Fiscal responsibility has four classifications: Spending your own money on yourself, that’s why I pay the mortgage; spending your own money on others, that’s why grandkids get sweaters and underwear for Christmas; spending other people’s money on yourself, that’s why some ex-wives get a Mercedes; spending other people’s money on other people, which is why we get a $5 million parking garage.

At the recent council meeting, Auburn’s mayor sat there, looked at us and said with a straight face, “We want and value your input.”

I might not be the smartest person around, but I do think a majority of the people made it clear we don’t want to pay for a garage. Then the mayor broke the tie and voted for the garage.

What Auburn always will be is a safe, comfortable, friendly city to live, work, raise a family and, God willing, grow old in. What it will never be is a cultural and economic center, nor will it be a tourist mecca like Bar Harbor or Freeport. What it shouldn’t be is the personal piggy bank of a few wealthy people who happen to own some choice real estate. Our elected officials should remember what Mark Twain once said, “Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest.”

John Clement, Auburn