Dear Mr. & Mrs. Politician…
I have decided to write to you today so I could convey my wish list for the New Year and a message with the hopes that you will listen to what I have to say. You see, for many years I have been working very hard, most times more than one job, paying my taxes and raising my family the best I know how.
It has been a struggle at times, but we always manage to survive the hard times and learn from them. That is the American way and how you achieve the American Dream isn’t it? Well at least that is what I was taught. I was also taught there are no free lunches and if something looks to good to be true, then it probably is. That is what we teach our kids, but that is where reality separates from the political world.
You see the problem is a lot of what my kids see in school and on the news, defies the logic of what we teach at home, thanks to you and your colleagues. Their friends receive free lunch, free school supplies and some brag that they can go to the clinic for free to get birth control or condoms without their parents ever knowing.
Then we have the welfare-dependency issue that these kids see in their own homes. Why worry? Daddy government will take care of me. Is that something you advocate? Looking at this in a common-sense manner, aren’t we teaching this younger generation that they do not have to be responsible for their actions and that government will take care of them? Seems as though it is teaching dependency and not self-reliance. Call me crazy, but that is the simple, common-sense way I see it. By the way, my kids see it that way as well.
My first wish is: promote self-sufficiency instead of dependency!
The next item has to do with things happening right here in Maine that are of concern to me as well. I have been hearing and reading about a supplemental budget that is tied to government services, Department of Health and Human Services in particular. The governor has determined that the current budget is out-pacing the revenues available. In other words, there is more month than money.
I’ll bet you probably believe the Democrats, and their willing accomplices in the press, that the governor wants to throw the seniors and people with disabilities out on the street to fend for themselves. The truth is that the inability, or unwillingness, to prioritize how you, the politicians, spend our tax dollars is the issue. So far I haven’t seen any Legislators propose a solution to the problems regarding the budget shortfall. All the Democrats have done is to propose — drum roll please — a tax increase on the wealthiest Mainers. I am shocked! Not really, but their solution is predictable. When will you, the citizens, reject the class warfare argument? The truth is that when the rich do well, we all benefit. When was the last time you received a paycheck from a welfare recipient? Just sayin’…
One thing I have noticed is politicians look at everything in two-year segments. Let’s see, we hold elections every two years. Coincidence? I think not. Stop trying to protect your self-interest, but instead look out for the taxpayers’ interests!
That brings me to my second wish: present long-term solutions instead of short-term fixes!
My last wish (for now) is for you to think about the unintended consequences of the decisions you make and to think of ALL citizens, not just those in your party. The Republicans want to maintain the majority and the Democrats want to take the majority back. We The People want you to represent our wishes! We voted for you with the expectation that these issues would be fixed and the practice of “kicking the can down the road!” would stop.
Guess what? We, the taxpayers cannot, and the governor will not, put this off for another year. Heed the advice, “Don’t put off till tomorrow, what you can do today,” and just fix it! The governor has presented a solution, which from my vantage point is the only solution. Suck it up and just do it.
So my third wish is: Use Common sense over ideology!
Think about “We the People” and forget about party politics. We are tapped out and not able to pay anymore so that you can continue to spend OUR money and not make tough decisions because you are fearful of losing an election. (Re-read this paragraph.)
I am asking you to consider three simple, common sense wishes before casting your votes for 2012:
“Self sufficiency vs. Dependency”
“Long term solutions vs. Short term fixes”
“Common sense over Ideology”
Those are my wishes let me hear yours. You can contact me slansley2@gmail.com, www.mainetaxpayers.com , or on Facebook.
Scott Lansley is the political director for Maine Taxpayers United, former member of the Maine Legislature and Sabattus Selectman.
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