Regardless of anyone’s position on the gay rights or discrimination law, a larger issue lies underneath. Twice, the people decided that issue using the democratic system our elected lawmakers are sworn to uphold. However, blatantly disregarding the voters and our democratic system, those very officials dictated this law to the people, in direct defiance of the majority’s will.

Is this discrimination law worthy of such a gross abuse of power? Does anyone believe it more important – important though it may be – than fundamental constitutional rights, rights emanating from the core of our democratic system?

Will the people allow, and support, the trampling of core, foundational democratic rights in the pursuit of lesser such rights?

The answer must be no.

Elected officials must always respect, not second-guess, the vote of the majority. Consider the words of Thomas Jefferson: “Governments are instituted by men, deriving their just powers from the governed. That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it … it is their right, it is their duty to throw off such government and to provide new guards for their future security.”

When Maine voters do their duty and throw off such government, what will Gov. Baldacci and former legislators do then, stay on in Augusta anyway, still believing they know better than the voters?

Rob Graham, Turner