There’s been lots to talk about. Let’s start with our unscientific poll: LePage 6; Michaud 2; Cutler 2. To date, LePage 15; Michaud 6; Cutler 3. Coming out of the post office in Topsham, I met Conrad. “Put me down for LePage,” he said. At Rusty’s in Topsham: 3 for LePage, 2 for Michaud, and 2 for Cutler. At the ball field in Brunswick: 2 for LePage. Back with our coffee crowd: 1 for Michaud.

Our coffee crowd (mostly veterans) have had plenty to talk about. Barney Frank — someone should let him know that in Maine, Bath Iron Works employs many defense workers. To quote Jim: “He should stay in Mass.” …Can’t print Dante’s comment. There’s been lots of conversation about our First Lady skydiving to raise money for veterans’ causes. Lots of praise for her in this crowd.

We wonder how many people read the column by Representative Heather Sirocki (R-Scarborough) in the Portland paper 21 July. Our Governor paid off our debt to hospitals, unemployment in Maine is down to 5.7 percent, replenishing the state’s rainy day fund $60 million, our credit rating in Maine has a significant raise. All good stuff for the citizens of Maine — Democrats, Republicans, etc.

We had quite a discussion about a letter to the editor (Portland paper), ‘Seniors feel no respect from Gov.’ Most of our crowd are WW2 and Korean War veterans. We are senior citizens. Many of our Vietnam veterans are also seniors. Governor LePage has never shown disrespect to us. Rather, he always is “thanking us for our service and sacrifices which allow us to enjoy our freedoms.” Also, “we owe you.” …‘Nuff said.

What about all the news about immigrants (legal and illegal), refugees, asylum-seekers? Our Governor feels like the citizens of Maine shouldn’t be paying their bills — especially those who are undocumented (illegal). The truth be known, many of these refugees get more than those who fought for our freedoms (and are still suffering the ravages of disease, wounds and want), and their widows and orphaned children. An immigrant can apply for general assistance while waiting for their claim to be approved with social security. I wonder, is a veteran eligible for government assistance while waiting for his or her VA disability claim to be approved?

The U.S. government does provide some benefits to qualified individuals that have asylum status. However, even with qualifications and green cards, there are severe restrictions on programs like SNAP (food stamps), SSI (Supplemental Security Income), Medicare and other welfare programs (according to the National Immigration Law Center).

Want to scratch your head? How about this: Dominican Republic U.S. aid (2013) $6.8 million; Somalia (2012) $545 million and in 2014 another $40 million; Burundi (2013) $624 million. (Our coffee crowd: “Why?”) I’m trying to find out how much Maine receives from the federal government to take care of all the refugees and immigrants that settle here.

General assistance is another benefit that needs cleaning up. The coffee crowd agrees with our Governor. Can you imagine $59,000 in general assistance paid by Brunswick last year; $29,000 by Topsham. The state reimburses the communities 50 to 90 percent of these amounts. No matter, its still taxpayer’s money (you and me). How about Portland: $9.8 million last year for general assistance, with $7.4 million reimbursed by the state. Twenty percent of this goes to asylum seekers who are not eligible for federal assistance. I’m curious, how much does the state reimburse our communities for asylum seekers? Hey, its our money — we deserve an answer. Folks, there is a lot more about this subject. Maybe we can tell you some more next time.

In closing, our coffee crowd all agree we don’t need all these outsiders coming to our state (governors from Massachusetts and Vermont) to campaign. Maine is a lot better off than they think. Our governor is staying home and minding the store. Dante says “the Governor needs to continue his conversation with the people.”

Finished for now. By the way, talk of the Yankees has joined our conversation about the Red Sox.

‘Till next time.

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Chick Ciciotte is the legislative chair of the Mid-Coast Veterans Council. He lives in Topsham.