A hallmark of good government is treating people equitably. That means giving everyone — and every municipality — the same shot at getting the help that they need.

Earmarks fly in the face of good government. They siphon money from the public treasury to go to pet projects of people in power.

Sen. Susan Collins is touting her ability to use earmarks to help Maine. I consider that shameful. People in Iowa, Arkansas and everywhere else in the U.S. should have the same ability to get federal funding, regardless of what committee their U.S. senator serves on or how much seniority he or she has.

Sure, Maine may benefit in the short run from getting more than its share of funding for local fire stations and the like. But sooner or later, our state will not have its senator chair the Appropriations Committee.

Using earmarks — rather than need — to allocate federal money hurts the whole country. It also encourages cynicism about government. The ones who benefit are not the ones who need help the most, but rather the ones who have clout. Campaign contributions go to Susan Collins from interested parties, such as defense industry executives, who stand to gain from her using her clout to benefit their companies.

Sen. Collins may pat herself on the back for bringing home the bacon to Maine, but I consider that reneging on her core responsibility as a U.S. senator. She should be acting in the best interests of the whole country.

Shoshana Hoose
Portland