Stealing the DEP and The New Republic Agenda

         In less then 30 days I have all but lost my sense of Humor and my ability to sit back and see objectively. The more research I do the worse this looks. Our new administration states it wants to cut government waste and spending. Yet, first mission, form a tour group and pretend to listen to the people,spending Our money as they go! One press statement and an electronic survey could have gotten The Lepage RED Tape Crew all the same Information at less cost. Every time I type the word RED, I think of big business and RED China, I can't help it. My brain is stuck on the "Red agenda," which looking at the bills for this session is not a joke.
     After the too controversial appointment of Darryl Brown to head of the DEP one can take a look at the Republican idea of saving the people money in a bill to remove regular employees from the department and Appoint 13 of what could only be called the Governor's Pets. Please take a look at this: Taking the DEP or the new Department of Economic Protection 
Really, this saves money and cuts government? Not a chance. It is more of the power grab that we are about to witness. After looking over the many bills before our legislature I am convinced the people's work must be More political power for the politicos. For these people who have taken a Constitutional oath of office are more than ready to get out their pocket knives and start whittling away at all of it. In the name of saving you money these misguided individuals have come up with a plan to steal your representation, Not just once but on multiple fronts and in many ways. Check out this "crafty" amendment to Your State Constitution: The taking of Our representatives 
 Now just in case you're not happy with 131 Reps. in a State that grew 4.2% last year, you could settle for one with even bigger cuts to your representation leaving,  Maybe 101 Representatives? 
I like the Constitution of Maine, it is Ours, and by design for the people of Maine. I can't help but wonder if Lance Harvell, Richard Cebra and the rest of this rat pack did not take a back door oath that said, " and to change the Constitution of Maine where we see fit." For as we look at this next bill we see the true extent of "the people unworked".  Terms & Term Limits
I do not believe for one second that the people of Maine in any community have asked that Our Representatives seek 4 year terms for themselves, or that we think they should double their time in office. The truth is they want power and money, indeed they want your Government for their agenda. Further proof of that is this sleazy little bill here:  A measure to unleash the Tea Party? 
How blind can we be? There is no attempt in any of these bills at "the people's work." Our government is moving to make us hostage to a foreign agenda, one that says, " A government of the Republic, for the New Republican, exclusive of the people, in the interest of Business, for our sakes so help us God."
 These bills and many more will be thrown at us as cost saving measures to be sure. How, one should ask, "does it save me to surrender My State, My Constitution, and My Rights to a big business agenda with no people in sight?" I have never been enrolled in a party system. Always thinking that a better candidate could be found, should be found and would be put in office by the majority when proven of worth and right. Many times there are simply no candidates to choose from, or they will not stand. Yet, still outside of party politics there is a certain center, a place where the lesser evil, the truer course for a State to take, in the interests of all the People, often appears. So when a bill like this next one comes rolling along what am I to think? Unenrolled disqualified from clean election funds if you have no primary?
 Independents are frowned upon by the established order, I understand that. We are overlooked, excluded, and cast out as if a leprosy on the body politic. More often than not Independent candidates find money outside of the current system anyway. Though one would think with the Majority of Maine being unenrolled we would deserve an equal say in our State's thoughts and actions.
There is hope yet that the citizens of Maine will once again rise to the occasion, with heads held high and demand that the State Government remain "a Government of the people, by the people, and for the people." That the people's work at some point will begin in earnest. That our present Politicos will pull their respective heads out of their respective arses and get to the real work:  Streamline all of the extra management in Our offices. Cut off the unnecessary tours of political puppets. Cut internal administrators and Human Resource people sitting around discussing with employees how their benefits work. Cut, Cut, Cut. Pay, Pay, Pay, get to work today. Cut all of your Benefits. I really do not care to spend $32.00 a day on your food. I bring my lunch to work as should you. It is healthier and the responsible thing to do. Also, every law, every discussion of a law, every meeting is Our money. Foolish whoopie pie laws are a waste; to your waist, heart, mind and pocket. I should think you could all go home and save us all the money, pass no laws. Leave the accounting department open to collect receivables and send out the pay ables.                                                                                                                                                         Good luck, God bless, Keep thinking,
                                                            Sincerely, Ms. Paula Page 
                                               

