Maine’s future rests in all of our hands. At times, what separates us is easier to identify than what brings us together. For the state to prosper, we have to move beyond our differences and build bridges across that which would divide us.

Business, environment

Maine should maintain, recruit and build the world’s most responsible, prosperous and environmentally friendly businesses worldwide from all fields, encouraging them to grow, locate and remain in Maine.

Economic development and well-being and maintaining of Maine’s natural resources and values are critical. It is a mistake to trade one for the other or give up half of each.

We must instead build bridges so that the two work better together to bolster each other and make each other stronger rather than being at cross-purposes.

We must provide, in ways that reflect the support and values of Mainers, conditions and fiscally responsible incentives for bottom-line success for companies to be both environmentally sensitive and overall good corporate citizens.

Maine’s quality of life mixed with business opportunity is an increasingly rare, valuable commodity and attractive, as one example, as surveys tell us in the city rankings of Portland, Lewiston-Auburn and Bangor.

Areas of the state

We must overcome the mind-set that allows some people to think that what happens in one part of the state doesn’t impact another. Instead, we need to realize that a strong Maine in its entirety – each area demonstrating its self-sufficiency and strength – makes us a powerhouse of a state where we can more powerfully shine beyond our borders in the contributions that we make.

In regard to regionalization, we must make both location-specific and collective decisions in regard to what types of directions we wish to move.

We must ask ourselves how we can reasonably expect those in another area of the state to make greater sacrifices for the common good – and provide stimulus for others to act reciprocally in our interests – than we ourselves may or may not be willing to make.

Those who wish to lead in this area should have great freedoms to do so, and those who do not may find themselves a little pushed along.

Citizens, government

In a representative government, we assign the duties of running the state to others, working on our behalf. But that does not relieve us of our responsibility for participation.

There may be times and ways in which we can be more involved in government that will aid in ensuring productive problem solving and a diversity of interests represented.

As I travel around the state meeting with political leaders of both parties – along with many others – in preparation for a run for governor, I am, in fact, saddened when elected officials report to me a relative scarcity of citizen input on many issues (of course, this is not the case across the board) or when I see small representation at public forums or meetings.

I know that the Maine citizenry, from all of my interactions, is incredibly informed and bright. How can we make significant or optimal progress on the large issues facing Maine without greater input, dialogue and consensus among Mainers? I believe that government must take the lead to make its workings more accessible and user-friendly, for example greater transparency, and in complex but critical areas such as budgets greater simplicity in regard to how public information is presented (e.g., greater use of summaries and better visual presentation) in addition to greater dissemination.

Political parties

There are areas on principle perhaps for each individual on which one would be rightly hesitant to bend. Partisan efforts goes beyond this dynamic toward trying to overrule those with a differing point of view. Though we live in a competitive world, advocacy not tempered by cooperation is self-limiting and, when combative, self-destructive.

I envision a Maine in which these bridges, built together, become solid, enabling us to walk across them for our mutual good.

Alex Hammer of Bangor is an independent candidate running for governor.

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