On Sept. 21, Rep. Thomas Shields asked readers to “Think hard” in his letter to the editor. I have thought hard, and here is what I think:

Ben Franklin said 130 years ago: “In this world, nothing is certain but death and taxes.” Unless we are killed in an accident or murdered, each one of us will eventually suffer from some illness and die. How we die is where health insurance comes into play. Some people do not have it; others are paying way too much for it.

Gov. Baldacci’s Dirigo plan is a well-intentioned, workable solution to the health insurance problem for many of our citizens. We should give it a chance.

As for young people leaving the state, with what’s going on in Washington, I’m afraid they will have to leave the country to find jobs.

Shields says: “It is indeed shaming to look at New Hampshire and compare taxes, health insurance costs, per capita income, poverty rate, business regulation and the size of state government.” Comparing Maine to New Hampshire is apples and oranges, unless we look only at the southern part of the state where most of the money and jobs are. Changing the size of state government is not up to the governor. I’m afraid some legislators would have to vote themselves out of a job.

Our governor is a hardworking, compassionate, intelligent man trying to solve many problems for all the citizens of Maine.

I think we should keep him.

Nancy Willard, Woodstock