Upcoming Election
I'm sitting here with my abestee ballot and thought I'd share my opinions. Let's start with the questions
Question 1 Oxford County Casino
Vote: No
This comes up every year, and every year it's the same. To give one group a casino. I think Maine needs an up or down vote on whether or not to allow casino gambling AND THEN (if the answer is yes) figure out who should get the right to put up a casino.
Question 2 Build a college of dentistry
Vote: No
Dentist schools around the country are closing and we want to go another Five Million Dollars in debt to open one? A dental school in Portland isn't going to make dentists that want to work in Fort Kent. Maine's biggest export is young talented people and a degree in dentistry is a ticket out of here.
They are dealing with a shortage of large animal veterinarians, and the truth of the matter is to create a large animal vet you have to give preference to farm kids, and male farm kids in particular. Unfortunately, it's illegal to give preferential treatment to white men, so the very folks most likely to become a farm vet can't get into veterinary college. The same thing will happen here.
If we want more dentists in rural areas we need to 1) pay them well and 2) let them keep more of the money they earn. You aren't going to retain many dentists in areas where they have to accept public health insurance that reimburses at a rate less than the cost of doing business, and then tax whatever they manage to eek out at Maine's tax rates.
Question 3 Land "conservation"
Vote: NO
I have voted in favor of this in the past, but violates the first rule of fiscal responsibility, which is "When you are too deep in the hole, stop digging."
We're a billion dollars in debt and this proposes to add TEN MILLION to that. Nobody can tell me exactly what they want to do with the money, but it's supposed to help farmers and fishermen and everyone including Aunt Sally. My bet is that it's used to fend off PROFITABLE businesses in favor of keeping unprofitable ones.
The way to support farming and forestry and fishing is to look into our laws and see what kind of onerous pressures we've put on these industries. Let's make sure nobody has to break out and sell a house lot so they can pay the taxes on the farm. Are the limits on the forestry industry ecologically sound? Or do they just make us feel better?
Governor's Race
Vote: Paul LePage
LePage is not my favorite politician. However, he is the only one in this race who says he isn't going to screw me. Could he be lying? Sure. But the others are all PLANNING to screw me. We in Maine pay more in taxes per dollar earned than anyone else in the country. No wonder people and businesses and investment dollars are fleeing the state for friendlier states. LePage understands that lowering tax rates will increase tax revenue. He looks like an unmade bed and has a temper, but if he does for Maine what he did for Waterville, we won't care.
Libby Mitchell is a moonbat's moonbat. She'll continue confiscatory taxation and Maine's unfriendly business climate and then wonder why her government programs don't work. We can't tax ourselves into prosperity. Government can't create jobs, it can only hinder job creation.
Elliot Cutler is nothing but a spoiler. Some folks I know are voting for him to "send a message." If the vote tally is Mitchell 43%, LePage 42%, what message will have been sent? That Libby Mitchell won. A vote for Cutler is a vote for Mitchell. Hold your nose and vote for someone who can win, even if he isn't your favorite. Cutler want's everyone to "work together." That's sweet, but that's the problem in Maine for thirty years. With one-party rule, the governor and legislature have been working too well together.
Shawn Moody, ditto Cutler, except worse. This guy has no idea what he believes in and that means he has no idea where he's going. Ordinarily, this is the kind of guy I'd like to have for a politician. However he's such a lightweight, he will be at the mercy of the legislature.
Kevin Scott, never even heard of him until I got my ballot.
Representative to Congress, Maine District 1
Vote: Dean Scontras
OK, here is a guy I actually like. He has strong principles and he stands by them. There is a pile of garbage sitting in Washington waiting to be voted on. The Energy Tax is at the top of the list. Dean will vote against it.
Chellie Pingree is engaged to a billionaire hedge-fund manager and hob-nobs with Barney Frank. She is a reliable rubber stamp for Pelosi and I don't think she represents her district at all.
State Senator, District 2
Vote Still Thinking....
I'm going to miss Senator Nass.
Sheriff, York County
Vote Gange
Ouellette has not handled the budget cuts from the county well. The Sheriff's department is the primary law enforcement agency for most towns in the county and we have almost no protection at night.
