It now costs $3.10 in tolls for a round trip from Lewiston to Portland on the Maine Turnpike; a round trip, Augusta to Portland, is $5.10. Just a few months ago the politicians were worrying that fees and other costs would skyrocket if we voters were to put a cap on taxes. Interestingly, such costs skyrocket anyhow, but not for the politicians. They simply add the increase to their expense accounts and have the taxpayers take care of it.

At the national level, the country is borrowing billions of dollars to pay for all the things the politicians want to do. Where will the money come from to pay that back? Are the politicians likely to create new revenue sources? They will probably create new names, but there is only one source: taxpayers. Can anyone imagine coming back to the well for another billion? Who would be foolish enough to lend it? What would be their motive?

It may not be possible for politicians to limit spending. They may be addicted. We may simply have too many politicians. Do we need six governors in New England? Do we need six departments of corrections, six bureaus of health, hundreds of legislators? Probably not.

Maybe those are the questions taxpayers should start asking. We can be certain, the politicians won’t raise them.

Jim Tierney, Auburn

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