I am using the old Democratic Party handbook.

For years, Portland and Lewiston have made it very hard or impossible for new construction, and especially hard for housing projects. And both cities have a base that supports free lunches like pharmaceuticals entitlements, Social Security payments much higher than what was paid in, free health care like Cub Care, and on and on I could go.

I say towns should reassess, get their unrealistic valuations, raise valuations to their state mandated amount of 70 percent, and because people in houses are rich and can afford it, make them pay 100 percent or 150 percent increases in taxes regardless of their income.

When they cannot afford it, seize property left and right to subsidize the massive increases in rents for the renters. Sell their property for town income.

When we all run out of money, pass a law accusing someone else of being rich and steal their money.

We just did it to a woman in southern Maine last fall, and if you believe in equal protection, apply it to everyone after the new valuations. Fantasy based socialism, that is how Maine works, and it is what Mainers believe in. It is what we have done for 20 years.
Ted Trebilcock, Lewiston