Question 1 Oxford County Casino
Vote: No
This comes up every year, and every year it's the same. To give one group a casino. I think Maine needs an up or down vote on whether or not to allow casino gambling AND THEN (if the answer is yes) figure out who should get the right to put up a casino.
Question 2 Build a college of dentistry
Vote: No
Dentist schools around the country are closing and we want to go another Five Million Dollars in debt to open one? A dental school in Portland isn't going to make dentists that want to work in Fort Kent. Maine's biggest export is young talented people and a degree in dentistry is a ticket out of here.
They are dealing with a shortage of large animal veterinarians, and the truth of the matter is to create a large animal vet you have to give preference to farm kids, and male farm kids in particular. Unfortunately, it's illegal to give preferential treatment to white men, so the very folks most likely to become a farm vet can't get into veterinary college. The same thing will happen here.
If we want more dentists in rural areas we need to 1) pay them well and 2) let them keep more of the money they earn. You aren't going to retain many dentists in areas where they have to accept public health insurance that reimburses at a rate less than the cost of doing business, and then tax whatever they manage to eek out at Maine's tax rates.
Question 3 Land "conservation"
Vote: NO
I have voted in favor of this in the past, but violates the first rule of fiscal responsibility, which is "When you are too deep in the hole, stop digging."
We're a billion dollars in debt and this proposes to add TEN MILLION to that. Nobody can tell me exactly what they want to do with the money, but it's supposed to help farmers and fishermen and everyone including Aunt Sally. My bet is that it's used to fend off PROFITABLE businesses in favor of keeping unprofitable ones.
The way to support farming and forestry and fishing is to look into our laws and see what kind of onerous pressures we've put on these industries. Let's make sure nobody has to break out and sell a house lot so they can pay the taxes on the farm. Are the limits on the forestry industry ecologically sound? Or do they just make us feel better?
Governor's Race
Vote: Paul LePage
LePage is not my favorite politician. However, he is the only one in this race who says he isn't going to screw me. Could he be lying? Sure. But the others are all PLANNING to screw me. We in Maine pay more in taxes per dollar earned than anyone else in the country. No wonder people and businesses and investment dollars are fleeing the state for friendlier states. LePage understands that lowering tax rates will increase tax revenue. He looks like an unmade bed and has a temper, but if he does for Maine what he did for Waterville, we won't care.
Libby Mitchell is a moonbat's moonbat. She'll continue confiscatory taxation and Maine's unfriendly business climate and then wonder why her government programs don't work. We can't tax ourselves into prosperity. Government can't create jobs, it can only hinder job creation.
Elliot Cutler is nothing but a spoiler. Some folks I know are voting for him to "send a message." If the vote tally is Mitchell 43%, LePage 42%, what message will have been sent? That Libby Mitchell won. A vote for Cutler is a vote for Mitchell. Hold your nose and vote for someone who can win, even if he isn't your favorite. Cutler want's everyone to "work together." That's sweet, but that's the problem in Maine for thirty years. With one-party rule, the governor and legislature have been working too well together.
Shawn Moody, ditto Cutler, except worse. This guy has no idea what he believes in and that means he has no idea where he's going. Ordinarily, this is the kind of guy I'd like to have for a politician. However he's such a lightweight, he will be at the mercy of the legislature.
Kevin Scott, never even heard of him until I got my ballot.
Representative to Congress, Maine District 1
Vote: Dean Scontras
OK, here is a guy I actually like. He has strong principles and he stands by them. There is a pile of garbage sitting in Washington waiting to be voted on. The Energy Tax is at the top of the list. Dean will vote against it.
Chellie Pingree is engaged to a billionaire hedge-fund manager and hob-nobs with Barney Frank. She is a reliable rubber stamp for Pelosi and I don't think she represents her district at all.
State Senator, District 2
Vote Still Thinking....
I'm going to miss Senator Nass.
Sheriff, York County
Vote Gange
Ouellette has not handled the budget cuts from the county well. The Sheriff's department is the primary law enforcement agency for most towns in the county and we have almost no protection at night.
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