Fear and The Art of Dodging Issues

   Many of you have expressed your fear that we have a Governor with an IQ lower than that of G.w., It may be worse than you think. Ignorance has no intelligence. Politicians 'use' the Media with deliberate outcomes. The fall out from this last bulwark has taken Our State far off the point of State. We can if we choose to, get all caught up in the Lepage character flaws, or we can pay attention to the details of Our State. In turning our heads to look at the words, we might just miss the fact the entire landscape has been changed, and without our approval. We are being distracted from the issues our state faces while a silent takeover of our State continues. Please, hold your local press accountable for true reports on local politics. One of this Governor's first moves was to stop Us from getting information about Our State. I could care less about Paul Lepage's personality short comings, they are many, and he is base. I care that we need good leadership in Maine, as these are times that require truth and action, a Shipload of hope and a state of mindful vigilance. We do need to pay our bills as a state. We do, like the rest of the country, need more jobs that pay a livable, taxable wage in this State. At the same time we need Our Government intact and fully functioning. I would suggest that all our Appointments be made and all our departments get to work. 

   We do not need to surrender our constitution to the same people who say they will defend and uphold it. Gutting the Constitution of Maine does not and will not create one job for the people. It will not and does not represent the people of Maine. Long has the fight been waged to find ourselves with a representative body politic. You have no right, or reason, to remove any part of Our voice from the State Of Maine. According to our latest census figures Maine grew 4.2%.  That means there are more people in our state to represent. If you successfully change Our State Constitution and limit the representatives in Our Legislature and our state continues to grow the people lose. (HP33) (LD40) and (HP83) (LD97) should never see the house floor. Please research these two proposals, and call Your State Representatives, while you still can. Let them know you value your voice in the state as well as their voice on Our behalf. Another odd proposal in Our State is (HP49) (LD56); this would allow waterfront property owners to fish without a fishing license. I think this could really take away much needed revenue from the State. Not to mention that this group of people has the best access to the water, and the fact that the State stocks these same waters. Mr. Governor shall we cater to the special interests of these few people?


    While Maine has not been an economic powerhouse since the first wave of Fisheries and Forest exploitation, we have always been creative and contributory to our people, and our Nation. We should not want, nor should we seek to ever be the industrial complex of the Ohio River valley. We should not seek to be as large a port city as New york, or Massachusetts. We should seek to keep our identity as a friendly, clean, caring State. A place where you would love to vacation and raise your children. Our slow and measured growth is quite maintainable and acceptable to me. What is the rush to judgment that suddenly we are a jobless State? Compared to the rest of the country Maine has held up fairly well. Most of Our Government's cash flow problems stem from the ridiculous bonds that are passed no matter how many times I vote against them. Responsible legislation would be not to tempt the people with that they cannot afford. People cannot resist temptation, good leaders know this. No more bonds on the ballot until there is real money somewhere. I would be all for repealing many of these dumb wastes of Money. Hey Maine did we really want to finance Dentists? They are after all a private business, and they do well for themselves. The last time I looked everyone was being born with the ability to grow teeth. Where there is need there will be Dentists without Our State's money.
     This National Recovery has been and will be a slow process. Gross, knee-jerk reactions can only exacerbate the problems of Our State. The same forces that robbed America are the 'Business' forces being applied in Our State Government. I agree that our bills as a State must be Paid, and we are in a real mess. But I also believe that the Governor's job is only to figure out how to pay for the government The people of Maine want, not the Government he would like.
                        Have a great day, keep thinking, all the best, Ms. Paula Page