Thumbs Up — Rehumanizing citizenship

Congress and the White House have become so insulated by money that Washington’s only connections to the populace are measured by financial transactions and returns on adverting investments.

The Supreme Court functions in such a rarefied atmosphere that its nine justices no longer possess any practical understanding of how their decisions play out in the real world.

All three branches of the federal government have become so detached from what average Americans encounter in their daily experience that Washington must be considered a dysfunctional, parallel — skewed might be a better geometric analogy — universe. Given that the players in D.C. have lost touch to such a degree that they can’t recognize the problems regular folks encounter while trying to be good citizens, there’s little hope that real positive societal change could originate there.

If it is to occur, real change will take place at the grassroots level. In the realm of government, that means at municipal forums or in statehouses.

For example, the Vermont Legislature last month voted overwhelmingly to pass a resolution that calls for a U.S. constitutional amendment to clarify that corporations are not people and money is not speech.

Doing so would neuter the 2010 U.S. Supreme Court “Citizens United” ruling, making it possible to reduce the influence of money in politics and reaffirming that “We the people …” refers specifically to humans.

Legislators and municipal elective bodies in Maine should follow suit.

Thumbs Down — The party of Abe

Gov. Paul LePage’s latest outburst of paranoid rantings adds further credence to the suspicion that Maine voters in 2010 turned over the Blaine House to a real-life version of Abe Simpson, the confused, bombastic grandpa on the long-running animated TV satire, “The Simpsons.”

Since taking office, LePage has railed against a series of phantom menaces. The list of his faceless bogey men includes the NAACP, liberals, welfare recipients, federal regulators, journalists and — most recently — teachers and “corrupt” state workers.

Consistent in LePage’s identification of enemies of the state is his unwillingness or inability to provide specifics. Failing to name names during these outbursts diminishes not only LePage’s credibility, but that of the entire state.

Abe Simpson exists to make people laugh at him. LePage’s role is to lead. Doing so means taking responsibility, not blaming others as a way of making excuses.

Thumbs Up — A hand for the bands

Musical ensembles from Mt. Ararat and Brunswick high schools recently brought home major awards from prestigious national festivals in Washington, D.C., and Williamsburg, Va., respectively.

Music education — which combines math, teamwork, performance skills and creativity — represents the kind of integrated learning that best prepares students to become productive adults.

The festival recognition is a well-deserved bonus. Congratulations to the young musicians and their leaders.

[email protected]