out of state.