John W. Benoit’s letter (April 7) is troubling. While it is true that Gov. Baldacci ran for office on the belief that he would not seek to raise taxes, at the time it was also believed that the state’s finances were in much better shape than they actually were.

During the election, the projected state deficit that was to be passed along to the next governor was somewhere around $500 million. After Gov. Baldacci took office, the true figure was found to be $1.2 billion.

It is pure fantasy on Mr. Benoit’s part to believe that any governor, Democrat, Republican or Independent, would not put everything on the discussion table to find a solution to this enormous problem.

Mr. Benoit seems to believe that if a person doesn’t hold the same position come hell or high water, that they, to use his words, have “flip-flopped.”

Thinking people constantly examine our ever-changing world. Thinking people, when presented with new facts or persuasive arguments, change their minds. Mr. Benoit seems to feel that thinking is a disease. If so, we all need to catch it.

Gov. Baldacci is an intelligent, compassionate and thinking person. He is the right person to have as our governor.
Mark A. Coursey, Auburn

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