I was appalled to read the letter from Helen Incze of Lewiston (March 16) drawing a metaphor between Auburn’s City Council and the slave-holding plantation owners of the pre-Civil War South. Comparing Auburn’s form of representative government with slavery is abhorrent, completely undermining the brutal tragedy endured by an entire race in this nation.

Plantation owners systematically deprived humans of their humanity. I hardly think that’s what Auburn’s City Council is after when they take on the difficult task of providing needed services while keeping costs down.

I respect public servants, even when I disagree with them, and would never consider comparing them to plantation owners. Nor would I ever commit the sacrilege of comparing the plight of African-Americans to a petty squabble over property taxes.

Parke Burmeister, Portland