The governor announced recently that if the Legislature did not agree to cuts to MaineCare, he would close public schools on May 1 — the legislative equivalent of “hand over your lunch money our I’ll punch you in the nose.”

Gov. LePage consistently attacks those who are least able to defend themselves. He would criminalize poverty, strip our elderly of needed care, and now he’s going after our kids. His actions represent an attack on another group, as well.

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A reader says the only people not in Gov. Paul LePage’s line of fire are those wealthy enough not to need help in the first place. File photo

Our state’s economy is resting on the backs of working families, many of whom hold two and three jobs in order to support aging parents and young children, a “sandwich generation” with vital responsibilities on either side.

The governor says he will not raise taxes on hardworking families, yet cutting benefits for seniors, or undercutting education, will dramatically raise their expenses, which amounts to the same thing.

Skilled workers, taxpayers, will leave if the state cannot provide a high quality education for their children. Families with businesses who could bring jobs and money to our state will never move to a place where threats to education are made so casually.

LePage wants us to believe he is an “everyman,” a supporter of working Mainers.

I think the average Mainer is too smart to believe such nonsense. The only people not in his line of fire are those wealthy enough not to need help in the first place.

LePage’s policies undercut seniors, children and families. His tactics are threatening and thuggish. I’d say he ought to be ashamed of himself. But it’s pretty clear that while he has vitriol in spades, he is entirely without shame.

Tara Connor

Gorham

Maine needs to learn from neighboring N.H.

According to a report prepared by the Research and Training Center on Community Living at the University of Minnesota, using statistics provided by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, in 2009 the state of Maine spent an average of $86,657 per person in a non-medical home or community-based service, compared with a national average of $45,463 and $43,142 in neighboring New Hampshire.

Maine has the second-highest expenditure per individual in the country. The problem is not that we have too many people in our private non-medical institutions, it’s that Maine is spending too much on each person.

We need to reduce our expenditures per person, not reduce the number of people being assisted. Given that there are 48 states that are doing it more cheaply than Maine, it should be easy to find out how this can be done.

Paul Flaherty

Standish

LePage failed to honor NAACP invitation again

In keeping with a time-honored tradition, the NAACP once again invited the governor of the state of Maine to attend a Portland breakfast commemorating the birth of Martin Luther King Jr.

Our previous governor graciously accepted his invitation and actively participated in the state’s largest city’s tribute to an inspirational champion of equality and justice for all.

Once again, Paul LePage, who currently holds the title of governor, declined to attend, thankfully refraining from repeating his previous choice of extremely offensive language. He chose instead to make a token Martin Luther King breakfast appearance in the “friendlier ” confines of Waterville.

Although they had cause to do otherwise, the NAACP must be commended for extending, in good faith, another invitation to our governor.

They offered LePage an opportunity not only to make amends to the Portland organization he so grievously insulted, but to demonstrate to the entire state that he at last acknowledges that all the men and women of Maine are equal in his eyes.

Unfortunately, he has reaffirmed his inability or unwillingness to admit to an error in judgment, apologize for his past behavior, and vow that in the future he will govern in the true spirit of a Martin Luther King.

Sam Kamin

Cumberland

GOP hopefuls carry disreputable messages

I was happy to hear that Gov. Rick Perry dropped out of the Republican presidential race after hearing him defend Marines who urinated on corpses, actions forbidden under U.S. law and the Geneva Convention, saying, “These kids made a mistake.” His boys-will-be-boys Texas locker room hijinks explanation was deplorable. But his exit leaves behind other GOP hopefuls, each of whom has his own disreputable message:

• Mitt Romney’s “I like to be able to fire people who provide services to me.”

• Rick Santorum’s fear that if gay marriage was permitted, ” then you have the right to bigamy, polygamy, incest, adultery.”

• Newt Gingrich pontificating ” the African-American community should demand paychecks and not be satisfied with food stamps.”

• Dr. Ron Paul saying that an uninsured coma victim should do ” whatever he wants to do and assume responsibility for himself.” (The moderater’s question, “Congressman, are you saying that society should just let him die?” was greeted with loud cheers of “Yeah!”)

The United States is better than this and deserves a president who exercises sound judgment and competent leadership.

I’m backing President Obama and urge you to show your support by attending your town’s Democratic caucus on Sunday, Feb. 26.

Anyone not registered, or not enrolled in any other party, or a new voter who will turn 18 by Election Day (Nov. 6, 2012) may register and participate that same day. However, if you are registered to vote in any other party, you must change party affiliation by Feb. 6. Check with your local town clerk for the time of your own caucus.

Show you care. Let your voice be heard over misinformed, divisive, embarrassing speech that harms the reputation of our country.

Diane Denk

Kennebunk

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