We don't need Massachusetts

This is in reference to Rep. Henry Joy's proposal to divide Maine into two states (Sun Journal, March 11). I wonder who he really represents?

I'm beginning to believe he wasn't born and raised in Maine. His proposal sounds like something from a flatlander.

Maine split from Massachusetts in 1820 when the Missouri Compromise was made. We were proud to become our own state, and the real Mainers still feel proud.

We are all neighbors, from Kittery to Fort Kent. We work, play and help each other out, no matter where our homes are or how messed up our government becomes.

If Joy needs Massachusetts, perhaps he should please go there and let people there know we are not for the taking, but they are welcome to come up on their vacations to visit with us.

I wonder how Joy got it arranged for residents of Massachusetts to vote him in?

Carl Kimball, Lewiston

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Comments

Gunner86's picture

Good work

This is a good letter dad, we dont need or want mass as a part of maine!!!

jb's picture

I find this bill to be a

I find this bill to be a foolish waste of taxpayer time and dollars. Yes there are two different socio-economic zones in Maine, but do you really think it's any different elsewhere in the nation?

I grew up in Maine and currently live in Southwest Virginia, and nothing resembles the progressive city life of Northern Virginia or the Hampton Roads. The people associate more with the government of Tennessee than they do with the government in Richmond, VA, but I haven't heard them pushing bills to separate. 

Maine is Maine, whether you are in the Northern or Southern extremes. If you feel neglected by the government in Augusta, it is your responsibility to contact your representatives and congress(people) with your concerns and not back a wing-nut who would rather waste your time and money separating the state than actually doing something to benefit the people; such as creating business. 

jalbrecht1's picture
verified

Joy

I believe Henry has been proposing this for decades. Quess its the only way he can be elected Govenor of anything.

mrcarl's picture
verified

TWO MAINES

Yes, there is two parts of Maine's living, but both parts need each other or they will not survive. Plus, allowing the goverment here be your reason to split the state is forgetting that it's Mainers that keep this state going not the goverment, because without us the goverment wouldn't exsist. And to think of reconnecting to Mass. is just jumping from the frying pan into the fire. Besides, being a little picky, we don't even touch Mass., but we do touch New Hampshire and they most likely love their state as it is. I'm sorry people have become so easy to give up that they would turn their backs on their nieghbors and fellow Mainers no matter which part you are from.

northwoods's picture

northern mass.

I agree with Joy. Maine should be split because the state government doesn't seem to care anymore of Mainers in district 2.

Pirate's picture
verified

Northwoods has often been a

Northwoods has often been a voice of conservative reason. But, do you really want to get Massachusetts in on this? Would it not be easier and more sensible to have the Northern tier become part of southern Quebec?

northwoods's picture

just a name

I wouldn't wish even my worst enemy to be part of Massachusetts. It is just a name. For all I care they could call themselves the Big Pink Fuzzy Moose.

mainexile's picture

Don't misunderstand

Pirate (and the Parrot), Rep. Joy is not proposing that southern Maine be annexed back to Massachusetts, he is simply offering a name for the newly-created new state in the south.  Effectively, the existing singularity of Maine would be divided into two "new" states.

Pirate's picture
verified

We understood that, but thank

We understood that, but thank you.

mainexile's picture

Amen!

Ever since this state separated from Massachusetts, there have been two "Maines".  The southern part was dominated by the shipping and commercial trade businesses of Portland and the industrial strength of Lewiston/Auburn.  These two population centers became the predominant sources of revenue for the growing state government and the primary beneficiaries of government services, thereby instilling the more-government-is-good mentality in their residents.  That trend, along with the early 20th century rise of the progressive movement, has made these two areas the bastions of liberal ideology.

To the contrary, the northern and western mountain parts of the state have been the traditionally agricultural areas providing the raw materials for the pulp, paper and wood products industries and the food consumed in the metropolitan south, as well as the recreational outlets for southern Mainers and out-of-state "flatlanders".  Their residents have been more conservative, reflecting those principles in their religion, finance and politics.

 So, to deny that there are and always have been two "Maines" is self-delusional.  Rep. Joy's proposed legislation is simply an attempt to legalize a condition that has existed since the earliest history of this region.  And his suggestion for naming the separated north as Maine and the southern area as Northern Massachusetts seems to rightfully take us back to the colonial days when the L/A and Portland locales were actually part of Massachusetts - as they appear to be today.

Pass it.

xyz's picture

Don't throw actual history

Don't throw actual history into the mix these republicans will just rewrite it, like they are doing in Texas.

ReaganRepublican's picture
verified

Yeah...I noticed you didn't

Yeah...I noticed you didn't respond to my question about your post on that the other day.  You know, the one that asked for actual examples of how the textbook editors were rewriting history, as opposed to emphasizing something you didn't like?  No answers, I guess?  Oh, that's right...you posted a plagiarized body of work.  Silly of me to think that you actually know anything about it.  You're simply regurgitating someones else's work....no original thoughts of your own.

tron's picture

Easy

he's a republican

dxs0ttq's picture

Wow Tron it looks like your


Wow Tron it looks like your recruiting more morons from the welfare line to help with your editorials. Really you girls need to come up with something different than your same old sayings, I know original thoughts aren't something idiots come up with easy but at least try!

Pirate's picture
verified

Liberal thinking (oxymoron)

Liberal thinking (oxymoron) is the Kryptonite of rational /original thought. Now, watch the name calling begin.

ReaganRepublican's picture
verified

Arrrggghhh!!!  That's funny! 

Arrrggghhh!!!  That's funny!  I bet the liberal parrot pecked you when you typed that...

Pirate's picture
verified

Typed it himself; likes to

Typed it himself; likes to show off. Doesn't really care what words come out on the screen.

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