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Judy J. Salvo lives in Augusta.

Let’s talk about Graham Platner. I am very irritated with all the crazy hoopla and upset over him.

Platner has said he was and is not perfect, was going through a difficult time, that there was no physical harm, no hitting, etc., and he has since changed and is still trying to work on bettering himself.

Additionally, being a man who served in combat, Platner admits he had difficulty upon his return with abuse of alcohol. Many returning soldiers have dealt with that also. I personally quit drinking more than 36 years ago. Are you going to judge me today by my actions when I was a drunk back then? The change is the statement, not the past.

Why is it OK for the president of the United States to have tape where he referred to grabbing women “by the p*ssy,” for him to claim it was just “locker room talk,” and for it to be overlooked? Why is it OK for the president to sleep with and pay off a porn star? Why is it OK for him to be an adulterer? Why is he still loved and hailed by the evangelical community?

Why is it OK for a jury to find him guilty of defamation (twice), and a judge to find him to have sexually assaulted E. Jean Carroll? Why is it OK for him to be a 34-time convicted felon and hold the office of the president of the United States?

Graham Platner is simply human. The most important thing is that he is willing to change, not blame others rather than accept responsibility for himself and his personal behavior.

Twenty-seven years ago, I was married. If you asked my ex-husband his opinion of me, I’m honestly not sure what he would say. But if he told you that the marriage failed because of me and my issues, he wouldn’t be lying.

I was a mess back then, for a number of reasons. But in the past 26 years I have changed in major ways. That is part of my redemption story. Mr. Platner is living his.

Let’s talk about affordability for a second. The question they always say to ask is: Are you better off now than you were?

I’m not. I just paid over $5 a gallon for gas and $45 to fill up my little Toyota. Meat prices have risen over 70%, eggs, depending on the kind you buy, can still run over $6 a dozen and Trump and his cronies promised us prices would drop on day one.

With her votes and lack of oversight, this is a reality Sen. Susan Collins has supported. When it comes to my pay, I was making it OK under Biden. Yeah, things were tight, but I was able to save a bit and pay my bills and buy my food. Now? I’m struggling hard. No savings anymore. I buy different food. Everything on sale, frozen, mainly, because fresh produce is too expensive. Ninety-nine-cent pizzas, four-for-$10 frozen meals or what I can make into casseroles or soups that will last for the week or I can freeze so I can buy less with less money.

I’m also blessed that my job will feed me for free the days I work, which means I’m not food insecure, but I would be if they didn’t. My rent went up by $100 a month because of inflation. I need a car repair I can’t afford. (I literally have no heat or A/C in my car and haven’t since December.) Since Trump took office, I depend on apps that front you part of your pay so I can afford gas to get to work the week before payday. 

On top of all that, on Jan. 1 my employer stopped our health insurance because the subsidies stopped and it’s too expensive now for the company that employs under 25 people to purchase. So I have no health benefits. That means I am looking for a new job.

That is what the tariffs, war, Collins votes and Trump policies have been costing me. I have slim but mildly comfortable stability and healthcare. I have a severe liver disorder and can’t afford my necessary medications. I have not had a pay raise since Trump took office; I did every year Biden was in office. I’m just saying.

I’m tired of hearing Trump and the Republicans say there is no affordability crisis. I’m tired of hearing about the ballroom and the Reflection Pool that no longer reflects the way the original artist designed it. I’m tired of hearing Sen. Collins’ excuses.

I’m going for the the guy who can admit he was wrong, who is going for redemption. I will take someone who can admit they are not perfect and aiming for improvement every day over people who think they are perfect.

Please, bring on Platner. He absolutely has my vote, 100%.