Even the most casual of readers of this fine column would know that I am often at odds with politicians. Politicians have a propensity to want to make themselves the focal point of whatever it is they are talking about. They want to steal the show. It does not matter what level it is either. Despite all of this sometimes they do the right thing. Sometimes.

Last week in Brunswick the Town Council committed a random act of foresight when they started to discuss the upcoming budget process. This time of year, as the snow becomes a little heavier and we start to dream about the first crocus blossoms, we begin to see the makings of a tough budget process. The numbers come together and by early May we are usually getting walloped by an increase that is often seen as the best that could be done.

This year though there is a different take. Ever since the town voted to build a new elementary school the black cloud of the debt service loomed in the distance. In three short years the amount of money that we pay per year for prior purchases will go from $1.5 million to more than $3 million. No matter how you look at it that is going to hurt.

The Council started the budget process with an attempt to come to a consensus on what could be spent. They will still need to refine the numbers but there was discussion of a top increase of anywhere from 2.5 percent to 3.5 percent. While these numbers are not great, and a top end increase closer to 2 percent would be better, that the Council is even reviewing this is a win for the taxpayer.

Brunswick has, in years past, started out with a floor for an increase and only kept building the house from there. The mantra has always been that we must spend and build to get people to move here. We may finally be at a place where now that we are building, we want the people to stay.

Brunswick certainly has needs on the municipal side of the house and on the school side, but hearing councilors state that there must be a balancing act leading up to and through the debt service spike gives me hope. Maybe they have heard from the rank and file of town and have seen the light. Maybe this is a turn toward an engaged, good government.

Interesting that on the same day that we were seeing a glimmer of hope in local government and an example of good government, we were treated to an example of bad government.

You know I mentioned that occasionally politicians attempt to make themselves the center of the discussion. Well we have to look no further than the Politician of Potter, Sen. Angus King.

By now you know that last week the discussion that lead every newscast was of the potential government shutdown. Would the Senate find a way to overcome the issues at hand and fund the government for another month or two? Could they do something really radical and fund the government for a year or more? That had not been done in years, so I am sure that no one was holding their breathe.

While the senators and their staffs were hard at work pouring over details and getting the last numbers in I am sure they could have used an “independent” thinker. Someone not so tied to one party or the other to push the budget over the top and make sure that the government would not shut down. One would think.

What did they get in part from Maine’s Independent junior senator? They got a press release touting the importance of the, “lobster emoji.” That’s right folks, while Washington was drawing the battle lines, Sen. King had drawn the butter and cracked the shell of America’s most delicate issue, why there was no lobster emoji.

In the press release, the Senator even used emojis of a cow and a crown to sign his name in a tweet. How cute. If the use of such objects is going to become the norm, I am glad that we don’t have Sens. Manchin, Flake, Crapo, Schatz, Cochran or Barrasso representing us in D.C.

Sen. King, or his staff, most likely was having a little fun while others were clawing their way to the tail end of the debate, but it seems that everyone was needed to roe (pun intended) in the same direction. However, it demonstrates in a small way why people hold politicians in such low regard. While there was work to be done, some were not doing their part.

While Brunswick and the hard work of her Council was good government on display, the lighthearted approach taken by Sen. King or his staffers was bad government on display.

Whether or not the addition of a lobster emoji is as important as the good Senator suggests, one should only ask themselves the following question. When you see the small, brown, corkscrew style emoji do you find yourself unable to pass a bathroom? If the answer is no, then perhaps the Senator is giving emojis a little too much credit.

That’s my two cents…

Jonathan Crimmins can be reached at j_ [email protected]