Picture this: Gov. Baldacci walks over to a voter and puts his arm around the man’s shoulder. “I don’t understand,” stammers the voter. “Four years ago I was here and there was a golf course and clubhouse, and we ate lobster and caviar, drank champagne, and danced and had a great time. Now there’s just a wasteland full of overtaxed people and my friends look miserable. What happened?” Gov. Baldacci looks at him, smiles and says, “Four years ago we were campaigning.”

Pretty close to what has happened since Baldacci was voted in as governor. Wouldn’t you say?

Hunters, fishermen, boaters, four-wheelers and all sorts of sportsmen have taken it on the chin in higher licenses and registrations.

The high price of gas is made even higher with a 45-cent state tax.

We have very little industry and extremely high taxes.

We are the highest welfare state and the easiest state to get welfare.

What about state workers forced to pay union dues or get fired?

I thought, when he did that, that a lot of veterans are fighting and dying against dictators like him.

People in office become so involved in their own pleasure, wealth and power that they dismiss any reference to hardship from their constituency.

Personally, I think it’s time for a change in the Blaine House. Bring back the freedom to choose freedom from high taxes, and freedom to vote “no” that actually means “no.”

Phillip E. Webber Sr., Sabattus