Gosh! Do you suppose the Democrats are trying to teach state Treasurer Bruce Poliquin a lesson? They are apparently sick and tired of Poliquin exposing Democratic corruption, so they’ve decided to throw anything and everything at him in hopes that something will stick.

The point man for the attacks on Poliquin is Rep. Mark Dion of District 113 (parts of Portland and Falmouth). This is an odd choice, since Dion doesn’t come to a “good government” debate with clean hands. Some would call him a “poster boy” for corruption, for Dion is the former Cumberland County sheriff who went to law school full time while serving as “full-time” sheriff.

Additional Photos

Rep. Mark Dion, who attended law school full time while serving as Cumberland County sheriff, is on shaky ground when he questions the actions of state Treasurer Bruce Poliquin, above, a reader says. 2010 File Photo/Gordon Chibroski

At the time, he characterized this as though he was taking a few classes to enhance his law enforcement credentials. Law school is a vigorous curriculum requiring full-time attendance for three years with a full load of after-hours preparation. Then, after graduation, comes cramming for the bar exam.

This had to mean that for three-plus years, Dion could not possibly have been a hands-on, full-time sheriff. The taxpayers had, obviously, to pay someone else to do his job. It would be interesting to know if Cumberland County paid his tuition.

There are so many laws and regulations now that I suppose all of us are always in at least technical violation of something. But there is a difference between an inadvertent slipup that is not self-serving while serving the cause of good government, and feeding at the public trough.

Roxy Hagerman

Bridgton

We have to open our eyes to tragedy of unemployment

Do we have a great deal to rejoice about as we start the new year? It is truly sad to see the condition our nation has reached.

It may seem ridiculous to you that I find myself in despair when I lay in a comfortable warm bed. But there’s great upheaval in my mind that so many Americans are camping under bridges, subways and standing in lines for handouts, in a country where we drive two cars per family, government officials ride first-class on planes and travel in gas-guzzling limousines.

I have seen, for many years, empty factories capable of housing small productive business that could put idle hands to work! These factories are right in our hometowns all across America. There are great sturdy brick buildings where we can set up machinery to produce commodities we now buy from foreign countries.

We hear our local officials complain about the “drag” the welfare and unemployed are on the local economy; years ago, our textile, shoe and paper mills supported our towns.

What does it take for folks to open their eyes and minds? A fellow once asked, “Why did you hit that mule upside the head with a two-by-four?” Reply: “To get his attention!”

Oh, I hear the city fathers promoting the building of condominiums to increase the tax base! Jobs, my friends, are what builds a tax base.

Jobs give the unemployed a means to pull their own weight. I am sure you realize that much of your dollars goes to support the unemployed. This, my friends, is money you do not have to send your kid to school or invest in the future. It’s not a bankrupt government that’s going to save you — it’s the hometown working people.

Give a person a job, and you give him a reason to live!

Fred Collins

Westbrook

It’s time to stop believing Social Security fairy tale

Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny and the Social Security trust fund.

It is time for us to stop believing in fairy tales. The Social Security trust fund does not exist. It is just a pile of IOUs to ourselves. Until we decide to understand the situation, we will not be able to make intelligent decisions as to who we need to support, how much support is needed and who we are going to tax to get the money.

It is akin to a young person deciding that in order to retire well, he or she must save $100 per week for the next 40 years. The first week, he or she discovers that this doesn’t leave enough to buy the groceries, so, on good faith, he or she writes a note for $100 and puts it in a shoebox (based on their good faith and credit).

This happens every week for 40 years — there is not quite enough money to put actual cash in the shoebox, just a note. There is never a worry, because he or she has a shoebox full of notes from a person who has always paid their debts. His or her retirement is safe.

After 40 years, the person retires, discovers the lack of actual cash and is baffled by his or her predicament. The money was loaned to a good credit risk. Why isn’t there money for retirement?

We would all consider this person lacking in savvy at best, irresponsibly crazy at worst.

This person is us.

Thomas Chase

Acton

School choice plan a threat to church-state separation

After reading the Feb. 12 article regarding school choice funding and the inclusion of religious schools in that funding discussion (“School choice hinges on reversing a longtime funding ban”), I almost had to pinch myself and remember what year it is and what country we’re all living in.

The comment in the article by Rep. Michael McClellan, R-Raymond, is absolutely shocking: “I believe the barrier between church and state is being redefined.”

Um, excuse me? “Redefined”? Apparently in Augusta, they’re now in the business of interpreting the Constitution of the United States of America. Isn’t that an exercise better left to the U.S. Supreme Court?

While not explicitly stated in the Constitution, the wall of separation is an almost universally held interpretation of the First Amendment, so much so that the “separation of church and state” metaphor has been cited numerous times by the U.S. Supreme Court in a variety of decisions, many regarding education matters.

Today, it’s education policy. What’s next? What other matters of selective and ideology-driven interpretation of the Constitution are coming up on the agenda in Augusta? I’m wondering. And I’m afraid.

Kevin Fay

Raymond

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